thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Jim Hilliard, battling ALS, will get watch son, Sam, play for Rockies Friday night

COVID-19 will keep most fans out of Globe Life Field this season .
But thanks to the efforts of Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and his staff , one very special family was in attendance Tuesday night in a comfy , safe place .
Jim and Tamara Hilliard , the parents of Rockies rookie outfielder Sam Hilliard , were at the brand-new ballpark in Arlington , Texas to watch their son play the Rangers in an exhibition game .
They plan to be back Friday night when the Rockies open their 2020 season .
Jim Hilliard is battling ALS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
“ He ’ s doing good , ” said his son , who was a Rangers fan while growing up in nearby Mansfield , Texas .
“ He ’ s still the same guy , great sense of humor , very positive .
He ’ s keeping the family spirits up and still loves to see his family and his friends .
“ The conversation I had with him and my mom was just kind of , ‘ I can ’ t believe that it ’ s going to happen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us do this.
’ It was a conversation of cries and just relief .
We haven ’ t seen each other for a while .
We ’ re all really happy to reunite.
” After making his debut in the majors last August , Hilliard began using his high profile to raise money for ALS research .
His mom , a former Miss Texas , business owner and commercial actor , has been the driving force behind Team Hilliard and its website ( Twitter handle @ TeamHilliardALS ) .
Jim Hilliard , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was officially diagnosed with ALS in 2018 .
Although his son prefers not to talk about his dad ’ s situation very often , it ’ s clear that this is a very big deal .
“ It ’ s part of what makes this game great , for his family to be a part of their son coming back home and playing against the team he grew up rooting for , ” Rockies manager Bud Black said .
“ We all know his dad ’ s situation .
It ’ s rough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment .
It ’ s really cool.
” Moving satellite .
The coronavirus is forcing the Rockies into a major change of plans .
After discussions with New Mexico ’ s government about the pandemic , the club decided to move its “ satellite camp ” from Albuquerque to Denver .
Albuquerque is home to the Rockies ’ Triple-A team and seemed like the perfect place to train pool players who are not on the 30-man roster or three-man taxi squad .
COVID-19 , however , altered those plans .
Instead , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Metropolitan State University of Denver .
The Rockies will use the Pepsi Center as a clubhouse .
The Pepsi Center is available because the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche will compete out of state in so-called bubble environments .
Footnotes .
Late-game reliever Scott Oberg , who ’ s dealing with a strained back , remains in injury limbo .
Black said the club hasn ’ t decided if Oberg will pitch in Wednesday night ’ s exhibition game against the Rangers .
Rosters for opening day are due at 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a decision on Oberg will “ come down to the 11th hour.
” … Antonio Senzatela , the fourth starter , will start Wednesday night and could hike his pitch count up to 75 .
Senzatela will likely start at Oakland next Tuesday .
… Lefty Jake McGee , released by the Rockies last Friday , signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday and was added to their 40-man roster .
McGee , who signed a three-year , $ 27 million deal with Colorado prior to the 2018 season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season in which he posted a 4.35 ERA and gave up 2.4 home runs per nine innings .

COVID-19 will keep most fans out of Globe Life Field this season.
Most fans.
But thanks to the efforts of Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and his staff, one very special family was in attendance Tuesday night in a comfy, safe place.
Jim and Tamara Hilliard, the parents of Rockies rookie outfielder Sam Hilliard, were at the brand-new ballpark in Arlington, Texas to watch their son play the Rangers in an exhibition game. They plan to be back Friday night when the Rockies open their 2020 season.
Jim Hilliard is battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“He’s doing good,” said his son, who was a Rangers fan while growing up in nearby Mansfield, Texas. “He’s still the same guy, great sense of humor, very positive. He’s keeping the family spirits up and still loves to see his family and his friends.
“The conversation I had with him and my mom was just kind of, ‘I can’t believe that it’s going to happen. They’re really going to let us do this.’ It was a conversation of cries and just relief. We haven’t seen each other for a while. We’re all really happy to reunite.”
After making his debut in the majors last August, Hilliard began using his high profile to raise money for ALS research. His mom, a former Miss Texas, business owner and commercial actor, has been the driving force behind Team Hilliard and its website (Twitter handle @TeamHilliardALS).
Jim Hilliard, a retired orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon, was officially diagnosed with ALS in 2018. Although his son prefers not to talk about his dad’s situation very often, it’s clear that this is a very big deal.
“It’s part of what makes this game great, for his family to be a part of their son coming back home and playing against the team he grew up rooting for,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We all know his dad’s situation. It’s rough. But it’s a gentle moment. It’s really cool.”
Moving satellite. The coronavirus is forcing the Rockies into a major change of plans. After discussions with New Mexico’s government about the pandemic, the club decided to move its “satellite camp” from Albuquerque to Denver. Albuquerque is home to the Rockies’ Triple-A team and seemed like the perfect place to train pool players who are not on the 30-man roster or three-man taxi squad.
COVID-19, however, altered those plans. Instead, the camp will be held at Coors Field and Metropolitan State University of Denver. The Rockies will use the Pepsi Center as a clubhouse. The Pepsi Center is available because the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche will compete out of state in so-called bubble environments.
Footnotes. Late-game reliever Scott Oberg, who’s dealing with a strained back, remains in injury limbo. Black said the club hasn’t decided if Oberg will pitch in Wednesday night’s exhibition game against the Rangers. Rosters for opening day are due at 11 a.m. Thursday (MDT) and Black said a decision on Oberg will “come down to the 11th hour.” … Antonio Senzatela, the fourth starter, will start Wednesday night and could hike his pitch count up to 75. Senzatela will likely start at Oakland next Tuesday. … Lefty Jake McGee, released by the Rockies last Friday, signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday and was added to their 40-man roster. McGee, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Colorado prior to the 2018 season, is coming off of a difficult 2019 season in which he posted a 4.35 ERA and gave up 2.4 home runs per nine innings.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Will Bud Black’s young Rockies rotation shine during MLB’s 60-game sprint?

The greybeard , up close , is more like a mess of ginger .
Jon Gray won ’ t turn 29 until November , which makes him the old man of the Rockies ’ 2020 rotation .
“ With most of our guys , everyone ’ s had that little bit of a taste , right at the end , ” the Colorado right-hander said during summer camp .
“ And I think it ’ s going to play a long way for us.
” If a sprint — Major League Baseball ’ s compacted , COVID-shortened 60-game slate — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black might have the last laugh on pundits who ’ ve pegged the Rockies as also-rans .
Colorado ’ s projected rotation — average age , 26.8 — is the youngest in the National League West .
And it ’ s the third-youngest in the Senior Circuit behind Atlanta ( 26.04 years ) and Miami ( 26.48 ) .
“ As far as their ability to go out there and turn it loose for 60 games , they ’ re excited about that , ” Black said .
“ Their arms are fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of times , at times , you ’ ve got to ramp ‘ em down a touch.
” Black joked that he doesn ’ t see Gray ( 76 starts since 2017 ) , opening day starter German Marquez ( 90 starts ) or Kyle Freeland ( 83 starts ) as kids anymore .
Their average age is 27.1 years , but they ’ ve been a part of playoff teams in 2017 and 2018 .
The Rockies skipper also said he wouldn ’ t hesitate to be conservative with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first few weeks as they ease into 2020 ’ s sprint , which could put the spotlight on the club ’ s middle relief as a bridge to the back end of the bullpen .
“ It ’ ll be really interesting to see kind of how it ’ s going to go , ” Gray said .
“ ( As ) everyone ’ s not built up to eight or nine innings , it ’ s going to be interesting to see how ( the bullpen ) is used .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot more valuable for ( us ) this year.
” FanGraphs ’ ZiPS projection system pegs set-up men Jairo Diaz ( 0.4 WAR , 3.96 ERA ) , Carlos Estevez ( 0.3 WAR , 3.96 ERA ) and Scott Oberg ( 0.3 WAR , 3.41 ERA ) as the most valuable arms , potentially , out the Rockies ’ bullpen this summer .
The top swingmen are Chi Chi Gonzalez and Yency Almonte .
“ The only thing , going into the season , is our pitch count , ” Black said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the thing that ’ s holding them back a little bit from really getting after six-seven-eight innings , is the pitch count .
“ But you know , after two to four starts , they ’ ll get there .
And then we ’ ll see where we are when we get to August and this thing really gets going .
When it really looks like a regular season .
”

The greybeard, up close, is more like a mess of ginger. Jon Gray won’t turn 29 until November, which makes him the old man of the Rockies’ 2020 rotation.
“With most of our guys, everyone’s had that little bit of a taste, right at the end,” the Colorado right-hander said during summer camp. “And I think it’s going to play a long way for us.”
If a sprint — Major League Baseball’s compacted, COVID-shortened 60-game slate — favors the young, Rockies manager Bud Black might have the last laugh on pundits who’ve pegged the Rockies as also-rans.
Colorado’s projected rotation — average age, 26.8 — is the youngest in the National League West. And it’s the third-youngest in the Senior Circuit behind Atlanta (26.04 years) and Miami (26.48).
“As far as their ability to go out there and turn it loose for 60 games, they’re excited about that,” Black said. “Their arms are fresh, they’re young. And a lot of times, at times, you’ve got to ramp ‘em down a touch.”
Black joked that he doesn’t see Gray (76 starts since 2017), opening day starter German Marquez (90 starts) or Kyle Freeland (83 starts) as kids anymore. Their average age is 27.1 years, but they’ve been a part of playoff teams in 2017 and 2018.
The Rockies skipper also said he wouldn’t hesitate to be conservative with his top three starters through the season’s first few weeks as they ease into 2020’s sprint, which could put the spotlight on the club’s middle relief as a bridge to the back end of the bullpen.
“It’ll be really interesting to see kind of how it’s going to go,” Gray said. “(As) everyone’s not built up to eight or nine innings, it’s going to be interesting to see how (the bullpen) is used. I think they’re going to be a lot more valuable for (us) this year.”
FanGraphs’ ZiPS projection system pegs set-up men Jairo Diaz (0.4 WAR, 3.96 ERA), Carlos Estevez (0.3 WAR, 3.96 ERA) and Scott Oberg (0.3 WAR, 3.41 ERA) as the most valuable arms, potentially, out the Rockies’ bullpen this summer. The top swingmen are Chi Chi Gonzalez and Yency Almonte.
“The only thing, going into the season, is our pitch count,” Black said of his young rotation. “That’s the thing that’s holding them back a little bit from really getting after six-seven-eight innings, is the pitch count.
“But you know, after two to four starts, they’ll get there. And then we’ll see where we are when we get to August and this thing really gets going. When it really looks like a regular season.”


