thedenverpost--2020-04-30--Front Range open spaces plead with visitors to stop destroying parks, trails

The Front Range ’ s four open spaces sent out a joint plea asking visitors to be more aware of safety during the coronavirus outbreak and , for the love of God , stop destroying our dang parks .
The joint statement sent out Thursday said rangers , ecologists and staff members at Boulder County Parks and Open Space , City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks , Denver Parks and Recreation Mountain Parks and Jefferson County Open Space have seen high visitation over the last month , leading to trail widening , plant damage , sensitive habitat disturbances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agencies have been attempting to manage crowding in various ways , including temporary closures of crowded trailheads and full parking lots .
They ’ ve also temporarily closed areas to mitigate trail and habitat damage .
But with no signs of visitation slowing , plus declining tax dollars hurting maintenance efforts , the open spaces requested that visitors follow the below advice : • Wear a face covering and maintain six feet of physical distance from others .
• Walk through — not around — the mud .
• Politely announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiker .
If you must step off the trail to maintain social distancing during this , avoid stepping on vegetation .
Instead , aim for a rock or bare spot .
• Stay as close to home as possible and avoid unnecessary travel .
( Gov .
Jared Polis advised Coloradans to stay within 10 miles of their homes when recreating . )
• If a parking lot is full or an area is crowded , move on to another spot .
Also , only park in designated parking areas .
• Visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or fewer .
Large groups can cause traffic on the trails and make it difficult to maintain social distancing .
• Follow dog regulations for specific trails .
And please , pick up after your dogs and remove their trash .
• Don ’ t go into wildlife closure areas and other areas closed to the public .
This can cause significant disturbances to wildlife .
• Know your limits and don ’ t take risks .
Nobody wants to be putting first responders at risk of contracting the virus .
There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just think , the sooner you turn back , the sooner you get that post-hike beer .
The agencies also reminded people to plan their trips carefully .
Trail maps and closures for each agency can be found here : Subscribe to our weekly newsletter , The Adventurist , to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox .

The Front Range’s four open spaces sent out a joint plea asking visitors to be more aware of safety during the coronavirus outbreak and, for the love of God, stop destroying our dang parks.
The joint statement sent out Thursday said rangers, ecologists and staff members at Boulder County Parks and Open Space, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Denver Parks and Recreation Mountain Parks and Jefferson County Open Space have seen high visitation over the last month, leading to trail widening, plant damage, sensitive habitat disturbances and creation of “social” trails.
The agencies have been attempting to manage crowding in various ways, including temporary closures of crowded trailheads and full parking lots. They’ve also temporarily closed areas to mitigate trail and habitat damage.
But with no signs of visitation slowing, plus declining tax dollars hurting maintenance efforts, the open spaces requested that visitors following the below advice:
Wear a face covering and maintain six feet of physical distance from others.
Walk through — not around — the mud.
Politely announce yourself if you need to pass another hiker. If you must step off the trail to maintain social distancing during this, avoid stepping on vegetation. Instead, aim for a rock or bare spot.
Stay as close to home as possible and avoid unnecessary travel. (Gov. Jared Polis advised Coloradans to stay within 10 miles of their homes when recreating.)
If a parking lot is full or an area is crowded, move on to another spot. Also, only park in designated parking areas.
Visit open space areas in groups of four or fewer. Large groups can cause traffic on the trails and make it difficult to maintain social distancing.
Follow dog regulations for specific trails. And please, pick up after your dogs and remove their trash.
Don’t go into wildlife closure areas and other areas closed to the public. This can cause significant disturbances to wildlife.
Know your limits and don’t take risks. Nobody wants to be putting first responders at risk of contracting the virus. There’s no shame in turning back early. Just think, the sooner you turn back, the sooner you get that post-hike beer.
The agencies also reminded people to plan their trips carefully. Trail maps and closures for each agency can be found here:
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-04-30--Are you a Colorado hospital worker? Tell us about your experience with coronavirus.

The Denver Post wants to hear from Colorado health care professionals who work at local hospitals about how they are @ @ @ @ @ As parts of the state begin to reopen and some hospitals restart elective procedures , @ @ @ @ @ best position to tell us what ’ s happening on the front lines .
Are @ @ @ @ @ of personal protective equipment ?
What should The Denver Post be reporting on as this @ @ @ @ @ Is the situation in your workplace getting better , or worse ?
Please fill out @ @ @ @ @ information you provide is just for reporting and will not be published without your consent @ @ @ @ @ you can not see the form . )
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health @ @ @ @ @ inbox .

The Denver Post wants to hear from Colorado health care professionals who work at local hospitals about how they are affected by the coronavirus.
As parts of the state begin to reopen and some hospitals restart elective procedures, these workers are in the best position to tell us what’s happening on the front lines. Are you worried about a lack of personal protective equipment? What should The Denver Post be reporting on as this public health crisis unfolds? Is the situation in your workplace getting better, or worse? Please fill out our form below. Any information you provide is just for reporting and will not be published without your consent.
(Click here if you cannot see the form.)
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-04-30--Little League World Series canceled for first time

WILLIAMSPORT , Pa. — This year ’ s Little League World Series and the championship tournaments in six other Little League divisions have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Little League President Stephen Keener announced the cancellations in a Facebook Live broadcast Thursday afternoon from league headquarters in Williamsport , Pennsylvania , saying it would be “ impossible ” to hold the events amid ongoing restrictions on large gatherings and travel .
The Little League World Series has been held every August since 1947 and had never been canceled before .
Next year was to be the 75th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been pushed back to 2022 .
“ Let me tell the folks in all those communities and all the sites where we have regional qualifying tournaments how disappointed we are to have to do this , but it was inevitable , ” Keener said .
“ It would be irresponsible and impossible to bring teams and thousands of people from all over the world into the community of Williamsport as well as those six other communities that have been such great friends and supporters of ours over the years.
” He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible to hold qualifying tournaments for international teams and to bring those teams safely to the United States .
Little League has not , however , called off the 2020 regular season .
Keener said there was reason for optimism that teams could play this spring and summer , depending on restrictions in states and localities .
The annual major league game in Williamsport , which this year was to feature the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 23 , has been canceled , MLB said .
“ While the cancellation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is extremely disappointing , the health and safety of all of the people involved must be the paramount consideration .
We look forward to our return to Williamsport for the 2021 MLB Little League Classic , ” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement .
Little League announced in March that the season was on hold until at least May 11 because of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against gatherings of 50 people or more .
After that date , Keener said , districts and leagues should look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when or if the season can resume .
He also urged districts to hold all-star tournaments to give kids at least a taste of the competition they ’ ll be missing missing with World Series qualifying scrapped .
“ We will be very amenable to ( changing ) eligibility requirements and be very flexible to allow as many kids the opportunity to play as possible for whatever can remain of the 2020 Little League season , ” he said .
Along with the Little League World Series , which is held in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Series of Little League Softball in Greenville , North Carolina ; Junior League Baseball in Taylor , Michigan ; Junior League Softball in Kirkland , Washington ; Senior League Baseball in Easley , South Carolina ; and Senior League Softball in Sussex County , Delaware .

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — This year’s Little League World Series and the championship tournaments in six other Little League divisions have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Little League President Stephen Keener announced the cancellations in a Facebook Live broadcast Thursday afternoon from league headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, saying it would be “impossible” to hold the events amid ongoing restrictions on large gatherings and travel.
The Little League World Series has been held every August since 1947 and had never been canceled before. Next year was to be the 75th playing of the tournament; that milestone has been pushed back to 2022.
“Let me tell the folks in all those communities and all the sites where we have regional qualifying tournaments how disappointed we are to have to do this, but it was inevitable,” Keener said. “It would be irresponsible and impossible to bring teams and thousands of people from all over the world into the community of Williamsport as well as those six other communities that have been such great friends and supporters of ours over the years.”
He added that travel restrictions would make it equally impossible to hold qualifying tournaments for international teams and to bring those teams safely to the United States.
Little League has not, however, called off the 2020 regular season. Keener said there was reason for optimism that teams could play this spring and summer, depending on restrictions in states and localities.
The annual major league game in Williamsport, which this year was to feature the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 23, has been canceled, MLB said.
“While the cancellation of the 2020 Little League World Series is extremely disappointing, the health and safety of all of the people involved must be the paramount consideration. We look forward to our return to Williamsport for the 2021 MLB Little League Classic,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Little League announced in March that the season was on hold until at least May 11 because of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against gatherings of 50 people or more.
After that date, Keener said, districts and leagues should look to states and localities for guidance on when or if the season can resume. He also urged districts to hold all-star tournaments to give kids at least a taste of the competition they’ll be missing missing with World Series qualifying scrapped.
“We will be very amenable to (changing) eligibility requirements and be very flexible to allow as many kids the opportunity to play as possible for whatever can remain of the 2020 Little League season,” he said.
Along with the Little League World Series, which is held in South Williamsport, the other events canceled were the World Series of Little League Softball in Greenville, North Carolina; Junior League Baseball in Taylor, Michigan; Junior League Softball in Kirkland, Washington; Senior League Baseball in Easley, South Carolina; and Senior League Softball in Sussex County, Delaware.


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--Guest commentary: It took a pandemic for frontline workers to get the praise they deserve. It’s not

Guest commentary: It took a pandemic for frontline workers to get the praise they deserve. It’s not enough.

