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EDITORIAL: Pot stores close as problems mount
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El Paso County, gazette.com, Local

EDITORIAL: Pot stores close as problems mount

By Wayne Laugesen | SOURCE: THE GAZETTE Colorado Springs’ elected leaders and voters have been wise to reject marijuana, an increasingly unpopular “recreation” option. They did not fall for the false buzz of Big Marijuana, which promised reductions in crime, less illicit drug use and tax manna for the common good. Consequently, Colorado Springs appears progressive and alive as so many other large cities go to pot with homelessness, crime and open-air drug use. By rejecting recreational sales, Springs voters put themselves ahead of the curve. Pot is no longer the next big thing. It could become the next bad fad of the past, lingering in the margins with gangsta rap and skinny jeans. Springs voters most recently said “no” to commercial drug sales in November 2022 by a margin of n...
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Denver’s presiding juvenile judge suspended, few details on disciplinary investigation
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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...
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Annual count of Colorado Springs-area homeless population expands hiring street people to assist
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El Paso County, gazette.com, Local

Annual count of Colorado Springs-area homeless population expands hiring street people to assist

By Debbie Kelley | SOURCE: THE GAZETTE For the second time, a yearly census to determine how many homeless people are living in El Paso County on a given night will hire helpers who are familiar with life on the streets to do the counting. Debra Stilen will be among those conducting the Point in Time survey that begins on Monday, a process required by the United States Department of Urban Housing and Development for communities to receive federal funding for programs and services for homeless people. After 20 years of homelessness, Stilen entered transitional housing last year. She was ready. But many of her friends are not. “What I find is a lot of them want to be counted, but people who are homeless are so used to being abused or bullied or negative aspects when it comes to a...
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Douglas County Takes Legal Action Against State of Colorado Over Property Tax Relief Denial
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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...
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Adams County Democrats to pick successor to former Rep. Said Sharbini
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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....
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Democratic Denver mayor to lead coalition of mayors asking for federal help for immigrants
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coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local, National

Democratic Denver mayor to lead coalition of mayors asking for federal help for immigrants

By Brady Knox, Washington Examiner | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is heading to Washington, D.C., as the head of a coalition of mayors asking for help with the migrant crisis. Johnston, a Democrat, will use the United States Mayors Conference to advocate federal assistance in dealing with the migrant crisis. Denver is one of several Democratic-controlled cities that have been the target of Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) migrant busing campaign, which has seen Texas ship thousands of immigrants to the sanctuary cities. “In D.C. this week for the @usmayors conference to work with fellow mayors, our federal delegation and the White House to advocate for federal action on the migrant crisis,” Johnston said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Johnston has previously...
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Student enrollment down statewide, up in Denver because of newly arriving immigrants
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denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local, State

Student enrollment down statewide, up in Denver because of newly arriving immigrants

By Nicole C. Brambila | SOURCE: THE DENVER GAZETTE Student enrollment statewide declined for a second year with new data from the Colorado Department of Education showing a loss of about 1,800 students on what’s called the October count, which is used to determine funding levels for school districts. “On a percentage basis, it’s a fairly small change,” said Jennifer Okes, chief school operations officer for the Colorado Department of Education. Statewide enrollment remains relatively stable. Those 1,800 Colorado students equate to a roughly 0.20% decrease, down from 883,264 in 2022 to 881,464 last fall, state data shows. Colorado’s enrollment was last this low in 2013, when 876,999 pupils were counted, after gaining 13,438 students. What the Oct. 2 count doesn’t show is t...
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Denver City Council approves $88.5 million purchase of former Denver Post building
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coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver City Council approves $88.5 million purchase of former Denver Post building

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Denver City Council on Tuesday approved the $88.5 million purchase of the former Denver Post building in downtown. The building at 101 W. Colfax Avenue last sold for $93.4 million in 2006, according to real estate records. Officials said the purchase is necessary, as the city needs more courtroom spaces by 2023. The city, which began leasing space from the owner of the Denver Post back in 2016, currently occupies 50%of the 101 W. Colfax building. The city pays about $5 million annually. The council postponed Tuesday’s vote for the purchase two weeks ago, citing cost concerns and the need for more information. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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Denver council postpones vote to ban homeless camp sweeps during frigid weather
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coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver council postpones vote to ban homeless camp sweeps during frigid weather

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Denver City Council on Tuesday delayed a vote to ban homeless encampment sweeps when the temperatures fall below freezing. The primary sponsor of the bill, at-large Councilmember Sarah Parady, made the motion to postpone the vote for two weeks. Legislative bodies typically delay votes to give sponsors more time to secure votes or consider changes. "The postponement is just due to background logistics and I’m confident it will pass in two weeks!" Parady said. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount
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Downtown Denver, Local, thelobby-co.com

Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Denver, known for its vibrant dining scene, is facing a challenging year as more than 200 restaurants closed their doors in the city last year. The rising costs of running a restaurant, coupled with a sluggish economy, have made it increasingly difficult for business owners to survive in the Denver metro area. According to Colin Larson, the Director of Government Affairs with the Colorado Restaurant Association, Denver typically sees a 5% growth in the number of new restaurants each year. However, last year, there was a shocking 13% decline, resulting in the closure of over 220 restaurants in Denver alone. Larson predicts that this trend will continue in the coming year, spelling trouble for the local dining industry. One of the major challenges face...
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