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--NFLPA agrees with league on no preseason games, AP source says

NEW YORK — The NFL Players Association has agreed to the league ’ s plan to drop all preseason games for the 2020 season , a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press .
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the offer had not been made public .
The union also agreed to a 80-player roster limit for training camp , instead of the usual 90 .
According to reports , union leadership told players about the preseason agreement during a conference call on Tuesday .
The agreement between the union and the league came a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The players ’ association originally had sought no preseason games and the league had reduced the exhibition schedule to two games .
But on Monday evening , the NFL said it would eliminate those preseason contests and also would offer players 18 days for acclimation , up from seven days .
Also on Monday , the league said players will be tested daily for the coronavirus for at least the first two weeks of training camp , per the league ’ s new testing protocols .
Rookies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players are expected to report next week .
The league and the NFLPA already finalized protocols regarding team travel , media , and treatment response , and updated the facilities protocol to specifically address training camp based on recommendations from a joint committee of doctors , trainers and strength coaches formed by the league and players ’ union .

NEW YORK — The NFL Players Association has agreed to the league’s plan to drop all preseason games for the 2020 season, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the offer had not been made public.
The union also agreed to a 80-player roster limit for training camp, instead of the usual 90.
According to reports, union leadership told players about the preseason agreement during a conference call on Tuesday.
The agreement between the union and the league came a day after league proposed scrapping the preseason because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The players’ association originally had sought no preseason games and the league had reduced the exhibition schedule to two games. But on Monday evening, the NFL said it would eliminate those preseason contests and also would offer players 18 days for acclimation, up from seven days.
Also on Monday, the league said players will be tested daily for the coronavirus for at least the first two weeks of training camp, per the league’s new testing protocols.
Rookies have started reporting this week and all players are expected to report next week.
The league and the NFLPA already finalized protocols regarding team travel, media, and treatment response, and updated the facilities protocol to specifically address training camp based on recommendations from a joint committee of doctors, trainers and strength coaches formed by the league and players’ union.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience

LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. — There ’ s no bench .
The courtside broadcasters will not be courtside .
And the stat crew will be doing their work inside what loosely can be described as an oversized hockey penalty box .
The NBA comes back Wednesday with a very different look .
The league ’ s marketing motto for the restart of the season at Walt Disney World is “ Whole New Game , ” and in many respects , that ’ s very true .
The arenas that will be used for the exhibitions , the seeding games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoffs that are scheduled for mid-August through mid-October set up much differently than usual — all with safety during a pandemic very much in mind .
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said league officials have been great , “ they really have been .
They ’ ve done everything right as far as I ’ m concerned .
“ I mean , when you think that we ’ re running a village for the first time , the league is doing pretty well in city management.
” The court dimensions , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about an NBA game setup is new .
Seating in the bench areas will be assigned , with folding chairs set up on three rows instead of the customary two and spaced out several feet from one another — instead of players sitting shoulder-to-shoulder as they have in the past .
And across the center stripe , the words “ Black Lives Matter ” are painted onto the surface .
The area where the official scorers , timers and statisticians sit is enclosed by plexiglass , with social distancing in that makeshift room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courtside in normal circumstances , will be higher up and several feet further back from the playing surface .
Even the setup for replay reviews will be different — that monitor is in the corner of the arena , instead of being kept at the scorer ’ s table and utilized when needed .
League officials hope they thought of every way to keep people apart and promote social distancing .
Some teams have gotten tours already ; Denver center Nikola Jokic didn ’ t get to see the arenas yet , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good reviews .
“ I didn ’ t see it in person , ” Jokic said .
“ Tim told me it looks really nice .
But to be honest , I ’ ve played in every possible arena .
Nice , bad .
Cold , hot .
Whatever.
” The exhibitions that start on Wednesday will be glorified scrimmages , designed to help the teams , the referees and even the game-night workers figure out how everything works .
Teams have even collaborated on their game plans , asking one another what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matchups that won ’ t count for anything .
They won ’ t even have a game feel : No national anthems will be played , no starter introductions will take place , warmups might not even happen like usual and some real-game elements might get tested out to see what works .
The first scrimmages for each team will also have 10-minute quarters , as opposed to the usual 12 .
“ I ’ ve just got to take it one game at a time , see what it ’ s like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kawhi Leonard said .
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he reached out to Utah ’ s Quin Snyder and Sacramento ’ s Luke Walton on how they wanted to make things work in their upcoming scrimmages , and other coaches have had similar conversations .
The Clippers play Orlando on Wednesday .
Rivers said he knows exactly what Magic coach Steve Clifford will do in that scrimmage , and Orlando knows the Clippers ’ plans as well .
“ We ’ re looking at this as an opportunity to get better for both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , coaches are absolutely sharing things .
We ’ re asking them in this quarter can you do this , on-side , out-of-bounds , can you do this defense , then what do you want me to do ?
I think it ’ s been great in that way.
” NOTES : Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn ( excused absences ) joined the Miami Heat at Disney on Tuesday , meaning all 17 players on that roster are now inside the bubble .
Neither will play in Miami ’ s exhibition opener @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
… Sacramento announced Tuesday night that Marvin Bagley III will miss the rest of the season with a right foot sprain .
It ’ s the latest blow for the Kings , who still do not have Harrison Barnes with them at Disney while he deals with coronavirus .

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There’s no bench. The courtside broadcasters will not be courtside. And the stat crew will be doing their work inside what loosely can be described as an oversized hockey penalty box.
The NBA comes back Wednesday with a very different look.
The league’s marketing motto for the restart of the season at Walt Disney World is “Whole New Game,” and in many respects, that’s very true. The arenas that will be used for the exhibitions, the seeding games that start July 30 and then the playoffs that are scheduled for mid-August through mid-October set up much differently than usual — all with safety during a pandemic very much in mind.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said league officials have been great, “they really have been. They’ve done everything right as far as I’m concerned.
“I mean, when you think that we’re running a village for the first time, the league is doing pretty well in city management.”
The court dimensions, of course, are unchanged.
Everything else about an NBA game setup is new.
Seating in the bench areas will be assigned, with folding chairs set up on three rows instead of the customary two and spaced out several feet from one another — instead of players sitting shoulder-to-shoulder as they have in the past. And across the center stripe, the words “Black Lives Matter” are painted onto the surface.
The area where the official scorers, timers and statisticians sit is enclosed by plexiglass, with social distancing in that makeshift room as well. Broadcasters, who are courtside in normal circumstances, will be higher up and several feet further back from the playing surface. Even the setup for replay reviews will be different — that monitor is in the corner of the arena, instead of being kept at the scorer’s table and utilized when needed.
League officials hope they thought of every way to keep people apart and promote social distancing.
Some teams have gotten tours already; Denver center Nikola Jokic didn’t get to see the arenas yet, but said Nuggets President Tim Connelly gave them good reviews.
“I didn’t see it in person,” Jokic said. “Tim told me it looks really nice. But to be honest, I’ve played in every possible arena. Nice, bad. Cold, hot. Whatever.”
The exhibitions that start on Wednesday will be glorified scrimmages, designed to help the teams, the referees and even the game-night workers figure out how everything works. Teams have even collaborated on their game plans, asking one another what they want to work on in these matchups that won’t count for anything.
They won’t even have a game feel: No national anthems will be played, no starter introductions will take place, warmups might not even happen like usual and some real-game elements might get tested out to see what works. The first scrimmages for each team will also have 10-minute quarters, as opposed to the usual 12.
“I’ve just got to take it one game at a time, see what it’s like during these scrimmages,” Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard said.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he reached out to Utah’s Quin Snyder and Sacramento’s Luke Walton on how they wanted to make things work in their upcoming scrimmages, and other coaches have had similar conversations.
The Clippers play Orlando on Wednesday. Rivers said he knows exactly what Magic coach Steve Clifford will do in that scrimmage, and Orlando knows the Clippers’ plans as well.
“We’re looking at this as an opportunity to get better for both teams,” Rivers said. “So, coaches are absolutely sharing things. We’re asking them in this quarter can you do this, on-side, out-of-bounds, can you do this defense, then what do you want me to do? I think it’s been great in that way.”
NOTES: Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn (excused absences) joined the Miami Heat at Disney on Tuesday, meaning all 17 players on that roster are now inside the bubble. Neither will play in Miami’s exhibition opener Wednesday against Sacramento while satisfying quarantine requirements. … Sacramento announced Tuesday night that Marvin Bagley III will miss the rest of the season with a right foot sprain. It’s the latest blow for the Kings, who still do not have Harrison Barnes with them at Disney while he deals with coronavirus.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Trump memo would exclude illegal immigrants from 2020 Census count

