thedenverpost--2020-06-19--Colorado loosens coronavirus guidelines, but keeps preparing for the worst

Colorado released new guidelines loosening restrictions on businesses and encouraging in-state travel Friday — the same day that Gov .
Jared Polis signed an order extending permission to use stadiums as overflow hospitals .
So far , the number of new cases and hospitalizations suggest Colorado is still on a favorable trajectory , state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said .
Some surveys suggest Colorado residents are more willing to wear masks than people in states that have seen a second wave , and those individual choices will dictate what direction the curve takes , she said .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
The Colorado Hospital Association said 156 people were hospitalized as of Friday afternoon , capping a week of relatively level numbers .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 292 new cases Friday – the highest number in two weeks , but still well below the peak in late April .
Three deaths have been recorded so far this week , though it ’ s not uncommon for the toll to rise weeks later as information makes its way to the state .
Large gatherings still “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , as was seen in Boulder where more than 100 residents became sick after recent parties , protests and travel , said Glen Mays , a professor of health policy at the Colorado School of Public Health .
The city of Boulder announced Friday it could penalize houses where people repeatedly flout the rules , with the possibility of forbidding them to operate as rentals if all else fails .
The San Luis Valley Emergency Operations Center also reported concerns about what it considers an ongoing surge that started in late May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , but that most likely reflects changes in data gathering , the center ’ s website said .
The governor ’ s plan for local communities to have testing and contact tracing in place before opening up to larger events will help health officials quickly detect a spike in cases , Mays said .
State and local health departments are still working , however , to increase their capacity to do both , he said .
“ There ’ s certainly reasons to be concerned , particularly with large gatherings , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
“ It ’ s a potential early warning signal that we ’ re seeing increased transmission in Boulder for example.
” The state seems to be preparing for the worst-case scenario , though officials have said they ’ re comfortable with the current number of cases .
Polis issued an executive order Friday that would allow temporary hospital facilities to operate through July 18 .
The facilities were set up in case hospitals became overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and needed to send those who were less ill somewhere to recuperate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Colorado has been spared the monster wave of cases that hit New York and several European countries .
A day earlier , the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released “ crisis standards ” for palliative care , which recommend how hospitals and hospice providers can try to meet patients ’ needs for pain relief and comfort care if they become overwhelmed due to the pandemic .
The standards would only be used if there ’ s a massive increase in patients , though .
The state previously released guidelines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never gave permission to follow them because the situation wasn ’ t severe enough to warrant waiving normal rules about appropriate care .
On Friday , CDPHE released updates to the Safer at Home guidelines , allowing more businesses to open with capacity limits .
Non-critical manufacturers can reopen and universities can hold in-person classes , as long as assembly lines and classrooms are at no more than half of their capacity .
Overnight summer camps will be able to run , so long as no more than 10 kids are together indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the client doesn ’ t wear a mask , like facials , if the employee performing the service has extra protection .
The Colorado Tourism Office also announced Friday that it ’ s encouraging out-of-state travelers to take precautions as they visit the state – a change from May , when they launched a campaign asking tourists not to come .
On a press call Friday afternoon , Herlihy hedged when asked if it was safe for out-of-state travelers to come to Colorado and pointed to guidance from CDPHE on relatively low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk is higher for indoor activities , and rises as more people spend longer periods of time close together , she said .
But everyone has to consider how much the virus is spreading locally , their risk of becoming severely ill and how important an activity is to them when making an individual choice .
“ It ’ s important for Coloradans to figure out where on this spectrum you feel comfortable , ” she said .
Cathy Ritter , director of the Colorado Tourism Office , said the state is launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for virus-related restrictions before they hit the road and to continue following guidelines like wearing masks , standing six feet apart and washing their hands frequently .
Welcome centers will open July 1 with brochures about the guidelines , and in some cases , free bandanas for overnight visitors to use as masks , she said .
“ We can intercept them at our border with this message about responsible travel , ” she said .
“ We think education is the best way to encourage that.
” As Colorado relaxes restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hair salons closed , it is inevitable the state will see the number of novel coronavirus infections increase , said Dr. Eric Toner , senior scholar for Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
“ It ’ s a question of how much , ” he said .
The concern , Toner said , is when there ’ s a dramatic increase in cases , such as in Arizona .
Without a vaccine or cure , success is identified when a community is able to manage the disease through testing and contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can ’ t make the virus go away , ” he said .
‘ We have to live with it .
That means we keep it down to a low roar .
We ’ re able to have a number of cases down to a level we can live with and have a working economy and not have things get out of control.
” Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Colorado released new guidelines loosening restrictions on businesses and encouraging in-state travel Friday — the same day that Gov. Jared Polis signed an order extending permission to use stadiums as overflow hospitals.
So far, the number of new cases and hospitalizations suggest Colorado is still on a favorable trajectory, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. Some surveys suggest Colorado residents are more willing to wear masks than people in states that have seen a second wave, and those individual choices will dictate what direction the curve takes, she said.
“We’re really dependent on human behavior,” she said.
The Colorado Hospital Association said 156 people were hospitalized as of Friday afternoon, capping a week of relatively level numbers. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 292 new cases Friday – the highest number in two weeks, but still well below the peak in late April. Three deaths have been recorded so far this week, though it’s not uncommon for the toll to rise weeks later as information makes its way to the state.
Large gatherings still “present significant risks” of transmission of COVID-19, as was seen in Boulder where more than 100 residents became sick after recent parties, protests and travel, said Glen Mays, a professor of health policy at the Colorado School of Public Health. The city of Boulder announced Friday it could penalize houses where people repeatedly flout the rules, with the possibility of forbidding them to operate as rentals if all else fails.
The San Luis Valley Emergency Operations Center also reported concerns about what it considers an ongoing surge that started in late May. Cases appeared to decline in early June, but that most likely reflects changes in data gathering, the center’s website said.
The governor’s plan for local communities to have testing and contact tracing in place before opening up to larger events will help health officials quickly detect a spike in cases, Mays said. State and local health departments are still working, however, to increase their capacity to do both, he said.
“There’s certainly reasons to be concerned, particularly with large gatherings,” he said of the recent uptick in cases. “It’s a potential early warning signal that we’re seeing increased transmission in Boulder for example.”
The state seems to be preparing for the worst-case scenario, though officials have said they’re comfortable with the current number of cases. Polis issued an executive order Friday that would allow temporary hospital facilities to operate through July 18. The facilities were set up in case hospitals became overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and needed to send those who were less ill somewhere to recuperate. They’ve never been used, since Colorado has been spared the monster wave of cases that hit New York and several European countries.
A day earlier, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released “crisis standards” for palliative care, which recommend how hospitals and hospice providers can try to meet patients’ needs for pain relief and comfort care if they become overwhelmed due to the pandemic. The standards would only be used if there’s a massive increase in patients, though. The state previously released guidelines for other types of hospital care, but never gave permission to follow them because the situation wasn’t severe enough to warrant waiving normal rules about appropriate care.
On Friday, CDPHE released updates to the Safer at Home guidelines, allowing more businesses to open with capacity limits. Non-critical manufacturers can reopen and universities can hold in-person classes, as long as assembly lines and classrooms are at no more than half of their capacity. Overnight summer camps will be able to run, so long as no more than 10 kids are together indoors, and salons can begin offering services where the client doesn’t wear a mask, like facials, if the employee performing the service has extra protection.
The Colorado Tourism Office also announced Friday that it’s encouraging out-of-state travelers to take precautions as they visit the state – a change from May, when they launched a campaign asking tourists not to come.
On a press call Friday afternoon, Herlihy hedged when asked if it was safe for out-of-state travelers to come to Colorado and pointed to guidance from CDPHE on relatively low or high risk activities. Generally, risk is higher for indoor activities, and rises as more people spend longer periods of time close together, she said. But everyone has to consider how much the virus is spreading locally, their risk of becoming severely ill and how important an activity is to them when making an individual choice.
“It’s important for Coloradans to figure out where on this spectrum you feel comfortable,” she said.
Cathy Ritter, director of the Colorado Tourism Office, said the state is launching a campaign to encourage travelers to check for virus-related restrictions before they hit the road and to continue following guidelines like wearing masks, standing six feet apart and washing their hands frequently. Welcome centers will open July 1 with brochures about the guidelines, and in some cases, free bandanas for overnight visitors to use as masks, she said.
“We can intercept them at our border with this message about responsible travel,” she said. “We think education is the best way to encourage that.”
As Colorado relaxes restrictions, such as those that previously kept bars and hair salons closed, it is inevitable the state will see the number of novel coronavirus infections increase, said Dr. Eric Toner, senior scholar for Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
“It’s a question of how much,” he said.
The concern, Toner said, is when there’s a dramatic increase in cases, such as in Arizona. Without a vaccine or cure, success is identified when a community is able to manage the disease through testing and contact tracing without having patients overwhelm hospitals.
“We can’t make the virus go away,” he said. ‘We have to live with it. That means we keep it down to a low roar. We’re able to have a number of cases down to a level we can live with and have a working economy and not have things get out of control.”
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--This Dreamer wanted to celebrate the Supreme Court’s DACA decision. He ended the night in handcuffs.

