thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Cherry Creek’s Jack Moss battled arm injuries en route to commitment to Arizona State, Gatorade play

Cherry Creek’s Jack Moss battled arm injuries en route to commitment to Arizona State, Gatorade player of the year award

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Early in his career at Cherry Creek , the hype around Jack Moss was high .
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher and lefty hitter drew plenty of scouts ’ eyes at showcases , and he committed to the University of Virginia as a sophomore , before he even played a varsity game for the Bruins .
But the fast start to his time on Union Avenue was met with adversity over the last couple of seasons , when Moss dealt with numerous arm issues that forced him to give up pitching altogether .
The average eye wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through , though , as he hit .490 as a junior with 31 RBIs , 13 doubles and a 1.272 OPS .
“ The latter half of my high school career , it was brutal .
It was tough .
I remember throwing at showcases and scouts going , ‘ What ’ s wrong with this kid ?
Why can ’ t he throw ? '
” Moss recalled .
“ I remember all the questionnaires I had to fill out and there was always a question about my arm .
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come back from that , but it really prepared me , because this is a game where you ’ re bound to fail.
” Moss played first base as a junior , but continued to favor his arm in the field .
He was suffering from bicep tendonitis and rotator cuff tendonitis .
The year before , as a talented sophomore eager to make an impression his first year on varsity , Moss suffered a UCL strain and an inflamed ulnar nerve from throwing too much .
“ I didn ’ t say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I probably should have that spring playing for Creek , when I wanted to be the young kid helping out , ” Moss said .
“ Pitching a ton , playing first , playing third , throwing bullpens in practice .
I never shut it down and I never knew when to stop.
” Moss gained valuable perspective from those injuries , but he also developed poor throwing mechanics in an effort to alleviate his pain when he played in the field .
He re-tooled his throwing motion last summer , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , decommitting from Virginia and opting for Arizona State instead .
After committing to ASU , he dominated the prestigious Area Code Games in California , earning All-Tournament recognition .
“ I think I maybe committed early for the wrong reasons — like wanting to be the cool , young kid who was going to a big-time , Power-5 Division I program that just won a national championship , ” Moss said .
“ I committed because of that , instead of thinking about what actually matters to me and what was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will go , fresh off the heels of being named the state ’ s Gatorade player of the year on reputation alone after the 2020 season was wiped out by COVID-19 .
While Moss would ’ ve played outfield this spring , his best bet to immediately compete for time at ASU figures to come at first base , where the Sun Devils lost top prospect Spencer Torkelson to the draft at No .
1 overall .
Longtime Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson spared no superlatives when describing Moss , comparing him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my opinion he ’ s one of the best ( high school ) hitters in the country , and I scouted professionally for 38 years , ” Johnson said .
“ There ’ s a lot of future power there .
Cody Bellinger had one home run in high school .
As a junior , Jack had one .
At this point , he ’ s a gap-to-gap hitter , with a lot of scorching line drives and he hits 90-plus better than anyone I ’ ve seen in this state for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this kid into college and pro ball , that projection is pretty good.
” Now fully healthy and ready to take on Division I baseball , Moss is in a good place , teammate Tyler Robinson said .
The Dartmouth commit and fellow Bruins outfielder believes his friend ’ s mindset will take him as far as he wants to go .
“ He ’ s found a balance between staying in the moment , and enjoying what he ’ s accomplished , ” Robinson said .
“ But he also remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how hard he has to work to keep progressing in his career .
I think we ’ re all excited to see the next chapter of his growth as a player .
”

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Early in his career at Cherry Creek, the hype around Jack Moss was high.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher and lefty hitter drew plenty of scouts’ eyes at showcases, and he committed to the University of Virginia as a sophomore, before he even played a varsity game for the Bruins.
But the fast start to his time on Union Avenue was met with adversity over the last couple of seasons, when Moss dealt with numerous arm issues that forced him to give up pitching altogether. The average eye wouldn’t know the adversity Moss was going through, though, as he hit .490 as a junior with 31 RBIs, 13 doubles and a 1.272 OPS.
“The latter half of my high school career, it was brutal. It was tough. I remember throwing at showcases and scouts going, ‘What’s wrong with this kid? Why can’t he throw?'” Moss recalled. “I remember all the questionnaires I had to fill out and there was always a question about my arm. That was tough on me and I had to come back from that, but it really prepared me, because this is a game where you’re bound to fail.”
Moss played first base as a junior, but continued to favor his arm in the field. He was suffering from bicep tendonitis and rotator cuff tendonitis. The year before, as a talented sophomore eager to make an impression his first year on varsity, Moss suffered a UCL strain and an inflamed ulnar nerve from throwing too much.
“I didn’t say anything (to the coaches) when I probably should have that spring playing for Creek, when I wanted to be the young kid helping out,” Moss said. “Pitching a ton, playing first, playing third, throwing bullpens in practice. I never shut it down and I never knew when to stop.”
Moss gained valuable perspective from those injuries, but he also developed poor throwing mechanics in an effort to alleviate his pain when he played in the field. He re-tooled his throwing motion last summer, and he also decided to re-consider his college plans, decommitting from Virginia and opting for Arizona State instead.
After committing to ASU, he dominated the prestigious Area Code Games in California, earning All-Tournament recognition.
“I think I maybe committed early for the wrong reasons — like wanting to be the cool, young kid who was going to a big-time, Power-5 Division I program that just won a national championship,” Moss said. “I committed because of that, instead of thinking about what actually matters to me and what was the best fit.”
So to Tempe he will go, fresh off the heels of being named the state’s Gatorade player of the year on reputation alone after the 2020 season was wiped out by COVID-19. While Moss would’ve played outfield this spring, his best bet to immediately compete for time at ASU figures to come at first base, where the Sun Devils lost top prospect Spencer Torkelson to the draft at No. 1 overall.
Longtime Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson spared no superlatives when describing Moss, comparing him to a young Cody Bellinger.
“In my opinion he’s one of the best (high school) hitters in the country, and I scouted professionally for 38 years,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of future power there. Cody Bellinger had one home run in high school. As a junior, Jack had one. At this point, he’s a gap-to-gap hitter, with a lot of scorching line drives and he hits 90-plus better than anyone I’ve seen in this state for a long time.
“If you project on this kid into college and pro ball, that projection is pretty good.”
Now fully healthy and ready to take on Division I baseball, Moss is in a good place, teammate Tyler Robinson said. The Dartmouth commit and fellow Bruins outfielder believes his friend’s mindset will take him as far as he wants to go.
“He’s found a balance between staying in the moment, and enjoying what he’s accomplished,” Robinson said. “But he also remains dedicated on improving his craft and realizing how hard he has to work to keep progressing in his career. I think we’re all excited to see the next chapter of his growth as a player.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Nuggets Insider: Mapping Denver’s potential path to the NBA Finals

The Nuggets ’ place in the NBA puzzle to restart this season is still taking shape with specifics on game schedules , matchups and playoff seeding in limbo .
But why not take a guess as to what Denver ’ s path to the NBA Finals might look like ?
The NBA is scheduled to resume action at the end of July in Orlando , Fla. , with 22 teams playing a condensed eight-game schedule to close the regular season , plus a potential play-in tournament for the eighth seed .
If the postseason began tomorrow , in a normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sixth-seeded Rockets .
But with just four wins separating No .
2 and No .
6 in the Western Conference standings , the unpredictable is bound to happen after a four-month gap in games .
How will the West shakeout ?
Below are the conference standings entering the home ( away-from-home ) stretch : The Nuggets could potentially rise or fall anywhere between seeds No .
1-7 , presenting a variety of possible postseason matchups .
However , if we assume Denver remains in the top half of the standings , mapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance gains some clarity .
The Nuggets must survive three playoff series against WC opponents from three different tiers .
Mavericks : Second-year guard Luka Doncic ( 28.7 ppg ) has all the makings of Dallas ’ next superstar to win Dallas a ring .
He ’ ll need fellow international phenom , forward Kristaps Porzingis , to get one .
Porzingis had initially struggled to adapt to the Mavs ’ young roster but found his rhythm in February scoring at more than a 25-point clip .
Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Doncic must stay healthy and carry Dallas in order to shock the NBA .
Record vs. Nuggets : 2-1 .
Grizzlies : On the topic of young stars , the Grizzlies are glad they selected point guard Ja Morant with the No .
2 overall pick in last year ’ s NBA draft .
Morant , a strong Rookie of the Year candidate , is reminiscent of Westbook in his speed , explosion and creativity at the rim at 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game .
Memphis also expects to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , whose ceiling as a former top-10 draft pick has not been scratched .
Record vs. Nuggets : 1-2 .
Trail Blazers : Portland touts one of the league ’ s top backcourts with guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum .
Now , help arrives in the paint with the return of center Jusuf Nurkic after a long absence from a back injury .
The Blazers reached the WC Finals a year ago , but now sit a game outside the playoff picture .
Just don ’ t be surprised if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Lillard ’ s heroics .
The Trailblazers would be a scary first-round matchup for any team .
Record vs. Nuggets : 0-3 .
Rockets : The revolutionary small-ball genius/madness of coach Mike D ’ Antoni could propel Houston to the NBA Finals or lead to a quick first-round exit .
Either option seems plausible .
The James Harden-Russell Westbrook experiment has shown flashes of brilliance , but not consistently , with the Rockets falling in four of their last five games prior to the break .
If Harden recaptures the 39-point scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Houston will be tough to beat .
Record vs. Nuggets : 2-2 .
Jazz : Utah ’ s chances for a deep playoff run took a serious hit after season-ending wrist surgery for small forward Bojan Bogdanovic , the team ’ s second-leading scorer ( 20.2 ppg ) behind guard Donovan Mitchell ( 24.2 ) .
The trade for point guard Mike Conley Jr. has not paid expected dividends .
And , the relationship between Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert — the first NBA player tested positive for COVID-19 — was reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuggets : 0-2 .
Thunder : Billy Donovan entered the Coach of the Year race this season after few NBA experts expected much from the Westbrook-less Thunder .
A three-guard lineup headlined by Chris Paul ’ s veteran leadership provides OKC dynamic scoring with center Steven Adams ’ unmatched physicality inside .
Sharing the same record as Houston ( 40-24 ) entering the NBA re-start is evidence OKC should be taken seriously this postseason .
Record vs. Nuggets : 1-1 .
Lakers : LeBron James , 35 , and in his 17th NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth NBA title .
The Lakers won 4-of-5 , including consecutive victories of the Bucks and Clippers , before the season shut down .
James is averaging a career-high 10.6 assists behind a devastating pick-and-roll connection with center Anthony Davis ( 26.7 pts/game ) .
The potential return of center DeMarcus Cousins from injury ( knee ) could also bolster L.A. ’ s title chances .
Record vs. Nuggets : 2-1 .
Clippers : Finally , the constant chatter about Kawhi Leonard ’ s “ load management ” will end as we witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fruition .
The pre-Coronavirus Clippers were carried by the league ’ s most productive bench at 51.5 pts/game , and L.A. roared into the break with seven wins over eight games .
Head coach Doc Rivers ’ championship experience ( Boston Celtics , 2008 ) only bolsters their chances at a title run .
Record against Nuggets : 1-1 .
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Nuggets itching for fight with LeBron , Kawhi or the Beard in NBA playoffs Are the Nuggets ready to walk the brash talk ?
At relatively tender ages , have Jokic , 25 , and Murray , 23 , grown up enough to run with the big dogs in the NBA playoffs ?
Read more… Nuggets executive Calvin Booth ’ s father was a cop .
He knows better than to judge them all .
Nuggets executive Calvin Booth has thought carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant overhaul needed to correct the system .
And when Booth , the highest-ranking African-American in the Nuggets ’ organization , wades into a conversation about systemic change , he does so from an informed opinion .
Read more… Nuggets have to champion their cause , hopeful to be in Orlando for “ long haul ” The NBA ’ s Board of Governors approved a 22-team format for restarting the league season tentatively for July 31 at the Disney campus near Orlando , Florida , the league announced Thursday .
The Nuggets are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read more… + Nuggets Journal : Adam Silver has chance to experiment with NBA ’ s return .
Should he take it ?
+ Coronavirus and sports : What Colorado fans can expect from their new “ normal ” + Fat Lever : Nuggets don ’ t have to rally around Michael Porter Jr. ’ s tweets , but they should rally around MPJ + Nuggets release statement in wake of George Floyd protests addressing country ’ s “ persistent legacy of racism ” + Nuggets Mailbag : Any chance Denver goes after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + Nuggets Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Mike Singer here .
When it comes to born-and-raised basketball stars from the Centennial State , putting together a top 10 is no easy task .
read more… Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is looking svelte these days .
After the NBA season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic , Jokic spent his time away from the hardwood in the gym getting fit for what the Nuggets see as a chance at winning an NBA title .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cause for question or have a comment , thought or suggestion , email me at mschubert @ denverpost.com or tweet me @ MattDSchubert .

The Nuggets’ place in the NBA puzzle to restart this season is still taking shape with specifics on game schedules, matchups and playoff seeding in limbo.
But why not take a guess as to what Denver’s path to the NBA Finals might look like?
The NBA is scheduled to resume action at the end of July in Orlando, Fla., with 22 teams playing a condensed eight-game schedule to close the regular season, plus a potential play-in tournament for the eighth seed.
If the postseason began tomorrow, in a normal world, the third-seeded Nuggets would face the sixth-seeded Rockets. But with just four wins separating No. 2 and No. 6 in the Western Conference standings, the unpredictable is bound to happen after a four-month gap in games.
How will the West shakeout? Below are the conference standings entering the home (away-from-home) stretch:
1. L.A. Lakers (49-14)
2. L.A. Clippers (44-20) — 5.5 GB
3. Denver (43-22) — 7 GB
4. Utah (41-23) — 8.5 GB
5. Oklahoma City (40-24) — 9.5 GB
6. Houston (40-24) — 9.5 GB
7. Dallas (40-27) — 11 GB
8. Memphis (32-33) — 18 GB
—
9. Portland (29-37) — 3.5 GB
10. New Orleans (28-36) — 3.5 GB
11. Sacramento (28-36) — 3.5 GB
12. San Antonio (27-36) — 4 GB
13. Phoenix (26-39) — 6 GB
The Nuggets could potentially rise or fall anywhere between seeds No. 1-7, presenting a variety of possible postseason matchups. However, if we assume Denver remains in the top half of the standings, mapping their path to a franchise-first NBA Finals appearance gains some clarity.
The Nuggets must survive three playoff series against WC opponents from three different tiers.
Tier 1 — Upset alert (teams capable of beating higher seed)
Mavericks: Second-year guard Luka Doncic (28.7 ppg) has all the makings of Dallas’ next superstar to win Dallas a ring. He’ll need fellow international phenom, forward Kristaps Porzingis, to get one. Porzingis had initially struggled to adapt to the Mavs’ young roster but found his rhythm in February scoring at more than a 25-point clip. Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway Jr. anchor a solid bench unit as well. But Doncic must stay healthy and carry Dallas in order to shock the NBA. Record vs. Nuggets: 2-1.
Grizzlies: On the topic of young stars, the Grizzlies are glad they selected point guard Ja Morant with the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s NBA draft. Morant, a strong Rookie of the Year candidate, is reminiscent of Westbook in his speed, explosion and creativity at the rim at 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game. Memphis also expects to return injured forward Justice Winslow (back), whose ceiling as a former top-10 draft pick has not been scratched. Record vs. Nuggets: 1-2.
Trail Blazers: Portland touts one of the league’s top backcourts with guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Now, help arrives in the paint with the return of center Jusuf Nurkic after a long absence from a back injury. The Blazers reached the WC Finals a year ago, but now sit a game outside the playoff picture. Just don’t be surprised if a healthy Portland roster plays its way in behind Lillard’s heroics. The Trailblazers would be a scary first-round matchup for any team. Record vs. Nuggets: 0-3.
Tier 2 — On the cusp (teams nearing contention)
Rockets: The revolutionary small-ball genius/madness of coach Mike D’Antoni could propel Houston to the NBA Finals or lead to a quick first-round exit. Either option seems plausible. The James Harden-Russell Westbrook experiment has shown flashes of brilliance, but not consistently, with the Rockets falling in four of their last five games prior to the break. If Harden recaptures the 39-point scoring average he carried from November to January, Houston will be tough to beat. Record vs. Nuggets: 2-2.
Jazz: Utah’s chances for a deep playoff run took a serious hit after season-ending wrist surgery for small forward Bojan Bogdanovic, the team’s second-leading scorer (20.2 ppg) behind guard Donovan Mitchell (24.2). The trade for point guard Mike Conley Jr. has not paid expected dividends. And, the relationship between Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert — the first NBA player tested positive for COVID-19 — was reportedly icy in recent months. Record vs. Nuggets: 0-2.
Thunder: Billy Donovan entered the Coach of the Year race this season after few NBA experts expected much from the Westbrook-less Thunder. A three-guard lineup headlined by Chris Paul’s veteran leadership provides OKC dynamic scoring with center Steven Adams’ unmatched physicality inside. Sharing the same record as Houston (40-24) entering the NBA re-start is evidence OKC should be taken seriously this postseason. Record vs. Nuggets: 1-1.
Tier 3 — Legit contenders (teams poised for championship run)
Lakers: LeBron James, 35, and in his 17th NBA season, is well-positioned to win his fourth NBA title. The Lakers won 4-of-5, including consecutive victories of the Bucks and Clippers, before the season shut down. James is averaging a career-high 10.6 assists behind a devastating pick-and-roll connection with center Anthony Davis (26.7 pts/game). The potential return of center DeMarcus Cousins from injury (knee) could also bolster L.A.’s title chances. Record vs. Nuggets: 2-1.
Clippers: Finally, the constant chatter about Kawhi Leonard’s “load management” will end as we witness his healthy pairing with Paul George come to fruition. The pre-Coronavirus Clippers were carried by the league’s most productive bench at 51.5 pts/game, and L.A. roared into the break with seven wins over eight games. Head coach Doc Rivers’ championship experience (Boston Celtics, 2008) only bolsters their chances at a title run. Record against Nuggets: 1-1.
Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post
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Must-Read
Are the Nuggets ready to walk the brash talk? At relatively tender ages, have Jokic, 25, and Murray, 23, grown up enough to run with the big dogs in the NBA playoffs? Read more…
Nuggets executive Calvin Booth has thought carefully about racism, police brutality and the significant overhaul needed to correct the system.
And when Booth, the highest-ranking African-American in the Nuggets’ organization, wades into a conversation about systemic change, he does so from an informed opinion. Read more…
The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a 22-team format for restarting the league season tentatively for July 31 at the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida, the league announced Thursday.
The Nuggets are thankful that the wait is over. Read more…
Quick hits
+ Keeler: Michael Porter Jr.’s tweets on George Floyd weren’t “condoning cops’ behavior,” civil rights icon says
+ Nuggets Journal: Adam Silver has chance to experiment with NBA’s return. Should he take it?
+ Coronavirus and sports: What Colorado fans can expect from their new “normal”
+ Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray starts a conversation about race
+ Fat Lever: Nuggets don’t have to rally around Michael Porter Jr.’s tweets, but they should rally around MPJ
+ Nuggets coach Michael Malone: Team working on town hall with mayor, local police
+ Nuggets release statement in wake of George Floyd protests addressing country’s “persistent legacy of racism”
+ Amid coronavirus crisis, Nuggets legend Dikembe Mutombo can’t stop playing defense
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Any chance Denver goes after Tyler Bey in the NBA draft?
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Singer here.
By The Numbers
10
When it comes to born-and-raised basketball stars from the Centennial State, putting together a top 10 is no easy task. read more…
Parting Shot
Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is looking svelte these days.
After the NBA season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, Jokic spent his time away from the hardwood in the gym getting fit for what the Nuggets see as a chance at winning an NBA title. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something that’s cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at mschubert@denverpost.com or tweet me @MattDSchubert.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Ask Amy: Friend wonders why pal is so poor