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Tuesday that seeks to bar people in the U.S. illegally from being included in the headcount as congressional districts are redrawn , a move that drew immediate criticism and promises of court challenges on constitutional grounds .
Trump said including them in the count “ would create perverse incentives and undermine our system of government.
” Seats in U.S. House of Representatives are redistributed every 10 years based on changes in population found in the census .
The Supreme Court blocked the administration ’ s effort to add a citizenship question to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority saying the administration ’ s rationale for the citizenship question — to help enforce voting rights — appeared to be contrived .
New York Attorney General Letitia James , who , along with civil rights groups , fought the citizenship question in court , vowed to challenge the order .
“ No one ceases to be a person because they lack documentation , ” James said .
“ Under the law , every person residing in the U.S. during the census , regardless of status , must be counted.
” Dale Ho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voting Rights Project , predicted Trump ’ s latest effort also would be found unconstitutional .
“ The Constitution requires that everyone in the U.S. be counted in the census , ” Ho said .
“ President Trump can ’ t pick and choose .
He tried to add a citizenship question to the census and lost in the Supreme Court … We will see him in court , and win , again.
” Trump ’ s latest move comes in the lead-up to the November election as he is trying to motivate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal immigration , which was a mainstay of his 2016 campaign “ There used to be a time when you could proudly declare , ‘ I am a citizen of the United States.
’ But now , the radical left is trying to erase the existence of this concept and conceal the number of illegal aliens in our country , ” Trump said in a statement .
“ This is all part of a broader left-wing effort to erode the rights of Americans citizens , and I will not stand for it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to the 2020 Census , with the majority doing it online .
People can still respond on their own online , over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker .
Only last week , door-knockers started heading out to households whose residents haven ’ t yet answered the questionnaire .
Trump ’ s efforts to add the citizenship question drew fury and backlash from critics who alleged that it was intended to discourage participation in the nation ’ s head count , not only by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also by citizens who fear that participating would expose noncitizen family members to repercussions .
The financial and political stakes in the 2020 Census are huge , with Democratic-leaning metropolitan areas with large immigrant populations worried about losing dollars and political representation through Trump ’ s efforts .
After the Supreme Court blocked the citizenship question from being asked , Trump ordered the Census Bureau to gather citizenship data from the administrative records of federal and state agencies .
The administration hopes that will help it determine how many people are in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenged in the courts and the overwhelming majority of states have refused to share information about driver ’ s licenses and ID cards .
However , four states with Republican governors are cooperating .
Iowa , South Carolina and South Dakota recently joined Nebraska in agreeing to share state driver ’ s license information with the Census Bureau .
Democratic members of Congress called the president ’ s memo an effort to depress participation in the 2020 Census , especially in minority communities .
“ Trump ’ s unlawful effort is designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and traditionally undercounted communities , while sowing chaos with the Census , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said .
“ The House of Representatives will vigorously contest the President ’ s unconstitutional and unlawful attempt to impair the Census.
” It ’ s not the first time that an attempt had been made to keep out immigrants living here illegally from the once-a-decade census and the subsequent allocation of congressional seats .
In 1979 , the Federation for American Immigration Reform and several members of Congress sued , demanding that the 1980 census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was dismissed , said Margo Anderson , a history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee .
When a congressman unsuccessfully introduced legislation in 1980 that would have kept undocumented immigrants out of the apportionment count , U.S. Census Bureau director Vincent Barabba expressed concerns about entangling the bureau with immigration policy .
He testified that doing so might entail procedures done in other countries , such as maintaining registration lists , that Americans would find disagreeable , Anderson said .
In Alabama , state officials and Republican U.S .
Congressman Mo Brooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the country illegally from being counted when determining congressional seats for each state .
Trump ’ s memo Tuesday is a blatant attempt to suppress the growing political power of Latinos in the U.S. , said Thomas Saenz , president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund .
The fund , also known as MALDEF , and other civil rights groups are challenging Alabama ’ s effort to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted during apportionment , and they pre-emptively challenged the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday in a cross-claim , Saenz said in an interview .
“ It ’ s lawless but that ’ s characteristic of this administration .
We are already challenging it .
We anticipated this ridiculousness , ” Saenz said .
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report .
Schneider reported from Orlando , Fla .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Tuesday that seeks to bar people in the U.S. illegally from being included in the headcount as congressional districts are redrawn, a move that drew immediate criticism and promises of court challenges on constitutional grounds.
Trump said including them in the count “would create perverse incentives and undermine our system of government.” Seats in U.S. House of Representatives are redistributed every 10 years based on changes in population found in the census.
The Supreme Court blocked the administration’s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form, with a majority saying the administration’s rationale for the citizenship question — to help enforce voting rights — appeared to be contrived.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who, along with civil rights groups, fought the citizenship question in court, vowed to challenge the order.
“No one ceases to be a person because they lack documentation,” James said. “Under the law, every person residing in the U.S. during the census, regardless of status, must be counted.”
Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, predicted Trump’s latest effort also would be found unconstitutional.
“The Constitution requires that everyone in the U.S. be counted in the census,” Ho said. “President Trump can’t pick and choose. He tried to add a citizenship question to the census and lost in the Supreme Court … We will see him in court, and win, again.”
Trump’s latest move comes in the lead-up to the November election as he is trying to motivate his base supporters with fresh action against illegal immigration, which was a mainstay of his 2016 campaign
“There used to be a time when you could proudly declare, ‘I am a citizen of the United States.’ But now, the radical left is trying to erase the existence of this concept and conceal the number of illegal aliens in our country,” Trump said in a statement. “This is all part of a broader left-wing effort to erode the rights of Americans citizens, and I will not stand for it.”
More than 92 million households have already responded to the 2020 Census, with the majority doing it online. People can still respond on their own online, over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker. Only last week, door-knockers started heading out to households whose residents haven’t yet answered the questionnaire.
Trump’s efforts to add the citizenship question drew fury and backlash from critics who alleged that it was intended to discourage participation in the nation’s head count, not only by people living in the country illegally but also by citizens who fear that participating would expose noncitizen family members to repercussions.
The financial and political stakes in the 2020 Census are huge, with Democratic-leaning metropolitan areas with large immigrant populations worried about losing dollars and political representation through Trump’s efforts.
After the Supreme Court blocked the citizenship question from being asked, Trump ordered the Census Bureau to gather citizenship data from the administrative records of federal and state agencies. The administration hopes that will help it determine how many people are in the U.S. illegally.
That order is being challenged in the courts and the overwhelming majority of states have refused to share information about driver’s licenses and ID cards.
However, four states with Republican governors are cooperating. Iowa, South Carolina and South Dakota recently joined Nebraska in agreeing to share state driver’s license information with the Census Bureau.
Democratic members of Congress called the president’s memo an effort to depress participation in the 2020 Census, especially in minority communities.
“Trump’s unlawful effort is designed to again inject fear and distrust into vulnerable and traditionally undercounted communities, while sowing chaos with the Census,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “The House of Representatives will vigorously contest the President’s unconstitutional and unlawful attempt to impair the Census.”
It’s not the first time that an attempt had been made to keep out immigrants living here illegally from the once-a-decade census and the subsequent allocation of congressional seats. In 1979, the Federation for American Immigration Reform and several members of Congress sued, demanding that the 1980 census exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment. The case was dismissed, said Margo Anderson, a history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
When a congressman unsuccessfully introduced legislation in 1980 that would have kept undocumented immigrants out of the apportionment count, U.S. Census Bureau director Vincent Barabba expressed concerns about entangling the bureau with immigration policy. He testified that doing so might entail procedures done in other countries, such as maintaining registration lists, that Americans would find disagreeable, Anderson said.
In Alabama, state officials and Republican U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks are suing the Census Bureau to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted when determining congressional seats for each state.
Trump’s memo Tuesday is a blatant attempt to suppress the growing political power of Latinos in the U.S., said Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The fund, also known as MALDEF, and other civil rights groups are challenging Alabama’s effort to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted during apportionment, and they pre-emptively challenged the very issues raised by Trump’s memo on Tuesday in a cross-claim, Saenz said in an interview.
“It’s lawless but that’s characteristic of this administration. We are already challenging it. We anticipated this ridiculousness,” Saenz said.
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report. Schneider reported from Orlando, Fla.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--No indication of Portland-style federal presence in Colorado, governor says

Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis disapproves of federal agents traveling in unmarked vehicles without agency identification detaining Oregon protesters , and said he has no sense that such agents could be headed to Colorado .
Responding at a news conference Tuesday to a question about federal agents seizing Portland protesters , Polis told a Denver Post reporter , “ I only have the same level of knowledge that you have .
I ’ ve read articles about it .
… Based on what I ’ ve read in the press , yes , I have that concern that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I don ’ t think we ’ ve seen the accountability and transparency .
Are there criminal charges ?
How long are these people being detained ?
Are they respecting habeas corpus ?
I don ’ t have the answers to that.
” President Donald Trump has threatened Portland-style tactics from federal law enforcement in other cities that are run by Democratic mayors and that have had Black Lives Matter protests .
He did not name Denver as a target city , however .
Mike Strott , a spokesman for Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are not aware of federal law enforcement being in Denver.
” Said Polis , “ I would be alerted if this were to occur in Colorado and would be more actively involved.
” He added , “ In Oregon , anything you do in public , there ’ s gon na be 16 people filming it on their iPhones , so whether I were to find out about it that way or through official channels , I ’ m confident that if it occurred here , we would all know about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Office in Denver declined to comment .
There has been less unrest in Colorado this month than in June , when police in Denver , Colorado Springs and Aurora deployed chemical weapons against citizens protesting police brutality and systemic racism .
But protests here continue — and police continue using chemical weapons , albeit less often .