Jorge Resendez woke up Thursday morning to a phone buzzing with texts .
The U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program over the Trump Administration ’ s attempts to end it , giving a temporary victory to approximately 15,000 Coloradans .
Resendez went downtown to celebrate but ended the day in handcuffs .
The 32-year-old had earlier shared his experience as a DACA-recipient with the crowd and marched with hundreds to the Downtown Detention Center to protest racial profiling after the immigration rally merged with a police protest .
As rain picked up and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grabbed some signs and long orange tubes that organizers had used to link arms in the street .
But as the two walked toward their cars , multiple police cars drove behind them .
They were handcuffed as officers searched their backpacks , Resendez said .
More police cars appeared .
He didn ’ t know why .
“ It was a really scary moment at the beginning , being surrounded by so many cops , not knowing what would happen , ” Resendez said .
“ What could happen to me as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to explain to them that we did not participate .
We didn ’ t know what they were detaining us for.
” Police took them to a substation off Colfax Avenue and issued citations for “ obstruction equipment prohibited.
” In an email , Denver police said “ those cited were observed using the equipment to block traffic .
They were contacted after they left the intersection.
” Protestors had blocked traffic briefly on Colfax Avenue in front of Denver ’ s jail , but there was no observed police presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he never blocked the intersection .
The day had started as a celebration .
It ended with him wondering if he was going to jail .
“ I couldn ’ t speak for a while , ” Resendez said after being released .
“ There was so many things running though my head.
” Other organizers rushed to help and called state Sen. Julie Gonzalez , D-Denver , to help .
“ What a painful way to end such a powerful day , ” Gonzalez said .
“ There is so much work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement .
“ It ’ s interactions like these simple misunderstandings that really hinder efforts to actually restore that trust , ” she said .

Jorge Resendez woke up Thursday morning to a phone buzzing with texts.
The U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program over the Trump Administration’s attempts to end it, giving a temporary victory to approximately 15,000 Coloradans.
Resendez went downtown to celebrate but ended the day in handcuffs.
The 32-year-old had earlier shared his experience as a DACA-recipient with the crowd and marched with hundreds to the Downtown Detention Center to protest racial profiling after the immigration rally merged with a police protest.
As rain picked up and the rally dissipated, Resendez and another friend grabbed some signs and long orange tubes that organizers had used to link arms in the street.
But as the two walked toward their cars, multiple police cars drove behind them. They were handcuffed as officers searched their backpacks, Resendez said. More police cars appeared.
He didn’t know why.
“It was a really scary moment at the beginning, being surrounded by so many cops, not knowing what would happen,” Resendez said. “What could happen to me as an immigrant … and then also not being able to explain to them that we did not participate. We didn’t know what they were detaining us for.”
Police took them to a substation off Colfax Avenue and issued citations for “obstruction equipment prohibited.”
In an email, Denver police said “those cited were observed using the equipment to block traffic. They were contacted after they left the intersection.”
Protestors had blocked traffic briefly on Colfax Avenue in front of Denver’s jail, but there was no observed police presence at the time. But Resendez said he never blocked the intersection.
The day had started as a celebration. It ended with him wondering if he was going to jail.
“I couldn’t speak for a while,” Resendez said after being released. “There was so many things running though my head.”
Other organizers rushed to help and called state Sen. Julie Gonzalez, D-Denver, to help.
“What a painful way to end such a powerful day,” Gonzalez said. “There is so much work to do to mend community trust in law enforcement.
“It’s interactions like these simple misunderstandings that really hinder efforts to actually restore that trust,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--Former Xcel employee sentenced to more than 2 years in prison for fraud

A federal judge this week sentenced a Denver man to 27 months behind bars for perpetrating an elaborate decade-long scheme to defraud Xcel Energy and the IRS — money he used to buy an SUV , golf supplies and cigars , it was announced Friday .
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn said in a press release that as part of Stephen Yobst ’ s federal prison sentence , the 64-year-old certified public accountant , who worked for Xcel for years , was ordered to pay more than $ 1.1 million in restitution .
Yobst will also be subject to 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which include wire fraud , conspiracy to defraud the United States , filing false tax returns and theft of government funds .
He pleaded guilty to the charges last September .
He was sentenced on Monday .
“ The defendant not only created and operated a complex scheme to steal from his employer , he stole from all of us as taxpayers , ” Dunn said .
“ Thanks to the great work of IRS – Criminal Investigation , the FBI , and the team in my office , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison to think about his conduct.
” Prosecutors say that Yobst , who worked for Xcel as a sourcing and purchasing manager , partnered with James Brittain to “ divert , use and convert funds for their own personal benefit without Xcel ’ s authorization ” by setting up a company called Pacific Exchange Group ( PEG ) through which the men would hold the proceeds Xcel accrued on the sales of the utility ’ s properties , like vehicles and transformers .
PEG entered into “ master exchange agreement ” with Xcel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes on gains from the sale of assets if the sales were reinvested in similar property as permitted by the IRS .
Yobst , representing Xcel , negotiated with Brittain , who represented PEG , over Xcel ’ s assets .
The utility deposited the proceeds from the sale of its transformers and fleet vehicles with PEG and PEG was to hold the funds until directed by Xcel to distribute them for the purchase of replacement assets .
Xcel agreed to pay PEG a 5 % commission on the sale price for vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scheme , which began in 2005 , continued through May of 2015 , the government contends .
The diversion of funds included transfers from the PEG account to a Scottrade Account for $ 400,000 , which was used by Yobst and Brittain to trade stocks ; $ 363,966 in payments to American Express for Yobst ’ s personal expenditures ; and a $ 42,250 wire transfer from Yobst to an automotive dealer to purchase a 2011 Honda Pilot .
Additionally , between March 2011 and October 2014 , Yobst , acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10,500 a month from the PEG bank account to an account Yobst personally controlled .
Yobst used a PEG American Express credit card to pay for golf supplies , leisure travel , cigars , and other items , but did not report these disbursements on his taxes , prosecutors said .
Yobst was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson to pay restitution totaling $ 1,167,273 , with $ 806,216 going to Xcel and $ 361,057 going to the IRS .
Brittain was sentenced in June 2019 to a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 years of supervised release on charges of wire fraud , aiding and abetting , and conspiracy to defraud the United States .
He was also ordered to pay restitution to Great American Insurance Company in the amount of $ 806,216 and to the IRS in the amount of $ 215,094 .

A federal judge this week sentenced a Denver man to 27 months behind bars for perpetrating an elaborate decade-long scheme to defraud Xcel Energy and the IRS — money he used to buy an SUV, golf supplies and cigars, it was announced Friday.
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn said in a press release that as part of Stephen Yobst’s federal prison sentence, the 64-year-old certified public accountant, who worked for Xcel for years, was ordered to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution.
Yobst will also be subject to 3 years of supervised release for his crimes, which include wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing false tax returns and theft of government funds.
He pleaded guilty to the charges last September. He was sentenced on Monday.
“The defendant not only created and operated a complex scheme to steal from his employer, he stole from all of us as taxpayers,” Dunn said. “Thanks to the great work of IRS – Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the team in my office, he’s going to have time in a federal prison to think about his conduct.”
Prosecutors say that Yobst, who worked for Xcel as a sourcing and purchasing manager, partnered with James Brittain to “divert, use and convert funds for their own personal benefit without Xcel’s authorization” by setting up a company called Pacific Exchange Group (PEG) through which the men would hold the proceeds Xcel accrued on the sales of the utility’s properties, like vehicles and transformers.
PEG entered into “master exchange agreement” with Xcel that allowed the utility to postpone paying taxes on gains from the sale of assets if the sales were reinvested in similar property as permitted by the IRS.
Yobst, representing Xcel, negotiated with Brittain, who represented PEG, over Xcel’s assets. The utility deposited the proceeds from the sale of its transformers and fleet vehicles with PEG and PEG was to hold the funds until directed by Xcel to distribute them for the purchase of replacement assets.
Xcel agreed to pay PEG a 5% commission on the sale price for vehicles and a 12% commission for transformers.
The scheme, which began in 2005, continued through May of 2015, the government contends.
The diversion of funds included transfers from the PEG account to a Scottrade Account for $400,000, which was used by Yobst and Brittain to trade stocks; $363,966 in payments to American Express for Yobst’s personal expenditures; and a $42,250 wire transfer from Yobst to an automotive dealer to purchase a 2011 Honda Pilot.
Additionally, between March 2011 and October 2014, Yobst, acting as PEG’s accountant, transferred $10,500 a month from the PEG bank account to an account Yobst personally controlled. Yobst used a PEG American Express credit card to pay for golf supplies, leisure travel, cigars, and other items, but did not report these disbursements on his taxes, prosecutors said.
Yobst was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson to pay restitution totaling $1,167,273, with $806,216 going to Xcel and $361,057 going to the IRS.
Brittain was sentenced in June 2019 to a year and a day in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on charges of wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
He was also ordered to pay restitution to Great American Insurance Company in the amount of $806,216 and to the IRS in the amount of $215,094.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--Madrid: These elders have been fighting for justice for decades

