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Denver Metro

Denver tells migrants it’s closing time — don’t have to go home, but can’t stay here
coloradopeakpolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local

Denver tells migrants it’s closing time — don’t have to go home, but can’t stay here

By Colorado Peak Politics Sanctuary City Denver is literally showing migrants the door with the offer of free* travel tickets to somewhere else now that the cold weather emergency has ended that allowed families to stay six weeks in area shelters. It’s closing time, they’ll be told after three weeks. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. Venezuelan migrants tell Westword they are getting ticket offers to leave shelters before check-out time. Yet many say they want to stay even though they can’t find work without proper work permits, or a place to live. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO PEAK POLITICS
2 Colorado counties and RTD use taxpayer dollars on political consultants to generate more tax dollars
CBS Colorado, Denver Metro, Local

2 Colorado counties and RTD use taxpayer dollars on political consultants to generate more tax dollars

By Shaun Boyd | SOURCE: CBS News As Coloradans brace for massive property tax spikes, some local governments are quietly laying the groundwork for ballot measures that would hike taxes even further, and a loophole in Colorado state law allows them to use your tax dollars to figure out how to get more of your tax dollars. Under state law, a government entity can't spend more than $50 to support a measure after it's on the ballot, but there's no limit on what they can spend before it makes the ballot. Natalie Menten, founder of Colorado Engaged, says the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners is among those using the loophole to run political campaigns on the public's dime. A political activist, government watchdog and chief nemesis of the commissioners, Menten says they're ...
Caraveo challenger Gabe Evans announces $170K haul for 4th quarter in Colorado’s 8th CD
coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Eastern Plains, Local, Northern Colorado

Caraveo challenger Gabe Evans announces $170K haul for 4th quarter in Colorado’s 8th CD

By Ernest Luning | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Colorado state Rep. Gabe Evans, one of four Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the battleground 8th Congressional District, raised more than $170,000 in the last three months of 2023, his campaign said Monday. The Fort Lupton Republican's campaign plans to report starting the year with just over $186,000 in the bank. His campaign said Evans, who entered the primary in September, tallied contributions from nearly 2,000 unique donors last year, for an average donation of just under $95. Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician and former state lawmaker, is seeking a second term representing the state's newest congressional seat, which covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties north of the Denver metro ar...
Former state lawmaker Janak Joshi jumps in GOP congressional primary in Colorado’s 8th
coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, El Paso County, Local

Former state lawmaker Janak Joshi jumps in GOP congressional primary in Colorado’s 8th

By Ernest Luning, Colorado Politics Former state Rep. Janak Joshi on Friday joined the field of Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in Colorado's 8th Congressional District. Vowing he'll be "big government's worst enemy," the former physician, who represented Colorado Springs districts for three terms last decade in the legislature, said his unabashedly conservative track record makes him the best candidate to win the battleground seat, which could decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives after this year's election. “I’m the only candidate in this race with a proven conservative record to show that actions speak louder than mere words," Joshi said in statement to Colorado Politics. "We already have too many say-anything pol...
Aurora to buy property for homeless navigation campus
coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local

Aurora to buy property for homeless navigation campus

By Kyla Pearce | SOURCE: DENVER GAZETTE The Aurora City Council voted Monday to move forward with a purchase agreement for a 13-acre hotel site for its future regional navigation campus.  The campus is intended to be a "one stop shop" for homeless services, helping direct people to shelters and resources, similar to the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission. The property is at 15550 E. 40th Ave. in Aurora, which is currently a Crowne Plaza hotel and convention center.  After some debate at Monday's meeting, the council voted to move forward with purchasing the land despite "no" votes from Councilmembers Curtis Gardner, Alison Coombs and Ruben Medina.  READ FULL ARTICLE ON DENVERGAZETTE.COM
Douglas County sues to overturn state board’s decision to block property tax relief plan
Denver Metro, Local, The Colorado Sun

Douglas County sues to overturn state board’s decision to block property tax relief plan

By Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun Douglas County is suing a state board that last month blocked the county’s creative attempt to offer a $28 million property tax break to homeowners by making an across-the-board reduction in previously determined home values.  The 15-page lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Denver District Court against the State Board of Equalization. It argues that the board didn’t have the authority to block the tax break and that it didn’t follow Colorado’s open meetings laws in doing so.  The county is asking a judge to overturn the board’s unanimous decision to stop the reduction in home values.  The Douglas County Commission voted in September to reduce the county’s valuations, determined in May, of single-family homes, townhomes an...
Colorado’s Flawed Vacancy Committee System Raises Concerns Over Representation As Democrats Choose New Representative For HD31 By Just 9 Votes
Denver Metro, Local, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Flawed Vacancy Committee System Raises Concerns Over Representation As Democrats Choose New Representative For HD31 By Just 9 Votes

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Once again showing the flaws in Colorado's vacancy committee system, former Thornton City Council member Julia Marvin has been chosen to represent Colorado House District 31 by just nine votes. This Thursday night tiny election highlights the undemocratic nature of a system that allows just a few political party insiders to handpick a representative for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. Colorado State House Representative-select Julia Marvin Marvin, who currently serves on the Thornton City Council, won with a 9-7 vote over Jacque Phillips. The decision by just nine votes that she will now “represent” such a large district demonstrates the flaws in Colorado’s vacancy committee system. Marvin is the 29th member of the current Legislature initial...
Denver’s presiding juvenile judge suspended, few details on disciplinary investigation
coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local

Denver’s presiding juvenile judge suspended, few details on disciplinary investigation

By Michael Karlik | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Colorado Supreme Court temporarily suspended longtime Denver Juvenile Court Presiding Judge D. Brett Woods last month pending a disciplinary investigation, and few details have emerged about the nature of the inquiry. In a Dec. 21 order, the Supreme Court gave Woods 21 days to explain why he should be allowed to remain on the bench while the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline completes its work. On Thursday, the court issued another order reiterating that Woods remains on paid suspension until further notice. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright did not participate in issuing either order, while Justice Monica M. Márquez recused herself only from the December order. The clerk of the Supreme Court did not kno...
Douglas County Takes Legal Action Against State of Colorado Over Property Tax Relief Denial
Denver Metro, Local, thelobby-co.com

Douglas County Takes Legal Action Against State of Colorado Over Property Tax Relief Denial

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Douglas County, known for its affluent suburban communities, has taken a legal step this week to resolve the state’s property tax mess by suing the state board responsible for evaluating property assessments. The county claims that officials overstepped their authority and wrongly prevented the county from providing much-needed tax relief to thousands of homeowners. The decision by the board last month and the subsequent appeal to a judge come at a time when Colorado is embroiled in a heated debate over how to address the soaring property tax bills that have burdened residents this year. In its lawsuit filed against the state Board of Equalization, Douglas County accuses the board of making an "arbitrary and capricious" decision by unanimously denyin...
Adams County Democrats to pick successor to former Rep. Said Sharbini
coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local, State

Adams County Democrats to pick successor to former Rep. Said Sharbini

By Marianne Goodland | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS A Democratic Adams County House District 31 vacancy committee will meet Thursday evening to choose a successor to Rep. Said Sharbini, D-Adams County. Sharbini, who served one year in the House after being elected to his first term in 2022, resigned in December, citing financial pressures and the toxic environment of the state House. The vacancy committee will meet at 5:45 p.m. for a candidates' forum and then at 6:30 p.m. for the election. The election is expected to conclude by 7 p.m. due to other party business on the agenda. There are at least two candidates in the running: Julia Marvin and Jacqueline Phillips. Both have filed to run for the seat in the 2024 primary election. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS....