thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Oregon, New Mexico order lockdowns as other states resist

PROVIDENCE , R.I. — The governors of Oregon and New Mexico ordered near-lockdowns Friday in the most aggressive response yet to the latest wave of coronavirus infections shattering records across the U.S. , even as many of their counterparts in other states show little appetite for reimposing the hard-line restrictions of last spring .
“ We are in a life-or-death situation , and if we don ’ t act right now , we can not preserve the lives , we can ’ t keep saving lives , and we will absolutely crush our current health care system and infrastructure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Mexico said in imposing a two-week stay-at-home order .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown ordered a two-week “ freeze ” starting Wednesday , under which all businesses will be required to close their offices to the public and mandate work-from-home “ to the greatest extent possible.
” While most Oregon stores will remain open , gyms , museums , pools , movie theaters and zoos will be forced to close , and restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout .
Social gatherings will be restricted to six people .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines or arrest .
“ For the last eight months , I have been asking Oregonians to follow to the letter and the spirit of the law , and we have not chosen to engage law enforcement , ” Brown said .
“ At this point in time , unfortunately , we have no other option.
” Both states had lockdowns earlier in the year , but the coronavirus is coming back with a vengeance across the country , and the U.S. is facing a long , dark winter .
The scourge is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost a quarter-million deaths in the U.S. , with the closely watched University of Washington model projecting nearly 439,000 dead by March 1 .
Deaths have climbed to about 1,000 a day on average .
New cases per day are soaring , reaching another all-time high on Thursday of more than 153,000 .
Hospitals are getting swamped .
Still , there is little will among many governors and other elected officials for going back to the kind of lockdowns and large-scale business closings seen last spring .
Some governors also continue to resist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons given : public fatigue , fear of doing more damage to already-crippled businesses , lack of support from Washington , and the way efforts to tame the virus have become fiercely politicized .
“ I think that governors and mayors are , again , in a really tough spot .
The American population is emotionally and economically exhausted , ” Dr. Megan Ranney , an emergency physician and professor at Brown University in Providence , Rhode Island .
President Donald Trump asked all Americans to remain “ vigilant ” but ruled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whatever happens in the future , who knows which administration it will be , I guess time will tell , but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown , ” Trump said in his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden .
Governors in many states , such as New York , Maryland , Virginia and Minnesota , have taken largely incremental measures over the past few days , such as limiting the size of gatherings , making businesses close early , restricting capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evening .
Nevada Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak has repeatedly argued that containing the virus is largely up to individuals .
“ Some people are going to ask , ‘ Why not limit retail , or casino resorts , or restaurants right now ?
’ That ’ s a fair question , ” he said .
“ That is the tightrope of trying to balance controlling the COVID-19 spread , protecting our hospitals from surges , and at the same time , not destroying and shutting down our economy.
” In Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to surpass 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases , Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott has emphasized new treatments and vaccines that are expected to become available soon .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken an even harder line against new restrictions , suing after El Paso closed nonessential businesses because of a surge so severe that mobile morgues are being brought in .
An appeals court Thursday temporarily lifted the shutdown .
Officials have gotten pushback from some constituents , especially business owners who fear for their livelihoods .
In Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of Life Time health clubs , objected when the governor added gyms to a list of businesses that could be shuttered if cases continue to rise .
“ Another shutdown would just be completely devastating and simply unjust , ” Akradi said .
He added : “ The damage of not allowing people to have healthy activity is much more than the gain.
” In Montana , where cases are up more than 16 % in the past week , Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock said he is wary of imposing tougher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployed individuals and small businesses .
“ I never wanted to punish the businesses that are doing right in this pandemic to keep their employees and customers safe .
Shutting down those businesses would do just that , ” he said .
The political perils of statewide mandates have been on display in Wisconsin .
Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers issued a “ safer at home ” order in March that was challenged by Republican lawmakers and struck down by the conservative-controlled state Supreme Court in May .
The result has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with some of the strictest in places like Milwaukee , which is moving forward with imposing steep fines of between $ 500 and $ 5,000 for violations of local health orders .
Other governors have likewise relied on local and county officials to tackle the crisis , creating a patchwork of restrictions around the country .
But that strategy has its limits against a virus .
In Tennessee , Nashville Mayor John Cooper said he doesn ’ t plan on reinstating restrictions on the city ’ s honky-tonks and other businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would probably be ineffective against the virus because the surrounding areas wouldn ’ t be following the same guidelines .
“ We are also subject to what goes on in our state , and we can ’ t keep just our county safe , ” Cooper said .
Some economists say the crisis has been falsely portrayed as a choice between the economy and public health .
Instead , they argue that the economy can not recover until the virus is brought under control and people are confident enough to go shopping , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
Experts have argued , too , that strict but relatively short lockdowns could ultimately result in less economic pain than the half-measures employed now , which have only succeeded in dragging out the crisis .
Dr. Michael Fine , former director of Rhode Island ’ s Health Department , said the outbreak requires more aggressive strategies .
Closing bars earlier in the evening , he said , “ might have worked in July , but there ’ s not a chance they ’ ll work now .
It ’ s like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Short of very profound lockdowns , I don ’ t think we have a chance of slowing the spread , ” Fine said .
Johnson reported from Washington state ; Pane reported from Boise , Idaho .
AP journalists around the U.S. contributed to this report .

Michelle Smith, Carla K. Johnson, Lisa Marie Pane

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The governors of Oregon and New Mexico ordered near-lockdowns Friday in the most aggressive response yet to the latest wave of coronavirus infections shattering records across the U.S., even as many of their counterparts in other states show little appetite for reimposing the hard-line restrictions of last spring.
“We are in a life-or-death situation, and if we don’t act right now, we cannot preserve the lives, we can’t keep saving lives, and we will absolutely crush our current health care system and infrastructure,” Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said in imposing a two-week stay-at-home order.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered a two-week “freeze” starting Wednesday, under which all businesses will be required to close their offices to the public and mandate work-from-home “to the greatest extent possible.”
While most Oregon stores will remain open, gyms, museums, pools, movie theaters and zoos will be forced to close, and restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout. Social gatherings will be restricted to six people.
The Democratic governor warned that violators could face fines or arrest.
“For the last eight months, I have been asking Oregonians to follow to the letter and the spirit of the law, and we have not chosen to engage law enforcement,” Brown said. “At this point in time, unfortunately, we have no other option.”
Both states had lockdowns earlier in the year, but the coronavirus is coming back with a vengeance across the country, and the U.S. is facing a long, dark winter. The scourge is blamed for 10.7 million confirmed infections and almost a quarter-million deaths in the U.S., with the closely watched University of Washington model projecting nearly 439,000 dead by March 1.
Deaths have climbed to about 1,000 a day on average. New cases per day are soaring, reaching another all-time high on Thursday of more than 153,000. Hospitals are getting swamped.
Still, there is little will among many governors and other elected officials for going back to the kind of lockdowns and large-scale business closings seen last spring. Some governors also continue to resist issuing statewide mask rules.
Among the reasons given: public fatigue, fear of doing more damage to already-crippled businesses, lack of support from Washington, and the way efforts to tame the virus have become fiercely politicized.
“I think that governors and mayors are, again, in a really tough spot. The American population is emotionally and economically exhausted,” Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician and professor at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
President Donald Trump asked all Americans to remain “vigilant” but ruled out a nationwide “lockdown.”
“Hopefully, whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell, but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown,” Trump said in his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden.
Governors in many states, such as New York, Maryland, Virginia and Minnesota, have taken largely incremental measures over the past few days, such as limiting the size of gatherings, making businesses close early, restricting capacity or cutting off alcohol sales earlier in the evening.
Nevada Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak has repeatedly argued that containing the virus is largely up to individuals.
“Some people are going to ask, ‘Why not limit retail, or casino resorts, or restaurants right now?’ That’s a fair question,” he said. “That is the tightrope of trying to balance controlling the COVID-19 spread, protecting our hospitals from surges, and at the same time, not destroying and shutting down our economy.”
In Texas, which this week became the first state to surpass 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has emphasized new treatments and vaccines that are expected to become available soon.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken an even harder line against new restrictions, suing after El Paso closed nonessential businesses because of a surge so severe that mobile morgues are being brought in. An appeals court Thursday temporarily lifted the shutdown.
Officials have gotten pushback from some constituents, especially business owners who fear for their livelihoods.
In Ohio, Bahram Akradi, founder, chairman and CEO of Life Time health clubs, objected when the governor added gyms to a list of businesses that could be shuttered if cases continue to rise.
“Another shutdown would just be completely devastating and simply unjust,” Akradi said. He added: “The damage of not allowing people to have healthy activity is much more than the gain.”
In Montana, where cases are up more than 16% in the past week, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said he is wary of imposing tougher statewide restrictions without additional federal aid to unemployed individuals and small businesses.
“I never wanted to punish the businesses that are doing right in this pandemic to keep their employees and customers safe. Shutting down those businesses would do just that,” he said.
The political perils of statewide mandates have been on display in Wisconsin. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issued a “safer at home” order in March that was challenged by Republican lawmakers and struck down by the conservative-controlled state Supreme Court in May.
The result has been a hodgepodge of local limits across the state, with some of the strictest in places like Milwaukee, which is moving forward with imposing steep fines of between $500 and $5,000 for violations of local health orders.
Other governors have likewise relied on local and county officials to tackle the crisis, creating a patchwork of restrictions around the country. But that strategy has its limits against a virus.
In Tennessee, Nashville Mayor John Cooper said he doesn’t plan on reinstating restrictions on the city’s honky-tonks and other businesses. He said shutting down just one county would probably be ineffective against the virus because the surrounding areas wouldn’t be following the same guidelines.
“We are also subject to what goes on in our state, and we can’t keep just our county safe,” Cooper said.
Some economists say the crisis has been falsely portrayed as a choice between the economy and public health. Instead, they argue that the economy cannot recover until the virus is brought under control and people are confident enough to go shopping, eat at restaurants and do other things again.
Experts have argued, too, that strict but relatively short lockdowns could ultimately result in less economic pain than the half-measures employed now, which have only succeeded in dragging out the crisis.
Dr. Michael Fine, former director of Rhode Island’s Health Department, said the outbreak requires more aggressive strategies. Closing bars earlier in the evening, he said, “might have worked in July, but there’s not a chance they’ll work now. It’s like taking an eyedropper to a forest fire.”
“Short of very profound lockdowns, I don’t think we have a chance of slowing the spread,” Fine said.
___
Johnson reported from Washington state; Pane reported from Boise, Idaho. AP journalists around the U.S. contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Second effort to recall Gov. Jared Polis doesn’t submit required signatures by deadline