Elders earn their titles , while racists are just old .
Believe it or not , radical elders exist .
They are queer , Black and brown , disabled , and still ticked-off as ever .
But this isn ’ t the stereotypical “ get-off-my-lawn ” or OK boomer wrath .
Theirs is a justified exasperation from decades of injustice .
They ’ ve endured broken political promises , assassinations , racism , sexism , homophobia , and transphobia .
These aren ’ t some petty and tired annoyances .
This is the discrimination and violence they ’ ve grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s worst .
For them , it ’ s a never-ending rerun or a terrible remake to a horror movie .
The tactics used against protestors today are pages from a tired script .
Donaciano Martinez has seen it all in his fight for community rights .
He ’ s a 73-year-old gay Mexicano Chicano radical from Colorado Springs .
He participated in Black , Chicano , peace and women movements starting in the 1970s .
“ I feel very angry .
I ’ m not disillusioned , but I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This has been going on for so long .
I don ’ t see any end in sight.
” The Baby Boomer generation experienced uncertainty , government betrayal , and their share of resistance .
But most of the same hate , vitriol , and violence live on today .
It started with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 .
Then it was the betrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson .
He was the peace-ticket candidate that became a warmongering president .
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 1965 .
Fifteen days later the U.S sent the first troops of Black and brown soldiers to Vietnam , resulting in millions of deaths .
By the summer , the Watts Riots in Los Angeles had exploded .
The year 1966 saw the birth of the Black Panther Movement .
The American Indian Movement followed a year later in 1967 .
In the spring of 1968 , the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sent shock waves .
The Stonewall Rebellion popped off in 1969 .
And the Kent State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade of bloodshed .
Activists survived those violent times through shared resistance .
This is especially true for lesbian , gay , bisexual , queer , and trans elders of color .
They were the ones standing at the intersections of race , class , and gender mobilizing for systemic change and demanding more from organizing spaces .
Martinez and others like him were the dissenting voices in movements dominated by straight white men and women .
They are the ones who pushed for liberation , protection , and solidarity across identities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also had to win internal battles of self-acceptance .
Sky Yarbrough is a 57-year-old artist , photographer and healer in the community who has overcome the fears and discomfort of holding mixed cultures , races , and genders .
“ I have some native , some Black , some Welch .
I ’ m also disabled and I ’ m Two Spirit , ” she said , using an indigenous term that refers to people of a third or sometimes fourth gender .
“ I ’ ve had to fight for my significance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been a hard fight , but I ’ ve learned to carry my own tits with a lot of courage.
” Fighting for recognition and peace both inside and out is vital .
This month is significant for Black and queer communities of color .
While it ’ s Juneteenth weekend and Pride month , we ’ re still in the middle of a pandemic .
Martinez and Yarbrough both haven ’ t joined demonstrations sparked by George Floyd ’ s killing .
The risk of contracting the coronavirus or facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Martinez thinks about the 75-year-old from Buffalo , New York .
The man whose head slammed onto the pavement and bled after police pushed him during a protest .
“ If one of those police officers did to me what they did to that viejito , ” he said , “ I ’ m gone , and I ’ m dead.
” Martinez has a fundamental distrust of police .
He knows the militant approach used against peaceful protest too well , he ’ s been marching for justice since 1965 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m hearing , ‘ let ’ s defund the police ’ here in Denver and other cities including in our schools , ” Martinez said .
Defunding the police was not created by some Democrat public relations team .
They wish .
Redistribution of funding to community response teams and prison abolition efforts have a long history in radical circles .
It was folks like Martinez and Yarbrough who envisioned a more safe and just future for us all .
And still , they feel like it was not enough .
Especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black men and Black transgender women in the U.S. today .
“ Understand those of us who are older , there are parts of us that feel like we ’ ve failed you , ” Yarbrough said .
“ We wanted a future for you to be better and we didn ’ t know how to make it happen.
” These are the veterans who fought oppressive systems without a playbook .
They are the grandmothers , grandfathers , and grand people who set out to make fundamental systemic change .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen now , ” Yarbrough said .
“ But it ’ s going to be a fight.
” Enduring fights like the recent Supreme Court ruling on workplace protections for LGBTQ people .
“ It ’ s about ( expletive ) time , ” Yarbrough said .
But it ’ s not enough for her .
She wants us to keep going and to accept that approaching the frontlines for justice is a lifelong responsibility .
“ Some show up for the day , for the weekend or for the summer , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is how long are you willing to stay in the game ?
” Martinez agrees .
Don ’ t be a one-semester radical and go back to the comfort of your homes and corporate worlds .
“ Those who came from poverty and the conditions of sexism , ” Martinez said , “ we ’ re still out here .
We had no choice to stop.
” If our elders won ’ t stop , we can ’ t either .
Many of us grew up with the lesson to respect your elders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a community title gifted to special individuals guided by love , and arriving at this epic age as a queer , trans , two-spirit , Black or brown elder is a gift in itself — especially in this capitalistic , violent , and hateful country .
There ’ s a difference though , between those who ’ ve aged gracefully toward the side of justice , and those who are stubborn in their hateful thinking .
Are you an elder or just old ?
Mimi Madrid is a Denver-raised writer who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survivors of violence , and Latinx communities .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Elders earn their titles, while racists are just old.
Believe it or not, radical elders exist. They are queer, Black and brown, disabled, and still ticked-off as ever. But this isn’t the stereotypical “get-off-my-lawn” or OK boomer wrath. Theirs is a justified exasperation from decades of injustice.
They’ve endured broken political promises, assassinations, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. These aren’t some petty and tired annoyances. This is the discrimination and violence they’ve grown to know from America at it’s worst.
For them, it’s a never-ending rerun or a terrible remake to a horror movie. The tactics used against protestors today are pages from a tired script.
Donaciano Martinez has seen it all in his fight for community rights. He’s a 73-year-old gay Mexicano Chicano radical from Colorado Springs. He participated in Black, Chicano, peace and women movements starting in the 1970s.
“I feel very angry. I’m not disillusioned, but I don’t have much hope,” Martinez said. “This has been going on for so long. I don’t see any end in sight.”
The Baby Boomer generation experienced uncertainty, government betrayal, and their share of resistance. But most of the same hate, vitriol, and violence live on today.
It started with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Then it was the betrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson. He was the peace-ticket candidate that became a warmongering president. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed. The assassination of Malcolm X started the year 1965. Fifteen days later the U.S sent the first troops of Black and brown soldiers to Vietnam, resulting in millions of deaths. By the summer, the Watts Riots in Los Angeles had exploded.
The year 1966 saw the birth of the Black Panther Movement. The American Indian Movement followed a year later in 1967. In the spring of 1968, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sent shock waves. The Stonewall Rebellion popped off in 1969. And the Kent State University shootings happened in 1970 to close a decade of bloodshed.
Activists survived those violent times through shared resistance. This is especially true for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and trans elders of color. They were the ones standing at the intersections of race, class, and gender mobilizing for systemic change and demanding more from organizing spaces.
Martinez and others like him were the dissenting voices in movements dominated by straight white men and women. They are the ones who pushed for liberation, protection, and solidarity across identities. Besides the external turmoil, our elders also had to win internal battles of self-acceptance.
Sky Yarbrough is a 57-year-old artist, photographer and healer in the community who has overcome the fears and discomfort of holding mixed cultures, races, and genders.
“I have some native, some Black, some Welch. I’m also disabled and I’m Two Spirit,” she said, using an indigenous term that refers to people of a third or sometimes fourth gender. “I’ve had to fight for my significance, from birth to now. It’s been a hard fight, but I’ve learned to carry my own tits with a lot of courage.”
Fighting for recognition and peace both inside and out is vital. This month is significant for Black and queer communities of color. While it’s Juneteenth weekend and Pride month, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.
Martinez and Yarbrough both haven’t joined demonstrations sparked by George Floyd’s killing.
The risk of contracting the coronavirus or facing harmful police force is too real for them. Martinez thinks about the 75-year-old from Buffalo, New York. The man whose head slammed onto the pavement and bled after police pushed him during a protest.
“If one of those police officers did to me what they did to that viejito,” he said, “I’m gone, and I’m dead.”
Martinez has a fundamental distrust of police. He knows the militant approach used against peaceful protest too well, he’s been marching for justice since 1965.
“I’m glad I’m hearing, ‘let’s defund the police’ here in Denver and other cities including in our schools,” Martinez said.
Defunding the police was not created by some Democrat public relations team. They wish. Redistribution of funding to community response teams and prison abolition efforts have a long history in radical circles. It was folks like Martinez and Yarbrough who envisioned a more safe and just future for us all.
And still, they feel like it was not enough. Especially with the rising toll of killings of Black men and Black transgender women in the U.S. today.
“Understand those of us who are older, there are parts of us that feel like we’ve failed you,” Yarbrough said. “We wanted a future for you to be better and we didn’t know how to make it happen.”
These are the veterans who fought oppressive systems without a playbook. They are the grandmothers, grandfathers, and grand people who set out to make fundamental systemic change.
“We are all trying to make that future happen now,” Yarbrough said. “But it’s going to be a fight.”
Enduring fights like the recent Supreme Court ruling on workplace protections for LGBTQ people. “It’s about (expletive) time,” Yarbrough said. But it’s not enough for her. She wants us to keep going and to accept that approaching the frontlines for justice is a lifelong responsibility.
“Some show up for the day, for the weekend or for the summer,” she said. “The real question is how long are you willing to stay in the game?”
Martinez agrees. Don’t be a one-semester radical and go back to the comfort of your homes and corporate worlds.
“Those who came from poverty and the conditions of sexism,” Martinez said, “we’re still out here. We had no choice to stop.”
If our elders won’t stop, we can’t either.
Many of us grew up with the lesson to respect your elders.
After all, “elder” is a community title gifted to special individuals guided by love, and arriving at this epic age as a queer, trans, two-spirit, Black or brown elder is a gift in itself — especially in this capitalistic, violent, and hateful country.
There’s a difference though, between those who’ve aged gracefully toward the side of justice, and those who are stubborn in their hateful thinking.
Are you an elder or just old?
Mimi Madrid is a Denver-raised writer who has worked in non-profits serving youth, LGBTQ survivors of violence, and Latinx communities.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--H-Line, L-Line in Denver to be impacted by RTD maintenance work starting this weekend

Service on two of RTD ’ s light-rail corridors , the H-Line and the L-Line , will be suspended or interrupted starting this weekend so that the agency can conduct routine maintenance on its system .
Work will start at 3:30 a.m. Saturday and continue through the close of business Thursday .
The Regional Transportation District ’ s L-Line will not operate during the maintenance work and the H-Line will not run north of the Theatre District/Convention Center Station .
All rail stations on the downtown loop will be affected by the work , which will take place at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations .
Service on both lines will resume around 3 a.m. June 26 .
L-Line riders can take bus Route 43 as an alternative , with southbound and westbound stops on California Street and northbound and eastbound stops on Stout Street .
Bus shuttle service will be in place for H-Line riders at the following downtown stations : 16th & Stout , 18th & Stout , 18th & California , 16th & California and Theatre District/Convention Center .
The free MallRide will begin running again up and down the 16th Street Mall on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic .

Service on two of RTD’s light-rail corridors, the H-Line and the L-Line, will be suspended or interrupted starting this weekend so that the agency can conduct routine maintenance on its system.
Work will start at 3:30 a.m. Saturday and continue through the close of business Thursday.
The Regional Transportation District’s L-Line will not operate during the maintenance work and the H-Line will not run north of the Theatre District/Convention Center Station. All rail stations on the downtown loop will be affected by the work, which will take place at the 16th & Stout and 16th & California stations.
Service on both lines will resume around 3 a.m. June 26.
L-Line riders can take bus Route 43 as an alternative, with southbound and westbound stops on California Street and northbound and eastbound stops on Stout Street. Bus shuttle service will be in place for H-Line riders at the following downtown stations: 16th & Stout, 18th & Stout, 18th & California, 16th & California and Theatre District/Convention Center.
The free MallRide will begin running again up and down the 16th Street Mall on Sunday morning after having been taken offline for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--Colorado bars can reopen this weekend for up to 50 people

Bars across Colorado can officially reopen Friday , according to new guidelines released by the state .
While restaurants still will operate at 50 % capacity or up to 50 people indoors , bars “ where patrons go for the primary purpose of beverage consumption ” may open at 25 % occupancy or up to 50 people indoors , according to the guidelines .
The change will be crucial for smaller bars , especially , according to Justin Anthony , who co-owns Bellwether , Matchbox , American Bonded and more bars between Colfax and Larimer Street .
When Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and other establishments could reopen as long as they served food , some of Anthony ’ s businesses were able to reopen .
But Bellwether stayed closed and in a difficult financial spot .
“ I ’ m going to open a bar , have three times the staffing costs … and five to seven times my cleaning costs , and now I have to factor in a food dynamic , ” Anthony said .
Depending on the business , it wasn ’ t worth it .
But these latest guidelines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to open .
It ’ s giving bars a chance to get in the game , ” he said .
To help get back in the game , bars can also take advantage of outdoor bar service alongside indoor operations , according to guidelines .
And “ extra large venues ” ( classified as 7,200 square feet or larger ) may hold more than 50 people , and up to 100 drinkers or diners .
The state ’ s online social distancing calculator is meant to help venues determine their new capacities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Friday ’ s announcement , Colorado bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen primarily for food service on May 27 .
The new rules still require bar patrons to be seated at tables that are spaced at least six feet apart .
This weekend , too , diners can take advantage of expanded outdoor dining on Denver streets — so far just portions of Larimer Square and Glenarm Place — that have been temporarily closed to vehicles to allow for greater social distancing .
Another 85 bars and restaurants have received permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anthony and other business owners also are working together to open more al fresco dining areas across town , and he ’ s excited to see more gathering spaces , from restaurants to retail shops , continue to come online at the start of the summer months .
“ You basically have a situation where now we ’ re going to have more interaction in the neighborhood , ” he said .
“ At least people are starting to get out , and it feels like there ’ s hope.
” Subscribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox .

Bars across Colorado can officially reopen Friday, according to new guidelines released by the state.
While restaurants still will operate at 50% capacity or up to 50 people indoors, bars “where patrons go for the primary purpose of beverage consumption” may open at 25% occupancy or up to 50 people indoors, according to the guidelines.
The change will be crucial for smaller bars, especially, according to Justin Anthony, who co-owns Bellwether, Matchbox, American Bonded and more bars between Colfax and Larimer Street.
When Gov. Jared Polis announced in late May that restaurants and other establishments could reopen as long as they served food, some of Anthony’s businesses were able to reopen. But Bellwether stayed closed and in a difficult financial spot.
“I’m going to open a bar, have three times the staffing costs … and five to seven times my cleaning costs, and now I have to factor in a food dynamic,” Anthony said. Depending on the business, it wasn’t worth it.
But these latest guidelines are “giving little spots like Bellwether the ability to open. It’s giving bars a chance to get in the game,” he said.
RELATED: Denver bars and restaurants with expanded summer patios
To help get back in the game, bars can also take advantage of outdoor bar service alongside indoor operations, according to guidelines.
And “extra large venues” (classified as 7,200 square feet or larger) may hold more than 50 people, and up to 100 drinkers or diners. The state’s online social distancing calculator is meant to help venues determine their new capacities for indoor and outdoor events.
Prior to Friday’s announcement, Colorado bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen primarily for food service on May 27. The new rules still require bar patrons to be seated at tables that are spaced at least six feet apart.
This weekend, too, diners can take advantage of expanded outdoor dining on Denver streets — so far just portions of Larimer Square and Glenarm Place — that have been temporarily closed to vehicles to allow for greater social distancing. Another 85 bars and restaurants have received permits allowing them to expand outdoor dining space.
Anthony and other business owners also are working together to open more al fresco dining areas across town, and he’s excited to see more gathering spaces, from restaurants to retail shops, continue to come online at the start of the summer months.
“You basically have a situation where now we’re going to have more interaction in the neighborhood,” he said. “At least people are starting to get out, and it feels like there’s hope.”
Subscribe to our food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-06-19--In Platt Park, a contemporary 5-bedroom home is a 12-minute walk from S. Pearl’s restaurant row

As Colorado ’ s restaurant scene begins showing signs of life emerging from the shutdown , brokers Bill and Mary Forsythe will show you a contemporary 5-bedroom/4-bath home that ’ s a two-block walk from Park Burger and from Platt Park Brewing Company ; and 12 minutes by foot from the shank of the S. Pearl Street dining scene bounded by Iowa and Arkansas Avenues .
John and Janis Klein hadn ’ t heard of Platt Park when they found this newer-built , semi-detached duplex at 2047 S. Washington Street—part of a wave of new building that arrived when this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pricing and great amenities .
“ Homes in Cherry Creek or Wash Park of this quality would typically be 25 % to 33 % higher , ” says Bill Forsythe , who has this priced at $ 1.225 million .
“ I like the price for the quality , ” he adds , noting that he ’ s seen a recent sale on Pennsylvania Street at $ 1.275 million .
What the sellers of this house didn ’ t go for was the trend toward stark , ultramodern interior design that came with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they redid this place in a bright , pleasing palette that ’ s carried to all three levels , including to one of the best finished basements you ’ ll find , with an eye-catching bar and a large guest suite .
You ’ ll see over 3,800 sq .
ft. of finished space , a terrific kitchen with extra-wide granite bar , a 3-sided gas fireplace , a large office , three bedrooms up with an upstairs laundry and peekaboo view of Mt .
Evans , and a very private , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that looks across the fence to a historic neighboring home built 1892.- The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post ’ s preparation .

As Colorado’s restaurant scene begins showing signs of life emerging from the shutdown, brokers Bill and Mary Forsythe will show you a contemporary 5-bedroom/4-bath home that’s a two-block walk from Park Burger and from Platt Park Brewing Company; and 12 minutes by foot from the shank of the S. Pearl Street dining scene bounded by Iowa and Arkansas Avenues.
If you go… Where: 2047 S. Washington St., Denver; from S. University head west on Evans 1 mi. to S. Washington, turn north
2047 S. Washington St., Denver; from S. University head west on Evans 1 mi. to S. Washington, turn north Price: $1.225 million
$1.225 million When: Week of June 21, by appointment
Week of June 21, by appointment Phone: 719-229-6718 or 719-229-9343
John and Janis Klein hadn’t heard of Platt Park when they found this newer-built, semi-detached duplex at 2047 S. Washington Street—part of a wave of new building that arrived when this neighborhood came into focus for its reasonable pricing and great amenities. “Homes in Cherry Creek or Wash Park of this quality would typically be 25% to 33% higher,” says Bill Forsythe, who has this priced at $1.225 million.
“I like the price for the quality,” he adds, noting that he’s seen a recent sale on Pennsylvania Street at $1.275 million.
What the sellers of this house didn’t go for was the trend toward stark, ultramodern interior design that came with the return of mid-century modern. Rather, they redid this place in a bright, pleasing palette that’s carried to all three levels, including to one of the best finished basements you’ll find, with an eye-catching bar and a large guest suite.
You’ll see over 3,800 sq. ft. of finished space, a terrific kitchen with extra-wide granite bar, a 3-sided gas fireplace, a large office, three bedrooms up with an upstairs laundry and peekaboo view of Mt. Evans, and a very private, attractive outdoor living area in the backyard that looks across the fence to a historic neighboring home built 1892.-
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post’s preparation.


thedenverpost--2020-06-20--Rockies’ keys for short-season success: starting pitching, short leash for underachieving veterans