Dear Amy : I am a retired professional .
My husband is still working .
We have no investments and no inheritances , but we get by .
I rarely mention money .
I love to go to restaurants , shows and concerts , tip well , and am generous with what I have .
I have a friend who is quite the opposite .
She does not dine out or go to shows or concerts , and both she and her husband retired a few years ago with generous pensions and health insurance .
Her parents passed away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ description ) inheritance .
For a while , she talked about all the things she was looking forward to spending it on .
She has never done any of those things , and her house is falling apart around her .
She constantly complains about not having “ funds.
” Her main topic of conversation is coupons .
Today we were in a neighbor ’ s beautiful backyard , and she said she wished she had money for plants .
Amy , this is ridiculous .
I know her well , and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend a dime .
She frequently brags that she and her husband did not help their sons with college expenses .
Can you explain why people act this way ?
I know she isn ’ t the only one .
I never respond to her remarks about clipping coupons and not having funds — I just change the subject .
I don ’ t know what to say to her , and I am reaching the point where I can ’ t stand it anymore .
Dear Strained : It sounds as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial situation has come , mainly , from her self-reporting .
Because of this , it seems natural that , rather than change the subject each time she brings it up , you could ask your friend — one time — “ I thought that you and your husband were doing well financially .
What happened ?
” Your friend and/or her husband could actually be out of funds because they fell for a scam , invested badly , gave money to their kids , engaged in online gambling , donated their money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of other reasons .
Your friend ’ s husband might be controlling her by denying her access to their money .
Or — she and/or her husband might have a hoarding disorder , which causes them to actually hoard their money , “ saving ” it to their own detriment .
You ’ ve heard of people hoarding possessions , paper , animals , vehicles , etc.
, to the point where it poses a risk to their own health and safety .
The same disorder leads some people to hoard money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well and their living situation is deteriorating to a dangerous extent , you could consider sharing your concern with their children .
Your friend seems unable to enjoy life .
Rather than judge her harshly , you might respond with patience and compassion .
Dear Amy : I consider myself a liberal thinker and have several friends and close family members who identify LGBQ .
But I just don ’ t get the bisexual label if one is not sexually active ( nor looking to be ) .
Over the past several years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out ” on social media as bisexual .
All three are in long term ( 10-plus years ) marriages to people of the opposite sex .
While one can never know what goes on “ behind closed doors , ” it is doubtful that any of these marriages are “ open.
” One of the professed bisexuals is an ordained minister another is married to an ordained minister .
So the idea of these individuals having free-wheeling sex lives with multiple partners seems remote .
What does it mean for someone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physical way ?
How is it important to announce that truth about themselves if they are not looking for a relationship ?
What about being bisexual are they “ claiming , ” if it isn ’ t about sex ?
Dear Bi-Curious : Some people might be inspired to proclaim their own bisexuality out of solidarity to people who are less safe and secure than they are .
This would be a powerful statement from some in the clergy community , if they belong to a faith practice that openly discriminates against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are curious about a public proclamation , you should feel free to ask .
Dear Amy : Thank you for your advice to “ Cold Feet , ” the woman whose future in-laws were causing so much trouble .
My own advice would have been one word : RUN !
Dear Been There : Entering this family system will present some definite challenges for both “ Cold Feet ” and her fiancé .

Dear Amy: I am a retired professional. My husband is still working. We have no investments and no inheritances, but we get by.
I rarely mention money. I love to go to restaurants, shows and concerts, tip well, and am generous with what I have.
I have a friend who is quite the opposite. She does not dine out or go to shows or concerts, and both she and her husband retired a few years ago with generous pensions and health insurance.
Her parents passed away, leaving her a large (by her description) inheritance. For a while, she talked about all the things she was looking forward to spending it on.
She has never done any of those things, and her house is falling apart around her. She constantly complains about not having “funds.” Her main topic of conversation is coupons. Today we were in a neighbor’s beautiful backyard, and she said she wished she had money for plants. Amy, this is ridiculous. I know her well, and she has no expenses and doesn’t spend a dime. She frequently brags that she and her husband did not help their sons with college expenses.
Can you explain why people act this way? I know she isn’t the only one. I never respond to her remarks about clipping coupons and not having funds — I just change the subject.
I don’t know what to say to her, and I am reaching the point where I can’t stand it anymore.
Any advice?
— Strained Friendship
Dear Strained: It sounds as if your knowledge of your friend’s financial situation has come, mainly, from her self-reporting. Because of this, it seems natural that, rather than change the subject each time she brings it up, you could ask your friend — one time — “I thought that you and your husband were doing well financially. What happened?”
Your friend and/or her husband could actually be out of funds because they fell for a scam, invested badly, gave money to their kids, engaged in online gambling, donated their money to an institution — or for any number of other reasons. Your friend’s husband might be controlling her by denying her access to their money. Or — she and/or her husband might have a hoarding disorder, which causes them to actually hoard their money, “saving” it to their own detriment.
You’ve heard of people hoarding possessions, paper, animals, vehicles, etc., to the point where it poses a risk to their own health and safety. The same disorder leads some people to hoard money. If you know these people very well and their living situation is deteriorating to a dangerous extent, you could consider sharing your concern with their children.
Your friend seems unable to enjoy life. Rather than judge her harshly, you might respond with patience and compassion.
Dear Amy: I consider myself a liberal thinker and have several friends and close family members who identify LGBQ. But I just don’t get the bisexual label if one is not sexually active (nor looking to be). Over the past several years, at least three acquaintances have “come out” on social media as bisexual. All three are in long term (10-plus years) marriages to people of the opposite sex.
While one can never know what goes on “behind closed doors,” it is doubtful that any of these marriages are “open.”
One of the professed bisexuals is an ordained minister another is married to an ordained minister. So the idea of these individuals having free-wheeling sex lives with multiple partners seems remote.
What does it mean for someone to be bisexual and not express that in a physical way? How is it important to announce that truth about themselves if they are not looking for a relationship? What about being bisexual are they “claiming,” if it isn’t about sex?
— Bi-Curious?
Dear Bi-Curious: Some people might be inspired to proclaim their own bisexuality out of solidarity to people who are less safe and secure than they are.
This would be a powerful statement from some in the clergy community, if they belong to a faith practice that openly discriminates against LGBTQ people.
But — because you are curious about a public proclamation, you should feel free to ask.
Dear Amy: Thank you for your advice to “Cold Feet,” the woman whose future in-laws were causing so much trouble.
My own advice would have been one word: RUN!
— Been There
Dear Been There: Entering this family system will present some definite challenges for both “Cold Feet” and her fiancé.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Editorial: Eliminate tax breaks to help shore up the budget

It is full of billions of dollars in tax breaks and cuts and credits for the few that are funded by the overall taxes paid by the many .
Colorado lawmakers have wisely targeted a handful of these tax expenditures for elimination or reduction in an effort to raise $ 1.2 billion over four years for K-12 education .
The coronavirus economy is now in a recession from the shock of shuttered businesses and lost jobs .
It has left Colorado ’ s state budget with about $ 3.3 billion less than expected .
House Bill 1420 – introduced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dominick Moreno , and Chris Hansen – is a clever bill that targets tax expenditures known to have been deemed to have little or questionable efficacies while also carrying a huge price tag .
The bill has passed the Colorado state House and was likely to be considered in the Senate Friday evening or Saturday .
It ’ s a good bill that should become law .
But it ’ s unclear if Gov .
Jared Polis would sign the measure as it had passed the House .
Polis is not wrong in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts tax credits and uses some of that money to reduce the overall tax burden of individuals and businesses – because that ’ s needed too .
We hope the two sides can work out a compromise before the legislature closes for business until January .
Obviously , the broader tax reform needed is not going to happen in the next 48 hours , but the question is can this smaller proposal be made amenable to the governor and become law on its own .
Given that some of these tax reforms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaks dolled out in the federal CARES Act , we think it ’ s important that lawmakers pass something now .
When we spoke to Polis on Friday , he floated the idea of a special session this fall to take up broader tax reforms – we love the idea of a session dedicated to cleaning up Colorado ’ s tax code , although such a maneuver has it ’ s own costs associated with bringing folks back to work .
The bottom line is that true tax reform is often impossible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are surprisingly not that concerned that others might be getting more or less of a break on their taxes .
Consider the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – in an ideal world , the goal would have been for the tax reform to be revenue neutral .
Eliminating tax breaks and reducing the tax rates by a comparable amount .
That proved impossible once the special interests started defending their little piece of the tax avoidance pie and instead we walked away with a $ 1.3 trillion reduction in federal revenue – lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax loopholes and breaks .
Colorado luckily isn ’ t at risk of such a budget busting trap – we ’ re in the middle of a recession and the state budget must be balanced .
So , what ’ s the proper way to eliminate bad tax policy ?
Polis says his goal would be to have the revenue from the elimination of tax breaks go a third to help with the state ’ s dire budget needs , a third reduce the taxes of those who lost the tax break and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax policy less regressive .
That ’ s reasonable .
House Bill 1420 would increase the state ’ s Earned Income Tax Credit with some of the revenue brought in by the elimination of tax breaks for some and it would expend about $ 193 million over four years , a small portion of the more than $ 1 billion raised by the tax cuts .
There ’ s room for both sides to give a little in this debate .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to submit by email or mail .