A crisis reveals who we really need .
Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis posted a photo on Facebook of five grinning janitors standing on the capitol building ’ s steps .
The caption read , “ These are the heroes keeping the Colorado State Capitol and other state buildings clean and helping stop the spread of COVID-19.
” Think of the people leaving buildings to avoid getting coronavirus .
These workers – mothers , fathers , friends , sisters , brothers , sons , and daughters – are going in .
A bright spot in this dark time is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do the work that makes society possible .
In Williston , Vermont , a community banded together to create a fundraiser for custodians who disinfected its schools .
Kroger is offering “ appreciation bonuses ” for grocery store workers .
Starbucks is giving free coffee to anyone who identifies as a frontline responder .
State laws now label truck drivers , food service workers , distribution center packers , plumbers , and cleaners as “ essential.
” Our frontline workers were always essential .
They ’ ve always been society ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t treated them that way .
Since the 1940s , the National Opinion Research Center has surveyed the public to assess the perceived worthiness of occupations .
The jobs consistently rated lowest are cleaners , packers , and food service workers , the very jobs we all rely on .
Researchers call these occupations stigmatized occupations , jobs disrespected by society-at-large because of their undesirable nature , the low skill level required , or low pay .
I ’ ve seen the effect of stigma up close .
I spent the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ janitors experienced meaningfulness or meaninglessness in their work .
Studies , including mine , find degrading acts and words from the public and leaders contribute to feelings of hopelessness , a loss of dignity , and despair for an already at-risk workforce .
Stigma shows up in small acts , like building users not making eye contact with a janitor or a customer not returning a “ thank you ” to a food service worker .
It also shows up in leadership decisions , like in San Francisco , when cleaning workers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an office building they cleaned .
Meanwhile , the nation ’ s knowledge workers receive extensive guidelines and resources to ensure they don ’ t get sick .
A janitor in my study described the impact of feeling degraded , saying , “ It makes me feel like my job is worthless.
” Beyond moments of praise , what our frontline workers really need is everyday dignity .
Dignity is feeling worthy of respect .
When people feel respected , they develop a sense of pride in themselves .
Pride contributes to meaningfulness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work – perceiving a job as positive , purposeful , and significant – is associated with increased work engagement , higher overall satisfaction , and well-being outside of work .
For the general public , giving dignity means acknowledging , recognizing , and thanking the people who deliver our Amazon packages , clean our public toilets , and dispose of our trash .
It means educating our kids that these are essential and worthy professions .
For leaders and organizations , giving dignity means consistently showing people on the frontline that they matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating frontline workers like they ’ re more than “ here for a paycheck ” or a turnover liability .
It means paying people a living wage and designing policy , culture , and communication plans with frontline workers in mind .
As I write this in social isolation , my 2-year-old and 5-year old just finished sitting on our front-step , staring in awe at the trash collectors and their truck .
That ’ s how we all should be , well beyond this pandemic .
Zach Mercurio is an author and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and change at Colorado State University .

A crisis reveals who we really need.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis posted a photo on Facebook of five grinning janitors standing on the capitol building’s steps. The caption read, “These are the heroes keeping the Colorado State Capitol and other state buildings clean and helping stop the spread of COVID-19.”
He’s right. They’re heroes.
Think of the people leaving buildings to avoid getting coronavirus. These workers – mothers, fathers, friends, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters – are going in.
A bright spot in this dark time is that we’re finally praising the people who do the work that makes society possible.
In Williston, Vermont, a community banded together to create a fundraiser for custodians who disinfected its schools. Kroger is offering “appreciation bonuses” for grocery store workers. Starbucks is giving free coffee to anyone who identifies as a frontline responder.
State laws now label truck drivers, food service workers, distribution center packers, plumbers, and cleaners as “essential.”
Our frontline workers were always essential. They’ve always been society’s heroes.
The problem is we haven’t treated them that way.
Since the 1940s, the National Opinion Research Center has surveyed the public to assess the perceived worthiness of occupations. The jobs consistently rated lowest are cleaners, packers, and food service workers, the very jobs we all rely on.
Researchers call these occupations stigmatized occupations, jobs disrespected by society-at-large because of their undesirable nature, the low skill level required, or low pay.
I’ve seen the effect of stigma up close. I spent the last two years studying how a group of janitors experienced meaningfulness or meaninglessness in their work.
Studies, including mine, find degrading acts and words from the public and leaders contribute to feelings of hopelessness, a loss of dignity, and despair for an already at-risk workforce.
Stigma shows up in small acts, like building users not making eye contact with a janitor or a customer not returning a “thank you” to a food service worker.
It also shows up in leadership decisions, like in San Francisco, when cleaning workers were reportedly uninformed of a coronavirus case in an office building they cleaned. Meanwhile, the nation’s knowledge workers receive extensive guidelines and resources to ensure they don’t get sick.
A janitor in my study described the impact of feeling degraded, saying, “It makes me feel like my job is worthless.”
Beyond moments of praise, what our frontline workers really need is everyday dignity.
Dignity is feeling worthy of respect. When people feel respected, they develop a sense of pride in themselves. Pride contributes to meaningfulness.
Studies find that experiencing meaningfulness in work – perceiving a job as positive, purposeful, and significant – is associated with increased work engagement, higher overall satisfaction, and well-being outside of work.
For the general public, giving dignity means acknowledging, recognizing, and thanking the people who deliver our Amazon packages, clean our public toilets, and dispose of our trash.
It means educating our kids that these are essential and worthy professions.
For leaders and organizations, giving dignity means consistently showing people on the frontline that they matter and how they matter. It means treating frontline workers like they’re more than “here for a paycheck” or a turnover liability. It means paying people a living wage and designing policy, culture, and communication plans with frontline workers in mind.
As I write this in social isolation, my 2-year-old and 5-year old just finished sitting on our front-step, staring in awe at the trash collectors and their truck.
That’s how we all should be, well beyond this pandemic.
Zach Mercurio is an author and adjunct professor of organizational learning, performance, and change at Colorado State University.


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--Why Broncos GM John Elway’s bold move to draft two receivers in first two rounds just might work