The typical Major League Baseball season is referred to as a 162-game marathon , but really , it ’ s filled with sizzling streaks , slumps , rebounds , epic collapses and sprints to the finish .
For the Rockies , a team predicted by most to be an also-ran in the National League West , a short season could be a blessing .
Or a curse .
The 2007 Rocktober Rockies , remember , won 14 of 15 games down the stretch to qualify for the postseason .
Then they swept their way through the playoffs en route to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year ’ s Rockies opened 3-12 , rebounded to a 36-32 record by June 13 and then went 6-19 in July to doom their season .
Last season , the Washington Nationals were 19-31 after their first 50 games , inspiring the T-shirt slogan : “ Bumpy Roads Lead to Beautiful Places.
” The Nats went 74-38 the rest of the way , rode a series of comebacks through the playoffs and ended up as World Series champions .
Which brings us to the 2020 MLB season — if a season is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
It could be 70 games ( what the players want ) , 60 games ( the owners ’ latest proposal ) or 50-odd games as dictated by Commissioner Rob Manfred in a worst-case scenario .
So what must happen in order for the Rockies to make the most of their small window of hope ?
Here ’ s a list : * Spring training , which could theoretically open as soon as next weekend at Coors Field , would have to be free of major injuries to Colorado ’ s starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely have a 30-man roster with a so-called 20-player “ taxi squad , ” but the Rockies simply don ’ t have enough quality pitchers to sustain injuries , even for a sprint rather than a marathon .
* The club ’ s top four pitchers — German Marquez , Jon Gray , Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela — will all have to pitch consistently well .
Freeland , for example , can not come out of the gate poorly as he did last season when he went 2-6 with a 7.13 ERA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up an NL-most 16 home runs over that stretch .
* Closer Wade Davis must be on the shortest of leashes .
The Rockies say they are confident that the veteran right-hander can rebound from his disastrous 2019 season ( 8.65 ERA ) , but if he ’ s shaky , manager Bud Black will have to quickly turn to Scott Oberg , Jairo Diaz or Carlos Estevez .
* Daniel Murphy , presumed to be the designated hitter in a season in which the DH will be universal , must rebound .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reason to believe Murphy has the skills to do so , but he must produce better than he did last season when he slashed .279/.328/.452 and hit just three homers at Coors Field in 227 at-bats .
* High-priced veterans Ian Desmond ( likely a platoon player in left field ) and reliever Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee have to produce quickly or find a spot on the bench .
* The Rockies can ’ t afford a monthlong , teamwide slump such as the one that struck in March and April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a collective .293 on-base percentage .
* They need Nolan Arenado to hit more like he did last May ( .425 average , 1.262 OPS , nine home runs , 29 RBIs ) than he did last July ( .247 , .654 , two and 16 ) .
* Two key players — outfielder David Dahl and second baseman ( and possible first baseman ) Ryan McMahon — need to take another step forward .
Dahl , a first-time all-star last year , must stay healthy .
McMahon , despite a terrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 17 of them in the second half .
* At the risk of repetition , the Rockies must hit better away from Coors Field .
They hit .230 on the road last season , the sixth-worst in franchise history and the lowest in the National League .
* In the most likely scenario , the Rockies would face only teams from the NL West and the AL West .
That means they have to be able to find a way to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros .
Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 0-4 vs. the Astros .
All-time vs. current AL West teams , the Rockies are 67-96 .

The typical Major League Baseball season is referred to as a 162-game marathon, but really, it’s filled with sizzling streaks, slumps, rebounds, epic collapses and sprints to the finish.
For the Rockies, a team predicted by most to be an also-ran in the National League West, a short season could be a blessing. Or a curse.
The 2007 Rocktober Rockies, remember, won 14 of 15 games down the stretch to qualify for the postseason. Then they swept their way through the playoffs en route to the World Series.
Then again, last year’s Rockies opened 3-12, rebounded to a 36-32 record by June 13 and then went 6-19 in July to doom their season.
Last season, the Washington Nationals were 19-31 after their first 50 games, inspiring the T-shirt slogan: “Bumpy Roads Lead to Beautiful Places.” The Nats went 74-38 the rest of the way, rode a series of comebacks through the playoffs and ended up as World Series champions.
Which brings us to the 2020 MLB season — if a season is played in the shadow of the coronavirus). It could be 70 games (what the players want), 60 games (the owners’ latest proposal) or 50-odd games as dictated by Commissioner Rob Manfred in a worst-case scenario.
So what must happen in order for the Rockies to make the most of their small window of hope? Here’s a list:
* Spring training, which could theoretically open as soon as next weekend at Coors Field, would have to be free of major injuries to Colorado’s starting pitchers. Yes, the club will likely have a 30-man roster with a so-called 20-player “taxi squad,” but the Rockies simply don’t have enough quality pitchers to sustain injuries, even for a sprint rather than a marathon.
* The club’s top four pitchers — German Marquez, Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela — will all have to pitch consistently well. Freeland, for example, cannot come out of the gate poorly as he did last season when he went 2-6 with a 7.13 ERA in his first 12 starts, serving up an NL-most 16 home runs over that stretch.
* Closer Wade Davis must be on the shortest of leashes. The Rockies say they are confident that the veteran right-hander can rebound from his disastrous 2019 season (8.65 ERA), but if he’s shaky, manager Bud Black will have to quickly turn to Scott Oberg, Jairo Diaz or Carlos Estevez.
* Daniel Murphy, presumed to be the designated hitter in a season in which the DH will be universal, must rebound. Given his track record, there’s reason to believe Murphy has the skills to do so, but he must produce better than he did last season when he slashed .279/.328/.452 and hit just three homers at Coors Field in 227 at-bats.
* High-priced veterans Ian Desmond (likely a platoon player in left field) and reliever Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee have to produce quickly or find a spot on the bench.
* The Rockies can’t afford a monthlong, teamwide slump such as the one that struck in March and April of last season when they hit .232 with a collective .293 on-base percentage.
* They need Nolan Arenado to hit more like he did last May (.425 average, 1.262 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBIs) than he did last July (.247, .654, two and 16).
* Two key players — outfielder David Dahl and second baseman (and possible first baseman) Ryan McMahon — need to take another step forward. Dahl, a first-time all-star last year, must stay healthy. McMahon, despite a terrible September, still hit 24 home runs, 17 of them in the second half.
* At the risk of repetition, the Rockies must hit better away from Coors Field. They hit .230 on the road last season, the sixth-worst in franchise history and the lowest in the National League.
* In the most likely scenario, the Rockies would face only teams from the NL West and the AL West. That means they have to be able to find a way to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros. Colorado was 4-15 vs. the Dodgers last season and 0-4 vs. the Astros. All-time vs. current AL West teams, the Rockies are 67-96.


thedenverpost--2020-06-20--John Hickenlooper dominates Senate fundraising, but Andrew Romanoff reports his best haul

U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper maintained his fundraising dominance this spring , taking in far more money than both his Democratic primary opponent and the Republican incumbent .
Hickenlooper , a Democratic former governor , raised nearly $ 3.7 million from April 1 to June 10 , according to Federal Election Commission reports .
His campaign says that total is the most ever raised by a U.S. Senate candidate from Colorado during what is known as the pre-primary fundraising period .
Andrew Romanoff , the former state House speaker running against Hickenlooper in the June 30 Democratic primary , raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his highest total of the campaign .
Hickenlooper continues to pull in large donations from the wealthiest circles of finance , real estate and law .
The billionaire architect Jon Stryker donated the maximum $ 2,800 allowed .
So did Stacy Schusterman , heir to a multi-billion dollar oil and gas fortune ; M.K .
Pritzker of the billionaire Pritzker family in Chicago ; and multiple members of the billionaire Ziff family .
From Hollywood , the director Rob Reiner sent over $ 2,800 , as did actor Danny DeVito Hickenlooper also received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Republicans have already started spending millions of dollars to attack me in their attempt to save Senator Cory Gardner , ” Hickenlooper said in a statement about his fundraising totals , and his ample fundraising has enabled him to bankroll several recent ad buys .
All of Romanoff ’ s fundraising came from individual donors — none from political action committees or other fundraising committees .
Romanoff has also been far more reliant on small donors and donations from Coloradans .
His campaign did not respond to a request for comment about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican , raised just over $ 2.1 million in the pre-primary months and currently has more than $ 9.3 million on hand , an advantage over his Democratic challengers .
President Donald Trump ’ s Colorado re-election committee transferred $ 56,755 to his campaign coffers , and a Gardner fundraising committee transferred almost $ 15,000 .
Political action committees , including several for oil , gas and pharmaceutical companies , sent his campaign a total of $ 97,000 during the period .
“ Gardner for Senate remains in a strong position to secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator ’ s campaign manager .
“ With our cash on hand advantage , we ’ ll be able to defeat whichever far-left candidate Democrats choose.
” In the 3rd Congressional District , Colorado ’ s most closely watched U.S. House race , Republican Rep. Scott Tipton raised more money than his primary challenger but less than his two Democratic challengers .
Tipton raised about $ 136,000 between April and early June .
Fellow Republican Lauren Boebert raised $ 69,000 .
In the Democratic primary , James Iacino raised $ 186,540 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush raised $ 181,580 .
In the 6th Congressional District , where Republicans hope to defeat Democratic Rep. Jason Crow , the congressman from Aurora continues to outpace his GOP challenger in the fundraising race .
Crow raised $ 303,302 in the pre-primary period and Republican challenger Steve House raised $ 137,158 .
Neither has a primary opponent , so they will face off in November .