Colorado’s tax code is broken.
It is full of billions of dollars in tax breaks and cuts and credits for the few that are funded by the overall taxes paid by the many.
Colorado lawmakers have wisely targeted a handful of these tax expenditures for elimination or reduction in an effort to raise $1.2 billion over four years for K-12 education. The coronavirus economy is now in a recession from the shock of shuttered businesses and lost jobs. It has left Colorado’s state budget with about $3.3 billion less than expected.
House Bill 1420 – introduced by Reps. Emily Sirota, Matt Gray, Dominick Moreno, and Chris Hansen – is a clever bill that targets tax expenditures known to have been deemed to have little or questionable efficacies while also carrying a huge price tag.
The bill has passed the Colorado state House and was likely to be considered in the Senate Friday evening or Saturday. It’s a good bill that should become law.
But it’s unclear if Gov. Jared Polis would sign the measure as it had passed the House. Polis is not wrong in his advocacy for broader tax reform that cuts tax credits and uses some of that money to reduce the overall tax burden of individuals and businesses – because that’s needed too.
We hope the two sides can work out a compromise before the legislature closes for business until January. Obviously, the broader tax reform needed is not going to happen in the next 48 hours, but the question is can this smaller proposal be made amenable to the governor and become law on its own.
Given that some of these tax reforms are needed to avoid reduced revenue from tax breaks dolled out in the federal CARES Act, we think it’s important that lawmakers pass something now.
When we spoke to Polis on Friday, he floated the idea of a special session this fall to take up broader tax reforms – we love the idea of a session dedicated to cleaning up Colorado’s tax code, although such a maneuver has it’s own costs associated with bringing folks back to work.
The bottom line is that true tax reform is often impossible. Americans love their personal tax break and are surprisingly not that concerned that others might be getting more or less of a break on their taxes. Consider the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – in an ideal world, the goal would have been for the tax reform to be revenue neutral. Eliminating tax breaks and reducing the tax rates by a comparable amount. That proved impossible once the special interests started defending their little piece of the tax avoidance pie and instead we walked away with a $1.3 trillion reduction in federal revenue – lower taxes and hardly any meaningful reduction of tax loopholes and breaks.
Colorado luckily isn’t at risk of such a budget busting trap – we’re in the middle of a recession and the state budget must be balanced.
So, what’s the proper way to eliminate bad tax policy? Polis says his goal would be to have the revenue from the elimination of tax breaks go a third to help with the state’s dire budget needs, a third reduce the taxes of those who lost the tax break and a third to making Colorado’s tax policy less regressive. That’s reasonable.
House Bill 1420 would increase the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit with some of the revenue brought in by the elimination of tax breaks for some and it would expend about $193 million over four years, a small portion of the more than $1 billion raised by the tax cuts.
There’s room for both sides to give a little in this debate.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Authorities recover bodies from Lake Pueblo State Park

Two bodies were recovered Friday from Lake Pueblo State Park after two swimmers were reported missing .
About 1:15 p.m. officials received a call about a man who went missing while swimming in the lake near the Sailboard Road parking lot , just west of the dam , according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release .
Rangers in a rescue boat arrived in the area and were flagged by a group of park guests who said that another man , swimming not far from the first man , also had gone missing .
A second Parks and Wildlife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s deputies and state troopers joined the search effort .
Both boats used sonar devices as officers cleared the nearby shore of about 400 people .
At 4:15 p.m. , one of the boats located an object in about 6 feet of water , and the dive team recovered a body .
As the first recovery was in progress the second body was found .
“ We offer our condolences to the families and friends of these men , ” said Monique Mullis , Lake Pueblo State Park manager , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives lost so tragically .
“ This is another sad example of why swimming is not permitted anywhere in Lake Pueblo .
Swimming is only permitted in Rock Canyon Swim Beach below the dam .
This incident also points to the importance of wearing life jackets when you are in the water.
” The Pueblo County coroner ’ s office will identify the victims .

Two bodies were recovered Friday from Lake Pueblo State Park after two swimmers were reported missing.
About 1:15 p.m. officials received a call about a man who went missing while swimming in the lake near the Sailboard Road parking lot, just west of the dam, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.
Rangers in a rescue boat arrived in the area and were flagged by a group of park guests who said that another man, swimming not far from the first man, also had gone missing.
A second Parks and Wildlife boat was deployed, and Pueblo County sheriff’s deputies and state troopers joined the search effort.
Both boats used sonar devices as officers cleared the nearby shore of about 400 people.
At 4:15 p.m., one of the boats located an object in about 6 feet of water, and the dive team recovered a body. As the first recovery was in progress the second body was found.
“We offer our condolences to the families and friends of these men,” said Monique Mullis, Lake Pueblo State Park manager, in the release. “We hate seeing lives lost so tragically.
“This is another sad example of why swimming is not permitted anywhere in Lake Pueblo. Swimming is only permitted in Rock Canyon Swim Beach below the dam. This incident also points to the importance of wearing life jackets when you are in the water.”
The Pueblo County coroner’s office will identify the victims.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--$200,000 in stolen property recovered in Berthoud

After arresting two men on suspicion of motor vehicle theft , investigators in northern Colorado served a search warrant on a residential property , where they seized about $ 200,000 in stolen property .
Much of the property was stolen from vehicles parked in Berthoud in late May , according to a Larimer County sheriff ’ s news release .
Additional recovered stolen property is from Boulder , Longmont , Fort Collins , Lakewood and Parker .
On May 28 , Larimer County deputies and investigators responded to the 400 block of Grand Market Avenue in Berthoud to assist Boulder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two auto-theft suspects , the sheriff ’ s office said Friday .
Cory J. Lafferty , 34 , of Berthoud , and Justin J. Castner , 31 , of Greeley , were arrested on suspicion of aggravated motor vehicle theft and violation of bail conditions , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home and property in Berthoud and recovered five stolen vehicles and two stolen trailers , the release said .
Additional stolen items recovered included tools , firearms , credit cards , electronics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard work of several law enforcement agencies led to the dismantling of this multi-county theft ring , ” said Capt .
Robert Coleman , LCSO , in the release .
“ We are very pleased that many of the victims have already had their property returned to them .
”

After arresting two men on suspicion of motor vehicle theft, investigators in northern Colorado served a search warrant on a residential property, where they seized about $200,000 in stolen property.
Much of the property was stolen from vehicles parked in Berthoud in late May, according to a Larimer County sheriff’s news release. Additional recovered stolen property is from Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins, Lakewood and Parker.
On May 28, Larimer County deputies and investigators responded to the 400 block of Grand Market Avenue in Berthoud to assist Boulder police and detectives in an arrest of two auto-theft suspects, the sheriff’s office said Friday.
Cory J. Lafferty, 34, of Berthoud, and Justin J. Castner, 31, of Greeley, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated motor vehicle theft and violation of bail conditions, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home and property in Berthoud and recovered five stolen vehicles and two stolen trailers, the release said. Additional stolen items recovered included tools, firearms, credit cards, electronics and other property.
“The cooperation and hard work of several law enforcement agencies led to the dismantling of this multi-county theft ring,” said Capt. Robert Coleman, LCSO, in the release. “We are very pleased that many of the victims have already had their property returned to them.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Two men, one a CSU student-athlete, forced to ground at gunpoint in Loveland

Two roofing salesmen allegedly were forced to the ground at gunpoint by a Loveland man on Thursday who reportedly mistook them for Antifa members .
One of the victims is a Colorado State University student-athlete .
The incident happened about 6 p.m. in the 600 block of Dawn Court , according to the Reporter Herald .
Police initially received a call from a man who reported seeing two men wearing dark clothes and masks .
The caller described the pair to police as members of Antifa and that he would track them down and hold them until officers arrived .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another call about a man armed with a rifle and wearing tactical gear holding two people on the ground at gunpoint .
Police arrived at the scene quickly and arrested the gunman .
He is identified as Scott Gudmundsen , 65 , of Loveland .
Police said he was armed with two Glock pistols .
Gudmundsen was arrested on suspicion of felony menacing and false imprisonment .
The two victims , both in their early 20s , were using white surgical masks as coronavirus protection .
They were wearing blue polo shirts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for roofing work after a Monday night hailstorm .
The second victim was described in the letter as a co-worker .
Police in a news release said that one of the two victims is African-American .
On Friday CSU President Joyce McConnell and Athletics Director Joe Parker released a letter to the university ’ s community informing them of the situation .
“ Our student is a young man of color , while the perpetrator is white .
Regardless of what investigators learn or reasons the perpetrator gives , we know this : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked out with his team , then showered , dressed , and went to work , ” the community letter said .
“ Hours later , he was facing a stranger with a gun and hearing police sirens that had been inexplicably called on him .
Given what we have seen happening in cities across this county , we know all too well that this encounter could have proceeded very differently.
” The CSU letter said the student and co-worker were unharmed .
The university said the student will have “ all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident .
“ Our students are all precious to us .
This young man is precious to us , contributing to our campus community in many ways : as an athlete , as a leader , and as a thoughtful student , ” the letter said .
“ He is also precious to his family , to his friends and teammates , and to the many , many people out there in this world whose lives he has not yet touched but someday will .
He is too precious to lose to hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of color who bring their talents , their voices , their anger and anguish and hope and determination to CSU .
”

Two roofing salesmen allegedly were forced to the ground at gunpoint by a Loveland man on Thursday who reportedly mistook them for Antifa members. One of the victims is a Colorado State University student-athlete.
The incident happened about 6 p.m. in the 600 block of Dawn Court, according to the Reporter Herald.
Police initially received a call from a man who reported seeing two men wearing dark clothes and masks. The caller described the pair to police as members of Antifa and that he would track them down and hold them until officers arrived.
A short time later, police received another call about a man armed with a rifle and wearing tactical gear holding two people on the ground at gunpoint.
Police arrived at the scene quickly and arrested the gunman. He is identified as Scott Gudmundsen, 65, of Loveland. Police said he was armed with two Glock pistols.
Gudmundsen was arrested on suspicion of felony menacing and false imprisonment.
The two victims, both in their early 20s, were using white surgical masks as coronavirus protection. They were wearing blue polo shirts and shorts. They were canvassing the neighborhood for roofing work after a Monday night hailstorm.
The second victim was described in the letter as a co-worker. Police in a news release said that one of the two victims is African-American.
On Friday CSU President Joyce McConnell and Athletics Director Joe Parker released a letter to the university’s community informing them of the situation.
“Our student is a young man of color, while the perpetrator is white. Regardless of what investigators learn or reasons the perpetrator gives, we know this: Our student got up Thursday morning, worked out with his team, then showered, dressed, and went to work,” the community letter said. “Hours later, he was facing a stranger with a gun and hearing police sirens that had been inexplicably called on him. Given what we have seen happening in cities across this county, we know all too well that this encounter could have proceeded very differently.”
The CSU letter said the student and co-worker were unharmed. The university said the student will have “all the resources” needed to recover from the incident.
“Our students are all precious to us. This young man is precious to us, contributing to our campus community in many ways: as an athlete, as a leader, and as a thoughtful student,” the letter said. “He is also precious to his family, to his friends and teammates, and to the many, many people out there in this world whose lives he has not yet touched but someday will. He is too precious to lose to hate and ignorance, as are all the people of color who bring their talents, their voices, their anger and anguish and hope and determination to CSU.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Judge tosses out Jussie Smollett’s double jeopardy claim

CHICAGO — A Cook County judge on Friday shot down actor Jussie Smollett ’ s attempt have the criminal charges against him dropped , telling the actor that the new charges against him do not violate his right against double jeopardy .
Smollett ’ s attorneys made the double jeopardy argument after a special prosecutor secured a six-count indictment on charges alleging that he lied to police about a racist and anti-gay attack that police say he staged himself .
The new case came months after the county ’ s state ’ s attorney ’ s office abruptly announced it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angering police and City Hall .
The way Judge James Linn saw it , the only way double jeopardy would apply is if Smollett was legally punished for what had happened to him since he was charged in connection with the January 2019 incident in downtown Chicago .
But Linn determined that the deal in which the state ’ s attorney ’ s office agreed to drop charges without requiring Smollett to admit any wrongdoing and Smollett agreed to forfeit his $ 10,000 bond did not add up to legal punishment .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there was no jury empaneled , no witnesses were sworn , no evidence was heard , no guilty pleas were ever entered … nothing like that every happened , ” Linn said of the 2019 case .
“ There was no adjudication of this case.
” Smollett contends that early on Jan. 29 , 2019 , he was walking home when two masked men approached him , made racist and homophobic insults , beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing .
He said his assailants , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told him he was in “ MAGA country ” — a reference to President Donald Trump ’ s campaign slogan , “ Make America Great Again.
” Weeks later , the story that already received international media attention took a shocking twist when police alleged that Smollett , who is black and openly gay , had paid two black friends $ 3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on “ Empire , ” a Fox series about that follows a black family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the recording industry .
Smollett was accused of using the scheme to drum up publicity for his career .
Months after local prosecutors made their stunning announcement that they were dropping charges , a judge last August appointed Dan Webb , a former U.S. attorney , to look into why those original charges were dropped .
Smollett was indicted again in February .
He has maintained his innocence .
It was not immediately clear when Smollett might stand trial .
At the same time , Smollett is battling a lawsuit filed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for overtime paid to officers who were involved in investigating his report .

CHICAGO — A Cook County judge on Friday shot down actor Jussie Smollett’s attempt have the criminal charges against him dropped, telling the actor that the new charges against him do not violate his right against double jeopardy.
Smollett’s attorneys made the double jeopardy argument after a special prosecutor secured a six-count indictment on charges alleging that he lied to police about a racist and anti-gay attack that police say he staged himself. The new case came months after the county’s state’s attorney’s office abruptly announced it was dropping charges against the actor, angering police and City Hall.
The way Judge James Linn saw it, the only way double jeopardy would apply is if Smollett was legally punished for what had happened to him since he was charged in connection with the January 2019 incident in downtown Chicago. But Linn determined that the deal in which the state’s attorney’s office agreed to drop charges without requiring Smollett to admit any wrongdoing and Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond did not add up to legal punishment.
“There was no trial in this case, there was no jury empaneled, no witnesses were sworn, no evidence was heard, no guilty pleas were ever entered … nothing like that every happened,” Linn said of the 2019 case. “There was no adjudication of this case.”
Smollett contends that early on Jan. 29, 2019, he was walking home when two masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing. He said his assailants, at least one of whom he described as white, told him he was in “MAGA country” — a reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
Weeks later, the story that already received international media attention took a shocking twist when police alleged that Smollett, who is black and openly gay, had paid two black friends $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on “Empire,” a Fox series about that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry. Smollett was accused of using the scheme to drum up publicity for his career.
Months after local prosecutors made their stunning announcement that they were dropping charges, a judge last August appointed Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney, to look into why those original charges were dropped.
Smollett was indicted again in February. He has maintained his innocence.
It was not immediately clear when Smollett might stand trial. At the same time, Smollett is battling a lawsuit filed by the city seeking more than $130,000 for overtime paid to officers who were involved in investigating his report.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Colorado passes bill to improve low vaccine rates

After failing in a similar attempt last year , the legislature gave final approval Saturday to a bill aimed at improving Colorado ’ s worst-in-the-nation childhood vaccination rates .
As soon as Gov .
Jared Polis signs the bill — he has said he would — it will become law .
Lawmakers considered writing a provision into the bill that would allow opponents to petition for a repeal measure on the ballot , which might have delayed the bill ’ s implementation , but they decided against that Saturday .
The bill preserves the rights of parents to receive exemptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires them to either obtain a note from a doctor stating there is a medical reason , or , in the case of parents who have religious or ideological reservations , take an online education course about vaccine science .
Parents who home-school their children will still be able to get exemptions simply by writing notes to their local school districts .
This standards in the bill are slightly tougher than the current ones .
Parents here have been able to exempt their children from vaccination simply by putting a statement of exemption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration .
Under the bill , schools will also have to release annual reports to parents detailing vaccination and exemption rates among their student bodies .
The state will maintain a database with exemption information .
Polling indicates an overwhelming majority of Coloradans recognize the benefits of vaccines .
But within the legislature it ’ s been one of the most heated proposed laws of the past two years .
Anti-vaccination is not a purely Republican issue — in fact , deep-blue Boulder is one of the country ’ s hotbeds of unvaccinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ united against the bill .
Just one Republican , state Sen. Kevin Priola , R-Henderson , supported the bill .
Crowds of vaccine opponents have flooded the Capitol on many occasions since January , and last weekend more than a thousand rallied outside the state Capitol for a last-ditch effort to pressure lawmakers to reject the proposal .
That this bill is only being passed now is because Polis , a Democrat , opposed a similar bill last session .
He said he felt it was unfair to force parents to submit exemption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He declared himself “ pro-choice ” on vaccines and did not directly answer when a Denver Post reporter asked him a few weeks ago whether he maintains that stance .
Having reached the finish line of a dramatic , multi-year slog to pass a new policy , pro-vaccine lawmakers were clearly relieved Saturday .
“ Rest assured , as far as I ’ m concerned , I ’ m not planning on bringing any more vaccination bills in the coming four years , ” Priola , a sponsor of the bill , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot of hard work has gone into this , ” said state Rep. Kyle Mullica , D-Northglenn , an emergency room nurse who led the charge for this bill , as well as last year ’ s version .

After failing in a similar attempt last year, the legislature gave final approval Saturday to a bill aimed at improving Colorado’s worst-in-the-nation childhood vaccination rates.
As soon as Gov. Jared Polis signs the bill — he has said he would — it will become law. Lawmakers considered writing a provision into the bill that would allow opponents to petition for a repeal measure on the ballot, which might have delayed the bill’s implementation, but they decided against that Saturday.
The bill preserves the rights of parents to receive exemptions for public school students, but it requires them to either obtain a note from a doctor stating there is a medical reason, or, in the case of parents who have religious or ideological reservations, take an online education course about vaccine science. Parents who home-school their children will still be able to get exemptions simply by writing notes to their local school districts.
This standards in the bill are slightly tougher than the current ones. Parents here have been able to exempt their children from vaccination simply by putting a statement of exemption into writing and handing it to school administration.
Under the bill, schools will also have to release annual reports to parents detailing vaccination and exemption rates among their student bodies. The state will maintain a database with exemption information.
Polling indicates an overwhelming majority of Coloradans recognize the benefits of vaccines. But within the legislature it’s been one of the most heated proposed laws of the past two years. Anti-vaccination is not a purely Republican issue — in fact, deep-blue Boulder is one of the country’s hotbeds of unvaccinated children — but GOP lawmakers here were united against the bill. Just one Republican, state Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, supported the bill.
Crowds of vaccine opponents have flooded the Capitol on many occasions since January, and last weekend more than a thousand rallied outside the state Capitol for a last-ditch effort to pressure lawmakers to reject the proposal.
That this bill is only being passed now is because Polis, a Democrat, opposed a similar bill last session. He said he felt it was unfair to force parents to submit exemption forms in person at state offices. He declared himself “pro-choice” on vaccines and did not directly answer when a Denver Post reporter asked him a few weeks ago whether he maintains that stance.
Having reached the finish line of a dramatic, multi-year slog to pass a new policy, pro-vaccine lawmakers were clearly relieved Saturday.
“Rest assured, as far as I’m concerned, I’m not planning on bringing any more vaccination bills in the coming four years,” Priola, a sponsor of the bill, said to laughs from his colleagues.
“A lot of hard work has gone into this,” said state Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn, an emergency room nurse who led the charge for this bill, as well as last year’s version.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Here’s what Colorado’s police reform bill does

Far-reaching reforms to Colorado policing are on their way to becoming law after the final passage of Senate Bill 217 in the General Assembly on Saturday .
Here are eight of the most significant pieces of the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity bill , which Gov .
Jared Polis has said he will sign .
Body-worn cameras : Every officer in the state — with exceptions for jail deputies in facilities that already have cameras , undercover officers and those in administrative positions — will have to use body-worn cameras by Jul 1 , 2023 .
The cameras must be activated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
Police who purposely fail to activate their cameras or tamper with them could face criminal liability or other penalties .
Footage will be required to be released within 21 days after an allegation of misconduct , or within 45 days if the release could jeopardize a criminal investigation .
Use of force : Chokeholds and carotid control holds will be banned .
Carotid control holds are maneuvers in which officers bend their arms around a person ’ s neck and apply pressure on either side of the windpipe , which can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be restricted in when they can use deadly physical force : It can ’ t be used against someone for a minor or nonviolent offense .
Officers can only use deadly force against someone fleeing from police if they pose an immediate risk to the officer or others , which advocates say is already case law .
Failure to intervene : An officer who fails to try to stop another from using excessive force could face a class 1 misdemeanor charge .
Fired cops : Officers who plead guilty to or are convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failure to intervene to stop excessive force or found civilly liable for excessive force or failure to intervene will lose their Peace Officer Standards and Training board certification permanently .
Beginning Jan. 1 , 2022 , the POST board will create and maintain a public database of officers who have been decertified , fired or repeatedly failed to follow training requirements .
Qualified immunity : People who allege civil rights violations will be able to sue officers in their individual capacities .
Officers determined not to have acted in good faith or with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was legal can be held personally liable for 5 % of a judgment or settlement or $ 25,000 , whichever is less .
Police prosecutions : The state attorney general has the authority to prosecute persistently bad departments and officers .
Protester protections : Officers will be prohibited from shooting rubber bullets indiscriminately into a crowd as well as targeting rubber bullet shots at someone ’ s head , torso or back .
It also prevents officers from using tear gas before announcing it and giving time to for people to disperse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to send the state data on their use of force resulting in serious injury or death as well as stops , unannounced entries and use of firearms .
Some demographic information will also be required .
Agencies who don ’ t provide the information could put their funding in jeopardy .
The full text of the bill is available at http : //leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2020A/bills/2020a_217_rer.pdf .

Far-reaching reforms to Colorado policing are on their way to becoming law after the final passage of Senate Bill 217 in the General Assembly on Saturday. Here are eight of the most significant pieces of the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity bill, which Gov. Jared Polis has said he will sign.
Body-worn cameras: Every officer in the state — with some exceptions for jail deputies in facilities that already have cameras, undercover officers and those in administrative positions — will have to use body-worn cameras by Jul 1, 2023. The cameras must be activated when officers are responding to calls for service. Police who purposely fail to activate their cameras or tamper with them could face criminal liability or other penalties. Footage will be required to be released within 21 days after an allegation of misconduct, or within 45 days if the release could jeopardize a criminal investigation.
Use of force: Chokeholds and carotid control holds will be banned. Carotid control holds are maneuvers in which officers bend their arms around a person’s neck and apply pressure on either side of the windpipe, which can lead to unconsciousness. The policy would require officers to only use force if absolutely necessary and deadly force can’t be used against someone for a minor or nonviolent offense. Officers can only use deadly force against someone fleeing from police if they pose an immediate risk to the officer or others, which advocates say is already case law.
Failure to intervene: An officer who fails to try to stop another from using excessive force could face a class 1 misdemeanor or greater charge. Officers will be protected from retaliation if they intervene.
Fired cops: Officers who plead guilty to or are convicted of an inappropriate use of force, failure to intervene to stop excessive force or found civilly liable for excessive force or failure to intervene will lose their Peace Officer Standards and Training board certification permanently. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the POST board will create and maintain a public database of officers who have been decertified, fired, found to be untruthful or repeatedly failed to follow training requirements.
Qualified immunity: The bill removes the qualified immunity defense, allowing people to bring civil rights claims in Colorado court. People who allege civil rights violations will be able to sue officers in their individual capacities. Officers determined not to have acted in good faith or with a reasonable belief that what they did was legal can be held personally liable for 5% of a judgment or settlement or $25,000, whichever is less.
Police prosecutions: The state attorney general has the authority to prosecute persistently bad departments and officers.
Protester protections: Officers will be prohibited from shooting rubber bullets indiscriminately into a crowd as well as targeting rubber bullet shots at someone’s head, torso or back. It also prevents officers from using tear gas before announcing it and giving time to for people to disperse.
Data tracking: Law enforcement agencies will have to send the state data on their use of force resulting in serious injury or death as well as stops, unannounced entries and use of firearms. Some demographic information will also be required. Agencies who don’t provide the information could put their funding in jeopardy.
The full text of the bill is available at http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2020A/bills/2020a_217_rer.pdf.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--PHOTOS: Denver Juneteenth Parade 2020

PHOTOS: Denver Juneteenth Parade 2020

By Kevin Mohatt , Special to the Denver Post People marched from Manual High School through Five Points in honor @ @ @ @ @ June 13 , 2020 , in Denver .
The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the end of @ @ @ @ @ .
On June 19 , 1865 , Union soldiers , led by Gen. Gordon Granger @ @ @ @ @ Texas , with the news that the enslaved had been freed 2 1/2 years earlier @

Kevin Mohatt, Special to The Denver Post
Princess Rau'Niyiah (center), 5, smiles up at her coach, Jazoni Johnson, as they take part in a Juneteenth march from Manual High School through Five Points on June 13, 2020, in Denver. The girls are members of the dance group, Platinum Divaz, which performed at the march.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Baker Mayfield “absolutely” will kneel during national anthem

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to kneel during the national anthem this upcoming season to support protests of social injustice , police brutality and racism .
In answering a post from a fan on his Instagram account Saturday that pleaded with him not to kneel , Mayfield responded : “ Pull your head out .
I absolutely am.″ Mayfield has been outspoken about the need for more understanding and justice in the nation following the killing of George Floyd , a black man , while in police custody in Minneapolis .
“ It ’ s a pivotal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
“ What ’ s being addressed now obviously has been going on for a long time .
So now everybody ’ s finally coming together to address it .
And doing it the right way of holding people accountable.
” Mayfield wore an “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” T-shirt while working out .
Later , he posted another message outlining his stance on kneeling .
“ Everybody so upset about my comment doesn ’ t understand the reason behind kneeling in the first place , ” Mayfield wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our military , cops , and people that serve OUR country .
It ’ s about equality and everybody being treated the same because we are all human .
It ’ s been ignored for too long and that it my fault as well for not becoming more educated and staying silent.
” “ If I lose fans , that ’ s OK.
I ’ ve always spoken my mind .
And that ’ s from the heart.
” On Friday , Houston Texans coach Bill O ’ Brien said he would kneel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so during the anthem .
Earlier this week , while not going as far as O ’ Brien , new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear he would back his players in any peaceful demonstrations .
“ My position is I want to make sure I support our players , ” Stefanski said .
“ First things first , I want to make sure I sit down with them and talk .
… I can just promise you this , we will spend as much time as needed to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page and we are a united front from a player , staff , you name it ( standpoint ) .
” Stefanski attended a peaceful protest last weekend and has encouraged his players to “ get in the arena .
”

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to kneel during the national anthem this upcoming season to support protests of social injustice, police brutality and racism.
In answering a post from a fan on his Instagram account Saturday that pleaded with him not to kneel, Mayfield responded: “Pull your head out. I absolutely am.″
Mayfield has been outspoken about the need for more understanding and justice in the nation following the killing of George Floyd, a black man, while in police custody in Minneapolis.
“It’s a pivotal time for change,” Mayfeld said Thursday. “What’s being addressed now obviously has been going on for a long time. So now everybody’s finally coming together to address it. And doing it the right way of holding people accountable.”
Mayfield wore an “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt while working out. Later, he posted another message outlining his stance on kneeling.
“Everybody so upset about my comment doesn’t understand the reason behind kneeling in the first place,” Mayfield wrote. “I have the utmost respect for our military, cops, and people that serve OUR country. It’s about equality and everybody being treated the same because we are all human. It’s been ignored for too long and that it my fault as well for not becoming more educated and staying silent.”
“If I lose fans, that’s OK. I’ve always spoken my mind. And that’s from the heart.”
On Friday, Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien said he would kneel with his players if they chose to do so during the anthem.
Earlier this week, while not going as far as O’Brien, new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear he would back his players in any peaceful demonstrations.
“My position is I want to make sure I support our players,” Stefanski said. “First things first, I want to make sure I sit down with them and talk. … I can just promise you this, we will spend as much time as needed to make sure that we are all on the same page and we are a united front from a player, staff, you name it (standpoint).”
Stefanski attended a peaceful protest last weekend and has encouraged his players to “get in the arena.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Bosselman: Denver built its neighborhoods around racist housing policies. But “neighborhood defender

Bosselman: Denver built its neighborhoods around racist housing policies. But “neighborhood defenders” refuse change.

While many in Denver cheer the protests against the police killings of black people , hundreds of homeowners in Denver ’ s eastern neighborhoods display yard signs demanding the city hold onto racist housing policies that go back nearly a century .
Denver ’ s history of segregation started in 1925 when the Ku Klux Klan helped the city define where white and black people could live .
In the 1930s , the federal government ’ s practice of redlining prohibited banks from issuing mortgages in black neighborhoods .
By the 1940s , housing covenants stopped Denver ’ s non-white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
And today , wealthy , white homeowners have a disproportionate say in the city ’ s future .
These “ neighborhood defenders ” use their influence to zealously preserve one of the Klan ’ s original tool of segregation : zoning that bans all types of housing except single-family homes .
Such laws have concentrated generations of people of color in the poorest , sickest and most polluted parts of Denver .
They have driven up housing costs , leading to 1/3 of Colorado renters now spending more than 30 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have rendered thousands homeless .
And together , these laws form a societal structure that — intentionally or not — upholds racial disparities .
Over time , explicitly racist housing policies were outlawed .
That ’ s when Denver , like much of America , returned to zoning to uphold racial boundaries .
“ The predominantly white areas of town were zoned single-family while areas occupied by minorities were more likely to be zoned for multifamily housing , ” wrote Gosia Kung , a member of Denver ’ s Planning Board , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But supporters of such policies bristle at the notion that they uphold racism .
“ I hate when people call me a racist , ” said District 5 Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer to Denverite after a contentious November meeting where 450 gathered to discuss the East Area Plan .
This city process will outline the future of the Park Hill , Montclair , Hale , Mayfair and East Colfax neighborhoods .
“ Just because I value single-family zoning doesn ’ t make me a racist.
” Defending single-family housing may not make someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentrated new development in low-income minority neighborhoods , while allowing upper-middle-class communities to stay the same .
In Denver , the historically black Five Points neighborhood offers an example .
As new apartments with luxury amenities popped up , home values and rents increased .
Long-time residents have been forced to leave , often for more impoverished neighborhoods far away from the jobs , nightlife and churches that gave a unique character to a place once known as Harlem of the West .
As the George Floyd protests have brought into clear focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of institutional racism , police violence , other structures that hold up bigotry are becoming harder to defend .
And around the country , a growing movement is disassembling the structures that hold up housing discrimination .
But today , many happily display those yard signs that proclaim , “ Neighborhoods First Unite , ” and they are a reaction to the East Area Plan .
( Eventually , most of Denver ’ s neighborhoods will undergo the same planning process ) .
The signs falsely warn that highrise buildings and “ tripled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
They demand “ NO UP ZONING , ” a dictate that would prevent the sorts of duplexes , fourplexes and apartment buildings needed to ease the housing crisis .
The people behind the signs often fit the profile of “ neighborhood defenders.
” A group of three Boston University researchers coined the term and described it in a new book by the same name .
Their research shows how older , white homeowners often oppose new housing more strongly than the broader community — and how these people have a disproportionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public meetings , which often happen during the day when others are at work .
When held in the evening , parents are often too busy preparing dinner and watching children to leave for an hours-long meeting in a church basement .
“ Meeting participants are unrepresentative of the broader public in a variety of ways , ” says Katherine Einstein , one of the researchers .
“ They are more likely to be older , male , long-time residents and homeowners.
” In Denver , neighborhood defenders are often part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 216 groups with official ties to city government .
The group behind the signs , Denver East Neighborhoods First , opposes an aspect of the East Area Plan that could eventually change zoning to allow around 4,500 new housing units in the area .
The plan follows a years-long public process that developed Blueprint Denver and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan , two citywide documents that address the housing crisis by nudging each neighborhood to accept a limited amount of denser housing , especially around transit stops .
Although the East Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across most of the area , it initially imagined buildings that could house hundreds of more people at a few major transit stops along Colfax .
In those places , buildings would have been allowed to grow from a current maximum of five stories to eight .
But Denver East Neighborhoods First submitted a nine-page list of demands that rigidly opposed such density .
“ We do not support any effort to change zoning to accommodate greater density , ” the group wrote .
The organization claims to represent the views of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poll shows how poorly they represent the community .
“ Of the 382 neighbors who took a city survey , more than half supported a more diverse housing stock and more affordable housing units in the area , according to city documents , ” reported Denverite .
Despite their minority view , such groups maintain powerful influence that can often veto critical zoning changes , stop projects that would add more housing , reduce the total number of units built , or add burdens that drive up development costs .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Einstein .
“ If you are sitting in room as a public official and you hear 12 members of the community complain to you , you ’ re going to try to come up with some sort of resolution or compromise.
” The Department of Community Planning and Development responded to the demands of Denver East Neighborhoods First in a six-page document , which included a reduction in the allowable height of buildings on Colfax Avenue .
Denver ’ s bias toward homeowners , and exclusion of other residents , shows how its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Estroff , president of YIMBY Denver , a group that advocates for growing the housing supply .
“ This is a structurally broken process , ” he says .
“ We ’ re not getting enough comments from people who really need to have a louder voice .
And we ’ re magnifying the voices of people who are protected from problems of affordability , gentrification and displacement.
” As the neighborhood planning process moves to other parts of the city , Denver ’ s submissive acquiescence to neighborhood defenders is likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver a severe blow to the city ’ s housing goals .
But it ’ s not too late to change .
Denver should look around the country where new measures are starting to ensure more voices are heard while tearing down the problematic structure of single-family zoning .
Last year , Oregon banned single-family zoning .
And Minneapolis followed with its 2040 plan , which legalized duplexes and triplexes in all neighborhoods , and allowed even larger buildings along transit corridors .
In Seattle , a city audit recognized that its public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its residents , which led to a complete revamp of the way it seeks input from residents .
In 2016 , Seattle broke official ties with its neighborhood groups .
In their place , the city formed a 16-member Community Involvement Commission .
Its staff now reach out to a proportional mix of residents , including both property owners and “ underrepresented communities such as low-income people , homeless residents and renters , ” according to NextCity .
The Emerald City also formed the Seattle Renter ’ s Commission , which helps officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And both commissions use new engagement methods that are much less reliant on public meetings .
“ My mantra is , people should be able to participate on their own timeline , from their own location , ” said Kathy Nyland , Seattle ’ s director of the Department of Neighborhoods , to NextCity .
Her department recruits and pays members of underrepresented communities to engage with their neighbors , often in languages other than English .
The workers now talk to residents where they ’ re at , including summer events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn English .
Denver ’ s Department of Community Planning and Development says it has tried to “ go beyond the meeting ” with similar outreach methods , according to Laura Swartz , the agency ’ s communications director .
For example , the department conducted the survey that showed broad support for more housing while members of Denver East Neighborhoods First forcefully opposed it .
Their staff are showing up to more community events , too .
But the city still overwhelmingly relies on meetings and neighborhood groups .
Many Denver residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new movement to stop police violence .
But if this city is going to reduce housing prices and dissolve the enduring structures of racism , it must not allow an unrepresentative minority to deny the city of the housing it desperately needs .
Denver ’ s residents must be open to change , even in their backyards .
As Benjamin Schneider wrote in The Nation : “ If the liberals who control the most dynamic cities and states really want to change the world for the better , they will have to accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a freelance journalist and past editor of Streetsblog Denver .
Follow him on Twitter at @ andybosselman .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