By drafting receivers with his first- and second-round picks last week , Broncos general manager John Elway moved aggressively to fix an offense that finished no better than 22nd in scoring each of the past four seasons .
It was also an almost unprecedented approach in trying to surround quarterback Drew Lock with needed talent .
The selections of Jerry Jeudy ( 15th overall ) and KJ Hamler ( 46th ) marked only the third time since 1970 an NFL team used its lone first- and second-round picks on receivers , joining the 1996 New York Jets ( Keyshawn Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati Bengals ( David Verser and Cris Collinsworth ) , according to Pro Football Reference draft archives .
Few among the Broncos ’ points-starved fan base have complained about Elway ’ s choice of Jeudy over cornerbacks A.J .
Terrell and Damon Arnette , left tackle Austin Jackson or edge rusher K ’ Lavon Chaisson — players who went among the next five picks .
The decision to double-dip with Hamler was more surprising , but there ’ s been no overwhelming outcry that Elway passed up on better value in defensive ends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jaylon Johnson and Trevon Diggs .
In fact , most draftniks have graded Elway ’ s haul quite favorably .
But was Elway ’ s aggressive wide receiver play the right call ?
Should he have been content with Jeudy and moved on to another position ?
Or should he have taken advantage of a deep receivers class to focus on another position early and circle back in the second round ?
Recent history indicates Elway made a solid decision to hedge his receiver bet , uncommon as it may have been .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ routes on the outside opposite third-year receiver Courtland Sutton , with the speedy Hamler in the slot , Elway ’ s unorthodox play may be just what the Broncos needed .
Looking back over the past 10 drafts ( 2010-19 ) , some interesting trends emerge among receivers taken in the first two rounds .
Thirty-four receivers were drafted in the first round and nine have made at least one Pro Bowl appearance ( 26.4 % ) , including Cordarrelle Patterson ’ s three Pro Bowls as a return specialist .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the second round , and 12 have made a Pro Bowl ( 27.3 % ) , including Dexter McCluster and Mecole Hardman as return specialists .
Thus , based on the past 10 years , Hamler is just as likely as Jeudy to make at least one Pro Bowl appearance .
Overall , finding a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the second round has been easier at receiver than other positions that may have interested Elway and the Broncos at No .
46 .
From 2010-19 , just seven of 67 defensive backs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second round have made the Pro Bowl , per Pro Football Reference .
Five of 51 offensive linemen ( 9.8 % ) have become Pro Bowl players .
While no player at any position is guaranteed to thrive , and Pro Bowl appearances alone do not define success , consistent contributors have been found in the second round .
So , should Elway simply have waited until the second round to draft a receiver ?
Not necessarily .
While Pro Bowl receivers have been found about as often in the second round as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
Consider : Those 12 second-round receivers have combined for 20 Pro Bowl appearances ( including special teams ) , but only one has been named first-team All-Pro : New Orleans ’ Michael Thomas in 2018 and ’ 19 .
Meanwhile , the nine first-round receivers have combined for 38 Pro Bowl appearances and nine first-team All-Pro selections .
Of course , players such as Thomas or Green Bay ’ s Davante Adams can be found in the second round , but more often it has been first-round receivers who have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest Jeudy ’ s ceiling is considerably higher than Hamler ’ s , as would be expected .
But nothing about the NFL draft is a given .
In all rounds , it is more art than science .
For each Dez Bryant or Odell Beckham Jr. , there is a Josh Doctson or Laquon Treadwell .
For every JuJu Smith-Schuster or Golden Tate , there is an Aaron Dobson or Ryan Broyles .
Neither Jeudy nor Hamler is a sure thing , but Elway ’ s conventional plan could hold the keys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Demaryius Thomas ( 22 ) and Dez Bryant ( 24 ) .
Second round : Dexter McCluster ( 36 ) , Arrelious Benn ( 39 ) and Golden Tate ( 60 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : Bryant ( 2014 ) .
Best pick : Thomas ( four Pro Bowls , 63 TDs ) .
Worst pick : Benn ( 65 catches in 61 games ) .
First round : A.J .
Green ( 4 ) , Julio Jones ( 6 ) and Jonathan Baldwin ( 26 ) .
Second round : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith ( 58 ) , Greg Little ( 59 ) and Randall Cobb ( 64 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : Jones ( 2015-16 ) .
Best pick : Jones ( seven Pro Bowls , 12,125 yards ) .
Worst pick : Baldwin ( 44 catches in 33 games ) .
First round : Justin Blackmon ( 5 ) , Michael Floyd ( 13 ) , Kendall Wright ( 20 ) and A.J .
Jenkins ( 30 ) .
Second round : Brian Quick ( 33 ) , Stephen Hill ( 43 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Broyles ( 54 ) and Rueben Randle ( 63 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : None Best pick : Jeffery ( one Pro Bowl , 45 TDs ) .
Worst pick : Blackmon ( six TDs in 20 games ) .
First round : Tavon Austin ( 8 ) , DeAndre Hopkins ( 27 ) and Cordarrelle Patterson ( 29 ) .
Second round : Justin Hunter ( 34 ) , Robert Woods ( 41 ) and Aaron Dobson ( 59 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : Hopkins ( 2017-19 ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 19 for special teams ) .
Best pick : Hopkins ( four Pro Bowls , 54 TDs ) .
Worst pick : Dobson ( 53 catches in 24 games ) First round : Sammy Watkins ( 4 ) , Mike Evans ( 7 ) , Odell Beckham Jr. ( 12 ) , Brandin Cooks ( 20 ) and Kelvin Benjamin ( 28 ) .
Second round : Marqise Lee ( 39 ) , Jordan Matthews ( 42 ) , Paul Richardson ( 45 ) , Davante Adams ( 53 ) , Cody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 61 ) and Jarvis Landry ( 63 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : None .
Best pick : Landry ( five Pro Bowls , 32 TDs ) .
Worst pick : Latimer ( 70 catches in 66 games ) .
First round : Amari Cooper ( 4 ) , Kevin White ( 7 ) , DeVante Parker ( 14 ) , Nelson Agholor ( 20 ) , Breshad Perriman ( 26 ) and Phillip Dorsett ( 29 ) .
Second round : Devin Smith ( 37 ) , Dorial Green-Beckham ( 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All Pro selections : None Best pick : Cooper ( four Pro Bowls , 33 TDs ) .
Worst pick : White ( 25 catches in 14 games ) .
First round : Corey Coleman ( 15 ) , Will Fuller ( 21 ) , Josh Doctson ( 22 ) and Laquon Treadwell ( 23 ) .
Second round : Sterling Shepard ( 40 ) , Michael Thomas ( 47 ) and Tyler Boyd ( 55 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : Thomas ( 2018-19 ) Best pick : Thomas ( three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick : Coleman ( 61 catches in 27 games ) First round : Corey Davis ( 5 ) , Mike Williams ( 7 ) and John Ross ( 9 ) .
Second round : Zay Jones ( 37 ) , Curtis Samuel ( 40 ) and JuJu Smith-Schuster ( 62 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : None Best pick : Smith-Schuster ( one Pro Bowl , 17 TDs ) Worst pick : Ross ( 49 catches in 24 games ) First round : D.J .
Moore ( 24 ) and Calvin Ridley ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 40 ) , Dante Pettis ( 44 ) , Christian Kirk ( 47 ) , Anthony Miller ( 51 ) , James Washington ( 60 ) and DJ Chark ( 61 ) .
First-team All-Pro selections : None Best pick : Sutton ( one Pro Bowl , 10 TDs ) Worst pick : Pettis ( 38 catches in 23 games ) First round : Marquise Brown ( 25 ) and N ’ Keal Harry ( 32 ) .
Second round : Deebo Samuel ( 36 ) , A.J .
Brown ( 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , J.J. Arcega-Whiteside ( 57 ) , Parris Campbell ( 59 ) , Andy Isabella ( 62 ) and D.K .
Metcalf ( 64 ) All Pro selections : None Best pick : Brown ( 1,051 yards , eight TDs ) .
Worst pick : Harry ( 12 catches in seven games )

By drafting receivers with his first- and second-round picks last week, Broncos general manager John Elway moved aggressively to fix an offense that finished no better than 22nd in scoring each of the past four seasons.
It was also an almost unprecedented approach in trying to surround quarterback Drew Lock with needed talent.
The selections of Jerry Jeudy (15th overall) and KJ Hamler (46th) marked only the third time since 1970 an NFL team used its lone first- and second-round picks on receivers, joining the 1996 New York Jets (Keyshawn Johnson and Alex Van Dyke) and 1981 Cincinnati Bengals (David Verser and Cris Collinsworth), according to Pro Football Reference draft archives.
Few among the Broncos’ points-starved fan base have complained about Elway’s choice of Jeudy over cornerbacks A.J. Terrell and Damon Arnette, left tackle Austin Jackson or edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson — players who went among the next five picks. The decision to double-dip with Hamler was more surprising, but there’s been no overwhelming outcry that Elway passed up on better value in defensive ends Marlon Davidson and Darrell Taylor or cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Trevon Diggs.
In fact, most draftniks have graded Elway’s haul quite favorably.
But was Elway’s aggressive wide receiver play the right call? Should he have been content with Jeudy and moved on to another position? Or should he have taken advantage of a deep receivers class to focus on another position early and circle back in the second round?
Recent history indicates Elway made a solid decision to hedge his receiver bet, uncommon as it may have been.
In drafting the crafty Jeudy to run routes on the outside opposite third-year receiver Courtland Sutton, with the speedy Hamler in the slot, Elway’s unorthodox play may be just what the Broncos needed.
Looking back over the past 10 drafts (2010-19), some interesting trends emerge among receivers taken in the first two rounds.
Thirty-four receivers were drafted in the first round and nine have made at least one Pro Bowl appearance (26.4%), including Cordarrelle Patterson’s three Pro Bowls as a return specialist. During the same period, 44 receivers were taken in the second round, and 12 have made a Pro Bowl (27.3%), including Dexter McCluster and Mecole Hardman as return specialists.
Thus, based on the past 10 years, Hamler is just as likely as Jeudy to make at least one Pro Bowl appearance.
Overall, finding a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the second round has been easier at receiver than other positions that may have interested Elway and the Broncos at No. 46. From 2010-19, just seven of 67 defensive backs (10.4%) drafted in the second round have made the Pro Bowl, per Pro Football Reference. Five of 51 offensive linemen (9.8%) have become Pro Bowl players.
While no player at any position is guaranteed to thrive, and Pro Bowl appearances alone do not define success, consistent contributors have been found in the second round.
So, should Elway simply have waited until the second round to draft a receiver? Not necessarily. While Pro Bowl receivers have been found about as often in the second round as the first, truly elite receivers have not.
Consider: Those 12 second-round receivers have combined for 20 Pro Bowl appearances (including special teams), but only one has been named first-team All-Pro: New Orleans’ Michael Thomas in 2018 and ’19. Meanwhile, the nine first-round receivers have combined for 38 Pro Bowl appearances and nine first-team All-Pro selections.
Of course, players such as Thomas or Green Bay’s Davante Adams can be found in the second round, but more often it has been first-round receivers who have made repeat Pro Bowl appearances. That would suggest Jeudy’s ceiling is considerably higher than Hamler’s, as would be expected.
But nothing about the NFL draft is a given. In all rounds, it is more art than science. For each Dez Bryant or Odell Beckham Jr., there is a Josh Doctson or Laquon Treadwell. For every JuJu Smith-Schuster or Golden Tate, there is an Aaron Dobson or Ryan Broyles.
Neither Jeudy nor Hamler is a sure thing, but Elway’s conventional plan could hold the keys to more future success.
Receivers taken in 1st, 2nd rounds
2010
First round: Demaryius Thomas (22) and Dez Bryant (24).
Second round: Dexter McCluster (36), Arrelious Benn (39) and Golden Tate (60).
First-team All-Pro selections: Bryant (2014).
Best pick: Thomas (four Pro Bowls, 63 TDs).
Worst pick: Benn (65 catches in 61 games).
2011
First round: A.J. Green (4), Julio Jones (6) and Jonathan Baldwin (26).
Second round: Titus Young (44), Torrey Smith (58), Greg Little (59) and Randall Cobb (64).
First-team All-Pro selections: Jones (2015-16).
Best pick: Jones (seven Pro Bowls, 12,125 yards).
Worst pick: Baldwin (44 catches in 33 games).
2012
First round: Justin Blackmon (5), Michael Floyd (13), Kendall Wright (20) and A.J. Jenkins (30).
Second round: Brian Quick (33), Stephen Hill (43), Alshon Jeffery (45), Ryan Broyles (54) and Rueben Randle (63).
First-team All-Pro selections: None
Best pick: Jeffery (one Pro Bowl, 45 TDs).
Worst pick: Blackmon (six TDs in 20 games).
2013
First round: Tavon Austin (8), DeAndre Hopkins (27) and Cordarrelle Patterson (29).
Second round: Justin Hunter (34), Robert Woods (41) and Aaron Dobson (59).
First-team All-Pro selections: Hopkins (2017-19) and Patterson (2013, ’16, ’19 for special teams).
Best pick: Hopkins (four Pro Bowls, 54 TDs).
Worst pick: Dobson (53 catches in 24 games)
2014
First round: Sammy Watkins (4), Mike Evans (7), Odell Beckham Jr. (12), Brandin Cooks (20) and Kelvin Benjamin (28).
Second round: Marqise Lee (39), Jordan Matthews (42), Paul Richardson (45), Davante Adams (53), Cody Latimer (56), Allen Robinson (61) and Jarvis Landry (63).
First-team All-Pro selections: None.
Best pick: Landry (five Pro Bowls, 32 TDs).
Worst pick: Latimer (70 catches in 66 games).
2015
First round: Amari Cooper (4), Kevin White (7), DeVante Parker (14), Nelson Agholor (20), Breshad Perriman (26) and Phillip Dorsett (29).
Second round: Devin Smith (37), Dorial Green-Beckham (40) and Devin Funchess (41).
First-team All-Pro selections: None
Best pick: Cooper (four Pro Bowls, 33 TDs).
Worst pick: White (25 catches in 14 games).
2016
First round: Corey Coleman (15), Will Fuller (21), Josh Doctson (22) and Laquon Treadwell (23).
Second round: Sterling Shepard (40), Michael Thomas (47) and Tyler Boyd (55).
First-team All-Pro selections: Thomas (2018-19)
Best pick: Thomas (three Pro Bowls, 32 TDs)
Worst pick: Coleman (61 catches in 27 games)
2017
First round: Corey Davis (5), Mike Williams (7) and John Ross (9).
Second round: Zay Jones (37), Curtis Samuel (40) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (62).
First-team All-Pro selections: None
Best pick: Smith-Schuster (one Pro Bowl, 17 TDs)
Worst pick: Ross (49 catches in 24 games)
2018
First round: D.J. Moore (24) and Calvin Ridley (26)
Second round: Courtland Sutton (40), Dante Pettis (44), Christian Kirk (47), Anthony Miller (51), James Washington (60) and DJ Chark (61).
First-team All-Pro selections: None
Best pick: Sutton (one Pro Bowl, 10 TDs)
Worst pick: Pettis (38 catches in 23 games)
2019
First round: Marquise Brown (25) and N’Keal Harry (32).
Second round: Deebo Samuel (36), A.J. Brown (51), Mecole Hardman (56), J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (57), Parris Campbell (59), Andy Isabella (62) and D.K. Metcalf (64)
First-team All-Pro selections: None
Best pick: Brown (1,051 yards, eight TDs).
Worst pick: Harry (12 catches in seven games)


