Denver Direct: July 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
ALL THINGS MJ with Jessica LeRoux – July 28, 2013
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| Jessica LeRoux |
I told Althea I was feeling lost, lacking in some direction… Althea told me, upon scrutiny that my back might need protection.
My chest hurts, my head hurts, my heart breaks for the dream of legal cannabis regulation.
Colorado public bank amendment (2014) revised
To Establish a Publicly Owned State Bank
To be Numbered as Article X, Section 22
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, add section 22 to Article X as follows:
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
From Mayor Hancock
Monday, July 22, 2013
ALL THINGS MJ with Jessica LeRoux - July 22, 2013
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MED's runaway train: "the monkey's got the locomotive under control"
Hey Now,
YET ANOTHER TAX PROPOSAL?
by Dave Felice
Does City Councilman Chris Herndon really think it's a good idea to revive the stadium tax so the city can provide dedicated tax money to a private foundation to give scholarships? Since when is it the city's responsibility to be in the scholarship granting business?
And if we have a dedicated tax for scholarships, what's to stop other public and private organizations from asking for a dedicated tax revenue to support operations, such as libraries, parks, food and shelter, or any other "special district"?
Furthermore, if the Denver Scholarship Foundation (backed by Teflon John Hickenlooper and oil billionaire Tim Marquez) is running out of money, how does that become OUR problem?
Education is critical! Scholarships are essential. But increasing taxes and funneling the money to a private foundation isn't the way to success. Perhaps if the school district made better use of the massive amount of money it already has, government wouldn't have to be asking taxpayers for yet another flawed attempt at redemption.
We need better accountability and success before we start throwing more money at the problems.
Yipping and howling, Hentzell coyotes join the fray
Friends of Denver Parks held our Board Meeting this evening and a discussion was opened concerning the future of our petition effort. John states "The city may try to disqualify some the 6,664 signatures that we turned in July 1. Because the city interfered with our petition circulation, we asked the judge for additional time to gather signatures until August 19, 2013. We need 3000 more signatures by August 19 to be sure we have enough to put the issue on the ballot." The Board has determined that following the advise of our attorney would be the best course of action to insure the best chance at being successful.
So with that being said, we will be organizing the petition drive again. David and I have the petitions at our house and will distribute them from there. Judy Case will handle the returns at her home. We will need your help to make this work. We have 4 weekends to get this done.
As a reminder, during the Board meeting we witnessed a red tailed hawk, a flicker, a bat, and the coyote pack decided to run close by yipping and howling just to let us know that they needed our voices and efforts to keep this natural space a preserve for the wildlife who continue to live in the City of Denver.
We love those green t-shirts, so lets hit the trail again. For those who didn't get a chance to help the first time, we could sure use some new folks/fresh horses to help with the petitions. Call or write about picking up a petition to circulate.
We've got a job to finish.
All the best,
Renee Lewis - President
Friends of Denver Parks
grailm@att.net
303-337-2947
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Confronting the Minotaur - Reflections on the Hentzell Park Battle
By Renee Lewis
Good morning Friends of Denver Parks,
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| Photo by Ray Ehrenstein |
Today is July 21, and three weeks have gone by since we wrapped up our community petition drive and presented our signatures to the Elections Commission on July 1, 2013.
I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect upon the amazing adventure that we have embarked upon and revisit a few things that we have accomplished along the way.
As neighbors and the community at large became aware of the shell game orchestrated by Mayor Hancock involving Hampton Heights North Park, we began to see that by talking with our neighbors there was desire by the community to stop this travesty, as we could all see the larger ramifications of this project.
Somehow we knew that the decision to become involved must come from within and we could accomplish much, but with the help of others, we could together lift this citizen’s initiative off the ground and accomplish higher goals.
What are those goals? As I see it we are at a juncture in our history where available lands are getting scarcer and developers are getting more creative about getting the land that they need to accomplish their agendas. They are doing this by developing public/private “relationships. “ These are realtors, developers, and other individuals who stand to profit from “energizing” our parks. The recipients of such deals abundantly fund the politicians who support the transfers of public property to the private sector. The result is that Denver loses public open space to these ventures.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
MY OWN "MAKE MY DAY" EXPERIENCE
by Gerald Trumbule
This is the story of a crackhead who broke into my property on York St. twelve times over a period of two years. On the last occasion I fired one shot at him and thus became entangled with our make-my-day law (MMD).
In 1991 crack and coke were rampant in my neighborhood, one block north of Colfax and York, in Denver, Colorado. It was for sale on the street and just about everywhere else, and it was being sucked up at a rapid rate by the junkies who then needed cash so badly they were burglarizing everything they could break into. The neighbors were unprepared, and many apartments, offices, garages, and back yards were stripped of valuables.
I was living in the basement apartment in my building. My company office was located on the first floor, and the second and third stories were offices rented to other small companies. There was a small parking lot in the back off the alley, but no gate or fence between the alley and the sidewalk level windows of the kitchen in my apartment.
Hentzell Park: City's rejection of petition spurs new challenge
By Alan Prendergast
Published in the WestWord Blog , Mon,Jul. 8 2013 at 11:06 AMP
They started out questioning the ability of Denver city officials to trade a formerly designated natural area for an office building. But opponents of the Hentzell Park land swap now have another bone to pick with Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson, claiming that her rejection of their efforts to put the issue on the ballot amounts to playing high-stakes poker with a stacked deck. The dispute, they say, raises a basic constitutional issue: What happens to the right to petition the government for redress if you need the government's permission to do so?
As we've previously reported, Mayor Michael Hancock wants to turn over 11.5 acres of city-owned open space adjoining Paul A. Hentzell Park in southeast Denver to the Denver Public Schools. DPS wants to build an elementary school there to take the pressure off overcrowded schools in the area. In return, the city would take over a DPS building at 13th and Fox and convert it to a "family justice center," housing various agencies that provide services to domestic violence victims.
Overruling the recommendation of her own advisory board, Denver Parks and Recreation manager Lauri Dannemiller agreed to formally remove the "natural area" designation for the site, which Hancock has described as "blighted" and overrun with prairie dogs; about two acres of the site is currently a parking lot. The Denver City Council approved the deal in April.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
City Park West Meeting Reminder
Our first City Park West meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30pm.
Location: Harry's at 1700 Vine St. (Harry's is the annex bar next door to the Vine St Pub)
Tentative agenda:
- Introductions
- What is an RNO and how can it help the community
- Results of the City Park West Survey. Go to http://www.cityparkwestsurvey.com/ if you haven't participated yet.
- Block by Block - a multiple neighborhood event during Denver Days where neighbors will march the alley's from Colfax to 40th Ave clearing junk. For more info go to:https://www.facebook.com/events/297849513694371/
Trayvon Martin Rally at Denver's MLK Circle in City Park - July 14, 2013
Tech note: This was my first attempt to livestream video from my Samsung Galaxy S3 via Ustream. It worked fine until I ran out of battery. More to come.
Block-by-Block Trash Pickup
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City Park West, Whitter, and Cole
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![]( "Description")
Where: A march from Colfax Avenue to 40th Avenue with the boundaries of Downing St. and York St. Who: Neighbors within the boundaries of the march.
When: Sunday, August 11, 2013 (During “Denver Days” - August 3-11) at 9 a.m.
Contact Information: Ean Tafoya blockbyblockdenver@gmail.c
om
Monday, July 15, 2013
DENVER POLICE AND FIRE SCANNER
I keep getting hits on an old post from 2005, with dead links, of the Denver Police and Fire scanner, so I guess people are still interested. Go to Broadcastify.com for the latest. Don't get freaked out when you find out what is actually going on around you.