U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper maintained his fundraising dominance this spring, taking in far more money than both his Democratic primary opponent and the Republican incumbent.
Hickenlooper, a Democratic former governor, raised nearly $3.7 million from April 1 to June 10, according to Federal Election Commission reports. His campaign says that total is the most ever raised by a U.S. Senate candidate from Colorado during what is known as the pre-primary fundraising period.
Andrew Romanoff, the former state House speaker running against Hickenlooper in the June 30 Democratic primary, raised roughly $710,000 during the period — his highest total of the campaign.
Hickenlooper continues to pull in large donations from the wealthiest circles of finance, real estate and law. The billionaire architect Jon Stryker donated the maximum $2,800 allowed. So did Stacy Schusterman, heir to a multi-billion dollar oil and gas fortune; M.K. Pritzker of the billionaire Pritzker family in Chicago; and multiple members of the billionaire Ziff family.
From Hollywood, the director Rob Reiner sent over $2,800, as did actor Danny DeVito Hickenlooper also received $81,850 from political action committees.
“Republicans have already started spending millions of dollars to attack me in their attempt to save Senator Cory Gardner,” Hickenlooper said in a statement about his fundraising totals, and his ample fundraising has enabled him to bankroll several recent ad buys.
All of Romanoff’s fundraising came from individual donors — none from political action committees or other fundraising committees. Romanoff has also been far more reliant on small donors and donations from Coloradans.
His campaign did not respond to a request for comment about its fundraising.
Gardner, a Yuma Republican, raised just over $2.1 million in the pre-primary months and currently has more than $9.3 million on hand, an advantage over his Democratic challengers.
President Donald Trump’s Colorado re-election committee transferred $118,609 to his campaign coffers, and a Gardner fundraising committee transferred almost $15,000. Political action committees, including several for oil, gas and pharmaceutical companies, sent his campaign a total of $97,000 during the period.
“Gardner for Senate remains in a strong position to secure re-election,” said Casey Contres, the senator’s campaign manager. “With our cash on hand advantage, we’ll be able to defeat whichever far-left candidate Democrats choose.”
House races
In the 3rd Congressional District, Colorado’s most closely watched U.S. House race, Republican Rep. Scott Tipton raised more money than his primary challenger but less than his two Democratic challengers.
Tipton raised about $136,000 between April and early June. Fellow Republican Lauren Boebert raised $69,000. In the Democratic primary, James Iacino raised $186,540 after loaning himself $50,000. Diane Mitsch Bush raised $181,580.
In the 6th Congressional District, where Republicans hope to defeat Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, the congressman from Aurora continues to outpace his GOP challenger in the fundraising race.
Crow raised $303,302 in the pre-primary period and Republican challenger Steve House raised $137,158. Neither has a primary opponent, so they will face off in November.


thedenverpost--2020-06-20--Outdoor recreation icon REI closing its Westminster store after failing to reach agreement with land

Outdoor recreation icon REI closing its Westminster store after failing to reach agreement with landlord

The outdoor recreation giant REI is closing its store in Westminster ’ s Orchard Town Center , saying it couldn ’ t reach an agreement with the landlord .
The store will permanently close at 6 p.m. Monday , REI said in a statement Thursday .
Anybody waiting for an order or equipment can pick it up curbside 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Monday , the company said .
REI , which was in the shopping center for 11 years , has several other stores along the Front Range .
Its flagship store in Colorado is in downtown Denver along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president of leasing with Vestar , which owns and operates Orchard Town Center , said Friday that the company is disappointed that REI is leaving , but doesn ’ t expect it to negatively affect business at the shopping center .
“ We have dozens of leading retailers and restaurants who are opening post COVID-19 and doing a brisk business .
We continue to open new stores at Orchard Town Center , most recently Club Champion , Jersey Mike ’ s , and Lululemon , which opened today , ” Alvey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking forward to the re-opening of the AMC theater in mid-July , the grand opening of a 120-room Aloft Hotel in August and a large multi-family complex that will be an additional anchor to the shopping center opening this fall , Alvey added .

The outdoor recreation giant REI is closing its store in Westminster’s Orchard Town Center, saying it couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord.
The store will permanently close at 6 p.m. Monday, REI said in a statement Thursday. Anybody waiting for an order or equipment can pick it up curbside 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Monday, the company said.
REI, which was in the shopping center for 11 years, has several other stores along the Front Range. Its flagship store in Colorado is in downtown Denver along the South Platte River.
Taylor Alvey, vice president of leasing with Vestar, which owns and operates Orchard Town Center, said Friday that the company is disappointed that REI is leaving, but doesn’t expect it to negatively affect business at the shopping center.
“We have dozens of leading retailers and restaurants who are opening post COVID-19 and doing a brisk business. We continue to open new stores at Orchard Town Center, most recently Club Champion, Jersey Mike’s, and Lululemon, which opened today,” Alvey said in an email.
The center is looking forward to the re-opening of the AMC theater in mid-July, the grand opening of a 120-room Aloft Hotel in August and a large multi-family complex that will be an additional anchor to the shopping center opening this fall, Alvey added.


thedenverpost--2020-06-20--Get Cooking: Baking chicken under a brick

When out on campaign , especially in what was known as a “ full pace march , ” Julius Caesar ’ s soldiers were expected to cook for themselves .
( On slower marches , their accompanying servants or slaves cooked for them . )
Roman legionnaires and centurions didn ’ t benefit from any sort of mess hall .
Quartermasters didn ’ t stock food ; in large part , they were mere blacksmiths .
And , nope , no chuck wagons .
Consequently , a Roman soldier lugged his own food , as well as the implements needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the clibanus ( also called the testum ) , a sort of small upside-down Dutch oven made of thick-walled clay .
What we would call the top of the Dutch oven was the bottom “ plate ” of the clibanus , while the pot-like portion would be placed over it , like a dome , topped with fiery hot coals .
The heat radiated down and cooked or baked what was in the cavity .
Cato and Pliny recount many “ sub testum ” recipes .
( Modern-day campers cook in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) In time , and in order to roast small game or fowl , a heavy , glazed terracotta tile ( what in Italian is called a mattone ) replaced the hollow part of the clibanus and was designed to apply significant weight on the meat cooking under it , which by now was heated from below by a flame or all around within an oven .
You can buy such two-part , all-clay cooking set , with a mattone , in shops in Tuscany , especially in the coastal region around Lucca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ pollo al mattone , ” or “ chicken under a brick , ” to my mind one of the more delicious ways to prepare a small 3- to 4-pound fryer .
1 whole , small to medium chicken , 3-4 pounds , the cavity trimmed of excess fat 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil ( not overly fruity or peppery ) , plus more for cooking Juice and zest of 1 lemon , plus another lemon in wedges for serving 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes , or more to taste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minced ( or 1 teaspoon dried , crushed in the palm ) Spatchcock the chicken : Rinse then pat dry the chicken and place it breast-side down on the cutting board , its neck turned away from you .
With kitchen shears or a boning knife , cut along the backbone , tail to neck , tight along one side of the backbone , Repeat along the other side , discarding backbone .
( If you wish , save the bone for making broth . )
Flip the bird over breast-side up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if performing CPR , until you hear the breastbone crack .
Flatten the whole thing as best you can and place it on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper or in a non-reactive pan large enough to hold it but that also will fit in the refrigerator .
Make the marinade : In a bowl , mix together the olive oil , the juice and zest of the 1 lemon , the pepper flakes , rosemary , garlic and salt and pepper .
Slather the marinade all over and under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the breast skin , if you like ) , cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours , preferably overnight .
If you ’ re up in the middle of the night , turn it over and re-cover it .
Before cooking , bring it out of the refrigerator for 30 minutes .
To cook , heat the oven to 400 degrees .
In a heavy , oven-proof skillet large enough to hold the chicken flat ( such as 12-inch cast iron or heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warm 1 tablespoon olive oil until it shimmers .
Take the chicken and shake off any pieces of garlic or lemon peel from the marinade and add it to the skillet , skin-side down .
Quickly top the chicken with a heavy object ( s ) ( see important note below ) the bottom of which is oiled or coated with cooking spray and that evenly presses down on as much of the surface of the chicken as possible .
Cook this way for 5 minutes .
Place the pan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and roast the chicken for 25 minutes .
Remove the pan , pull off the weights , flip the chicken skin-side up , then replace the weights and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 150 degrees in the breast , or until the juices run clear at the thigh joint .
To serve : Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes on the cutting board .
Carve the chicken into pieces , serving it with the pan juices , lemon wedges , and chopped parsley .
Several notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to marinate the chicken ahead of time ; that ’ s often done in Italy when grilling the bird over coals .
In that case , go easy on the black pepper which will simply char bitterly .
You may use another herb than rosemary ( although it is the most traditional ) , such as twice as much parsley , or the same amount of sage or summer savory , or half as much thyme or oregano .
Shallots may substitute for the garlic ; lime juice and zest or balsamic may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of olive oil , you may also use ghee or French-style clarified butter .
As for weights , many possibilities : Heavy housing bricks covered with a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil ; another cast iron or enameled iron pan , or a couple of small dumbbells or big rocks in a skillet .
You may be lucky enough to own a true mattone or glazed clay weight made just for this purpose .
Whatever you choose to use , it must be oven-proof ( no encyclopedias ) .
The weight ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 10 pounds .
You also may cook the chicken on an open or flat grill surface , minding the temperature with an instant-read thermometer .
Or entirely atop the stove in the heavy skillet .
In any application of heat , however or wherever , the recipe calls for weights on the chicken while it cooks .