For the second year in a row , an effort to recall Gov .
Jared Polis did not turn in the required signatures by the deadline , and organizers say they are requesting an extension .
Petitioners had to collect 631,266 valid signatures to the Secretary of State ’ s Office by 5 p.m. Friday to be verified before they could initiate a recall election .
Organizers have said they started the effort because they believe the governor abused his powers in his response to the pandemic .
“ After much consideration an extension for time to collect signatures has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid Restrictions limiting citizen ’ s ability to gather tosign [ sic ] petitions , ” Proponent Lori Cutunilli posted on Facebook .
Cutunilli did not return a request for comment .
She did not say in her post how many signatures petitioners had already collected .
The signature deadline is set by state law , said Secretary of State ’ s Office spokeswoman Betsy Hart .
The group would have to petition a court for an extension .
Earlier this year , a Denver District Court judge granted proponents of Proposition 115 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 weeks , a stay on their deadline to cure signatures and return them to the Secretary of State ’ s Office until after the state ’ s stay-at-home order had expired .

For the second year in a row, an effort to recall Gov. Jared Polis did not turn in the required signatures by the deadline, and organizers say they are requesting an extension.
Petitioners had to collect 631,266 valid signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by 5 p.m. Friday to be verified before they could initiate a recall election. Organizers have said they started the effort because they believe the governor abused his powers in his response to the pandemic.
“After much consideration an extension for time to collect signatures has been requested due to Polis’ unconstitutional Covid Restrictions limiting citizen’s ability to gather tosign [sic] petitions,” Proponent Lori Cutunilli posted on Facebook.
Cutunilli did not return a request for comment. She did not say in her post how many signatures petitioners had already collected.
The signature deadline is set by state law, said Secretary of State’s Office spokeswoman Betsy Hart. The group would have to petition a court for an extension.
Earlier this year, a Denver District Court judge granted proponents of Proposition 115, a measure to ban abortions at 22 weeks, a stay on their deadline to cure signatures and return them to the Secretary of State’s Office until after the state’s stay-at-home order had expired.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--FACT CHECK: Trump distorts on vaccine, state distribution

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday wrongly claimed full credit for Pfizer Inc. ’ s announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine was robustly successful and suggested without evidence that a separate state review will cause a protracted delay for New York residents waiting for a vaccine .
A look at the statements , made during his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden : TRUMP : “ As a result of Operation Warp Speed , Pfizer announced on Monday that its China virus vaccine was more than 90 % effective .
…Pfizer said it wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned out to be an unfortunate misrepresentation.
” THE FACTS : Not so much .
Pfizer notably did not accept government money to develop , test or expand manufacturing capacity under Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed initiative to quickly find a vaccine and treatments for the disease sweeping the country .
In fact , Pfizer partnered with the vaccine ’ s original developer , Germany ’ s BioNTech , in March and the following month announced the first human study in Germany .
The White House announced Operation Warp Speed in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warp Speed initially but is following the same general requirements for the vaccine ’ s development as competitors who received government research money .
The company says it has risked $ 2 billion of its own money on vaccine development and won ’ t get anything from Washington unless the effort is successful .
“ Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing costs have been entirely self-funded , ” Pfizer spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said this week .
“ We decided to self-fund our efforts so we could move as fast as possible.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement with the U.S. government in July worth $ 1.95 billion — if the vaccine pans out and is cleared by the FDA — to supply 100 million doses .
That guarantees Pfizer a U.S. market , an important incentive .
The supply side of Operation Warp Speed also allows Pfizer logistical help , although the company will directly ship its own vaccine , while the government will control shipping of other COVID-19 vaccines .
Pfizer ’ s announcement does not mean a vaccine has been approved and will immediately hit the market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to apply for “ emergency use authorization ” by the Food and Drug Administration , probably later this month , which would allow for limited distribution before it seeks full FDA approval for wider use by the general public in 2021 .
Neither step is guaranteed to happen .
TRUMP : “ The vaccine will be available to the entire general population with the exception of places like New York state where for political reasons the governor decided to say — and I don ’ t think it ’ s good politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad from a health standpoint — but he wants to take his time with a vaccine .
…We can ’ t be delivering it to a state that won ’ t be giving it to its people immediately.
” Trump is referring to a state panel of experts that New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced in September to review any coronavirus vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration before it is to be distributed in the state .
That additional review doesn ’ t necessarily mean weeks of delay before New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine .
As a practical matter , the FDA will have a public meeting where its independent advisers debate the data , an opportunity for any interested group to get an early look .
Cuomo , speaking Friday on CNN , said that as soon as the FDA acts , the state review group would , too .
“ There will be no delay , ” he said .
There is some uncertainty around how the state-level reviews will ultimately work .
Cuomo said the only issue could be if the review group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states doing reviews finds a problem .
But he notes that : “ I don ’ t think the FDA is going to play any games at this point.
” A handful of other states , including California , have said they would conduct separate safety reviews .
California ’ s plan is to review data quickly so there is no delay in distribution , said Dr. Arthur Reingold , the group ’ s chair .
He said the state ’ s review group — which has been joined by Nevada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal review process , but that its work is intended to provide additional reassurance to people .
“ Any assertion that our citizens will be delayed in receiving a safe and effective COVID vaccine is simply not borne out by the plans we have in place , ” said Reingold , a professor of epidemiology at the University of California , Berkeley .
Choi reported from New York .
Associated Press writer Michelle R. Smith in Providence , Rhode Island , contributed to this report .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political figures .

Hope Yen, Lauren Neergaard, Candice Choi

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday wrongly claimed full credit for Pfizer Inc.’s announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine was robustly successful and suggested without evidence that a separate state review will cause a protracted delay for New York residents waiting for a vaccine.
A look at the statements, made during his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden:
TRUMP: “As a result of Operation Warp Speed, Pfizer announced on Monday that its China virus vaccine was more than 90% effective. …Pfizer said it wasn’t part of Warp Speed, but that turned out to be an unfortunate misrepresentation.”
THE FACTS: Not so much. Pfizer notably did not accept government money to develop, test or expand manufacturing capacity under Trump’s Operation Warp Speed initiative to quickly find a vaccine and treatments for the disease sweeping the country.
In fact, Pfizer partnered with the vaccine’s original developer, Germany’s BioNTech, in March and the following month announced the first human study in Germany. The White House announced Operation Warp Speed in May.
Pfizer opted not to join Operation Warp Speed initially but is following the same general requirements for the vaccine’s development as competitors who received government research money. The company says it has risked $2 billion of its own money on vaccine development and won’t get anything from Washington unless the effort is successful.
“Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing costs have been entirely self-funded,” Pfizer spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said this week. “We decided to self-fund our efforts so we could move as fast as possible.”
However, Pfizer did sign an agreement with the U.S. government in July worth $1.95 billion — if the vaccine pans out and is cleared by the FDA — to supply 100 million doses. That guarantees Pfizer a U.S. market, an important incentive.
The supply side of Operation Warp Speed also allows Pfizer logistical help, although the company will directly ship its own vaccine, while the government will control shipping of other COVID-19 vaccines.
Pfizer’s announcement does not mean a vaccine has been approved and will immediately hit the market.
The next step for Pfizer would be to apply for “emergency use authorization” by the Food and Drug Administration, probably later this month, which would allow for limited distribution before it seeks full FDA approval for wider use by the general public in 2021. Neither step is guaranteed to happen.
___
TRUMP: “The vaccine will be available to the entire general population with the exception of places like New York state where for political reasons the governor decided to say — and I don’t think it’s good politically, I think it’s very bad from a health standpoint — but he wants to take his time with a vaccine. …We can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately.”
THE FACTS: That’s a misrepresentation. New York’s separate review doesn’t guarantee a protracted delay.
Trump is referring to a state panel of experts that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in September to review any coronavirus vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration before it is to be distributed in the state.
That additional review doesn’t necessarily mean weeks of delay before New York residents can get a federally approved vaccine. As a practical matter, the FDA will have a public meeting where its independent advisers debate the data, an opportunity for any interested group to get an early look.
Cuomo, speaking Friday on CNN, said that as soon as the FDA acts, the state review group would, too.
“There will be no delay,” he said.
There is some uncertainty around how the state-level reviews will ultimately work. Cuomo said the only issue could be if the review group in New York or one of the other states doing reviews finds a problem. But he notes that: “I don’t think the FDA is going to play any games at this point.”
A handful of other states, including California, have said they would conduct separate safety reviews.
California’s plan is to review data quickly so there is no delay in distribution, said Dr. Arthur Reingold, the group’s chair. He said the state’s review group — which has been joined by Nevada, Oregon and Washington — has confidence in the federal review process, but that its work is intended to provide additional reassurance to people.
“Any assertion that our citizens will be delayed in receiving a safe and effective COVID vaccine is simply not borne out by the plans we have in place,” said Reingold, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley.
___
Choi reported from New York. Associated Press writer Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.
___
EDITOR’S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Trump, still not conceding defeat, trumpets vaccine progress