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--Rockies Insider: Colorado players entertaining themselves and fans with trick shots, puppies during

Rockies Insider: Colorado players entertaining themselves and fans with trick shots, puppies during baseball’s postponement

With the baseball season on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic , Rockies players are finding a variety of ways to keep themselves — and fans — entertained .
Kyle Freeland takes the cake for best distraction honors during this baseball-less time , thanks to his golf trick-shot video he posted on his social media this week .
The highlight compilation features the southpaw showing off his chipping skills inside the house by hitting a ping pong ball into a red Solo cup .
Meanwhile , Charlie Blackmon is keeping us all smiling with photos of Ozzy , he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The black lab made its Instagram debut last weekend , eliciting comments such as “ I just wan na smooch your pup toniiiiiight.
” And to round things out , let ’ s give David Dahl props for entertaining us via his participation in the “ MLB The Show ” Players ’ League — even if his season went off the rails .
After Dahl predicted a playoff berth , the all-star outfielder went 6-23 to finish last in the National League West .
In the wake of the disastrous season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his retirement from the video game .
Which is good news , because it means more time for him to plot about swings with fellow baseball obsessive Nolan Arenado — who penned a fantastic essay for ESPN on how he is coping with life without the game .
Like what you ’ re reading ?
Share this with a friend and tell them it ’ s easy to sign up for the Rockies Insider here .
NEW 💥 If you enjoy The Denver Post ’ s sports coverage , we have a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first month for just 99¢ Tale of the tape : Analyzing the performance of the Rockies ’ three general managers The biggest draft bust under O ’ Dowd occurred in 2006 when the Rockies selected Greg Reynolds at No .
2 overall — one spot ahead of Evan Longoria and five spots ahead of Clayton Kershaw .
Read more… Rockies Mailbag : How does baseball ’ s uncertain calendar affect Nolan Arenado ’ s future in LoDo ?
Given the strange times we ’ re in , it ’ s difficult to speculate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockies .
My best guess is that he will begin the 2021 season in Rockies purple .
Read more… Rockies ’ Larry Walker must wait a year for induction into Hall of Fame Larry Walker will always be a member National Baseball Hall of Fame , he ’ ll just have to wait another year to give his speech in Cooperstown , N.Y. , and be officially inducted .
Read more… + Saunders : Imagining a 2020 Major League Baseball season without fans in the stands + Analyzing MLB ’ s potential plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus + Kickin ’ It with Kiz Podcast : Could baseball in a bubble really save the Rockies ’ season ?
+ MLB can cut pay , lay off managers , coaches starting May 1 + Want to chat about the Rockies ?
Ask to join our closed discussion group on Facebook .
Rockies podcast : Breaking down every known plan to play the 2020 MLB season In this episode of the On The Rox podcast , Denver Post beat writers Kyle Newman and Patrick Saunders assess the various proposals for the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen here… AT & T SportsNet Rocky Mountain has released its May schedule of classic Rockies games and the series opens at 7 p.m. Friday with what many consider one of the greatest games in Colorado sports history .
Read more… If you see something that ’ s cause for question or have a comment , thought or suggestion , email me at jbailey @ denverpost.com or tweet me @ beetbailey .

With the baseball season on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rockies players are finding a variety of ways to keep themselves — and fans — entertained.
Kyle Freeland takes the cake for best distraction honors during this baseball-less time, thanks to his golf trick-shot video he posted on his social media this week. The highlight compilation features the southpaw showing off his chipping skills inside the house by hitting a ping pong ball into a red Solo cup.
Meanwhile, Charlie Blackmon is keeping us all smiling with photos of Ozzy, he and his wife Ashley’s new puppy. The black lab made its Instagram debut last weekend, eliciting comments such as “I just wanna smooch your pup toniiiiiight.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_cn00UJ9C0/
And to round things out, let’s give David Dahl props for entertaining us via his participation in the “MLB The Show” Players’ League — even if his season went off the rails. After Dahl predicted a playoff berth, the all-star outfielder went 6-23 to finish last in the National League West.
In the wake of the disastrous season, Dahl thanked the fans and promptly announced his retirement from the video game. Which is good news, because it means more time for him to plot about swings with fellow baseball obsessive Nolan Arenado — who penned a fantastic essay for ESPN on how he is coping with life without the game.
I’ve made the difficult decision to hang up my controller. 🎮 After going 6-23 in the #MLBPlayersLeague, I’ll be retiring from MLB The Show. Thanks to the fans for your unwavering support. pic.twitter.com/AtY5MhJ6Y5 — David Dahl (@ddahl21) April 28, 2020
— Kyle Newman, The Denver Post
Like what you’re reading? Share this with a friend and tell them it’s easy to sign up for the Rockies Insider here.
NEW 💥 If you enjoy The Denver Post’s sports coverage, we have a new subscription offer for you! Try the first month for just 99¢
Must-Read
The biggest draft bust under O’Dowd occurred in 2006 when the Rockies selected Greg Reynolds at No. 2 overall — one spot ahead of Evan Longoria and five spots ahead of Clayton Kershaw. Read more…
Given the strange times we’re in, it’s difficult to speculate about Arenado’s future with the Rockies. My best guess is that he will begin the 2021 season in Rockies purple. Read more…
Larry Walker will always be a member National Baseball Hall of Fame, he’ll just have to wait another year to give his speech in Cooperstown, N.Y., and be officially inducted. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Rockies’ ticket policy includes individual refunds and 10% bonus plan for season-ticket holders
+ Saunders: Imagining a 2020 Major League Baseball season without fans in the stands
+ Analyzing MLB’s potential plans to save the 2020 season during the coronavirus
+ Replays of classic Rockies games begins Friday with Game 163
+ Ex-manager Clint Hurdle’s daily emails encourage, inspire
+ Kickin’ It with Kiz Podcast: Could baseball in a bubble really save the Rockies’ season?
+ MLB can cut pay, lay off managers, coaches starting May 1
+ Want to chat about the Rockies? Ask to join our closed discussion group on Facebook.
By The Numbers
Ep. 144
In this episode of the On The Rox podcast, Denver Post beat writers Kyle Newman and Patrick Saunders assess the various proposals for the 2020 MLB season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Listen here…
Parting Shot
AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain has released its May schedule of classic Rockies games and the series opens at 7 p.m. Friday with what many consider one of the greatest games in Colorado sports history. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something that’s cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at jbailey@denverpost.com or tweet me @beetbailey.


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--The Spot: Colorado’s U.S. Senate primary takes a weird turn, and painful budget battle starts next w

The Spot: Colorado’s U.S. Senate primary takes a weird turn, and painful budget battle starts next week

What ’ s The Spot ?
You ’ re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter .
Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox .
On April 18 , for at least one night , everything made sense .
In an election year unlike any other , the predictable had occurred .
Andrew Romanoff won the Democratic state assembly , setting up a head-to-head U.S. Senate primary between him and John Hickenlooper .
This is what the pundits and reporters had expected .
This was predictable .
Too predictable , perhaps , for 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ upended the June 30 primary ballot , placing Michelle Ferrigno Warren on it over the objections of the Secretary of State ’ s Office .
The Colorado Supreme Court will now decide whether the judge was right to drastically lower the state ’ s signature-gathering requirement due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It really destabilizes a system that was designed in a certain way , ” said Floyd Ciruli , a longtime pollster and political consultant .
“ Within a certain timeline you have to get a certain number of signatures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people won ’ t .
It ’ s extremely hard to do.
” On Monday , Judge Christopher Baumann ruled Diana Bray must not be placed on the ballot .
Bray is also a Democratic Senate candidate and also fell well short of signature-gathering requirements — too short , in her case .
Then there is Lorena Garcia , who is also awaiting a ruling from Baumann .
Having collected more valid signatures than either Warren or Bray , she ’ s hopeful .
The three cases are playing out within a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the secretary of state must send county clerks all ballot content by May 7 .
The office says it will send counties a list of candidates who are either certified or may be certified .
Then , if a court rules against those candidates later , it will simply not count any votes that were cast for them .
Hickenlooper and Romanoff are certainly on the June 30 ballot .
They may be joined by two others , Warren and Garcia .
Or , possibly , by only one of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado Supreme Court sides with the Secretary of State ’ s Office next month .
Romanoff supported Warren ’ s lawsuit , but there ’ s reason to believe its success harms his chances against Hickenlooper — the most moderate and best-known candidate .
In a crowded field , anti-establishment votes could be split several ways .
“ Romanoff ’ s slim hopes of consolidating those not excited by a Hickenlooper candidacy and then gaining a majority of the vote to win the nomination are made even slimmer by Warren and/or Garcia getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saunders , a professor of political science at Colorado State University .
Ciruli put it blunter : “ Romanoff needs a head-to-head as much as possible.
” Of course , as Saunders noted Wednesday , all the usual caveats apply here .
There are two months to go and these are unprecedented times .
Wild things can happen .
Some already have .
To support the important journalism we do , you can become a Denver Post subscriber here .
You can send tips , comments and questions to me at jwingerter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below .
The Denver Post has created two new newsletters to help Coloradans get the information you need as our state deals with the worst pandemic we ’ ve seen in a century .
The latest one is a daily newsletter called Economy Now , which will deliver stories related to the coronavirus ’ economic impact to your inbox each morning .
You can sign up here .
You can also keep up with news of the virus in Colorado via another newsletter , Checkup Denver .
Next week , the Colorado legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they sort through tough choices that are suddenly needed to offset the huge revenue hits brought about by the coronavirus pandemic .
Statehouse reporters Alex Burness and Saja Hindi , who are off this week , will be back to cover the issue , but in the meantime , here ’ s a quick look at the pain that awaits lawmakers .
State budget analysts recommended about $ 1 billion in potential cuts to the Joint Budget Committee this week .
They would touch nearly every aspect of state government , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public services across the state .
The bad news is that the amount that needs to be cut could very well reach much higher .
Lawmakers are preparing for a shortfall of as much as $ 3 billion in the 2020-21 fiscal year , an amount that will become clearer when the latest state budget forecast comes out in mid-May .
It ’ s a stark reversal from the picture painted by the last forecast in March , when slight revenue growth was expected in the next year .
For now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their priorities , and so are advocates and interest groups .
Backers of the state ’ s efforts to attract film and TV productions , for one , worry about a recommendation adopted last week by the JBC to temporarily eliminate the $ 500,000 general fund appropriation for the Colorado Office of Film , Television and Media .
Education advocates are likely to fight against much greater potential damage to budgets for K-12 education and the state ’ s colleges and universities .
In the face of such deep cuts to Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget proposal , the Colorado Fiscal Institute , a liberal think tank , is urging lawmakers to reject the notion that trims to spending are the only remedy .
They point to a relief valve in the Taxpayer ’ s Bill of Rights that could reduce the scope of cutbacks .
But TABOR ’ s allowance of an emergency tax without voter approval — with the consent of a two-thirds majority in the legislature — is politically tricky .
Democrats have majorities in both chambers , but Republican opposition could block the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency , it is hard to imagine what is , ” Carol Hedges , the fiscal institute ’ s executive director , said in a news release this week .
“ TABOR recognizes that emergency situations call for enhanced community-wide responses .
Now , more than ever , our elected officials need to consider all available options to help Colorado communities , including additional revenue to offset devastating cuts.
” • Gov .
Jared Polis on Wednesday set out COVID-19 testing goals for May that are aimed at preventing a second wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado Democrats are “ cautiously optimistic ” about the state ’ s coronavirus strategy as Polis ’ relaxed “ safer-at-home ” order took effect statewide this week .
• Impatience and frustration at stay-at-home-orders , which are still in effect in some cities , has become a rallying cry among some leading Republicans in the Democratic-led state .
Mark Grueskin , the high-priced , taxpayer-paid attorney for Hickenlooper , wrote to Colorado ’ s Independent Ethics Commission on Monday with an idea : There should be no ethics hearing in his client ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides should make their respective arguments in writing , and the commission can decide after reading whether Hickenlooper violated ethics laws .
“ The Commission often resolves complaints based on a written record , and given the extraordinary circumstances in our world today , it should do so here , ” Grueskin wrote .
Video conferences are often hacked , he said , and could be by “ political actors ” during a Hickenlooper hearing .
His client has a right to in-person counsel , not one on the other side of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared at a virtual hearing .
Plus , there will inevitably be technical difficulties , Grueskin wrote .
As the ethics commission debated Grueskin ’ s points during a virtual hearing the next day , there were technical difficulties .
Still , the idea found zero support from the commission .
Suzanne Staiert with the Public Trust Institute , which filed the Hickenlooper ethics complaint , told commissioners at the Tuesday meeting that she is opposed to Grueskin ’ s idea .
Commissioners voiced similar opposition .
“ Obviously , I think we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person would be the best possible way to do it , I think remotely would be the second best , ” said Chairwoman Elizabeth Espinosa Krupa .
“ I feel that there ’ s a lot of context that gets lost when reading words on a page , versus hearing someone speak , ” said Commissioner Selina Baschiera .
It would be “ a disservice , ” she said , to conduct such a high-profile hearing entirely on paper .
Hickenlooper ’ s testimony – and , specifically , Staiert ’ s cross-examination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguments would have robbed Staiert of that opportunity to grill the former governor and saved Hickenlooper from potentially politically damaging moments .
With Grueskin ’ s idea rejected , Republican ad-makers will be monitoring .
“ It ’ s troubling that the Independent Ethics Commission would apparently disregard the fair plan laid out by the governor ’ s counsel , especially after experiencing the limitations of the web format during Tuesday ’ s meeting , ” said Melissa Miller , a Hickenlooper campaign spokeswoman .
“ The dark-money groups behind this complaint clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political cudgel , and the commission shouldn ’ t assist them.
” Commissioners have not set a date or format for Hickenlooper ’ s hearing on the charges first filed in 2018 .
It was set to take place in March after the commission couldn ’ t find a location to hold it in February .
Now it might occur sometime in May — or it may not .
It could be in-person , or virtual , or a hybrid of the two .
“ Due to ( Hickenlooper ) ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing in May , PTI requests the commission delay the proceeding until such time an in-person hearing can be held , ” Staiert wrote to commissioners on Thursday .
Jill Biden and Sen. Michael Bennet held a virtual campaign event for presidential candidate Joe Biden with about 125 Coloradans on Wednesday afternoon .
The former second lady took a few questions from the crowd , including an interesting suggestion from former state legislator Ruth Wright of Boulder .
Wright said she hopes Joe Biden announces his Cabinet before the election , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Mitt Romney , ” to prove he will be a president for all people .
“ Well , you know , it would be a bit presumptuous to start announcing Cabinet picks , I think , ” Jill Biden said .
“ You know , Joe said he would consider announcing some of the Cabinet members before the election .
Which , like you ’ re saying , is important to you .
But he ’ s not made that commitment yet .
What he is committed to is having a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Cabinet that looks like America .
“ But I will take your suggestion to Joe , so thank you.
” Ads : On Wednesday , Senate Majority PAC launched an ad criticizing Sen. Cory Gardner for attending a Palm Beach champagne party in late February .
The Democratic group plans to spend at least $ 10,000 sharing the digital ad .
The Post ’ s coverage of the Florida soiree is here .
On Monday , the Service Employees International Union , which represents health care workers and service workers , launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states .
SEIU is spending more than $ 100,000 to broadcast it and hopes to reach 2.6 million voters of color .
Endorsements : Our Revolution Metro Denver endorsed Romanoff on Wednesday .
Our Revolution is a liberal group which spun off of Bernie Sanders ’ 2016 presidential run .
• Rep. Ken Buck wrote in an op-ed this week that Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx should be removed from the coronavirus task force .
He calls them “ the duo of doom.
” • 5280 Magazine recaps how the Senate race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to a 2018 House race in Colorado .
• Hickenlooper had an awkward moment Friday when he said of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , “ I can ’ t think of her name .
She ’ s breathtaking.
” • Before Denver ’ s stay-at-home order is lifted on May 8 , city officials say they aim to nearly double the amount of testing for the new coronavirus and to train new workers to trace cases of the virus • Hospitals are tracking a sharp decrease in patients seeking care for non-coronavirus-related ailments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in the hospital , doctors say .
Those fears are not only unfounded but they can lead to serious complications down the road .
• The development manager accused of showing favoritism toward a construction bidder on the Colorado Convention Center expansion project has signed a $ 250,000 settlement with state investigators .
• Glimmers of normal life twinkled ever so faintly in parts of Colorado on Monday as the state became one of the first in the country to lift its stay-at-home order .
• Denver City Council unanimously agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 leases within city-owned buildings , to help businesses cope financially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic • Water filter pitchers have started to arrive at Denver homes , and tens of thousands more families will receive them in coming months .
Here ’ s why and what to do with them .

For people, policy and Colorado politics
What’s The Spot? You’re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox.
On April 18, for at least one night, everything made sense.
In an election year unlike any other, the predictable had occurred. Andrew Romanoff won the Democratic state assembly, setting up a head-to-head U.S. Senate primary between him and John Hickenlooper. This is what the pundits and reporters had expected. This was predictable.
Too predictable, perhaps, for 2020.
Three days later, a Denver judge upended the June 30 primary ballot, placing Michelle Ferrigno Warren on it over the objections of the Secretary of State’s Office. The Colorado Supreme Court will now decide whether the judge was right to drastically lower the state’s signature-gathering requirement due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It really destabilizes a system that was designed in a certain way,” said Floyd Ciruli, a longtime pollster and political consultant. “Within a certain timeline you have to get a certain number of signatures and the assumption, frankly, is that most people won’t. It’s extremely hard to do.”
On Monday, Judge Christopher Baumann ruled Diana Bray must not be placed on the ballot. Bray is also a Democratic Senate candidate and also fell well short of signature-gathering requirements — too short, in her case.
Then there is Lorena Garcia, who is also awaiting a ruling from Baumann. Having collected more valid signatures than either Warren or Bray, she’s hopeful.
The three cases are playing out within a crowded election year schedule. By law, the secretary of state must send county clerks all ballot content by May 7. The office says it will send counties a list of candidates who are either certified or may be certified. Then, if a court rules against those candidates later, it will simply not count any votes that were cast for them.
Hickenlooper and Romanoff are certainly on the June 30 ballot. They may be joined by two others, Warren and Garcia. Or, possibly, by only one of the two. Or maybe neither, if the Colorado Supreme Court sides with the Secretary of State’s Office next month.
Romanoff supported Warren’s lawsuit, but there’s reason to believe its success harms his chances against Hickenlooper — the most moderate and best-known candidate. In a crowded field, anti-establishment votes could be split several ways.
“Romanoff’s slim hopes of consolidating those not excited by a Hickenlooper candidacy and then gaining a majority of the vote to win the nomination are made even slimmer by Warren and/or Garcia getting on the ballot,” said Kyle Saunders, a professor of political science at Colorado State University.
Ciruli put it blunter: “Romanoff needs a head-to-head as much as possible.”
Of course, as Saunders noted Wednesday, all the usual caveats apply here. There are two months to go and these are unprecedented times. Wild things can happen. Some already have.
To support the important journalism we do, you can become a Denver Post subscriber here.
You can send tips, comments and questions to me at jwingerter@denverpost.com or to the other Post reporters below.
Top Line
The Denver Post has created two new newsletters to help Coloradans get the information you need as our state deals with the worst pandemic we’ve seen in a century. The latest one is a daily newsletter called Economy Now, which will deliver stories related to the coronavirus’ economic impact to your inbox each morning. You can sign up here. You can also keep up with news of the virus in Colorado via another newsletter, Checkup Denver.
Capitol Diary • By Jon Murray
Gearing up for a budget battle royale
Next week, the Colorado legislature’s budget writers will begin meeting as they sort through tough choices that are suddenly needed to offset the huge revenue hits brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Statehouse reporters Alex Burness and Saja Hindi, who are off this week, will be back to cover the issue, but in the meantime, here’s a quick look at the pain that awaits lawmakers.
State budget analysts recommended about $1 billion in potential cuts to the Joint Budget Committee this week. They would touch nearly every aspect of state government, from children’s health insurance to education to public services across the state.
The bad news is that the amount that needs to be cut could very well reach much higher. Lawmakers are preparing for a shortfall of as much as $3 billion in the 2020-21 fiscal year, an amount that will become clearer when the latest state budget forecast comes out in mid-May. It’s a stark reversal from the picture painted by the last forecast in March, when slight revenue growth was expected in the next year.
For now, lawmakers are steeling themselves to fight for their priorities, and so are advocates and interest groups.
Backers of the state’s efforts to attract film and TV productions, for one, worry about a recommendation adopted last week by the JBC to temporarily eliminate the $500,000 general fund appropriation for the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media. Education advocates are likely to fight against much greater potential damage to budgets for K-12 education and the state’s colleges and universities.
In the face of such deep cuts to Gov. Jared Polis’ original $34.5 billion budget proposal, the Colorado Fiscal Institute, a liberal think tank, is urging lawmakers to reject the notion that trims to spending are the only remedy. They point to a relief valve in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights that could reduce the scope of cutbacks.
But TABOR’s allowance of an emergency tax without voter approval — with the consent of a two-thirds majority in the legislature — is politically tricky. Democrats have majorities in both chambers, but Republican opposition could block the idea.
“If this isn’t an emergency, it is hard to imagine what is,” Carol Hedges, the fiscal institute’s executive director, said in a news release this week. “TABOR recognizes that emergency situations call for enhanced community-wide responses. Now, more than ever, our elected officials need to consider all available options to help Colorado communities, including additional revenue to offset devastating cuts.”
More Colorado political news
Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday set out COVID-19 testing goals for May that are aimed at preventing a second wave of infections later this year.
Colorado Democrats are “cautiously optimistic” about the state’s coronavirus strategy as Polis’ relaxed “safer-at-home” order took effect statewide this week.
Impatience and frustration at stay-at-home-orders, which are still in effect in some cities, has become a rallying cry among some leading Republicans in the Democratic-led state.
#COSen 2020 • By Justin Wingerter
The Hick hearing saga
Mark Grueskin, the high-priced, taxpayer-paid attorney for Hickenlooper, wrote to Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission on Monday with an idea: There should be no ethics hearing in his client’s case. Instead, the two sides should make their respective arguments in writing, and the commission can decide after reading whether Hickenlooper violated ethics laws.
“The Commission often resolves complaints based on a written record, and given the extraordinary circumstances in our world today, it should do so here,” Grueskin wrote.
Video conferences are often hacked, he said, and could be by “political actors” during a Hickenlooper hearing. His client has a right to in-person counsel, not one on the other side of a screen. Documents cannot easily be shared at a virtual hearing.
Plus, there will inevitably be technical difficulties, Grueskin wrote. As the ethics commission debated Grueskin’s points during a virtual hearing the next day, there were technical difficulties.
Still, the idea found zero support from the commission. Suzanne Staiert with the Public Trust Institute, which filed the Hickenlooper ethics complaint, told commissioners at the Tuesday meeting that she is opposed to Grueskin’s idea. Commissioners voiced similar opposition.
“Obviously, I think we can have this hearing remotely and while in-person would be the best possible way to do it, I think remotely would be the second best,” said Chairwoman Elizabeth Espinosa Krupa.
“I feel that there’s a lot of context that gets lost when reading words on a page, versus hearing someone speak,” said Commissioner Selina Baschiera. It would be “a disservice,” she said, to conduct such a high-profile hearing entirely on paper.
Hickenlooper’s testimony – and, specifically, Staiert’s cross-examination – will be closely watched. Written arguments would have robbed Staiert of that opportunity to grill the former governor and saved Hickenlooper from potentially politically damaging moments. With Grueskin’s idea rejected, Republican ad-makers will be monitoring.
“It’s troubling that the Independent Ethics Commission would apparently disregard the fair plan laid out by the governor’s counsel, especially after experiencing the limitations of the web format during Tuesday’s meeting,” said Melissa Miller, a Hickenlooper campaign spokeswoman.
“The dark-money groups behind this complaint clearly intend to continue using the process as a political cudgel, and the commission shouldn’t assist them.”
Commissioners have not set a date or format for Hickenlooper’s hearing on the charges first filed in 2018. It was set to take place in March after the commission couldn’t find a location to hold it in February. Now it might occur sometime in May — or it may not. It could be in-person, or virtual, or a hybrid of the two.
“Due to (Hickenlooper)’s objection to a remote hearing or in-person hearing in May, PTI requests the commission delay the proceeding until such time an in-person hearing can be held,” Staiert wrote to commissioners on Thursday.
Jill Biden (virtually) campaigns in Colorado
Jill Biden and Sen. Michael Bennet held a virtual campaign event for presidential candidate Joe Biden with about 125 Coloradans on Wednesday afternoon. The former second lady took a few questions from the crowd, including an interesting suggestion from former state legislator Ruth Wright of Boulder.
Wright said she hopes Joe Biden announces his Cabinet before the election, and that it includes “some top Republicans, like Mitt Romney,” to prove he will be a president for all people.
“Well, you know, it would be a bit presumptuous to start announcing Cabinet picks, I think,” Jill Biden said. “You know, Joe said he would consider announcing some of the Cabinet members before the election. Which, like you’re saying, is important to you. But he’s not made that commitment yet. What he is committed to is having a woman on the ticket as vice president and a Cabinet that looks like America.
“But I will take your suggestion to Joe, so thank you.”
Ads: On Wednesday, Senate Majority PAC launched an ad criticizing Sen. Cory Gardner for attending a Palm Beach champagne party in late February. The Democratic group plans to spend at least $10,000 sharing the digital ad. The Post’s coverage of the Florida soiree is here.
On Monday, the Service Employees International Union, which represents health care workers and service workers, launched this anti-Trump ad in Colorado and seven other states. SEIU is spending more than $100,000 to broadcast it and hopes to reach 2.6 million voters of color.
Endorsements: Our Revolution Metro Denver endorsed Romanoff on Wednesday. Our Revolution is a liberal group which spun off of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential run.
More federal politics news
Rep. Ken Buck wrote in an op-ed this week that Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx should be removed from the coronavirus task force. He calls them “the duo of doom.”
5280 Magazine recaps how the Senate race looked pre-Hickenlooper versus post-Hickenlooper, and compares it to a 2018 House race in Colorado.
Hickenlooper had an awkward moment Friday when he said of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, “I can’t think of her name. She’s breathtaking.”
Mile High Politics • By Conrad Swanson


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--What does May 8 look like for the Denver Nuggets and NBA?

Before the NBA runs again , it has to walk .
And the league ’ s first , fragile steps may come as early as May 8 , when the NBA will tentatively relax its workout restrictions and allow players to resume individual training sessions at team facilities .
This only applies to teams located within cities whose stay-at-home order has been reduced .
The NBA ’ s target date is the same day Denver ’ s stay-at-home order will begin to ease , which begs the question : How will the Nuggets proceed ?
The answer is cautiously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team ’ s thinking .
The Nuggets will likely watch from afar as other teams implement the league ’ s exhaustive procedural measures in order to slowly crank back to work .
It remains the team ’ s utmost priority that these workouts don ’ t lead to a jump in COVID-19 cases .
The last thing anyone with the Nuggets – or the league , for that matter – wants to do is get players in for workouts only to have to shut down again .
The other factor , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBA franchises this week , is travel .
Many of the Nuggets aren ’ t even currently in Denver , meaning it ’ s unclear how many would take advantage of the sessions .
If reasonable , they ’ ve been encouraged to drive back to Denver instead of fly .
Their willingness , of course , depends on how badly players are itching to get in individual sessions with a player development coach .
( Head coaches and front-of-bench coaches are prohibited from conducting or even watching the workouts ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s mandated each team designate a Facility Hygiene Officer in charge of coordinating the team ’ s safety efforts .
The 14-page memo detailed , among other things , procedures for disinfecting equipment , guidelines on physical distancing , rules for symptom checks , protocols on entering and exiting the facility , and on and on .
It even mentioned the possibility of updating a facility ’ s HVAC system .
Those are the measures necessary for just one player to get some shots up .
Imagine the effort it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before that happens , as Adam Silver has detailed , positive cases need to drop and testing needs to become more widespread .
That doesn ’ t even begin to address scheduling , playoff formatting or finding a safe environment to conduct any kind of return-to-play .
There are hurdles , but there ’ s also hope .
It ’ s not insignificant when a pair of owners , both of whom had previously tread lightly , say they ’ re optimistic about a resumption of play as Dallas ’ Mark Cuban and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Let ’ s get people getting back in shape and then we ’ ll figure it out come July or August , what we can do in finishing the season and finishing the season without fans , ” Lasry said on CNBC .
Silver has maintained a patient , practical approach ever since the league halted its operations March 11 .
“ It ’ s about the data and not the date , ” Silver said two weeks ago on a conference call with reporters .
But as the economy creaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward , it ’ s encouraging and probably healthy to start thinking about some return to normalcy .
That might happen , at least in some small basketball sense , over the next two weeks .

Before the NBA runs again, it has to walk.
And the league’s first, fragile steps may come as early as May 8, when the NBA will tentatively relax its workout restrictions and allow players to resume individual training sessions at team facilities. This only applies to teams located within cities whose stay-at-home order has been reduced.
The NBA’s target date is the same day Denver’s stay-at-home order will begin to ease, which begs the question: How will the Nuggets proceed?
The answer is cautiously, according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking. The Nuggets will likely watch from afar as other teams implement the league’s exhaustive procedural measures in order to slowly crank back to work. It remains the team’s utmost priority that these workouts don’t lead to a jump in COVID-19 cases. The last thing anyone with the Nuggets – or the league, for that matter – wants to do is get players in for workouts only to have to shut down again.
The other factor, which was addressed in a league-wide memo sent to NBA franchises this week, is travel. Many of the Nuggets aren’t even currently in Denver, meaning it’s unclear how many would take advantage of the sessions. If reasonable, they’ve been encouraged to drive back to Denver instead of fly. Their willingness, of course, depends on how badly players are itching to get in individual sessions with a player development coach. (Head coaches and front-of-bench coaches are prohibited from conducting or even watching the workouts).
The NBA is taking such thorough precautions that it’s mandated each team designate a Facility Hygiene Officer in charge of coordinating the team’s safety efforts. The 14-page memo detailed, among other things, procedures for disinfecting equipment, guidelines on physical distancing, rules for symptom checks, protocols on entering and exiting the facility, and on and on. It even mentioned the possibility of updating a facility’s HVAC system.
Those are the measures necessary for just one player to get some shots up. Imagine the effort it will take to resume an entire league. Before that happens, as Adam Silver has detailed, positive cases need to drop and testing needs to become more widespread. That doesn’t even begin to address scheduling, playoff formatting or finding a safe environment to conduct any kind of return-to-play.
There are hurdles, but there’s also hope.
It’s not insignificant when a pair of owners, both of whom had previously tread lightly, say they’re optimistic about a resumption of play as Dallas’ Mark Cuban and Milwaukee’s Marc Lasry did Thursday.
“Let’s get people getting back in shape and then we’ll figure it out come July or August, what we can do in finishing the season and finishing the season without fans,” Lasry said on CNBC.
Silver has maintained a patient, practical approach ever since the league halted its operations March 11.
“It’s about the data and not the date,” Silver said two weeks ago on a conference call with reporters.
But as the economy creaks open and the numbers begin to trend downward, it’s encouraging and probably healthy to start thinking about some return to normalcy. That might happen, at least in some small basketball sense, over the next two weeks.


thedenverpost--2020-05-01--Metro district board candidates face election challenges because of coronavirus restrictions

The novel coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge for dozens of metropolitan district board candidates across Colorado as they grapple with stay-at-home orders and social distancing impacting their campaigns .
With a May 5 election looming , residents who stepped up to wrestle control of metro district boards from developers who dominated them for years say getting word about their candidacies to other residents has been tough .
That ’ s in addition to other election-related troubles district residents say they have faced .
“ Traditionally , our ballots could be dropped off at our community center if you didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Ross Garret , a resident candidate for the Southshore Metro District board .
“ However , this year , they say they are only collecting them at our election official ’ s office , a law office located near Golden ( 45 minutes away ) .
That ’ s just frustrating.
” It ’ s unclear just how many metro district seats are up for grabs on May 5 and how many are being challenged by residents who live there .
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs , which compiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts statewide , doesn ’ t monitor the elections .
Neither does the secretary of state or any other election-related office at the county level .
It ’ s all up to a designated election official appointed by a metro district board , often a lawyer or paralegal already working for the board .
“ The actions of the board and their designated election official give us no confidence that this election will be conducted according to Colorado law , ” Conservatory Metro District resident candidate Peter Simmons wrote to Colorado Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a complaint that the official ’ s law firm had placed election signs for the incumbents opposing Simmons on public property owned by the district .
“ This is a historic election , ” Simmons told The Post .
“ Every election has been canceled since inception and the first houses were built here in 2004 .
No one ’ s ever challenged these guys , and now we are and they don ’ t seem to really like that.
” Residents say they chose to run after reading Denver Post stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts , including how developers work both sides of financial deals by creating and then serving on metro district boards .
While serving on those boards , developers approve multi-million-dollar bonds to reimburse themselves for infrastructure costs .
They then levy taxes to pay off the bonds .
The system developed in large part as a response to TABOR , as developers sought ways to pay for infrastructure .
But the result has been that developers are shielded from risk should their projects underperform , and homeowners can be caught in a cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when developments are not built out .
But the pandemic put a damper on residents ’ campaigning to get a voice on their boards .
“ The virus , of course , has eliminated in-person meet and greets , town hall meetings , and going door to door to campaign .
Handing out fliers is out , too , ” said Claude Selitrennikoff , a resident candidate for the board of the Whispering Pines Metro District # 1 in Aurora .
“ I have resorted to use social media , such as Nextdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other materials .
Social media is very interesting and a new experience for me .
I am of the corded rotary phone generation , having grown up with a four-party phone line in the Midwest.
” It ’ s much the same in Lakewood , where Kristen Miller , a registered nurse running for a spot on the Indy Oak TOD Metro District board , has seen COVID-19 take a toll .
“ The election has been tricky , ” Miller said .
“ We were able to rally some neighbors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting the word out to the community to actually vote has been hard .
We can not go door to door , so we passed out a flier with information about who is running and are relying on word of ( masked ) mouth .
Metro district manager Charles Wolfersberger said a number of other challenges could put a damper on election results , including whether developers are able to run for a seat that ’ s challenged by a resident .
“ The law isn ’ t very clear on whether that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are several districts in which a developer is trying to retain control despite residents wanting to represent their community , ” Wolfersberger said .
But metro district expert Brian Matise , a Centennial attorney , said the law ’ s restrictions only applies to a new developer candidate , not one who ’ s already on the board seeking re-election .
“ It ’ s odd , of course , that the law could distinguish that way , but it appears to , ” he said .
Some residents , however , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their candidacy .
“ Originally there were nine people interested in three board positions , ” said Kathy Snyder , a former U.S. attorney in San Diego running for a board seat in the Cundall Farms Metro District in Thornton .
“ Before the coronavirus crisis , a meeting was held with all interested parties and the group ultimately decided on three consensus candidates to join the board , so there won ’ t be an election.
” Additionally , Snyder said a fourth person has said they would join the board if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It was a very productive , collaborative effort , ” she said .
Still , not all developers are pleased to see the additional resident involvement .
In Lakewood , Miller said meetings have not been in-person affairs , making it difficult for residents to keep up .
“ The district meetings have been held over telephone conference , ” Miller said .
“ Although it ’ s been hard for me to attend , being that I am at the hospital so often , it seems like the current board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , where they already approved another $ 5 million in bonds.
” In the Highlands Metro District , unopposed resident candidates were dismayed to learn of a meeting that occurred without their knowledge .
“ They had a special meeting just over a week ago ( April 14 ) that we didn ’ t know about as it was posted on a light pole outside of our neighborhood , ” said Devon Schad , a resident candidate for the Highlands Metro District # 2 board who will be automatically appointed after May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtualy and voted at that meeting to be able to do so .
Since we ’ re not board members , they won ’ t let us see the unapproved minutes , so it ’ s hard to say what happened.
” Records show three of five board members resigned and the meeting , with only two board members , continued .
Efforts to reach the district offices were unsuccessful .
In Denver ’ s Green Valley Ranch , residents were miffed at delays in putting candidate biographies on a website run by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All we wanted was an avenue for residents to read all the pertinent biographies , questionnaires filled out by the candidates , ” said resident Gail Bell , who spearheaded the effort .
“ They went to lawyers and dawdled for weeks , and then said they would not place the link to the information because it was political.
” The COVID-19 crisis made things especially difficult , Bell said , because the largely elderly group of volunteers couldn ’ t risk the contact that came with campaigning .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finally , on April 17 , the Ebert Metro District relented and allowed a link for the profiles to be placed on the website , but with a disclaimer that it was not endorsed by the district .
“ At least finally it got done , but with lots of push-back , ” Bell said .
“ It shouldn ’ t have to be this difficult to have an election.
” Investigative reporting doesn ’ t grow on trees .
Please support The Denver Post .
Become a subscriber for only 99 cents @ @ @ @ @

The novel coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge for dozens of metropolitan district board candidates across Colorado as they grapple with stay-at-home orders and social distancing impacting their campaigns.
With a May 5 election looming, residents who stepped up to wrestle control of metro district boards from developers who dominated them for years say getting word about their candidacies to other residents has been tough.
That’s in addition to other election-related troubles district residents say they have faced.
“Traditionally, our ballots could be dropped off at our community center if you didn’t want to mail it in,” said Ross Garret, a resident candidate for the Southshore Metro District board. “However, this year, they say they are only collecting them at our election official’s office, a law office located near Golden (45 minutes away). That’s just frustrating.”
It’s unclear just how many metro district seats are up for grabs on May 5 and how many are being challenged by residents who live there. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs, which compiles the election results for more than 1,800 districts statewide, doesn’t monitor the elections. Neither does the secretary of state or any other election-related office at the county level. It’s all up to a designated election official appointed by a metro district board, often a lawyer or paralegal already working for the board.
“The actions of the board and their designated election official give us no confidence that this election will be conducted according to Colorado law,” Conservatory Metro District resident candidate Peter Simmons wrote to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold in March as part of his complaint that election signs for candidates opposing Simmons were placed on public property owned by the district.
The signs were questionnaire responses and biographical information that the district board and designated election official asked all candidates to fill out. Simmons did not participate, lawyers for the district said. The secretary of state’s office in late April told Simmons that it lacked jurisdiction over metro district elections and could not investigate his complaint, according to a letter Simmons provided to The Post.
“This is a historic election,” Simmons told The Post. “Every election has been canceled since inception and the first houses were built here in 2004. No one’s ever challenged these guys, and now we are and they don’t seem to really like that.”
Residents say they chose to run after reading Denver Post stories that detailed the inner workings of metro districts, including how developers work both sides of financial deals by creating and then serving on metro district boards. While serving on those boards, developers approve multi-million-dollar bonds to reimburse themselves for infrastructure costs. They then levy taxes to pay off the bonds.
The system developed in large part as a response to TABOR, as developers sought ways to pay for infrastructure. But the result has been that developers are shielded from risk should their projects underperform, and homeowners can be caught in a cycle of rising taxes for decades, particularly when developments are not built out.
But the pandemic put a damper on residents’ campaigning to get a voice on their boards.
“The virus, of course, has eliminated in-person meet and greets, town hall meetings, and going door to door to campaign. Handing out fliers is out, too,” said Claude Selitrennikoff, a resident candidate for the board of the Whispering Pines Metro District #1 in Aurora. “I have resorted to using social media, such as Nextdoor and Facebook, to post my bio and other materials. Social media is very interesting and a new experience for me. I am of the corded rotary phone generation, having grown up with a four-party phone line in the Midwest.”
It’s much the same in Lakewood, where Kristen Miller, a registered nurse running for a spot on the Indy Oak TOD Metro District board, has seen COVID-19 take a toll.
“The election has been tricky,” Miller said. “We were able to rally some neighbors to run prior to COVID regulations, but getting the word out to the community to actually vote has been hard. We cannot go door to door, so we passed out a flier with information about who is running and are relying on word of (masked) mouth.
Metro district manager Charles Wolfersberger said a number of other challenges could put a damper on election results, including whether developers are able to run for a seat that’s challenged by a resident.
“The law isn’t very clear on whether that can happen or not, and there are several districts in which a developer is trying to retain control despite residents wanting to represent their community,” Wolfersberger said.
But metro district expert Brian Matise, a Centennial attorney, said the law’s restrictions only apply to a new developer candidate, not one who’s already on the board seeking re-election.
“It’s odd, of course, that the law could distinguish that way, but it appears to,” he said.
Some residents, however, have been pleased to see little resistance to their candidacy.
“Originally there were nine people interested in three board positions,” said Kathy Snyder, a former U.S. attorney in San Diego running for a board seat in the Cundall Farms Metro District in Thornton. “Before the coronavirus crisis, a meeting was held with all interested parties and the group ultimately decided on three consensus candidates to join the board, so there won’t be an election.”
Additionally, Snyder said a fourth person has said they would join the board if the sole remaining developer incumbent stepped down.
“It was a very productive, collaborative effort,” she said.
Still, not all developers are pleased to see the additional resident involvement.
In Lakewood, Miller said meetings have not been in-person affairs, making it difficult for residents to keep up.
“The district meetings have been held over telephone conference,” Miller said. “Although it’s been hard for me to attend, being that I am at the hospital so often, it seems like the current board slipped in a special meeting here and there, where they already approved another $5 million in bonds.”
In the Highlands Metro District, unopposed resident candidates were dismayed to learn of a meeting that occurred without their knowledge.
“They had a special meeting just over a week ago (April 14) that we didn’t know about as it was posted on a light pole outside of our neighborhood,” said Devon Schad, a resident candidate for the Highlands Metro District #2 board who will be automatically appointed after May 5. The pole is one of the locations approved by the district board for posting its meeting notices. “They held their meeting virtually and voted at that meeting to be able to do so. Since we’re not board members, they won’t let us see the unapproved minutes, so it’s hard to say what happened.”
Records show three of five board members resigned and the meeting, with only two board members, continued.
Lawyers for the district on May 1 told The Post the district had let incoming board members know a day earlier that the minutes from the April 14 meeting would be available as soon as possible.
In Denver’s Green Valley Ranch, residents were miffed at delays in putting candidate biographies on a website run by the district for residents’ benefit.
“All we wanted was an avenue for residents to read all the pertinent biographies, questionnaires filled out by the candidates,” said resident Gail Bell, who spearheaded the effort. “They went to lawyers and dawdled for weeks, and then said they would not place the link to the information because it was political.”
The COVID-19 crisis made things especially difficult, Bell said, because the largely elderly group of volunteers couldn’t risk the contact that came with campaigning.
“It was very frustrating,” Bell said.
Finally, on April 17, the Ebert Metro District relented and allowed a link for the profiles to be placed on the website, but with a disclaimer that it was not endorsed by the district.
“At least finally it got done, but with lots of push-back,” Bell said. “It shouldn’t have to be this difficult to have an election.”
NOTE: This story was updated after The Post heard from representatives of the Conservatory and Highlands #2 metro districts who had not previously been either known to The Post or available for comment.[cq comment=”ENDNU”]
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