Finally, a recipe older than I am.
When out on campaign, especially in what was known as a “full pace march,” Julius Caesar’s soldiers were expected to cook for themselves. (On slower marches, their accompanying servants or slaves cooked for them.) Roman legionnaires and centurions didn’t benefit from any sort of mess hall. Quartermasters didn’t stock food; in large part, they were mere blacksmiths. And, nope, no chuck wagons.
Consequently, a Roman soldier lugged his own food, as well as the implements needed to cook it. Chief among these was the clibanus (also called the testum), a sort of small upside-down Dutch oven made of thick-walled clay. What we would call the top of the Dutch oven was the bottom “plate” of the clibanus, while the pot-like portion would be placed over it, like a dome, topped with fiery hot coals. The heat radiated down and cooked or baked what was in the cavity. Cato and Pliny recount many “sub testum” recipes. (Modern-day campers cook in a similar manner with cast-iron Dutch ovens.)
In time, and in order to roast small game or fowl, a heavy, glazed terracotta tile (what in Italian is called a mattone) replaced the hollow part of the clibanus and was designed to apply significant weight on the meat cooking under it, which by now was heated from below by a flame or all around within an oven. You can buy such two-part, all-clay cooking set, with a mattone, in shops in Tuscany, especially in the coastal region around Lucca.
Thus, we inherit the recipe for “pollo al mattone,” or “chicken under a brick,” to my mind one of the more delicious ways to prepare a small 3- to 4-pound fryer.
Chicken under a brick (Pollo al mattone)
Ingredients
1 whole, small to medium chicken, 3-4 pounds, the cavity trimmed of excess fat
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (not overly fruity or peppery), plus more for cooking
Juice and zest of 1 lemon, plus another lemon in wedges for serving
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, or more to taste
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary needles, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon dried, crushed in the palm)
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chopped flat-leaf parsley for serving
Directions
Spatchcock the chicken: Rinse then pat dry the chicken and place it breast-side down on the cutting board, its neck turned away from you. With kitchen shears or a boning knife, cut along the backbone, tail to neck, tight along one side of the backbone, Repeat along the other side, discarding backbone. (If you wish, save the bone for making broth.)
Flip the bird over breast-side up and press down with both hands, as if performing CPR, until you hear the breastbone crack. Flatten the whole thing as best you can and place it on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper or in a non-reactive pan large enough to hold it but that also will fit in the refrigerator.
Make the marinade: In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, the juice and zest of the 1 lemon, the pepper flakes, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper.
Slather the marinade all over and under the spatchcocked chicken (even under some of the breast skin, if you like), cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. If you’re up in the middle of the night, turn it over and re-cover it. Before cooking, bring it out of the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
To cook, heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a heavy, oven-proof skillet large enough to hold the chicken flat (such as 12-inch cast iron or heavy aluminum), and over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil until it shimmers. Take the chicken and shake off any pieces of garlic or lemon peel from the marinade and add it to the skillet, skin-side down. Quickly top the chicken with a heavy object(s) (see important note below) the bottom of which is oiled or coated with cooking spray and that evenly presses down on as much of the surface of the chicken as possible. Cook this way for 5 minutes.
Place the pan, the chicken and its weights in the oven and roast the chicken for 25 minutes. Remove the pan, pull off the weights, flip the chicken skin-side up, then replace the weights and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 150 degrees in the breast, or until the juices run clear at the thigh joint.
To serve: Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes on the cutting board. Carve the chicken into pieces, serving it with the pan juices, lemon wedges, and chopped parsley.
Several notes on cooking: You may choose not to marinate the chicken ahead of time; that’s often done in Italy when grilling the bird over coals. In that case, go easy on the black pepper which will simply char bitterly. You may use another herb than rosemary (although it is the most traditional), such as twice as much parsley, or the same amount of sage or summer savory, or half as much thyme or oregano. Shallots may substitute for the garlic; lime juice and zest or balsamic may sub for the lemon juice. Instead of olive oil, you may also use ghee or French-style clarified butter.
As for weights, many possibilities: Heavy housing bricks covered with a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil; another cast iron or enameled iron pan, or a couple of small dumbbells or big rocks in a skillet. You may be lucky enough to own a true mattone or glazed clay weight made just for this purpose. Whatever you choose to use, it must be oven-proof (no encyclopedias). The weight(s) should add up to at least 10 pounds.
You also may cook the chicken on an open or flat grill surface, minding the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Or entirely atop the stove in the heavy skillet. In any application of heat, however or wherever, the recipe calls for weights on the chicken while it cooks.


thedenverpost--2020-06-20--The future of Stapleton: How a neighborhood changes its name

Growing up in the 1960s in Denver ’ s Park Hill neighborhood , Tamara Rhone remembers overhearing her mother discussing nascent efforts to rename Stapleton airport , an ode to a former city mayor — and member of the Ku Klux Klan .
Thirty years later , she remembers talking to Landri Taylor , the former chairman of Denver ’ s Democratic Party , about that same name , which was about to be given to a new neighborhood on the airport ’ s old site .
Why couldn ’ t they nip this in the bud before the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s been half a century since Rhone overheard her mother talking about the Stapleton name , a name that has prompted years of activism , neighborhood infighting , controversial votes and anguish among the city ’ s black population — but until now , no action .
“ It ’ s taken a heck of a long time , ” Rhone said .
“ If you haven ’ t grown up black in America , you can ’ t fully feel what that stuff feels like.
” Last Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systemic racism and police brutality in Denver and across the country , Stapleton ’ s neighborhood delegates announced they would support changing the name , setting in motion a series of votes and discussions about what the new name should be and how it should be decided .
The Stapleton family says they support the change , as does Mayor Michael Hancock and the neighborhood ’ s developers .
The historic announcement has elicited cheers and celebration , but also frustration and anger over the process .
Still , community members have noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them hopeful for the future .
While the neighborhood itself is less than two decades old , the history — and controversy — behind Stapleton goes back nearly a century .
Benjamin Stapleton was a lawyer , a veteran of the Spanish American War , and a United States postmaster general before he ran for mayor in 1923 with the KKK ’ s support .
The Klan was not just a hate-group in those times — it was an integral piece of Denver ’ s political machine , said Phil Goodstein , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shadow of the Klan : When the KKK Ruled Denver.
” And Stapleton was quick to get in their good graces .
He grew close with John Galen Locke , the founder and Grand Dragon of the Colorado Klan .
When Stapleton had a son , he named Locke his godfather , Goodstein said .
In 1924 , Stapleton stood atop South Table Mountain in Golden , where Locke warned the new mayor that he needed to heed the policies of the Klan .
“ Stapleton says , ‘ I will do whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ” Goodstein said .
Stapleton ultimately served five terms as mayor during the 1920s , ’ 30s and ’ 40s .
In 1944 , the city honored its former mayor by renaming Denver Municipal Airport to Stapleton Airfield .
There have been several unsuccessful pushes over the years to change the name .
After the airport was decommissioned in 1995 , a group known as the “ Rename Stapleton Committee ” fought to keep the name off any future developments .
In 2015 , Black Lives Matter 5280 helped reignite activism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All ” came along , leading to a community vote last August .
The vote failed 65 % to 35 % , though only one-third of residents voted and renters were not included .
But everything changed last month .
Protests over the death of George Floyd , a black man , at the hands of Minneapolis police prompted outrage across the country , fueling not only days of marches but sustained energy from segments of America who never previously engaged with race .
Colorado lawmakers quickly passed one of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That same day , June 13 , Denver Public School board member Tay Anderson , who has also spearheaded many of the city ’ s recent protests , tweeted that neighborhood delegates had one week to change the name or activists would march through their neighborhood .
On Sunday , the association said it intended to change the neighborhood name once and for all , and on Wednesday unanimously voted to recommend a name change to Stapleton ’ s registered neighborhood organization .
During Wednesday ’ s meeting , delegates detailed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the issue .
Josh Nicholas said he used cost reasons and a lack of a new name to justify voting against the change last year .
But then he felt the tide shift , along with his own feelings .
“ Just this week I was talking to a friend , and she said , ‘ Josh , I love you , but I don ’ t feel comfortable bringing my daughter to Stapleton — it just doesn ’ t feel welcoming to me , ' ” Nicholas recounted during Wednesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke my heart … for her and her daughter to not want to see their Uncle Josh because they don ’ t feel welcome where I live , that hurt.
” As a Mexican-American and member of the LGBTQ community , Nicholas said he ’ s felt hate in his own community .
“ I thought , well , changing the name is not going help that , ” he said .
“ But changing the name sends the message that ’ s it ’ s not OK , and it will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expressed a change of heart .
Walker Stapleton , the former state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate , tweeted last week that if “ changing a name brings more equity , fairness and opportunity for Denverites and specifically Coloradans of Color , I ’ m all IN.
” While the will to finally rename Stapleton is shared by every group and institution needed to sign off , there ’ s still plenty of red tape .
The Stapleton United Neighbors is forming a committee to help whittle down a list of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manageable list for the community to pick from .
Then , the community will get to decide on a new name either through a bracket-style competition — where names will be eliminated in a series of head-to-head votes — or through an advisory board , which would elicit community suggestions and come up with eight finalists to put for a community vote .
By Aug. 1 , the committee plans to have a name selected to be presented for approval to the neighborhood developers , Brookfield Properties Development , which has indicated it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to approve of the name .
The city has already begun removing references to Stapleton in their public GIS maps , city plans and codes , Mike Strott , spokesman for the mayor ’ s office , said in an email .
One of the most popular suggestions has been Westbrook , in honor of Dr. Joseph H.P .
Westbrook , a black man who infiltrated KKK meetings in the 1920s to warn Denver ’ s black community about their plans .
Other nominations include Justina Ford , the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter 5280 this week initially reacted to the news with jubilation .
Organizers quickly put together a “ ChangeTheName Victory Lap Car Rally ” for Wednesday night , with plans to drive from Denver ’ s oldest black church , Shorter Community AME Church , into Stapleton to celebrate the win .
The group encouraged participants to decorate their cars with suggestions for the new name .
But hours before the event , organizers canceled .
Victory , it seemed , had not yet been achieved .
Amy Brown , co-founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of transparency from the various neighborhood groups has been hurtful and the information delivered misleading .
Black voices have been silenced , she said .
“ We ’ re very clearly seeing the type of gatekeeping that can happen in these sorts of decision-making processes , ” Brown said .
“ We ’ re watching in front of our very eyes , the system and systemic racism and the silencing of the black community.
” The neighborhood name change will happen , Brown believes , “ but it will happen for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for embarrassment and PR , ” she said .
“ In the midst of one of the most prolonged periods of community grief , the celebration aspects have been stripped from us.
” Timothy Tyler , pastor at the Shorter Community AME Church , said he didn ’ t know if the evolving sentiment surrounding Stapleton ’ s name is genuine , but he ’ ll take the change regardless .
“ We ’ re happy it ’ s happening , but it ’ s not the end of systematic racism as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s still a marathon , not a sprint.
” Neighborhood residents have also sensed a major shift in recent weeks .
Facebook groups en masse suddenly pulled the “ Stapleton ” name off their page .
Signs were covered , logos changed .
Ryan Haig moved to the neighborhood in November , mainly to be closer to the Pepsi Center to watch his beloved Denver Nuggets .
He had no knowledge of Stapleton ’ s history until he saw signs on people ’ s lawns seeking to change the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : His great-grandfather was a KKK member in Tennessee .
When he found out that he ’ d moved to a neighborhood with that connection , Haig was eager to help get it changed .
“ It makes me happy to live in a community open to change no matter how big or small it is , ” he said .
Fighting to remove the neighborhood ’ s name almost led Brooke Lee to pack up and move .
“ Once I became vocal about it , neighbors who had been very friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street and give me a piece of their mind , ” Lee said .
“ I got sworn at in front of my daughter .
My daughter stopped getting invited to birthday parties she used to go to.
” But the landscape changed after Floyd ’ s death .
Lee used to compile a photo album of all the people in the neighborhood who validated someone ’ s experience , who went out of their way to show they were an ally .
“ I stopped keeping that album because it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I really believe there ’ s been a shift .
You won ’ t hear ‘ we ’ re done now ’ , but I ’ ve never been more hopeful for the culture of our neighborhood .
”