WASHINGTON — Gliding over significant challenges still to come , President Donald Trump on Friday offered a rosy update on the race for a vaccine for the resurgent coronavirus as he delivered his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden .
He still did not concede the election .
Trump spoke from the Rose Garden as the nation sets records for confirmed cases of COVID-19 , and as hospitalizations near critical levels and fatalities climb to the highest levels since the spring .
He said a vaccine would ship in “ a matter of weeks ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration has not yet been asked to grant the necessary emergency approvals .
Public health experts worry that Trump ’ s refusal to take aggressive action on the pandemic or to coordinate with the Biden team during the final two months of his presidency will only worsen the effects of the virus and hinder the nation ’ s ability to swiftly distribute a vaccine next year .
As states impose new restrictions in the face of rising caseloads , Trump asked all Americans to remain “ vigilant.
” But he ruled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to acknowledge that the decision won ’ t be his much longer .
“ This administration will not be going to a lockdown , ” he said .
“ Hopefully whatever happens in the future , who knows , which administration it will be I guess time will tell , but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown.
” Biden , for his part , has not endorsed a nationwide shutdown , but he appealed for Trump to take “ urgent action ” to curtail the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respect dates on the calendar , it is accelerating right now , ” he said in a statement Friday .
Trump said vaccines would “ arrive within a few weeks , ” saying they were ready and merely awaiting approval — and would be given “ to high-risk individuals right away.
” In fact , there ’ s no guarantee that Pfizer ’ s shot , the front-runner , will get rapid authorization for emergency use .
Even if it does , there ’ s no information yet indicating if the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , healthier adults .
Nor does Pfizer have a large commercial stockpile already poised to ship ; initial batches of shots would be small and targeted to certain still-to-be-determined populations .
Trump took no questions Friday from reporters .
He hasn ’ t answered questions since before Election Day .
Meanwhile , his campaign prediction that the U.S. was “ rounding the turn ” on the pandemic has met a harsh reality , with his own White House becoming the focus of yet another outbreak .
Trump ’ s aggressive travel despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protectors as well .
The U.S. Secret Service is experiencing a significant number of cases , many believed to be linked to his rallies in the closing days of the campaign , according to one official .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , meanwhile , said Trump is “ not even at that point yet ” when it comes to conceding to Biden .
Trump has leveled baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud , even as his own administration has said there is no evidence to support the claims .
His aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his base of supporters on his side in defeat .
Trump spoke with conservative media on Friday , including Fox News ’ Geraldo Rivera , suggesting he would acknowledge the loss only after exhausting his legal options .
“ You know , he told me he was a realist , ” Rivera said .
“ He told me he would do the right thing.
” With more than 100,000 new confirmed U.S. cases reported daily for more than a week , Trump has been more focused on tracking the rollout of a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for months .
He has fumed that Pfizer intentionally withheld an announcement about progress on its vaccine trial until after Election Day , according to a White House official who was not authorized to publicly comment and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Pfizer itself did not receive the preliminary results from its independent study monitors until that group met five days after the election .
Dr. Moncef Slaoui , head of Operation Warp Speed , the effort to get a vaccine to market as speedily and safely as possible , vouched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development .
“ While we are not there yet , we are close to the objective ” to having a vaccine ready for deployment by the end of the year , he said .
Trump , aiming to settle political scores , said he would not ship vaccines to hard-hit New York until Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo signs off , noting that the state has promised to do its own review to ensure their safety .
“ The governor will let us know when he ’ s ready , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , saying New York is one of several states that set up their own scientific panels to give residents greater confidence to take the vaccine if it is safe to use .
He accused Trump of “ politicizing the process.
” “ As soon as they get us the drug , we are ready to distribute it , ” Cuomo said .
The president has consistently played down the pandemic , which has killed more than 240,000 Americans and infected more than 10 million people in the U.S. White House chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after attending an election night party at the White House .
Others at the party also have tested positive , including White House political director Brian Jack , former White House aide Healy Baumgardner and Trump campaign advisers David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski .
Lewandowski said Thursday that he believes he contracted the virus in Philadelphia while assisting the president ’ s election challenge there .
Biden , for his part , largely framed the election as a referendum on Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic .
He has made addressing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward with his transition .
He spoke by phone Thursday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the intensifying pandemic and prospects for passage of a COVID-19 relief bill in the lame duck session of Congress .
Incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden will appoint a “ COVID coordinator ” who will lead the administration ’ s pandemic response .
Klain , speaking on MSNBC Thursday night , said the individual will have “ direct access ” to the president and will brief him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people underneath the coordinator will supervise vaccine distribution , address supply chain disruptions and improve access to testing .
Madhani reported from Chicago .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin , Alexandra Jaffe and Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report .

Zeke Miller, Kevin Freking, Aamer Madhani

WASHINGTON — Gliding over significant challenges still to come, President Donald Trump on Friday offered a rosy update on the race for a vaccine for the resurgent coronavirus as he delivered his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden. He still did not concede the election.
Trump spoke from the Rose Garden as the nation sets records for confirmed cases of COVID-19, and as hospitalizations near critical levels and fatalities climb to the highest levels since the spring. He said a vaccine would ship in “a matter of weeks” to vulnerable populations, though the Food and Drug Administration has not yet been asked to grant the necessary emergency approvals.
Public health experts worry that Trump’s refusal to take aggressive action on the pandemic or to coordinate with the Biden team during the final two months of his presidency will only worsen the effects of the virus and hinder the nation’s ability to swiftly distribute a vaccine next year.
As states impose new restrictions in the face of rising caseloads, Trump asked all Americans to remain “vigilant.” But he ruled out a nationwide “lockdown” and appeared to acknowledge that the decision won’t be his much longer.
“This administration will not be going to a lockdown,” he said. “Hopefully whatever happens in the future, who knows, which administration it will be I guess time will tell, but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown.”
Biden, for his part, has not endorsed a nationwide shutdown, but he appealed for Trump to take “urgent action” to curtail the spread of the virus. “The crisis does not respect dates on the calendar, it is accelerating right now,” he said in a statement Friday.
Trump said vaccines would “arrive within a few weeks,” saying they were ready and merely awaiting approval — and would be given “to high-risk individuals right away.” In fact, there’s no guarantee that Pfizer’s shot, the front-runner, will get rapid authorization for emergency use. Even if it does, there’s no information yet indicating if the vaccine works in older adults or just younger, healthier adults. Nor does Pfizer have a large commercial stockpile already poised to ship; initial batches of shots would be small and targeted to certain still-to-be-determined populations.
Trump took no questions Friday from reporters. He hasn’t answered questions since before Election Day.
Meanwhile, his campaign prediction that the U.S. was “rounding the turn” on the pandemic has met a harsh reality, with his own White House becoming the focus of yet another outbreak.
Trump’s aggressive travel despite the virus has taken its toll on his protectors as well. The U.S. Secret Service is experiencing a significant number of cases, many believed to be linked to his rallies in the closing days of the campaign, according to one official.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, meanwhile, said Trump is “not even at that point yet” when it comes to conceding to Biden. Trump has leveled baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud, even as his own administration has said there is no evidence to support the claims. His aides suggest he is merely trying to keep his base of supporters on his side in defeat.
Trump spoke with conservative media on Friday, including Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera, suggesting he would acknowledge the loss only after exhausting his legal options.
“You know, he told me he was a realist,” Rivera said. “He told me he would do the right thing.”
With more than 100,000 new confirmed U.S. cases reported daily for more than a week, Trump has been more focused on tracking the rollout of a vaccine, which won’t be widely available for months. He has fumed that Pfizer intentionally withheld an announcement about progress on its vaccine trial until after Election Day, according to a White House official who was not authorized to publicly comment and spoke on condition of anonymity. Pfizer itself did not receive the preliminary results from its independent study monitors until that group met five days after the election.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of Operation Warp Speed, the effort to get a vaccine to market as speedily and safely as possible, vouched for the safety of the vaccines in development. “While we are not there yet, we are close to the objective” to having a vaccine ready for deployment by the end of the year, he said.
Trump, aiming to settle political scores, said he would not ship vaccines to hard-hit New York until Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs off, noting that the state has promised to do its own review to ensure their safety. “The governor will let us know when he’s ready,” Trump said.
Cuomo in a CNN interview pushed back, saying New York is one of several states that set up their own scientific panels to give residents greater confidence to take the vaccine if it is safe to use. He accused Trump of “politicizing the process.”
“As soon as they get us the drug, we are ready to distribute it,” Cuomo said.
The president has consistently played down the pandemic, which has killed more than 240,000 Americans and infected more than 10 million people in the U.S.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive last week after attending an election night party at the White House. Others at the party also have tested positive, including White House political director Brian Jack, former White House aide Healy Baumgardner and Trump campaign advisers David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski. Lewandowski said Thursday that he believes he contracted the virus in Philadelphia while assisting the president’s election challenge there.
Biden, for his part, largely framed the election as a referendum on Trump’s handling of the pandemic. He has made addressing the virus his top priority as he moves forward with his transition. He spoke by phone Thursday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the intensifying pandemic and prospects for passage of a COVID-19 relief bill in the lame duck session of Congress.
Incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden will appoint a “COVID coordinator” who will lead the administration’s pandemic response. Klain, speaking on MSNBC Thursday night, said the individual will have “direct access” to the president and will brief him daily on the pandemic. A team of people underneath the coordinator will supervise vaccine distribution, address supply chain disruptions and improve access to testing.
___
Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Alexandra Jaffe and Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Man shot dead in pickup truck by Glendale police was unarmed, attorney says

A man inside a pickup truck on Colorado Boulevard , who was shot dead by Glendale police , was unarmed , according to an attorney representing the dead man ’ s family .
John Pacheaco Jr. , 36 , was shot on Oct. 31 when officers surrounded the pickup truck , which had come to a stop in traffic as vehicles drove around it .
The shooting is being investigated by Denver police .
Matthew A. Haltzman , a Fort Collins attorney who represents Pacheaco ’ s family , said he met with a Denver police investigator on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no firearm , no knife or no gun , ” Haltzman said .
“ This is not a firearms case.
” Based on Friday ’ s meeting , Haltzman believes police will “ unjustifiably ” claim that the pickup truck , with Pacheaco behind the wheel , “ posed a dangerous and deadly condition , and that ’ s why the shooting was warranted.
” Police have said little about the ongoing case .
They described Pacheaco as “ unresponsive ” when officers approached the truck , which had been reported stolen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Loveland , ” Haltzman said .
His firm is investigating how Pacheaco came to be in possession of the truck .
A video clip of the incident shows the truck move forward slowly as officers are outside the vehicle .
It then speeds backward and hits a police vehicle behind it .
Pacheaco was shot multiple times .
“ We are still waiting to see if one involved officer and a witness officer will provide statements , ” said Jay Casillas , a Denver police spokesman .
There was no further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of the incident , the truck was motionless and Pacheaco was “ incapacitated ” when officers approached , Haltzman said .
“ That does not warrant the shooting that happened .
”

A man inside a pickup truck on Colorado Boulevard, who was shot dead by Glendale police, was unarmed, according to an attorney representing the dead man’s family.
John Pacheaco Jr., 36, was shot on Oct. 31 when officers surrounded the pickup truck, which had come to a stop in traffic as vehicles drove around it. The shooting is being investigated by Denver police.
Matthew A. Haltzman, a Fort Collins attorney who represents Pacheaco’s family, said he met with a Denver police investigator on Friday.
“We’ve confirmed there was no firearm, no knife or no gun,” Haltzman said. “This is not a firearms case.”
Based on Friday’s meeting, Haltzman believes police will “unjustifiably” claim that the pickup truck, with Pacheaco behind the wheel, “posed a dangerous and deadly condition, and that’s why the shooting was warranted.”
Police have said little about the ongoing case. They described Pacheaco as “unresponsive” when officers approached the truck, which had been reported stolen.
“The truck in fact was stolen out of Loveland,” Haltzman said. His firm is investigating how Pacheaco came to be in possession of the truck.
A video clip of the incident shows the truck move forward slowly as officers are outside the vehicle. It then speeds backward and hits a police vehicle behind it. Pacheaco was shot multiple times.
“We are still waiting to see if one involved officer and a witness officer will provide statements,” said Jay Casillas, a Denver police spokesman. There was no further comment pending the ongoing investigation.
The night of the incident, the truck was motionless and Pacheaco was “incapacitated” when officers approached, Haltzman said. “That does not warrant the shooting that happened.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--PlayStation 5 review: Sony’s new console is an entertaining behemoth

By Brian X. Chen and Mike Isaac , The New York Times Company This holiday season , we are faced with a tough quandary : The new PlayStation and Xbox consoles are arriving .
Which should we gift to our loved ones — or to ourselves ?
There are plenty of options .
On Thursday , Sony will shipshipped two versions of the PlayStation 5 : a $ 500 model that includes a disk drive and a smaller $ 400 disk-free version that runs downloaded games .
The Xbox — which also comes in two models , the $ 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S — will launch Tuesday .
There are many types of gamers , so we — Brian X. Chen , a PlayStation loyalist , and Mike Isaac , who grew up playing Xbox — test-drove both consoles in our homes .
This review will focus on the PlayStation 5 .
BRIAN : Hello again , Mike !
Let ’ s forget about Biden versus Trump for a moment to continue our debate about Xbox versus PlayStation .
MIKE : Is the PS5 the Biden or the Trump in this analogy ?
Mmm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid answering that .
This is the ultimate test for companies like Sony and Microsoft .
Sony spent the past seven years on top with a slate of killer games for the PS4 and largely overshadowed the Xbox .
After a few weeks with the new PS5 , what do you think ?
Is this another winner ?
BRIAN : I ’ ll start with some disclosures .
I ’ ve owned PlayStations since the first generation and never had an Xbox .
But in 2006 , I felt burned by the PlayStation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared with Xbox 360 , so I ’ ve kept an open mind for this new generation .
With that all said , I think PlayStation 5 is going to win my vote with my wallet this round .
What about you ?
MIKE : I was reluctant to come out strong and stump for Sony , but you ’ re right .
If I were to plunk down 500 bucks on a piece of hardware right now , it would be the PS5 .
I want to hear what won you over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with hardware before we move on to games and the overall experience .
First things first : The PS5 is a behemoth .
It ’ s more than 15 inches tall — that ’ s roughly 4 inches taller than the Xbox Series X .
So you ’ ll need to figure out where you ’ re going to place it .
( There ’ s also an ugly black stand that can be screwed on to keep it more stable , but I didn ’ t use it . )
In general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It looks curvy and futuristic and reminds me of a concept car .
MIKE : Do you remember that computing brand Alienware ?
They made really expensive , insane computer systems with neon all over them ?
The company is part of Dell now , but I remember all of their ads in computer magazines I read during my youth .
That was my immediate thought out of the box .
BRIAN : Definitely , and that ’ s basically what the PS5 is : a powerful computer devoted to gaming .
Similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a graphics processor that supports ray tracing , a complex rendering process that makes lighting and shadows look more realistic in graphics .
MIKE : The graphics are very good .
In the launch game we played , “ Spider-Man : Miles Morales , ” I could immediately tell how sharp the characters ’ faces and landscapes were while playing .
Colors popped , like the brilliant neon purples , reds and greens .
Each one of Spider-Man ’ s various suits looked fantastic !
There is one thing I want to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange moment with the PS5 controller that struck me as potentially sensitive .
It has a microphone built into it .
That ’ s convenient , since you won ’ t immediately have to buy a separate headset to chat with friends .
But I wasn ’ t used to it .
I had a moment where I was voice-chatting a friend on my iPhone while playing “ Call of Duty ” multiplayer , and my partner in the game reminded me that he could hear me !
It freaked me out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t carry your controller with you during bathroom breaks .
MIKE : Yes , to be fair there ’ s a button and glowing icon that tells you when it ’ s on or off .
But still , I wasn ’ t used to it .
Learning curve !
BRIAN : The controller is pretty nice otherwise .
It ’ s larger and heavier than the previous PlayStation controllers but feels comfortable to hold for long sessions .
MIKE : Can I geek out on the storage drive ?
MIKE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s called a solid-state drive for storing all of your games and apps on the system .
It loads games faster than traditional spinning hard-disk drives .
It makes an enormous difference .
I can ’ t tell you how much of my life has been whittled away by PS4 loading screens in the past .
BRIAN : With Spider-Man , it took about three seconds for the game to launch , and that is remarkable .
MIKE : Yes , 100 % .
I ’ ve been really into “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past few months — it has been my way to hang out with friends online during the pandemic — and the difference between playing it on PS5 compared with the PS4 was enormous .
For one , the solid-state drive meant that loading each session was so fast that often , I was one of the first people present in the level of every new game .
And things just felt smoother .
Did you play any other games ?
BRIAN : I spent lots of time replaying recent PlayStation 4 titles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ The Last of Us Part II.
” I also immediately noticed how much smoother those games ran .
The frame rates were higher thanks to the beefier graphics processor .
Also very important : The PlayStation 5 was very quiet compared with the PlayStation 4 , which had such a loud fan that I always feared that it was going to explode .
This is a good time to bring up backward compatibility — the ability to play games from previous console generations — a major selling point for both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m curious about your thoughts on this .
BRIAN : Overall , Microsoft wins here .
The PlayStation is backward-compatible with only PlayStation 4 games .
The new Xboxes are backward-compatible with games for Xbox One , Xbox 360 and even some games for the original Xbox .
Backward compatibility always sounds nice to have , but in practice , nostalgia is not enough to win me over .
I spend more time playing new games than I do revisiting old ones .
MIKE : Totally fair .
And Microsoft really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much new for us quite yet , right ?
BRIAN : As we talked about in our Xbox review , we were hamstrung because Microsoft didn ’ t have much compelling fresh content for us to try .
Most of the games we tested were made for Windows PCs or previous generations of Xbox .
On the PlayStation , Spider-Man made a stronger first impression by demonstrating the hardware ’ s impressive speed and graphics .
Also coming soon to PlayStation is a new “ God of War ” game , another popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exclusives matter a lot .
MIKE : One hundred percent .
I am a huge fan of “ God of War , ” and I bought the PS4 largely just to play one of its top exclusive franchises , “ The Last of Us ” and its sequel , “ The Last of Us Part II.
” Sometimes I wait for a year after launch to see what games have come out and how the system fares .
BRIAN : The software interface of Xbox also feels inferior .
It looks like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the PlayStation interface looks elegant and streamlined .
MIKE : Fair .
But as far as I ’ m concerned , it ’ s still wide-open territory for both Sony and Microsoft to dominate the next-gen system wars .
The next year will tell us what games are must-haves and what systems host them .
But the PS5 has won me over early on in the race .
BRIAN : Me , too .
There are different audiences for each console .
Here ’ s what I think it boils down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one console , the PlayStation 5 is a safer bet for now .
The hardware and software are solid , and the system looks poised to get strong games in Year 1 .
( If you rarely buy disks , save 100 bucks and get the digital edition , which lacks a disk drive . )
Budget-conscious people and casual gamers will probably gravitate toward the $ 300 Xbox Series S , which runs games at a lower resolution and can play a plethora of older Xbox titles available for a low cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement .
And though the PS5 will put a dent in my wallet , I consider it a form of video game therapy as the rest of the world is dealing with the whole “ elections and the future of democracy ” thing .
BRIAN : There ’ s that pandemic , too .
I haven ’ t seen your face in months , but I ’ m looking forward to seeing your avatar in PlayStation land !

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

By Brian X. Chen and Mike Isaac, The New York Times Company
This holiday season, we are faced with a tough quandary: The new PlayStation and Xbox consoles are arriving. Which should we gift to our loved ones — or to ourselves?
There are plenty of options. On Thursday, Sony will shipshipped two versions of the PlayStation 5: a $500 model that includes a disk drive and a smaller $400 disk-free version that runs downloaded games. The Xbox — which also comes in two models, the $500 Series X and the $300 Series S — will launch Tuesday.
There are many types of gamers, so we — Brian X. Chen, a PlayStation loyalist, and Mike Isaac, who grew up playing Xbox — test-drove both consoles in our homes. This review will focus on the PlayStation 5.
BRIAN: Hello again, Mike! Let’s forget about Biden versus Trump for a moment to continue our debate about Xbox versus PlayStation.
MIKE: Is the PS5 the Biden or the Trump in this analogy?
Mmm, you know what? I’ll avoid answering that.
This is the ultimate test for companies like Sony and Microsoft. Sony spent the past seven years on top with a slate of killer games for the PS4 and largely overshadowed the Xbox.
After a few weeks with the new PS5, what do you think? Is this another winner?
BRIAN: I’ll start with some disclosures. I’ve owned PlayStations since the first generation and never had an Xbox. But in 2006, I felt burned by the PlayStation 3, which had mostly lame games compared with Xbox 360, so I’ve kept an open mind for this new generation.
With that all said, I think PlayStation 5 is going to win my vote with my wallet this round. What about you?
MIKE: I was reluctant to come out strong and stump for Sony, but you’re right. If I were to plunk down 500 bucks on a piece of hardware right now, it would be the PS5. I want to hear what won you over.
BRIAN: Let’s start with hardware before we move on to games and the overall experience.
First things first: The PS5 is a behemoth. It’s more than 15 inches tall — that’s roughly 4 inches taller than the Xbox Series X. So you’ll need to figure out where you’re going to place it. (There’s also an ugly black stand that can be screwed on to keep it more stable, but I didn’t use it.)
In general, I like the console design. It looks curvy and futuristic and reminds me of a concept car.
MIKE: Do you remember that computing brand Alienware? They made really expensive, insane computer systems with neon all over them? The company is part of Dell now, but I remember all of their ads in computer magazines I read during my youth. That was my immediate thought out of the box.
BRIAN: Definitely, and that’s basically what the PS5 is: a powerful computer devoted to gaming. Similar to the new Xbox, it has a graphics processor that supports ray tracing, a complex rendering process that makes lighting and shadows look more realistic in graphics.
MIKE: The graphics are very good. In the launch game we played, “Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” I could immediately tell how sharp the characters’ faces and landscapes were while playing. Colors popped, like the brilliant neon purples, reds and greens. Each one of Spider-Man’s various suits looked fantastic!
There is one thing I want to call out, though. I had a strange moment with the PS5 controller that struck me as potentially sensitive. It has a microphone built into it. That’s convenient, since you won’t immediately have to buy a separate headset to chat with friends.
But I wasn’t used to it. I had a moment where I was voice-chatting a friend on my iPhone while playing “Call of Duty” multiplayer, and my partner in the game reminded me that he could hear me! It freaked me out.
BRIAN: Oh, man. Don’t carry your controller with you during bathroom breaks.
MIKE: Yes, to be fair there’s a button and glowing icon that tells you when it’s on or off. But still, I wasn’t used to it. Learning curve!
BRIAN: The controller is pretty nice otherwise. It’s larger and heavier than the previous PlayStation controllers but feels comfortable to hold for long sessions.
MIKE: Can I geek out on the storage drive?
BRIAN: Fine.
MIKE: So Sony (and Microsoft) include what’s called a solid-state drive for storing all of your games and apps on the system. It loads games faster than traditional spinning hard-disk drives. It makes an enormous difference. I can’t tell you how much of my life has been whittled away by PS4 loading screens in the past.
BRIAN: With Spider-Man, it took about three seconds for the game to launch, and that is remarkable.
MIKE: Yes, 100%. I’ve been really into “Call of Duty: Warzone” for the past few months — it has been my way to hang out with friends online during the pandemic — and the difference between playing it on PS5 compared with the PS4 was enormous.
For one, the solid-state drive meant that loading each session was so fast that often, I was one of the first people present in the level of every new game. And things just felt smoother.
Did you play any other games?
BRIAN: I spent lots of time replaying recent PlayStation 4 titles, like “Final Fantasy VII Remake” and “The Last of Us Part II.” I also immediately noticed how much smoother those games ran. The frame rates were higher thanks to the beefier graphics processor.
Also very important: The PlayStation 5 was very quiet compared with the PlayStation 4, which had such a loud fan that I always feared that it was going to explode.
This is a good time to bring up backward compatibility — the ability to play games from previous console generations — a major selling point for both consoles.
MIKE: Yes! So I’m curious about your thoughts on this.
BRIAN: Overall, Microsoft wins here. The PlayStation is backward-compatible with only PlayStation 4 games. The new Xboxes are backward-compatible with games for Xbox One, Xbox 360 and even some games for the original Xbox.
Backward compatibility always sounds nice to have, but in practice, nostalgia is not enough to win me over. I spend more time playing new games than I do revisiting old ones.
MIKE: Totally fair. And Microsoft really doesn’t seem to have that much new for us quite yet, right?
BRIAN: As we talked about in our Xbox review, we were hamstrung because Microsoft didn’t have much compelling fresh content for us to try. Most of the games we tested were made for Windows PCs or previous generations of Xbox.
On the PlayStation, Spider-Man made a stronger first impression by demonstrating the hardware’s impressive speed and graphics.
Also coming soon to PlayStation is a new “God of War” game, another popular franchise that is exclusive to PlayStation. Exclusives matter a lot.
MIKE: One hundred percent. I am a huge fan of “God of War,” and I bought the PS4 largely just to play one of its top exclusive franchises, “The Last of Us” and its sequel, “The Last of Us Part II.” Sometimes I wait for a year after launch to see what games have come out and how the system fares.
BRIAN: The software interface of Xbox also feels inferior. It looks like a cluttered Windows app store. In contrast, the PlayStation interface looks elegant and streamlined.
MIKE: Fair. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s still wide-open territory for both Sony and Microsoft to dominate the next-gen system wars. The next year will tell us what games are must-haves and what systems host them.
But the PS5 has won me over early on in the race.
BRIAN: Me, too. There are different audiences for each console. Here’s what I think it boils down to: For game enthusiasts who choose only one console, the PlayStation 5 is a safer bet for now. The hardware and software are solid, and the system looks poised to get strong games in Year 1. (If you rarely buy disks, save 100 bucks and get the digital edition, which lacks a disk drive.)
Budget-conscious people and casual gamers will probably gravitate toward the $300 Xbox Series S, which runs games at a lower resolution and can play a plethora of older Xbox titles available for a low cost.
MIKE: We’re in agreement. And though the PS5 will put a dent in my wallet, I consider it a form of video game therapy as the rest of the world is dealing with the whole “elections and the future of democracy” thing.
BRIAN: There’s that pandemic, too. I haven’t seen your face in months, but I’m looking forward to seeing your avatar in PlayStation land!


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Generation Z takes on Silicon Valley establishment

For young people , breaking into the cutthroat tech industry — or any industry , really — has become far more difficult during the pandemic .
In-person networking events and club meetings are on hold , there aren ’ t many online hubs for informal connection , and the investors and founders whose buy-in can make or break a product are harder to reach .
In late July , Emma Salinas , a 20-year-old designer and engineer in San Francisco , and her friend Carson Poole , 21 , a founder of an artificial intelligence startup , decided it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salinas set up a server on the messaging platform Discord called Gen Z Mafia ( riffing on the PayPal Mafia , a set of early employees at the company who went on to become industry leaders ) to communicate and connect with other young people seeking to break into the industry .
Within weeks , hundreds of people had joined , including high school students , college-age founders and young employees at major tech companies .
Together , the server ’ s members are collaborating , networking and building products that they hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 17 , built a tool to help protect people from harassment on Twitter .
Snigdha Roy , 16 , is attempting to use machine learning to create an AI therapist .
Several Gen Z Mafia members built vibes.fyi , an online bulletin board that spreads positivity .
Cloakview.ai is an effort to build technology to outsmart Clearview AI ’ s facial recognition system .
It is in development .
“ One thing we can all agree on is a willingness to get out there and build things , ” said Justin Zheng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the group .
“ Yeah , we build some meme products , but we also build mission-driven things .
We want to build a more positive internet , things that help people.
” The group was founded as a kind of counterpoint to the Silicon Valley establishment , which its members say is exclusive , elitist and riddled with systemic problems including sexism , ageism and racism .
Rather than reinforcing norms and kowtowing to the most prominent and outspoken venture capitalists on Twitter , Gen Z Mafia members have tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with their values .
Several partners and limited partners at old-school funds — whom Mafia members refer to jokingly as “ daddies ” — are on the server , but their access to most of the content is restricted .
Anyone over the age of 24 is placed into a group called Daddy Gang and limited to only a few channels .
“ We wanted to provide an intimate space where people could send memes and be themselves and not be scared to say something because the VCs are there , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of the group .
“ They ’ ve got a lot of money , though , and we want them to give it to people in the group.
” Sahil Lavingia , an entrepreneur turned investor , said he hopes to serve as a “ cool uncle ” for the next generation of tech leaders .
“ They can ask for help , but I ’ m not going to tell them how to live their life , ” Lavingia , 28 , said .
“ I ’ m a visitor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not there to tell them what to do or how they should implement community in this new era.
” There is an application form to join , but the group ’ s founders say it ’ s a formality .
“ Gen Z Mafia is a very inclusive community , ” Tran said , adding that the server ’ s users “ have different political views , but we try not to stomp on each other.
” “ One of the greatest parts of our group is how many ways we support each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 , an engineer at Amazon .
“ We all beta each other ’ s products , upvote every Product Hunt post , teach each other our expertise and take any opportunity to use each other ’ s products.
” The group has a laid-back , playful vibe .
Its most senior members are known as “ the Ministry of Building , ” a play on a recent post by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen titled “ It ’ s time to build.
” Other channels include Unicorn Factory , for discussing big ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chat , for posting jokes .
Members have also built spaces for different interests like Minecraft , memes , fashion , gaming , crypto and YouTube .
Salinas said the group is seeking to recruit women and people from marginalized backgrounds who haven ’ t always been recognized by the Silicon Valley elite .
“ We ’ re looking for outsiders because they need this the most , ” she said .
Brianne Kimmel , 32 , the founder of Worklife VC and a member of the server , said she wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together to contend with an industry that they feel has misunderstood them .
“ There ’ s an eagerness from VCs to claim they understand Gen Z , but I ’ ve not been impressed with any VC ’ s ability to listen or take Gen Z seriously , ” Kimmel said .
Their approach , she said , is “ more about tracking macro trends and how Gen Z are consuming or creating media , and less about understanding why they ’ re actually creating what they ’ re creating.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech establishment ; some of the group ’ s leaders still hero-worship many of the industry ’ s powerful and divisive leaders , such as Elon Musk and Andreessen , a fact that some members take issue with .
Gen Z Mafia has faced criticism for myriad missteps , many of them misogynistic in nature .
Early on , members could award each other a digital currency called “ wives.
” “ We took it down immediately , as soon as we realized , ” Salinas said .
“ The only currency we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted a hackathon in August that many members saw as exclusionary of women .
In response , the group designated six female judges and three male judges from underrepresented groups .
Some members said that was not enough .
Later in the month , a “ purity test ” application built within the group drew ire on Twitter .
( The app was based on an old college survey meant to assess the participants ’ supposed degree of innocence , especially in relationship to sex . )
Fiona Carty , 22 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Gen Z Mafia , said she was disappointed by sexist behavior and statements made by Sridharan on Twitter and elsewhere .
“ I ’ ve tried to give him a lot of empathy , ” she said .
“ There ’ s things he ’ ll say that are not politically correct and inclusive.
” Sridharan said : “ I think we ’ re all learning and growing every day .
I ’ m doing my best to try to become the best person I can be.
” “ We have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salinas said .
“ Anyone , including the founders , who doesn ’ t comply with that will be banned from the community.
” Gen Z Mafia is part of a larger movement of young people looking to challenge the tech establishment .
In June , a group called Eye Mouth Eye was responsible for a stunt product that leveraged exclusivity and hype culture around invite-only apps to get wealthy VCs to donate money to Black Lives Matter .
“ With Eye Mouth Eye , our core beliefs are we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t try to grift off things and we put our energy toward projects for the greater good , ” Carty said .
“ We ’ re not trying to take VC funding ; we ’ re trying to use our skills to help people .
I think Gen Z Mafia does do that to some degree .
But Gen Z Mafia , they do worship the establishment.
” In the coming months , the group ’ s members plan to form a syndicate or angel fund to invest in community members ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped to raise money from tech investors and TikTok stars . )
They view the server as an incubator for ideas and hope to see companies formed as a result of those discussions .
“ I can ’ t exactly explain why , but there ’ s some sort of energy that I see within Gen Z , ” Salinas said .
“ I want other young people to know they ’ re not alone in wanting to build a lot of things and having these visions and dreams and wanting to change @ @ @ @