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis disapproves of federal agents traveling in unmarked vehicles without agency identification detaining Oregon protesters, and said he has no sense that such agents could be headed to Colorado.
Responding at a news conference Tuesday to a question about federal agents seizing Portland protesters, Polis told a Denver Post reporter, “I only have the same level of knowledge that you have. I’ve read articles about it. … Based on what I’ve read in the press, yes, I have that concern that this is a violation of people’s rights, and I don’t think we’ve seen the accountability and transparency. Are there criminal charges? How long are these people being detained? Are they respecting habeas corpus? I don’t have the answers to that.”
President Donald Trump has threatened Portland-style tactics from federal law enforcement in other cities that are run by Democratic mayors and that have had Black Lives Matter protests. He did not name Denver as a target city, however.
Mike Strott, a spokesman for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, said, “We are not aware of federal law enforcement being in Denver.”
Said Polis, “I would be alerted if this were to occur in Colorado and would be more actively involved.”
He added, “In Oregon, anything you do in public, there’s gonna be 16 people filming it on their iPhones, so whether I were to find out about it that way or through official channels, I’m confident that if it occurred here, we would all know about it pretty quickly.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver declined to comment.
There has been less unrest in Colorado this month than in June, when police in Denver, Colorado Springs and Aurora deployed chemical weapons against citizens protesting police brutality and systemic racism. But protests here continue — and police continue using chemical weapons, albeit less often.
Denver Post reporter Sam Tabachnik contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Rockies play-by-play men Jack Corrigan and Drew Goodman face big adjustments

Baseball broadcasters are creatures of routine , but the coronavirus has thrown them a changeup .
“ Oh , it ’ s going to be different , no doubt about it , ” said KOA radio ’ s Jack Corrigan , who ’ s been calling big-league games for 35 years and is entering his 18th season with the Rockies .
“ Maybe we ’ ll stick an antenna outside the booth , ” said AT & T SportsNet ’ s Drew Goodman .
“ I ’ m kidding , of course , but this is a new world for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has mandated that local TV crews will not be allowed to travel and televise games from visiting ballparks .
Radio crews will be allowed to travel , but few of them are choosing to do so .
Corrigan , and new partner Mike Rice , will broadcast all 30 home games from their booth at Coors Field , but they won ’ t travel .
That means they ’ ll broadcast 30 road games from a KOA studio where they will keep their eyes glued to the television monitors .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV feed that the umpires get from New York , ” Corrigan said .
“ We ’ re supposed to have access to multiple camera angles that will be pretty close to instant as to what ’ s going on on the field.
” Multiview feeds are designed to give broadcasters enough perspective to be able set the scene for the fans at home , not just provide basic play-by-play .
The plan is to be able to discuss defensive shifts , bullpen action , dugout scenes , incoming weather and more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ noise and actual sounds , such as the crack of the bat , will be embedded into audio and video feeds .
There will be no fans in the stands , but MLB is trying to make the games sound as normal as possible to the fans at home .
Corrigan , however , isn ’ t going to try and fool anybody .
“ Mike and I have talked about this , ” Corrigan said .
“ We aren ’ t going to try and pretend that we are there for road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is a unique situation.
” Goodman , who is entering his 19th season as the Rockies ’ TV play-by-play man , is trying to roll with the crazy times , but there are many aspects to his normal routine that he ’ s going to miss .
He cherishes the 90 minutes he spends around the cage during pregame batting practice .
That time is now gone .
No media will be allowed in the clubhouse or on the field at any point this season .
“ That is usually my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Goodman said .
“ I spend time with the guys , telling stories and just shooting the bull .
I ’ m not even asking specific questions a lot of the time .
But so many anecdotes I use during the broadcast emanate from those conversations.
” AT & T is scheduled to televise all 60 Rockies games , but its set up will be much different .
For home games , Goodman and analyst Jeff Huson will be in their normal booth at Coors Field .
For road games , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Blake Street , three blocks from the ballpark .
Analyst Ryan Spilborghs , the popular former Rockies player , is scheduled to do every broadcast from a basement studio in his home .
Jenny Cavnar and Cory Sullivan will do their pre- and postgame shows from the studio , for both home and road games .
They usually set up shop in a center-field studio at Coors during home games .
Both Corrigan and Goodman admit that adding spice and color to their broadcasts while sitting in a studio is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at a game in person , you can hear the sound easily and you can see the ball coming off the bat , ” Corrigan said .
“ You can tell if a guy has hit the ball pretty good .
Plus , you instinctively turn and look at the outfielder to see what his reaction is .
“ But now we are at the mercy of the director who is cutting those camera shots .
You hope that you don ’ t go into your home run call only to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it to the warning track .
So there ’ s going to be an adjustment .
”

Baseball broadcasters are creatures of routine, but the coronavirus has thrown them a changeup.
“Oh, it’s going to be different, no doubt about it,” said KOA radio’s Jack Corrigan, who’s been calling big-league games for 35 years and is entering his 18th season with the Rockies.
“Maybe we’ll stick an antenna outside the booth,” said AT&T SportsNet’s Drew Goodman. “I’m kidding, of course, but this is a new world for all of us.”
Major League Baseball has mandated that local TV crews will not be allowed to travel and televise games from visiting ballparks. Radio crews will be allowed to travel, but few of them are choosing to do so.
Corrigan, and new partner Mike Rice, will broadcast all 30 home games from their booth at Coors Field, but they won’t travel. That means they’ll broadcast 30 road games from a KOA studio where they will keep their eyes glued to the television monitors.
“We’re supposedly going to have the same TV feed that the umpires get from New York,” Corrigan said. “We’re supposed to have access to multiple camera angles that will be pretty close to instant as to what’s going on on the field.”
Multiview feeds are designed to give broadcasters enough perspective to be able set the scene for the fans at home, not just provide basic play-by-play. The plan is to be able to discuss defensive shifts, bullpen action, dugout scenes, incoming weather and more.
Audio from the game, manufactured crowd noise and actual sounds, such as the crack of the bat, will be embedded into audio and video feeds. There will be no fans in the stands, but MLB is trying to make the games sound as normal as possible to the fans at home. Corrigan, however, isn’t going to try and fool anybody.
“Mike and I have talked about this,” Corrigan said. “We aren’t going to try and pretend that we are there for road games. The fans need to know that this is a unique situation.”
Goodman, who is entering his 19th season as the Rockies’ TV play-by-play man, is trying to roll with the crazy times, but there are many aspects to his normal routine that he’s going to miss. He cherishes the 90 minutes he spends around the cage during pregame batting practice. That time is now gone. No media will be allowed in the clubhouse or on the field at any point this season.
“That is usually my most important time at the ballpark,” Goodman said. “I spend time with the guys, telling stories and just shooting the bull. I’m not even asking specific questions a lot of the time. But so many anecdotes I use during the broadcast emanate from those conversations.”
AT&T is scheduled to televise all 60 Rockies games, but its set up will be much different. For home games, Goodman and analyst Jeff Huson will be in their normal booth at Coors Field. For road games, they will call games from their downtown studio on Blake Street, three blocks from the ballpark.
Analyst Ryan Spilborghs, the popular former Rockies player, is scheduled to do every broadcast from a basement studio in his home. Jenny Cavnar and Cory Sullivan will do their pre- and postgame shows from the studio, for both home and road games. They usually set up shop in a center-field studio at Coors during home games.
Both Corrigan and Goodman admit that adding spice and color to their broadcasts while sitting in a studio is going to be a challenge.
“When you are at a game in person, you can hear the sound easily and you can see the ball coming off the bat,” Corrigan said. “You can tell if a guy has hit the ball pretty good. Plus, you instinctively turn and look at the outfielder to see what his reaction is.
“But now we are at the mercy of the director who is cutting those camera shots. You hope that you don’t go into your home run call only to see a flyball that doesn’t even make it to the warning track. So there’s going to be an adjustment.”


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Do Rapids have problem with discipline? Loss to Sporting Kansas City fuels debate.