Growing up in the 1960s in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, Tamara Rhone remembers overhearing her mother discussing nascent efforts to rename Stapleton airport, an ode to a former city mayor — and member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Thirty years later, she remembers talking to Landri Taylor, the former chairman of Denver’s Democratic Party, about that same name, which was about to be given to a new neighborhood on the airport’s old site. Why couldn’t they nip this in the bud before the first house was even occupied, she wondered.
The name stayed.
It’s been half a century since Rhone overheard her mother talking about the Stapleton name, a name that has prompted years of activism, neighborhood infighting, controversial votes and anguish among the city’s black population — but until now, no action.
“It’s taken a heck of a long time,” Rhone said. “If you haven’t grown up black in America, you can’t fully feel what that stuff feels like.”
Last Sunday, in the wake of landmark protests against systemic racism and police brutality in Denver and across the country, Stapleton’s neighborhood delegates announced they would support changing the name, setting in motion a series of votes and discussions about what the new name should be and how it should be decided. The Stapleton family says they support the change, as does Mayor Michael Hancock and the neighborhood’s developers. The historic announcement has elicited cheers and celebration, but also frustration and anger over the process.
Still, community members have noticed a shift in public opinion that has them hopeful for the future.
Who was Benjamin Stapleton?
While the neighborhood itself is less than two decades old, the history — and controversy — behind Stapleton goes back nearly a century.
Benjamin Stapleton was a lawyer, a veteran of the Spanish American War, and a United States postmaster general before he ran for mayor in 1923 with the KKK’s support.
The Klan was not just a hate-group in those times — it was an integral piece of Denver’s political machine, said Phil Goodstein, a Denver historian who wrote “In The Shadow of the Klan: When the KKK Ruled Denver.” And Stapleton was quick to get in their good graces.
He grew close with John Galen Locke, the founder and Grand Dragon of the Colorado Klan. When Stapleton had a son, he named Locke his godfather, Goodstein said.
In 1924, Stapleton stood atop South Table Mountain in Golden, where Locke warned the new mayor that he needed to heed the policies of the Klan.
“Stapleton says, ‘I will do whatever the Klan wants me to do,'” Goodstein said.
Stapleton ultimately served five terms as mayor during the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s. In 1944, the city honored its former mayor by renaming Denver Municipal Airport to Stapleton Airfield.
How to change a neighborhood
There have been several unsuccessful pushes over the years to change the name. After the airport was decommissioned in 1995, a group known as the “Rename Stapleton Committee” fought to keep the name off any future developments. In 2015, Black Lives Matter 5280 helped reignite activism. Two years later, “Rename St*pleton for All” came along, leading to a community vote last August.
The vote failed 65% to 35%, though only one-third of residents voted and renters were not included.
But everything changed last month. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police prompted outrage across the country, fueling not only days of marches but sustained energy from segments of America who never previously engaged with race.
Colorado lawmakers quickly passed one of the most sweeping police accountability bills in the nation. That same day, June 13, Denver Public School board member Tay Anderson, who has also spearheaded many of the city’s recent protests, tweeted that neighborhood delegates had one week to change the name or activists would march through their neighborhood.
On Sunday, the association said it intended to change the neighborhood name once and for all, and on Wednesday unanimously voted to recommend a name change to Stapleton’s registered neighborhood organization.
During Wednesday’s meeting, delegates detailed their personal, and sometimes emotional, transformations on the issue.
Josh Nicholas said he used cost reasons and a lack of a new name to justify voting against the change last year. But then he felt the tide shift, along with his own feelings.
“Just this week I was talking to a friend, and she said, ‘Josh, I love you, but I don’t feel comfortable bringing my daughter to Stapleton — it just doesn’t feel welcoming to me,'” Nicholas recounted during Wednesday’s delegate meeting. “And that broke my heart … for her and her daughter to not want to see their Uncle Josh because they don’t feel welcome where I live, that hurt.”
As a Mexican-American and member of the LGBTQ community, Nicholas said he’s felt hate in his own community.
“I thought, well, changing the name is not going help that,” he said. “But changing the name sends the message that’s it’s not OK, and it will never be OK.”
The Stapleton family has also expressed a change of heart. Walker Stapleton, the former state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate, tweeted last week that if “changing a name brings more equity, fairness and opportunity for Denverites and specifically Coloradans of Color, I’m all IN.”
While the will to finally rename Stapleton is shared by every group and institution needed to sign off, there’s still plenty of red tape. The Stapleton United Neighbors is forming a committee to help whittle down a list of more than 80 options for names into a manageable list for the community to pick from.
Then, the community will get to decide on a new name either through a bracket-style competition — where names will be eliminated in a series of head-to-head votes — or through an advisory board, which would elicit community suggestions and come up with eight finalists to put for a community vote.
By Aug. 1, the committee plans to have a name selected to be presented for approval to the neighborhood developers, Brookfield Properties Development, which has indicated it supports the change. Denver would also have to approve of the name. The city has already begun removing references to Stapleton in their public GIS maps, city plans and codes, Mike Strott, spokesman for the mayor’s office, said in an email.
One of the most popular suggestions has been Westbrook, in honor of Dr. Joseph H.P. Westbrook, a black man who infiltrated KKK meetings in the 1920s to warn Denver’s black community about their plans. Other nominations include Justina Ford, the city’s first African American female doctor.
Community reactions
Black Lives Matter 5280 this week initially reacted to the news with jubilation. Organizers quickly put together a “ChangeTheName Victory Lap Car Rally” for Wednesday night, with plans to drive from Denver’s oldest black church, Shorter Community AME Church, into Stapleton to celebrate the win. The group encouraged participants to decorate their cars with suggestions for the new name.
But hours before the event, organizers canceled. Victory, it seemed, had not yet been achieved.
Amy Brown, co-founder of Black Lives Matter 5280, said the lack of transparency from the various neighborhood groups has been hurtful and the information delivered misleading. Black voices have been silenced, she said.
“We’re very clearly seeing the type of gatekeeping that can happen in these sorts of decision-making processes,” Brown said. “We’re watching in front of our very eyes, the system and systemic racism and the silencing of the black community.”
The neighborhood name change will happen, Brown believes, “but it will happen for the wrong reasons.”
“It will happen for embarrassment and PR,” she said. “In the midst of one of the most prolonged periods of community grief, the celebration aspects have been stripped from us.”
Timothy Tyler, pastor at the Shorter Community AME Church, said he didn’t know if the evolving sentiment surrounding Stapleton’s name is genuine, but he’ll take the change regardless.
“We’re happy it’s happening, but it’s not the end of systematic racism as we know it,” Tyler said. “It’s still a marathon, not a sprint.”
Neighborhood residents have also sensed a major shift in recent weeks. Facebook groups en masse suddenly pulled the “Stapleton” name off their page. Signs were covered, logos changed.
Ryan Haig moved to the neighborhood in November, mainly to be closer to the Pepsi Center to watch his beloved Denver Nuggets. He had no knowledge of Stapleton’s history until he saw signs on people’s lawns seeking to change the name.
The history hit the 24-year-old personally: His great-grandfather was a KKK member in Tennessee. When he found out that he’d moved to a neighborhood with that connection, Haig was eager to help get it changed.
“It makes me happy to live in a community open to change no matter how big or small it is,” he said.
Fighting to remove the neighborhood’s name almost led Brooke Lee to pack up and move.
“Once I became vocal about it, neighbors who had been very friendly would stop me in the middle of the street and give me a piece of their mind,” Lee said. “I got sworn at in front of my daughter. My daughter stopped getting invited to birthday parties she used to go to.”
But the landscape changed after Floyd’s death. Lee used to compile a photo album of all the people in the neighborhood who validated someone’s experience, who went out of their way to show they were an ally.
“I stopped keeping that album because it’s every day now,” she said. “I really believe there’s been a shift. You won’t hear ‘we’re done now’, but I’ve never been more hopeful for the culture of our neighborhood.”