While many in Denver cheer the protests against the police killings of black people, hundreds of homeowners in Denver’s eastern neighborhoods display yard signs demanding the city hold onto racist housing policies that go back nearly a century.
Denver’s history of segregation started in 1925 when the Ku Klux Klan helped the city define where white and black people could live. In the 1930s, the federal government’s practice of redlining prohibited banks from issuing mortgages in black neighborhoods. By the 1940s, housing covenants stopped Denver’s non-white residents from owning or renting in many areas. And today, wealthy, white homeowners have a disproportionate say in the city’s future. These “neighborhood defenders” use their influence to zealously preserve one of the Klan’s original tools of segregation: zoning that bans all types of housing except single-family homes.
Such laws have concentrated generations of people of color in the poorest, sickest and most polluted parts of Denver. They have driven up housing costs, leading to 1/3 of Colorado renters now spending more than 30% of their income on housing. They have rendered thousands homeless. And together, these laws form a societal structure that — intentionally or not — upholds racial disparities.
Over time, explicitly racist housing policies were outlawed. That’s when Denver, like much of America, returned to zoning to uphold racial boundaries.
“The predominantly white areas of town were zoned single-family while areas occupied by minorities were more likely to be zoned for multifamily housing,” wrote Gosia Kung, a member of Denver’s Planning Board, in a post on the Denver Urbanism blog.
But supporters of such policies bristle at the notion that they uphold racism. “I hate when people call me a racist,” said District 5 Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer to Denverite after a contentious November meeting where 450 gathered to discuss the East Area Plan. This city process will outline the future of the Park Hill, Montclair, Hale, Mayfair and East Colfax neighborhoods. “Just because I value single-family zoning doesn’t make me a racist.”
Defending single-family housing may not make someone racist, however, such zoning has concentrated new development in low-income minority neighborhoods, while allowing upper-middle-class communities to stay the same.
In Denver, the historically black Five Points neighborhood offers an example. As new apartments with luxury amenities popped up, home values and rents increased. Long-time residents have been forced to leave, often for more impoverished neighborhoods far away from the jobs, nightlife and churches that gave a unique character to a place once known as Harlem of the West.
As the George Floyd protests have brought into clear focus the traumatic human impacts of one form of institutional racism, police violence, other structures that hold up bigotry are becoming harder to defend. And around the country, a growing movement is disassembling the structures that hold up housing discrimination.
Denver should follow their lead.
But today, many happily display those yard signs that proclaim, “Neighborhoods First Unite,” and they are a reaction to the East Area Plan. (Eventually, most of Denver’s neighborhoods will undergo the same planning process). The signs falsely warn that highrise buildings and “tripled density” could soon come to the area. They demand “NO UP ZONING,” a dictate that would prevent the sorts of duplexes, fourplexes and apartment buildings needed to ease the housing crisis.
The people behind the signs often fit the profile of “neighborhood defenders.” A group of three Boston University researchers coined the term and described it in a new book by the same name. Their research shows how older, white homeowners often oppose new housing more strongly than the broader community — and how these people have a disproportionate grip on power.
Neighborhood defenders thrive in public meetings, which often happen during the day when others are at work. When held in the evening, parents are often too busy preparing dinner and watching children to leave for an hours-long meeting in a church basement.
“Meeting participants are unrepresentative of the broader public in a variety of ways,” says Katherine Einstein, one of the researchers. “They are more likely to be older, male, long-time residents and homeowners.”
In Denver, neighborhood defenders are often part of the city’s Registered Neighborhood Organizations, the 216 groups with official ties to city government. The group behind the signs, Denver East Neighborhoods First, opposes an aspect of the East Area Plan that could eventually change zoning to allow around 4,500 new housing units in the area.
The plan follows a years-long public process that developed Blueprint Denver and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, two citywide documents that address the housing crisis by nudging each neighborhood to accept a limited amount of denser housing, especially around transit stops.
Although the East Area Plan would leave single-family zoning in place across most of the area, it initially imagined buildings that could house hundreds of more people at a few major transit stops along Colfax. In those places, buildings would have been allowed to grow from a current maximum of five stories to eight. But Denver East Neighborhoods First submitted a nine-page list of demands that rigidly opposed such density.
“We do not support any effort to change zoning to accommodate greater density,” the group wrote.
The organization claims to represent the views of the people in East Area neighborhoods. But a poll shows how poorly they represent the community. “Of the 382 neighbors who took a city survey, more than half supported a more diverse housing stock and more affordable housing units in the area, according to city documents,” reported Denverite.
Despite their minority view, such groups maintain powerful influence that can often veto critical zoning changes, stop projects that would add more housing, reduce the total number of units built, or add burdens that drive up development costs.
“They’re really persuasive,” says Einstein. “If you are sitting in room as a public official and you hear 12 members of the community complain to you, you’re going to try to come up with some sort of resolution or compromise.”
The Department of Community Planning and Development responded to the demands of Denver East Neighborhoods First in a six-page document, which included a reduction in the allowable height of buildings on Colfax Avenue.
Denver’s bias toward homeowners, and exclusion of other residents, shows how its engagement process is failing, says Adam Estroff, president of YIMBY Denver, a group that advocates for growing the housing supply.
“This is a structurally broken process,” he says. “We’re not getting enough comments from people who really need to have a louder voice. And we’re magnifying the voices of people who are protected from problems of affordability, gentrification and displacement.”
As the neighborhood planning process moves to other parts of the city, Denver’s submissive acquiescence to neighborhood defenders is likely to continue, a harsh reality that will deliver a severe blow to the city’s housing goals. But it’s not too late to change.
Denver should look around the country where new measures are starting to ensure more voices are heard while tearing down the problematic structure of single-family zoning.
Last year, Oregon banned single-family zoning. And Minneapolis followed with its 2040 plan, which legalized duplexes and triplexes in all neighborhoods, and allowed even larger buildings along transit corridors.
In Seattle, a city audit recognized that its public engagement process was excluding a majority of its residents, which led to a complete revamp of the way it seeks input from residents.
In 2016, Seattle broke official ties with its neighborhood groups. In their place, the city formed a 16-member Community Involvement Commission. Its staff now reach out to a proportional mix of residents, including both property owners and “underrepresented communities such as low-income people, homeless residents and renters,” according to NextCity.
The Emerald City also formed the Seattle Renter’s Commission, which helps officials understand how its policies impact renters. And both commissions use new engagement methods that are much less reliant on public meetings.
“My mantra is, people should be able to participate on their own timeline, from their own location,” said Kathy Nyland, Seattle’s director of the Department of Neighborhoods, to NextCity.
Her department recruits and pays members of underrepresented communities to engage with their neighbors, often in languages other than English. The workers now talk to residents where they’re at, including summer events, farmers’ markets and nonprofits where immigrants learn English.
Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development says it has tried to “go beyond the meeting” with similar outreach methods, according to Laura Swartz, the agency’s communications director.
For example, the department conducted the survey that showed broad support for more housing while members of Denver East Neighborhoods First forcefully opposed it. Their staff are showing up to more community events, too. But the city still overwhelmingly relies on meetings and neighborhood groups.
Many Denver residents support progressive social policies, including the new movement to stop police violence. But if this city is going to reduce housing prices and dissolve the enduring structures of racism, it must not allow an unrepresentative minority to deny the city of the housing it desperately needs. Denver’s residents must be open to change, even in their backyards.
As Benjamin Schneider wrote in The Nation: “If the liberals who control the most dynamic cities and states really want to change the world for the better, they will have to accept to live differently themselves.”
.Andy Bosselman is a freelance journalist and past editor of Streetsblog Denver. Follow him on Twitter at @andybosselman.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Colorado coronavirus cases increase by 195, with no new deaths due to COVID-19

Colorado ’ s number of infections caused by the coronavirus increased by 195 in new figures reported Saturday by health @ @ @ @ @ people fighting COVID-19 remained flat .
The state reported 29,017 cases of the coronavirus as @ @ @ @ @ 28,822 the day before in the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ decreased by one , to 166 , according to the agency and the Colorado Hospital @ @ @ @ @ from a peak of 888 people hospitalized on April 14 .
The number of deaths @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the virus , held steady at 1,348 @ @ @ @ @ which death certificates show the person died from the disease .
But another figure that @ @ @ @ @ slight increase .
The state also details the number of patients who have died while @ @ @ @ @ their deaths weren ’ t directly attributed to the virus .
That number was 1,598 @ @ @ @ @ of three from Thursday .

Colorado’s number of infections caused by the coronavirus increased by 195 in new figures reported Saturday by health officials, while hospitalizations of people fighting COVID-19 remained flat.
The state reported 29,017 cases of the coronavirus as of Friday, up from 28,822 the day before in the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Overall hospitalizations decreased by one, to 166, according to the agency and the Colorado Hospital Association. That is down from a peak of 888 people hospitalized on April 14.
The number of deaths of people who have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, held steady at 1,348. Those are cases in which death certificates show the person died from the disease.
But another figure that measures deaths did show a slight increase.
The state also details the number of patients who have died while having COVID-19, even if their deaths weren’t directly attributed to the virus. That number was 1,598 on Friday, an increase of three from Thursday.


thedenverpost--2020-06-13--Pat Tillman Foundation awards 60 scholarships to U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses

CHICAGO — The Pat Tillman Foundation is awarding scholarships to 60 U.S. service members , veterans and military spouses .
In recognition of their service and leadership potential , the Tillman Scholars will receive scholarship funding to pursue higher education and continue their service in the fields of health care , business , law , public service , STEM education and overall education , and the humanities .
In 2002 , Tillman put on hold his NFL career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals to serve in the U.S. military .
Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan .
Tillman Scholars was begun in 2008 .
The foundation unites and empowers military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self .
The fellowship program offers academic scholarships and professional development opportunities .
To date , the foundation has invested more than $ 20 million in scholar support and given awards to nearly 700 Tillman Scholars at more than 100 academic institutions nationwide .
“ Our newest Tillman Scholars join a community committed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Futrell , CEO of the foundation .
“ In these turbulent times , values-based leadership is needed more than ever .
These 60 men and women exhibited that leadership throughout their military service and show incredible potential .
”

CHICAGO — The Pat Tillman Foundation is awarding scholarships to 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses.
In recognition of their service and leadership potential, the Tillman Scholars will receive scholarship funding to pursue higher education and continue their service in the fields of health care, business, law, public service, STEM education and overall education, and the humanities.
In 2002, Tillman put on hold his NFL career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals to serve in the U.S. military. Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following his death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Tillman Scholars was begun in 2008.
The foundation unites and empowers military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. The fellowship program offers academic scholarships and professional development opportunities.
To date, the foundation has invested more than $20 million in scholar support and given awards to nearly 700 Tillman Scholars at more than 100 academic institutions nationwide.
“Our newest Tillman Scholars join a community committed to leadership through action,” said Dan Futrell, CEO of the foundation. “In these turbulent times, values-based leadership is needed more than ever. These 60 men and women exhibited that leadership throughout their military service and show incredible potential.”