In just 10 minutes during last Friday ’ s second half against Sporting Kansas City , the Colorado Rapids were shown a red card , conceded a tying goal , gave up a penalty kick and subsequently surrendered the lead .
That ’ s when captain Jack Price snapped , saying something to referee David Gantar that drew another red card .
Suddenly , the Rapids were playing with nine men .
Though the club miraculously leveled the score late in the match , they put themselves in an awful hole — one that ultimately led to their demise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them out of the MLS is Back Tournament .
“ The things that Jack said probably won ’ t even get noticed in a game in the English Premier League , ” head coach Robin Fraser said .
It was an emotional outburst that may be understandable within the context of the sour 10-minute stretch that preceded it .
But no matter what Price said , or how he said it , the outcome was an ejection .
And it follows a familiar theme from the past couple of years for the Rapids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards in 2019 , being shown nine .
In 2018 , the same group had 11 more yellow cards than any other MLS team at 90 .
Given those numbers , one may argue the Rapids have had systemic discipline issues spanning three coaches over multiple seasons , and Fraser has not corrected it four matches into the team ’ s 2020 slate .
The Rapids head coach , however , doesn ’ t agree with that narrative .
“ Do I think we have a discipline problem ?
No , ” Fraser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extremely hard-working team that feels like they were extremely hard done .
And it ’ s a group who is resilient and they ’ ll come back , and they ’ ll keep working.
” Unfortunately , it was more than a 10-minute collapse and momentary lapse in judgement from the captain .
After Friday night ’ s loss , forwards Andre Shinyashiki and Nicolas Benezet took to social media to vent their frustrations .
Shinyashiki retweeted a meme accusing the league of being in cahoots with Kansas City , while in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner to “ get some real referees , no fake please.
” After a night ’ s sleep , the two each posted again criticizing officials for what they felt was an unfair match .
The Rapids ’ grievances run deeper than one match , however .
Some within the organization have complained in the past about an unusually high rate of cards to fouls .
Research reveals that since the start of the 2018 season , no team in MLS has a higher amount of fouls result in yellow or red cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Colorado in that time frame , 20.22 % have come with a card .
The next highest rate in the Western Conference is the L.A. Galaxy at 17.49 % .
But that doesn ’ t tell the whole story .
A look at 2019 shows something interesting .
According to WhoScored.com , the Rapids and New England Revolution had the most cards that weren ’ t associated with in-play fouls .
That means Colorado had more cards for unsportsmanlike conduct and dissent than anyone other than the Revs .
Since it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior , these cards can be highly subjective — just as Price learned Friday .
“ Undoubtedly , we ’ ll miss his leadership and his calm , ” Fraser said , looking ahead to Wednesday ’ s match against Minnesota without Price .
“ That ’ s funny that I said ‘ his calm ’ given what he got thrown out for , but we ’ ll miss his leadership and his presence for sure.
” While the Rapids ’ loss to Sporting might not be the best example of a discipline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a reputation that has led officials to judge them harshly .
Since the start of the 2018 season , no team in MLS has a higher amount of fouls result in yellow or red cards than the Colorado Rapids .
Here ’ s a look at the top 10 :

In just 10 minutes during last Friday’s second half against Sporting Kansas City, the Colorado Rapids were shown a red card, conceded a tying goal, gave up a penalty kick and subsequently surrendered the lead.
That’s when captain Jack Price snapped, saying something to referee David Gantar that drew another red card.
Suddenly, the Rapids were playing with nine men.
Though the club miraculously leveled the score late in the match, they put themselves in an awful hole — one that ultimately led to their demise in a 3-2 loss that all but knocked them out of the MLS is Back Tournament.
“The things that Jack said probably won’t even get noticed in a game in the English Premier League,” head coach Robin Fraser said.
It was an emotional outburst that may be understandable within the context of the sour 10-minute stretch that preceded it. But no matter what Price said, or how he said it, the outcome was an ejection. And it follows a familiar theme from the past couple of years for the Rapids.
Colorado led the league in red cards in 2019, being shown nine. In 2018, the same group had 11 more yellow cards than any other MLS team at 90.
Given those numbers, one may argue the Rapids have had systemic discipline issues spanning three coaches over multiple seasons, and Fraser has not corrected it four matches into the team’s 2020 slate.
The Rapids head coach, however, doesn’t agree with that narrative.
“Do I think we have a discipline problem? No,” Fraser said. “I think this is an extremely hard-working team that feels like they were extremely hard done. And it’s a group who is resilient and they’ll come back, and they’ll keep working.”
Unfortunately, it was more than a 10-minute collapse and momentary lapse in judgement from the captain.
After Friday night’s loss, forwards Andre Shinyashiki and Nicolas Benezet took to social media to vent their frustrations. Shinyashiki retweeted a meme accusing the league of being in cahoots with Kansas City, while in a since-deleted tweet, Benezet told the commissioner to “get some real referees, no fake please.”
After a night’s sleep, the two each posted again criticizing officials for what they felt was an unfair match.
The Rapids’ grievances run deeper than one match, however. Some within the organization have complained in the past about an unusually high rate of cards to fouls. Research reveals that since the start of the 2018 season, no team in MLS has a higher amount of fouls result in yellow or red cards than the Rapids.
Of fouls called against Colorado in that time frame, 20.22% have come with a card. The next highest rate in the Western Conference is the L.A. Galaxy at 17.49%.
But that doesn’t tell the whole story. A look at 2019 shows something interesting. According to WhoScored.com, the Rapids and New England Revolution had the most cards that weren’t associated with in-play fouls. That means Colorado had more cards for unsportsmanlike conduct and dissent than anyone other than the Revs.
Since it is up to the officials to determine poor behavior, these cards can be highly subjective — just as Price learned Friday.
“Undoubtedly, we’ll miss his leadership and his calm,” Fraser said, looking ahead to Wednesday’s match against Minnesota without Price. “That’s funny that I said ‘his calm’ given what he got thrown out for, but we’ll miss his leadership and his presence for sure.”
While the Rapids’ loss to Sporting might not be the best example of a discipline problem, it appears they may now have a reputation that has led officials to judge them harshly.
Carded regularly
Since the start of the 2018 season, no team in MLS has a higher amount of fouls result in yellow or red cards than the Colorado Rapids. Here’s a look at the top 10:


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--JeffCo DA files hate-crime charges against man accused of driving over Sikh business owner

First Judicial District Attorney Pete Weir on Tuesday filed a hate-crime charge against a man accused of yelling “ go back to your country ” to a Sikh business owner in April before allegedly running him over in his car , the district attorney ’ s office said in a news release .
Eric Breeman , 36 , already faced 16 counts , including attempted murder , in connection with the April 29 incident at Two Angels liquor store in Lakewood .
Breeman came into the store that night and started knocking over items , before telling Lakhwant Singh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to your country , ” family members and an arrest affidavit said .
When Singh walked outside to get the license plate number , Breeman allegedly ran him over with his car .
Singh sustained multiple broken bones , including a spinal fracture and internal bleeding .
Singh was hospitalized until recently and investigators were finally able to interview him in person , the news release said .
As a result , the DA ’ s office elected to file the additional felony bias-motivated crime charge .
After the attack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country to the district attorney ’ s office , demanding Weir file hate-crime charges .
News of the new charge came as a victory to Kanwarbir Singh Sandhu , Gurdwara President at Colorado Singh Sabha .
Many Sikh community members own liquor stores and convenience stores like Singh , Singh Sandu said .
“ They were so scared to go to work and they had a fear in their heart , ” he said .
“ Now I think they ’ re going to be a little more comfortable.
” Throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone out of its way to donate thousands of masks , food to frontline workers and more .
But still some face instances of bullying or worse , Singh Sandhu said .
He condemned Breemen ’ s actions and thanked the district attorney for the new charge .
“ What happened to Lakhwant , we don ’ t want to see that happen to anybody in the community , ” he said .
“ Not only Sikhs , not only Christians , we don ’ t want that to happen to anyone.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County jail on $ 50,000 bail .
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday .

First Judicial District Attorney Pete Weir on Tuesday filed a hate-crime charge against a man accused by the victim’s family of yelling “go back to your country” to a Sikh business owner in April before allegedly running him over in his car, the district attorney’s office said in a news release.
Eric Breeman, 36, already faced 16 counts, including attempted murder, in connection with the April 29 incident at Two Angels liquor store in Lakewood.
Breeman came into the store that night and started knocking over items, before telling Lakhwant Singh, the liquor store owner, to “go back to your country,” family members and an arrest affidavit said. When Singh walked outside to get the license plate number, Breeman allegedly ran him over with his car. Singh sustained multiple broken bones, including a spinal fracture and internal bleeding. Singh was hospitalized until recently and investigators were finally able to interview him in person, the news release said.
As a result, the DA’s office elected to file the additional felony bias-motivated crime charge.
After the attack the Sikh community sent letters and petitions from across the country to the district attorney’s office, demanding Weir file hate-crime charges.
“I am so very grateful to everyone — Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike from Lakewood, elsewhere in Colorado, across the country, and beyond — who have stood with me and my family in this incredibly difficult time,” Singh said in a statement. “I appreciate the Jefferson County authorities hearing my story and, through these charges, recognizing the role that hate played in my horrible attack.”
News of the new charge came as a victory to Kanwarbir Singh Sandhu, Gurdwara President at Colorado Singh Sabha.
Many Sikh community members own liquor stores and convenience stores like Singh, Singh Sandu said.
“They were so scared to go to work and they had a fear in their heart,” he said. “Now I think they’re going to be a little more comfortable.”
Throughout the pandemic, the Sikh community has gone out of its way to donate thousands of masks, food to frontline workers and more. But still some face instances of bullying or worse, Singh Sandhu said. He condemned Breemen’s actions and thanked the district attorney for the new charge.
“What happened to Lakhwant, we don’t want to see that happen to anybody in the community,” he said. “Not only Sikhs, not only Christians, we don’t want that to happen to anyone.”
Breemen is being held at the Jefferson County jail on $50,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Guest commentary: Conservatives have moral duty to disown Michelle Malkin, Alt-Right