By Taylor Lorenz
For young people, breaking into the cutthroat tech industry — or any industry, really — has become far more difficult during the pandemic. In-person networking events and club meetings are on hold, there aren’t many online hubs for informal connection, and the investors and founders whose buy-in can make or break a product are harder to reach.
In late July, Emma Salinas, a 20-year-old designer and engineer in San Francisco, and her friend Carson Poole, 21, a founder of an artificial intelligence startup, decided it was time to do something about it. Salinas set up a server on the messaging platform Discord called Gen Z Mafia (riffing on the PayPal Mafia, a set of early employees at the company who went on to become industry leaders) to communicate and connect with other young people seeking to break into the industry.
Within weeks, hundreds of people had joined, including high school students, college-age founders and young employees at major tech companies. Together, the server’s members are collaborating, networking and building products that they hope will shape the future.
Long Tran, 17, built a tool to help protect people from harassment on Twitter. Snigdha Roy, 16, is attempting to use machine learning to create an AI therapist. Several Gen Z Mafia members built vibes.fyi, an online bulletin board that spreads positivity. Cloakview.ai is an effort to build technology to outsmart Clearview AI’s facial recognition system. It is in development.
“One thing we can all agree on is a willingness to get out there and build things,” said Justin Zheng, 19, one of the founders of the group. “Yeah, we build some meme products, but we also build mission-driven things. We want to build a more positive internet, things that help people.”
The group was founded as a kind of counterpoint to the Silicon Valley establishment, which its members say is exclusive, elitist and riddled with systemic problems including sexism, ageism and racism. Rather than reinforcing norms and kowtowing to the most prominent and outspoken venture capitalists on Twitter, Gen Z Mafia members have tried to cultivate an environment that feels inclusive and aligned with their values.
Several partners and limited partners at old-school funds — whom Mafia members refer to jokingly as “daddies” — are on the server, but their access to most of the content is restricted. Anyone over the age of 24 is placed into a group called Daddy Gang and limited to only a few channels.
“We wanted to provide an intimate space where people could send memes and be themselves and not be scared to say something because the VCs are there,” said Sudarshan Sridharan, 20, a founder of the group. “They’ve got a lot of money, though, and we want them to give it to people in the group.”
Sahil Lavingia, an entrepreneur turned investor, said he hopes to serve as a “cool uncle” for the next generation of tech leaders.
“They can ask for help, but I’m not going to tell them how to live their life,” Lavingia, 28, said. “I’m a visitor in this space, and I’m not there to tell them what to do or how they should implement community in this new era.”
There is an application form to join, but the group’s founders say it’s a formality.
“Gen Z Mafia is a very inclusive community,” Tran said, adding that the server’s users “have different political views, but we try not to stomp on each other.”
“One of the greatest parts of our group is how many ways we support each other,” said Johnny Dallas, 18, an engineer at Amazon. “We all beta each other’s products, upvote every Product Hunt post, teach each other our expertise and take any opportunity to use each other’s products.”
The group has a laid-back, playful vibe. Its most senior members are known as “the Ministry of Building,” a play on a recent post by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen titled “It’s time to build.” Other channels include Unicorn Factory, for discussing big ideas and potential startup plans, and Hell Chat, for posting jokes. Members have also built spaces for different interests like Minecraft, memes, fashion, gaming, crypto and YouTube.
Salinas said the group is seeking to recruit women and people from marginalized backgrounds who haven’t always been recognized by the Silicon Valley elite. “We’re looking for outsiders because they need this the most,” she said.
Brianne Kimmel, 32, the founder of Worklife VC and a member of the server, said she wasn’t surprised to see Gen Zers banding together to contend with an industry that they feel has misunderstood them.
“There’s an eagerness from VCs to claim they understand Gen Z, but I’ve not been impressed with any VC’s ability to listen or take Gen Z seriously,” Kimmel said. Their approach, she said, is “more about tracking macro trends and how Gen Z are consuming or creating media, and less about understanding why they’re actually creating what they’re creating.”
But building a new system means eschewing the tech establishment; some of the group’s leaders still hero-worship many of the industry’s powerful and divisive leaders, such as Elon Musk and Andreessen, a fact that some members take issue with.
Gen Z Mafia has faced criticism for myriad missteps, many of them misogynistic in nature. Early on, members could award each other a digital currency called “wives.” “We took it down immediately, as soon as we realized,” Salinas said. “The only currency we have now is emojis.”
The group hosted a hackathon in August that many members saw as exclusionary of women. In response, the group designated six female judges and three male judges from underrepresented groups. Some members said that was not enough. Later in the month, a “purity test” application built within the group drew ire on Twitter. (The app was based on an old college survey meant to assess the participants’ supposed degree of innocence, especially in relationship to sex.)
Fiona Carty, 22, a designer in San Francisco and early member of Gen Z Mafia, said she was disappointed by sexist behavior and statements made by Sridharan on Twitter and elsewhere.
“I’ve tried to give him a lot of empathy,” she said. “There’s things he’ll say that are not politically correct and inclusive.”
Sridharan said: “I think we’re all learning and growing every day. I’m doing my best to try to become the best person I can be.”
“We have a zero-tolerance policy toward noninclusive behavior,” Salinas said. “Anyone, including the founders, who doesn’t comply with that will be banned from the community.”
Gen Z Mafia is part of a larger movement of young people looking to challenge the tech establishment. In June, a group called Eye Mouth Eye was responsible for a stunt product that leveraged exclusivity and hype culture around invite-only apps to get wealthy VCs to donate money to Black Lives Matter.
“With Eye Mouth Eye, our core beliefs are we don’t do things for profit, we don’t try to grift off things and we put our energy toward projects for the greater good,” Carty said. “We’re not trying to take VC funding; we’re trying to use our skills to help people. I think Gen Z Mafia does do that to some degree. But Gen Z Mafia, they do worship the establishment.”
In the coming months, the group’s members plan to form a syndicate or angel fund to invest in community members’ projects. (Sridharan said the group hoped to raise money from tech investors and TikTok stars.) They view the server as an incubator for ideas and hope to see companies formed as a result of those discussions.
“I can’t exactly explain why, but there’s some sort of energy that I see within Gen Z,” Salinas said. “I want other young people to know they’re not alone in wanting to build a lot of things and having these visions and dreams and wanting to change the world.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Coloradans elect first Muslim, first African immigrant to state legislature

First-time voter and Aurora resident Nawal Elsayad was sitting with her dad in front of the TV around 10 p.m. on election night , watching the results as they came in .
Elsayad was fixated on the screen for updates on the presidential election , but there was one local race that was particularly important to her : Colorado House District 41 .
The legislative seat represents parts of southwestern Aurora and unincorporated Arapahoe County .
Her dad refreshed Democratic candidate Iman Jodeh ’ s Facebook page and read a post aloud to his daughter : “ We did it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AmericanDream a reality for Everyone .
I am a proud # Muslim , # PalestinianAmerican , & # firstgeneration American .
And I am proud to be able to represent my communities & the people of # hd41 in the # Colorado state legislature !
Now , let ’ s get to work.
” The 18-year-old yelled in excitement , making sure her mom heard the news .
The first Muslim and Arab woman had been elected to the Colorado General Assembly .
Colorado gained national recognition in the 2018 election for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Assembly , with women holding more seats than men in the legislature .
This year , Colorado House Democrats added three more women to their roster , but much of the focus has been on Democratic groups working to get more people of color elected to statewide offices to not only better reflect Colorado ’ s population but also give more of a voice to underrepresented communities .
Jodeh , who will replace term-limited Democratic Rep. Jovan Melton of Aurora , won more than 66 % of the vote in her race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s part of a House Democratic caucus that is touted for its diversity .
Also joining the caucus next year is Democratic candidate Naquetta Ricks , the first African immigrant elected to the statehouse , to represent District 40 in Aurora .
After President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 , Elsayad didn ’ t expect that just four years later , a Muslim Arab-American woman would be representing her even at the state level .
“ It was something so relevant to me , ” she said of Jodeh ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see somebody who looks like me in office .
… I was also very excited to see we ’ re making big changes , and I knew she was a big change to any district.
” Standing in the kitchen of her childhood home in Aurora on Thursday , Jodeh was helping her mom prepare a traditional Palestinian lunch for her family .
She values the multiple facets of her identity .
Jodeh is a community activist and started her own nonprofit called Meet the Middle East .
She ’ s taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson for the Colorado Muslim Society , which her late father co-founded after immigrating to the United States .
“ When you have my identity markers — I am a practicing Muslim Palestinian-American woman of color — you don ’ t know anything other than activism , ” Jodeh said .
That , combined with people ’ s misunderstanding of Muslims displayed through threatening phone calls her family used to receive and the feeling of being the “ other ” after 9/11 , conditioned her to become an advocate , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 70,000 Muslims living in Colorado .
Jodeh said she hadn ’ t necessarily planned for a career in politics .
She remembers brushing her teeth the morning after the election in 2016 , and as she looked in the mirror , thinking she would have to leave the U.S. with her mother who wears the hijab to protect her .
“ ( Trump ) was already talking about Muslim identification cards and internment , ” Jodeh said .
But after a “ Stand with our Muslim neighbors ” rally in Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different route .
“ It was incredibly powerful to be able to speak truth to power about what it means to be Muslim in America , ” she said .
She ran to fill the Senate District 26 vacancy seat in 2019 and lost .
She expected it , she said , but it helped her get name recognition as she ran for the House seat this year .
Her mother , Siham , is proud .
She said her husband had wanted to get involved in politics , but she used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of tension in the house .
So , it was no surprise that Iman Jodeh followed in his footsteps .
“ It ’ s just an amazing , amazing feeling , ” Siham Jodeh said of hearing the results .
“ It ’ s indescribable .
Thank God for everything.
” Outgoing Colorado House Speaker KC Becker , a Boulder Democrat , has seen the value of a more diverse legislature , including how the House dealt with the sexual harassment allegations against former Rep. Steve Lebsock amid the growing MeToo movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear in the types of legislation passed such as equal pay and how the processes for legislation have played out .
“ Largely , I think it ’ s in the general approach that women bring , which tends to be really collaborative and inclusive , ” she said .
Emerge Colorado works to get more Democratic women , particularly those from nontraditional backgrounds elected to state and local offices .
Nine of the 25 women from the program who won offices this year are people of color , seven in the statehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the policy that much better for communities that are often left out of the room , ” said executive director Michal Rosenoer .
What the statehouse has seen in the past couple of years with more women in office is legislation for working class families around issues such as child care , health care costs and clean air , she said .
That will be even more important during COVID and the economic crisis , she added .
Nationally , Republican women have made gains in elected offices including in Colorado ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s win , but the GOP didn ’ t do as well in its statehouse races this year .
State Rep. Janice Rich , a Grand Junction Republican , was elected by her caucus to serve as the House GOP caucus chair this week .
Rich said she loves seeing women get elected and joked that she was breaking up the “ boys ’ club ” getting a leadership role .
She credited the new GOP leadership for coming from various parts of the state , but she doesn ’ t see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups of people elected .
Instead , she said the party should center its efforts on recruiting the most qualified candidates .
One thing Becker said she tried to stress as House speaker for her caucus is the real-life implications bills have .
And that is even more clear , she said , when representatives share their own experiences .
She noted how a speech by Rep. James Coleman , a Denver Democrat , about growing up as a Black man in America helped colleagues understand where he was coming from when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Senate Bill 217 .
“ It just informs their own perspective and the priorities they set , but it also informs the rest of the body , ” she said .
That ’ s what Ricks plans to do for her district .
She first ran for the Board of Regents in 2014 and for City Council before winning her statehouse seat .
Nearly a fifth of Aurora residents were born in another country , according to the U.S. Census Bureau , so Ricks hopes to use her immigrant experience as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Colorado in 1980 as a refugee at the age of 13 to escape a civil war .
“ I don ’ t think I set out to be the first ( African immigrant ) , but I definitely set out to be a voice at the table , ” she said .
But , “ I ’ m hoping that by breaking the glass ceiling , more people will see that is possible , ” she added .
Ricks also brings experience as a small business owner — she co-founded the African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wants to help those struggling during the pandemic among other issues .
Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez , D-Denver , was elected assistant majority leader in the House last week .
She noted that more representation in statewide offices and leadership roles brings to light issues affected by those communities , which can be backed by personal experience .
Beyond that , representation matters for young people , she said .
Gonzales-Gutierrez is a Latina mother , and they ’ re often not seen as the typical candidates for the role .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role model and hoping that young people are seeing not only the number of us that are doing this work , the variety ( and ) a lot of diversity within all of us , ” she said .

First-time voter and Aurora resident Nawal Elsayad was sitting with her dad in front of the TV around 10 p.m. on election night, watching the results as they came in.
Elsayad was fixated on the screen for updates on the presidential election, but there was one local race that was particularly important to her: Colorado House District 41. The legislative seat represents parts of southwestern Aurora and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Her dad refreshed Democratic candidate Iman Jodeh’s Facebook page and read a post aloud to his daughter: “We did it! I ran to make the #AmericanDream a reality for Everyone. I am a proud #Muslim, #PalestinianAmerican, & #firstgeneration American. And I am proud to be able to represent my communities & the people of #hd41 in the #Colorado state legislature! Now, let’s get to work.”
The 18-year-old yelled in excitement, making sure her mom heard the news. The first Muslim and Arab woman had been elected to the Colorado General Assembly.
Colorado gained national recognition in the 2018 election for its record-breaking number of women elected to the General Assembly, with women holding more seats than men in the legislature. This year, Colorado House Democrats added three more women to their roster, but much of the focus has been on Democratic groups working to get more people of color elected to statewide offices to not only better reflect Colorado’s population but also give more of a voice to underrepresented communities.
Jodeh, who will replace term-limited Democratic Rep. Jovan Melton of Aurora, won more than 66% of the vote in her race against Republican opponent Robert Andrews. She’s part of a House Democratic caucus that is touted for its diversity. Also joining the caucus next year is Democratic candidate Naquetta Ricks, the first African immigrant elected to the statehouse, to represent District 40 in Aurora.
After President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Elsayad didn’t expect that just four years later, a Muslim Arab-American woman would be representing her even at the state level.
“It was something so relevant to me,” she said of Jodeh’s win. “I was so excited to see somebody who looks like me in office. … I was also very excited to see we’re making big changes, and I knew she was a big change to any district.”
Standing in the kitchen of her childhood home in Aurora on Thursday, Jodeh was helping her mom prepare a traditional Palestinian lunch for her family. She values the multiple facets of her identity.
Jodeh is a community activist and started her own nonprofit called Meet the Middle East. She’s taught classes about Palestine and has worked as a spokesperson for the Colorado Muslim Society, which her late father co-founded after immigrating to the United States.
“When you have my identity markers — I am a practicing Muslim Palestinian-American woman of color — you don’t know anything other than activism,” Jodeh said.
That, combined with people’s misunderstanding of Muslims displayed through threatening phone calls her family used to receive and the feeling of being the “other” after 9/11, conditioned her to become an advocate, she said.
History Colorado estimates that there are more than 70,000 Muslims living in Colorado.
Jodeh said she hadn’t necessarily planned for a career in politics.
She remembers brushing her teeth the morning after the election in 2016, and as she looked in the mirror, thinking she would have to leave the U.S. with her mother who wears the hijab to protect her.
“(Trump) was already talking about Muslim identification cards and internment,” Jodeh said.
But after a “Stand with our Muslim neighbors” rally in Denver, Jodeh instead decided to take a different route.
“It was incredibly powerful to be able to speak truth to power about what it means to be Muslim in America,” she said.
She ran to fill the Senate District 26 vacancy seat in 2019 and lost. She expected it, she said, but it helped her get name recognition as she ran for the House seat this year.
Her mother, Siham, is proud. She said her husband had wanted to get involved in politics, but she used to say she didn’t want that kind of tension in the house. So, it was no surprise that Iman Jodeh followed in his footsteps.
“It’s just an amazing, amazing feeling,” Siham Jodeh said of hearing the results. “It’s indescribable. Thank God for everything.”
Outgoing Colorado House Speaker KC Becker, a Boulder Democrat, has seen the value of a more diverse legislature, including how the House dealt with the sexual harassment allegations against former Rep. Steve Lebsock amid the growing MeToo movement.
But she said it was also clear in the types of legislation passed such as equal pay and how the processes for legislation have played out.
“Largely, I think it’s in the general approach that women bring, which tends to be really collaborative and inclusive,” she said.
Emerge Colorado works to get more Democratic women, particularly those from nontraditional backgrounds elected to state and local offices. Nine of the 25 women from the program who won offices this year are people of color, seven in the statehouse.
“Those experiences are going to make the policy that much better for communities that are often left out of the room,” said executive director Michal Rosenoer.
What the statehouse has seen in the past couple of years with more women in office is legislation for working class families around issues such as child care, health care costs and clean air, she said. That will be even more important during COVID and the economic crisis, she added.
Nationally, Republican women have made gains in elected offices including in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District with Lauren Boebert’s win, but the GOP didn’t do as well in its statehouse races this year.
State Rep. Janice Rich, a Grand Junction Republican, was elected by her caucus to serve as the House GOP caucus chair this week. Rich said she loves seeing women get elected and joked that she was breaking up the “boys’ club” getting a leadership role.
She credited the new GOP leadership for coming from various parts of the state, but she doesn’t see a need to focus on getting specific groups of people elected. Instead, she said the party should center its efforts on recruiting the most qualified candidates.
One thing Becker said she tried to stress as House speaker for her caucus is the real-life implications bills have. And that is even more clear, she said, when representatives share their own experiences. She noted how a speech by Rep. James Coleman, a Denver Democrat, about growing up as a Black man in America helped colleagues understand where he was coming from when he advocated for the police reform bill this year, Senate Bill 217.
“It just informs their own perspective and the priorities they set, but it also informs the rest of the body,” she said.
That’s what Ricks plans to do for her district. She first ran for the Board of Regents in 2014 and for City Council before winning her statehouse seat.
Nearly a fifth of Aurora residents were born in another country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so Ricks hopes to use her immigrant experience as she crafts bills. The Liberian-American immigrated to Colorado in 1980 as a refugee at the age of 13 to escape a civil war.
“I don’t think I set out to be the first (African immigrant), but I definitely set out to be a voice at the table,” she said. But, “I’m hoping that by breaking the glass ceiling, more people will see that is possible,” she added.
Ricks also brings experience as a small business owner — she co-founded the African Chamber of Commerce of Colorado — and she wants to help those struggling during the pandemic among other issues.
Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, was elected assistant majority leader in the House last week. She noted that more representation in statewide offices and leadership roles brings to light issues affected by those communities, which can be backed by personal experience.
Beyond that, representation matters for young people, she said. Gonzales-Gutierrez is a Latina mother, and they’re often not seen as the typical candidates for the role.
“For me part of that is being that role model and hoping that young people are seeing not only the number of us that are doing this work, the variety (and) a lot of diversity within all of us,” she said.