Coloradans are no stranger to rallies around the state Capitol .
On Sunday , pro-police ralliers in Civic Center were confronted by raucous counter-demonstrators , devolving into intimidation , shoving matches , and punches .
A main speaker at this rally was right-wing writer Michelle Malkin , who was physically accosted by far-left agitators .
This violence is anathema to a free society .
Antifa types and their allies stand against democratic values shared by conservatives and liberals alike .
What they did was unequivocally vile .
The rally was , however , a painful reminder that Malkin remains a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is morally unconscionable that she has a platform within conservative circles , including speaking at this rally .
Malkin was once within mainstream conservatism .
She formed early conservative blogs and was a regular speaker for groups like Young America ’ s Foundation and Conservative Political Action Conference , drawing crowds with spunk and provocative rhetoric .
Until recently , she called herself an immigration restrictionist ; someone who believes in limiting legal immigration as well as ending its illegal form .
She has since moved on to the fever swamps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right is a far-right , white identity movement of civic nationalists , border-hawk libertarians , and unseemly elements like white nationalists , right-wing street gangs , and white supremacists .
Among these Alt Right figures is Nick Fuentes , a white nationalist podcaster and head of the Groyper movement .
Fuentes came of political age marching with Nazis , white supremacists and other racists at the 2017 Unite the Right march in Charlottesville .
He dabbles in Holocaust denial , uses anti-Semitic language , and threatened Jewish conservative Ben Shapiro on air with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is a collection of young men who adopt an America First ideology along with racism and anti-Semitism .
They regularly sabotage the events of mainstream conservatives like Charlie Kirk , Ben Shapiro , Rep. Dan Crenshaw , and Donald Trump Jr. , trolling the Q & A with questions about white identity and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories .
Many on the Right spoke out against them .
But Malkin dug in , using her final speech at Young America ’ s Foundation to defend not just the Groypers and Nick Fuentes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick Casey , and John Derbyshire who have been rightfully booted from conservative circles .
After losing speaking engagements because of these associations , Malkin continued strong support of the Groypers ; this March , she headlined their political conference .
She proudly called herself their “ Mommy.
” She described the term anti-Semite as “ a useless , meaningless term and everybody knows it.
” Sen.Cory Gardner was labeled a “ hispanderer.
” Speaking to the Groypers , she was “ very confident that you , the Light Brigade , the America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do what so few other grassroots revolts and rebellions have succeeded in doing .
I believe in you .
I honor your charge .
I honor your mission.
” This was not half-praise of a few dissident conservatives against mainstream views on immigration .
It was a full-throated embrace of white dominance over minorities .
Malkin has long been a part of politics here in Colorado .
She headlined a pro-ICE rally last year as well .
In her Colorado speeches , Malkin does not mention her role with the Groypers or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado conservative leaders invite her to their rallies .
But this is morally wrong .
Conservatives should never stand with someone who adopts the language and views of racists and anti-Semites .
What message does it send to Jewish Coloradans that conservative leaders are willing to stand with Holocaust denial ?
What message does it send to minority Coloradans that a conservative darling sidles up to those who believe in racist violence ?
Any conservative leader associated with Malkin at this or other rallies must permanently distance themselves from her .
Their association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case against the radical “ Defund/Abolish The Police ” rhetoric .
This is not parroting left-wing “ cancel culture ” , but a legitimate matter of decency .
The Big Tent of conservatism must have tent flaps , and racists and anti-Semites must be kicked out with moral clarity .
Conservatives who protest when some deem them all to be racists should be determined to root out actual racists and allies like Malkin who have tried to subvert our movement .
Andrew Struttmann is owner and partner of Saratoga Strategies and a longtime @ @ @ @ @ @

Coloradans are no stranger to rallies around the state Capitol. On Sunday, pro-police ralliers in Civic Center were confronted by raucous counter-demonstrators, devolving into intimidation, shoving matches, and punches.
A main speaker at this rally was right-wing writer Michelle Malkin, who was physically accosted by far-left agitators. This violence is anathema to a free society. Antifa types and their allies stand against democratic values shared by conservatives and liberals alike. What they did was unequivocally vile.
The rally was, however, a painful reminder that Malkin remains a part of the conservative movement in Colorado. It is morally unconscionable that she has a platform within conservative circles, including speaking at this rally.
Malkin was once within mainstream conservatism. She formed early conservative blogs and was a regular speaker for groups like Young America’s Foundation and Conservative Political Action Conference, drawing crowds with spunk and provocative rhetoric.
Until recently, she called herself an immigration restrictionist; someone who believes in limiting legal immigration as well as ending its illegal form. She has since moved on to the fever swamps of the Alt Right.
The Alt Right is a far-right, white identity movement of civic nationalists, border-hawk libertarians, and unseemly elements like white nationalists, right-wing street gangs, and white supremacists.
Among these Alt Right figures is Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist podcaster and head of the Groyper movement. Fuentes came of political age marching with Nazis, white supremacists and other racists at the 2017 Unite the Right march in Charlottesville. He dabbles in Holocaust denial, uses anti-Semitic language, and threatened Jewish conservative Ben Shapiro on air with a switchblade.
His “Groyper Army” is a collection of young men who adopt an America First ideology along with racism and anti-Semitism. They regularly sabotage the events of mainstream conservatives like Charlie Kirk, Ben Shapiro, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, and Donald Trump Jr., trolling the Q&A with questions about white identity and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Many on the Right spoke out against them. But Malkin dug in, using her final speech at Young America’s Foundation to defend not just the Groypers and Nick Fuentes, but
other white nationalists like Peter Brimelow, Patrick Casey, and John Derbyshire who have been rightfully booted from conservative circles.
After losing speaking engagements because of these associations, Malkin continued strong support of the Groypers; this March, she headlined their political conference. She proudly called herself their “Mommy.” She described the term anti-Semite as “ a useless, meaningless term and everybody knows it.”
Sen.Cory Gardner was labeled a “hispanderer.” Speaking to the Groypers, she was “very confident that you, the Light Brigade, the America First Brigade, are well positioned to do what so few other grassroots revolts and rebellions have succeeded in doing. I believe in you. I honor your charge. I honor your mission.”
This was not half-praise of a few dissident conservatives against mainstream views on immigration. It was a full-throated embrace of white dominance over minorities. Malkin has long been a part of politics here in Colorado. She headlined a pro-ICE rally last year as well. In her Colorado speeches, Malkin does not mention her role with the Groypers or the Alt Right. It makes sense that Colorado conservative leaders invite her to their rallies.
But this is morally wrong. Conservatives should never stand with someone who adopts the language and views of racists and anti-Semites. What message does it send to Jewish Coloradans that conservative leaders are willing to stand with Holocaust denial?
What message does it send to minority Coloradans that a conservative darling sidles up to those who believe in racist violence? Any conservative leader associated with Malkin at this or other rallies must permanently distance themselves from her. Their association harms the conservative movement and
muffles the case against the radical “Defund/Abolish The Police” rhetoric.
This is not parroting left-wing “cancel culture”, but a legitimate matter of decency. The Big Tent of conservatism must have tent flaps, and racists and anti-Semites must be kicked out with moral clarity. Conservatives who protest when some deem them all to be racists should be determined to root out actual racists and allies like Malkin who have tried to subvert our movement.
Andrew Struttmann is owner and partner of Saratoga Strategies and a longtime
Republican political consultant in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Trump has been on both sides of the states’ rights argument

WASHINGTON — When it comes to states ’ rights , President Donald Trump is all over the map .
To battle the coronavirus , he ’ s told states they ’ re largely on their own .
But when it comes to stamping out protests in cities led by Democrats , Trump is sending in federal troops and agents — even when local leaders are begging him to butt out .
It ’ s a driven-by-expedience approach that ’ s been a hallmark of his stormy presidency , one that has little to do with ideology and more to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in the White House for three and a half years , anyone expecting to find classical ideological consistency is bound to be mistaken , ” said Andrew J. Polsky , a political science professor at Hunter College .
“ All of this is done for partisan political purposes with an eye toward the election.
” For months now as he ’ s tried to skirt responsibility for the nation ’ s flawed response to the coronavirus , Trump has put the onus on states , first to acquire protective gear and testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing .
“ The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping .
You know , we ’ re not a shipping clerk , ” Trump said in March when testing in the U.S. severely lagged behind other countries and governors were pleading for help as they competed against one another on the open market .
Just a month later , Trump flipped to asserting vast executive authority as he pushed states to reopen their economies fast .
“ When somebody is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority is total , ” he declared in April , in an inaccurate interpretation of the Constitution .
He quickly reversed course , saying he ’ d leave reopening plans up to the states , but continued to threaten to intervene if he didn ’ t like what they were doing .
Now , he ’ s pressuring schools to fully reopen in September , saying he ’ ll pull funding from school districts that continue to keep kids home .
That approach stands in stark contract with Trump ’ s view of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mantle under which he ’ s decided to run his 2020 race .
After National Guard troops were deployed to Washington , D.C. , to quell protests near the White House following the police killing of George Floyd , the Department of Homeland Security now has agents patrolling Portland , Oregon , to protect federal buildings , despite pleas from the mayor , governor and local activists to leave .
And DHS is poised to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations agents to Chicago to bolster local law enforcement , according to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wasn ’ t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
“ Keep your troops in your own buildings , or have them leave our city , ” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said Friday .
“ We are trying to help Portland , not hurt it , ” Trump tweeted in response .
“ Their leadership has , for months , lost control of the anarchists and agitators .
They are missing in action .
We must protect Federal property , AND OUR PEOPLE.
” Chad Wolf , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created after the Sept. 11 attacks to protect the country from terrorist threats , said Monday on Fox News the agency had every right to protect some 9,000 federal facilities across the country .
“ I don ’ t need invitations by the state , state mayors or state governors to do our job , ” Wolf said .
“ We ’ re going to do that , whether they like us there or not.
” But Jann Carson , interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using munitions and abducting people in unmarked vans have escalated tensions and made the situation worse .
“ What the federal agents are doing in Portland should concern people everywhere in the United States , ” she said .
“ We know that the president is trying to change the narrative ( and say ) that cities like Portland are in crisis , that he ’ s got to send in federal agents to bring about law and order , and that couldn ’ t be further from the truth .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ But he is not bringing law and order .
This is lawlessness and needs to be stopped.
” Oregon ’ s two U.S. senators and two of its House members have demanded U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Wolf immediately withdraw “ these federal paramilitary forces from our state.
” And top leaders in the U.S. House said Sunday they ’ ve called on federal inspectors general to investigate .
Still , Jennifer Selin , an assistant professor of constitutional democracy at the University of Missouri whose work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the separation of powers , said that , while Trump has been unusually blatant in his efforts , presidents have relied on politicized interpretations of federalism since George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion over taxes .
Selin pointed to the 1950s and 1960s as the country grappled with the extent to which it should be up to states to integrate schools and allocate housing .
“ I think that the short answer is that federalism can be used strategically and politically , which , to be 100 % honest , is nothing new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , when it comes to the virus , Trump has attempted “ to displace responsibility for dealing with the pandemic onto states , onto governors .
I don ’ t think that was driven by ideology .
I think that was driven by wanting to keep responsibility as far from him as possible.
” But when it comes to law enforcement , Polsky sees an attempt to stoke “ unrest in sites that can then be broadcast on television , at least in the conservative and right-wing media ” to rouse the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believing a strong approach is needed .
“ It ’ s selective federalism , ” added Julian Zelizer , a historian at Princeton University .
“ I think obviously when it comes to closing and how to do reopening , he has been incredibly hands-off … he hasn ’ t used his presidential hand in ways that he could have .
And then you have protests in the city of Portland , which really shouldn ’ t be a center of discussion right now , and then you have these troops being sent.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s no logic to it , ” Zelizer said — other than what may serve his political interests .

WASHINGTON — When it comes to states’ rights, President Donald Trump is all over the map.
To battle the coronavirus, he’s told states they’re largely on their own. But when it comes to stamping out protests in cities led by Democrats, Trump is sending in federal troops and agents — even when local leaders are begging him to butt out.
It’s a driven-by-expedience approach that’s been a hallmark of his stormy presidency, one that has little to do with ideology and more to do with reelection efforts.
“After seeing Trump in the White House for three and a half years, anyone expecting to find classical ideological consistency is bound to be mistaken,” said Andrew J. Polsky, a political science professor at Hunter College. “All of this is done for partisan political purposes with an eye toward the election.”
For months now as he’s tried to skirt responsibility for the nation’s flawed response to the coronavirus, Trump has put the onus on states, first to acquire protective gear and testing agents and then to scale testing and contact tracing.
“The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we’re not a shipping clerk,” Trump said in March when testing in the U.S. severely lagged behind other countries and governors were pleading for help as they competed against one another on the open market.
Just a month later, Trump flipped to asserting vast executive authority as he pushed states to reopen their economies fast.
“When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total,” he declared in April, in an inaccurate interpretation of the Constitution.
He quickly reversed course, saying he’d leave reopening plans up to the states, but continued to threaten to intervene if he didn’t like what they were doing. Now, he’s pressuring schools to fully reopen in September, saying he’ll pull funding from school districts that continue to keep kids home.
That approach stands in stark contract with Trump’s view of “law and order,” the mantle under which he’s decided to run his 2020 race.
After National Guard troops were deployed to Washington, D.C., to quell protests near the White House following the police killing of George Floyd, the Department of Homeland Security now has agents patrolling Portland, Oregon, to protect federal buildings, despite pleas from the mayor, governor and local activists to leave.
And DHS is poised to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations agents to Chicago to bolster local law enforcement, according to an official with direct knowledge of the plans who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“Keep your troops in your own buildings, or have them leave our city,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said Friday.
“We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it,” Trump tweeted in response. “Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE.”
Chad Wolf, the acting DHS secretary, whose agency was created after the Sept. 11 attacks to protect the country from terrorist threats, said Monday on Fox News the agency had every right to protect some 9,000 federal facilities across the country.
“I don’t need invitations by the state, state mayors or state governors to do our job,” Wolf said. “We’re going to do that, whether they like us there or not.”
But Jann Carson, interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, said federal agents dressed in camouflage, indiscriminately using munitions and abducting people in unmarked vans have escalated tensions and made the situation worse.
“What the federal agents are doing in Portland should concern people everywhere in the United States,” she said. “We know that the president is trying to change the narrative (and say) that cities like Portland are in crisis, that he’s got to send in federal agents to bring about law and order, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“He wants to be a law-and-order president,” she said. “But he is not bringing law and order. This is lawlessness and needs to be stopped.”
Oregon’s two U.S. senators and two of its House members have demanded U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Wolf immediately withdraw “these federal paramilitary forces from our state.” And top leaders in the U.S. House said Sunday they’ve called on federal inspectors general to investigate.
Still, Jennifer Selin, an assistant professor of constitutional democracy at the University of Missouri whose work has focused, in part, on the separation of powers, said that, while Trump has been unusually blatant in his efforts, presidents have relied on politicized interpretations of federalism since George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion over taxes.
Selin pointed to the 1950s and 1960s as the country grappled with the extent to which it should be up to states to integrate schools and allocate housing.
“I think that the short answer is that federalism can be used strategically and politically, which, to be 100% honest, is nothing new,” she said.
Polsky said that, when it comes to the virus, Trump has attempted “to displace responsibility for dealing with the pandemic onto states, onto governors. I don’t think that was driven by ideology. I think that was driven by wanting to keep responsibility as far from him as possible.”
But when it comes to law enforcement, Polsky sees an attempt to stoke “unrest in sites that can then be broadcast on television, at least in the conservative and right-wing media” to rouse the Republican base and scare suburban voters into believing a strong approach is needed.
“It’s selective federalism,” added Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University. “I think obviously when it comes to closing and how to do reopening, he has been incredibly hands-off … he hasn’t used his presidential hand in ways that he could have. And then you have protests in the city of Portland, which really shouldn’t be a center of discussion right now, and then you have these troops being sent.”
“Obviously with President Trump, there’s no logic to it,” Zelizer said — other than what may serve his political interests.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Powerful 7.8 earthquake jolts Alaska towns, produces small tsunami

ANCHORAGE , Alaska — A powerful earthquake located off Alaska ’ s southern coast jolted some coastal communities late Tuesday , and some residents briefly scrambled for higher ground over fears of a tsunami .
There were no immediate reports of damage in the sparsely populated area of the state , and tsunami warning was canceled after the magnitude 7.8 quake off the Alaska Peninsula produced a wave of a less than a foot .
According to the U.S. Geological Survey , the earthquake struck Tuesday at 10:12 p.m. local time , centered in waters 65 miles ( 105 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a depth of 17 miles ( 28 km ) .
Because of its location , nearby communities along the Alaska Peninsula did not experience shaking that would normally be associated with that magnitude of a quake , said Michael West , Alaska State Seismologist .
However , that doesn ’ t mean they slept through it : West said residents in small towns within a hundred miles of the quake reported very strong shaking , and was also felt more than 500 miles away in the Anchorage area , West said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kodiak Police Sgt .
Mike Sorter told The Associated Press early Wednesday morning .
“ No injuries were reported .
Everything is nominal.
” Kodiak is about 200 miles northeast of where the earthquake was centered .
The tsunami warning had coastal residents evacuating for higher ground .
Social media posts showed long lines of people fleeing towns like Homer and Kodiak while tsunami sirens wailed in the background .
On Kodiak Island , the local high school opened its doors for evacuees , as did the local Catholic school , the Anchorage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got a high school full of people , ” said Larry LeDoux , superintendent of the Kodiak School District .
“ I ’ ve been passing out masks since the first siren sounded , ” he told the Daily News .
“ Everything ’ s as calm as can be .
We ’ ve got probably 300 , 400 people all wearing masks , ” he said before the warning was canceled .
Tsunami warnings are commonplace for people who grew up in Kodiak .
” I ’ ve been doing these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” LeDoux told the newspaper .
“ Old news.
” Officials at the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer , Alaska , began calling off tsunami advisories and warnings after a wave of only 25 centimeters ( .8 foot ) was recorded in the community of Sand Point .
“ I might have expected a little bit more water , but I ’ m happy that there wasn ’ t , ” said David Hale , the senior duty scientist at the tsunami center .
Tuesday ’ s quake was more powerful than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Anchorage area in November 2018 .
“ This earthquake released about 15 times as much energy as that earthquake , said West , the state seismologist .
More than a dozen aftershocks of magnitude 4.0 or higher were reported immediately after the earthquake , he said by telephone from the Alaska Earthquake Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks .
” We got people here who are going be working all night , ” West said early Wednesday morning .
” These aftershocks will go and go and go and go.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a magnitude 9.2 quake in 1964 was centered .
That remains the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded .
The temblor and ensuing tsunami caused widespread damage and killed 131 people , some as far away as Oregon and California .
Alaska is the most actively seismic state .
Nearly 25,000 earthquakes have been recorded in Alaska since Jan. 1 , according to the center .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A powerful earthquake located off Alaska’s southern coast jolted some coastal communities late Tuesday, and some residents briefly scrambled for higher ground over fears of a tsunami.
There were no immediate reports of damage in the sparsely populated area of the state, and tsunami warning was canceled after the magnitude 7.8 quake off the Alaska Peninsula produced a wave of a less than a foot.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake struck Tuesday at 10:12 p.m. local time, centered in waters 65 miles (105 kilometers) south-southeast of Perryville, Alaska at a depth of 17 miles (28 km).
Because of its location, nearby communities along the Alaska Peninsula did not experience shaking that would normally be associated with that magnitude of a quake, said Michael West, Alaska State Seismologist.
However, that doesn’t mean they slept through it: West said residents in small towns within a hundred miles of the quake reported very strong shaking, and was also felt more than 500 miles away in the Anchorage area, West said.
“No reports of any damage,” Kodiak Police Sgt. Mike Sorter told The Associated Press early Wednesday morning. “No injuries were reported. Everything is nominal.”
Kodiak is about 200 miles northeast of where the earthquake was centered.
The tsunami warning had coastal residents evacuating for higher ground. Social media posts showed long lines of people fleeing towns like Homer and Kodiak while tsunami sirens wailed in the background.
On Kodiak Island, the local high school opened its doors for evacuees, as did the local Catholic school, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
“We’ve got a high school full of people,” said Larry LeDoux, superintendent of the Kodiak School District. “I’ve been passing out masks since the first siren sounded,” he told the Daily News.
“Everything’s as calm as can be. We’ve got probably 300, 400 people all wearing masks,” he said before the warning was canceled.
Tsunami warnings are commonplace for people who grew up in Kodiak.
”I’ve been doing these since I was a little kid,” LeDoux told the newspaper. “Old news.”
Officials at the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, began calling off tsunami advisories and warnings after a wave of only 25 centimeters (.8 foot) was recorded in the community of Sand Point.
“I might have expected a little bit more water, but I’m happy that there wasn’t,” said David Hale, the senior duty scientist at the tsunami center.
Tuesday’s quake was more powerful than the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that caused damage in the Anchorage area in November 2018.
“This earthquake released about 15 times as much energy as that earthquake, said West, the state seismologist.
More than a dozen aftershocks of magnitude 4.0 or higher were reported immediately after the earthquake, he said by telephone from the Alaska Earthquake Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
”We got people here who are going be working all night,” West said early Wednesday morning. ”These aftershocks will go and go and go and go.”
The Alaska-Aleutian Trench was also where a magnitude 9.2 quake in 1964 was centered. That remains the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The temblor and ensuing tsunami caused widespread damage and killed 131 people, some as far away as Oregon and California. Alaska is the most actively seismic state. Nearly 25,000 earthquakes have been recorded in Alaska since Jan. 1, according to the center.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Denver rents drop for the first time in years but apartment industry’s focus is on potential evictio

Denver rents drop for the first time in years but apartment industry’s focus is on potential eviction crisis

Denver ’ s average rent fell over the past 12 months .
Yes , went down .
Yes , it ’ s been a long time since that happened .
More than a decade , in fact .
The Apartment Association of Metro Denver ’ s quarterly rental survey pegged the average cost to lease a place in the seven-county Denver area at $ 1,506 a month between April and June .
That ’ s $ 360 less than the average rent over the same time last year .
Vacancy rates , meanwhile , were roughly flat at just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mile High metro saw a year-over-year rent decrease : the second half of 2008 to the second half of 2009 , association officials say .
In a news release covering the survey results , association executive vice president Mark Williams called the decrease “ good news for future renters.
” After a decade of skyrocketing rents , the decrease is big news , but a majority of Tuesday morning ’ s call was spent discussing the industry ’ s most pressing topic : unpaid rents and whether or a major spike in evictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The apartment association modified its survey , funded in part by the Colorado Division of Housing and conducted every three months by the University of Denver ’ s Daniels College of Business and Colorado Economic and Management Associates , to collect COVID-19 specific data last quarter .
Across its members — a group of small , medium and large landlords that own more than 361,000 apartments in the Denver — a majority reported that at least 95 % of their tenants are up to date on rent .
“ We went into April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemonium and that didn ’ t happen , ” Drew Hamrick , the association ’ s senior vice president of government affairs , said Tuesday .
“ We are not experiencing a crisis of evictions.
” Hamrick presented data Tuesday detailing Colorado evictions since 2001 .
In that time , they never fell below 36,500 in a year and never went above 50,220 regardless of the state ’ s unemployment situation and despite the population growing by more than a million people over that period .
Last year , 38,183 evictions were filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s June unemployment rate of 10.5 % is more than four times higher than what it was in February , he does not expect a major spike in evictions .
In June , 95.4 % of Coloradans paid their rent , according to the data Hammrick presented , down less than 1 % from June 2020 .
“ You ’ re not going to see a 10-fold increase in the evictions number , ” he said .
“ The landlord doesn ’ t make any money on empty units , and obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Apartment association officials acknowledged the rental delinquency rates varied by the type of property .
High-end “ Class A ” spaces reported late payment rates around 2 % .
Meanwhile , much cheaper “ Class C ” buildings that cater to lower-income earners saw delinquency of greater than 10 % , according to Williams .
The Denver Housing Authority manages more than 4,400 apartments in Denver , ranging from market-rate to income-qualified affordable units .
As of the end of June , 14.5 % of its tenants owed past-due rent , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those people will lose their homes .
“ We are working with all of the families on a payment plans , ” Madrid said .
“ We ’ re in the business of housing , not in the business of evictions.
” Zach Neumann sees the potential for a huge spike in evictions in Colorado based on factors including unemployment and the impending end of the $ 600-per-week federal unemployment subsidy .
His COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project ’ s current forecast projects that more than 390,000 Coloradans will be at risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He believes people are doing everything they can to stay housed and if the state or federal government doesn ’ t provide more support , many people will run out of rope .
“ The fear of becoming homeless is incredibly powerful and people will literally spend their last possible dollar to remain housed , ” he said .

Denver’s average rent fell over the past 12 months. Yes, went down. Yes, it’s been a long time since that happened. More than a decade, in fact.
The Apartment Association of Metro Denver’s quarterly rental survey pegged the average cost to lease a place in the seven-county Denver area at $1,506 a month between April and June. That’s $30 per month cheaper than the average rent over the same period last year, a 2.1% decrease when adjusted for inflation, according to the association. Vacancy rates, meanwhile, were roughly flat at just over 5%.
The last time the Mile High metro saw a year-over-year rent decrease: the second half of 2008 to the second half of 2009, association officials say.
In a news release covering the survey results, association executive vice president Mark Williams called the decrease “good news for future renters.”
After a decade of skyrocketing rents, the decrease is big news, but a majority of Tuesday morning’s call was spent discussing the industry’s most pressing topic: unpaid rents and whether or a major spike in evictions is coming in the months ahead.
The apartment association modified its survey, funded in part by the Colorado Division of Housing and conducted every three months by the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and Colorado Economic and Management Associates, to collect COVID-19 specific data last quarter. Across its members — a group of small, medium and large landlords that own more than 361,000 apartments in the Denver — a majority reported that at least 95% of their tenants are up to date on rent.
“We went into April with the prediction that it would be pandemonium and that didn’t happen,” Drew Hamrick, the association’s senior vice president of government affairs, said Tuesday. “We are not experiencing a crisis of evictions.”
(At the end of April, Gov. Jared Polis issued an eviction moratorium that was extended through June 13. He has also extended the eviction notice period in the state from 10 to 30 days for the time being, effectively delaying evictions.)
Hamrick presented data Tuesday detailing Colorado evictions since 2001. In that time, they never fell below 36,500 in a year and never went above 50,220 regardless of the state’s unemployment situation and despite the population growing by more than a million people over that period. Last year, 38,183 evictions were filed in the state.
Even though Colorado’s June unemployment rate of 10.5% is more than four times higher than what it was in February, he does not expect a major spike in evictions. In June, 95.4% of Coloradans paid their rent, according to the data Hammrick presented, down less than 1% from June 2019.
“You’re not going to see a 10-fold increase in the evictions number,” he said. “The landlord doesn’t make any money on empty units, and obviously we all need a place to live.”
Apartment association officials acknowledged the rental delinquency rates varied by the type of property. High-end “Class A” spaces reported late payment rates around 2%. Meanwhile, much cheaper “Class C” buildings that cater to lower-income earners saw delinquency of greater than 10%, according to Williams.
The Denver Housing Authority manages more than 4,400 apartments in Denver, ranging from market-rate to income-qualified affordable units. As of the end of June, 14.5% of its tenants owed past-due rent, according to agency spokeswoman Stella Madrid. None of those people will lose their homes.
“We are working with all of the families on a payment plans,” Madrid said. “We’re in the business of housing, not in the business of evictions.”
Zach Neumann sees the potential for a huge spike in evictions in Colorado based on factors including unemployment and the impending end of the $600-per-week federal unemployment subsidy. His COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project’s current forecast projects that more than 390,000 Coloradans will be at risk of eviction by the end of September. He believes people are doing everything they can to stay housed and if the state or federal government doesn’t provide more support, many people will run out of rope.
“The fear of becoming homeless is incredibly powerful and people will literally spend their last possible dollar to remain housed,” he said.
Updated July 23, 2020, at 1:11 p.m. Because of an error by a reporter, the decrease in average monthly rent from 2019 to 2020 was incorrect in the original version of this story.