ALL THINGS MJ with Jessica LeRoux - July 15, 2013
Hey Now,
The meetings for your stakeholder working group are scheduled as follows:
- Meeting #1: July 18, 2013 from 1pm – 5pm at the Marijuana Enforcement Division, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 390, Denver, CO 80203
- Meeting #2: July 29, 2013 from 1pm – 5pm at the Department of Revenue, 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214; Entrance B, Conference Room 110
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Walkabout - Museum expansion at City Park - July 13, 2013
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| Old, new, and new-new. Museum's west entrance. Read details here. |
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| Just off west entrance looking south behind fence. |
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| Southeast corner looking west. |
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| From the former East "meadow", now "east bus driveway to school children's entrance", looking north. |
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| Waiting for the brick veneer. |
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| Just off 17th Ave looking northeast. |
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| Wildlife never gives up. |
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| Southwest corner looking east. |
Good-bye to City Park in Denver
When I moved to Denver in 1971, City Park played a major role in my decision to buy a building at 16th and York Street. While trying to make the decision, my wife and I had a picnic in City Park. At the time, City Park appeared rundown and neglected, much like Fairmount Park in Philadelphia where we had previously lived. Ah...perfect...a little bit of "natural" nature.
Over the years since then, many proposals and much money has been spent on the Park. Back then, I learned of a group that seemed to oppose the expansion of the Zoo and The Museum into the park land. Each proposal to expand the footprint of these fine institutions into the Park was met with opposition. But that opposition was overcome as both expanded and the Park continued to shrink.
About 5 years ago, I learned of the insidious plan of Denver Water and Wastewater Management, in secret collusion with the big corporate polluters, to pump the toxins from Lowry Landfill into the lakes and greens of our parks via the newly "recycled" water and the infamous "purple pipes". (Go here or search this site for "purple pipe".)
Before the death of my friend and mentor Adrienne Anderson, who had led the battle for public awareness of this "purple-pipe water", from a brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme, she refused to go to the parks fed by this contaminated water. There was the inevitable speculation after her death that her brain tumor may have been caused by her exposure over the years to plutonium and other radionuclides, such as those found in this "purple pipe water". We will never know.
Now that the Zoo expansion is nearly complete, the Museum expansion continues, and the plans are laid for a "loop playground", I fear that, for me, it is goodbye to the once "natural" nature of City Park.
On a Clear Day You Can See Hentzell Is a Park
by Paul Kashmann
With an April Fool’s Day vote that parks advocates only wish was a prank, Denver City Council approved a deal to hand Denver Public Schools a wad of cash, along with 9 acres of southeast Denver parkland in the Hentzell Open Space (Hampden Heights Natural Area) on which to build a much needed elementary school. In exchange, the City and County of Denver gets a DPS office building at 1330 Fox St., where Mayor Hancock wants to house a domestic violence resource center.
A school for our sweet little children. A safe place in which to help heal the horrific damage wrought by domestic violence. Both worthy purposes to be sure. I wholeheartedly support both projects. In theory.
But should this particular bit of civic parcel shuffling have ever been consummated?
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Walkabout - Black Arts Festival - July 13, 2013
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| I arrived at 11:30 just as the cloud cover pulled off and the heat began. There seemed to be a lot of corporate sponsorship, as well as non-profit participation. |
Thursday, July 11, 2013
From Toxic "Dew of Death" to Wildlife Refuge
Here is the official government notice:
Toxic fluid leads to shutdown of refuge
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Friends of Denver Parks Needs Your Help
In the next few months, there will be a trial of the case involving the land swap deal which would trade Hampden Heights North Park for an office building downtown.
John Case, the attorney who represents Friends of Denver Parks pro bono, is trying to locate witnesses who have direct personal knowledge and specific memories of using the park for horseback riding, hay rides, walking, and recreation before December 31, 1955. These witnesses most likely will be 70 years of age or older.
We are also looking for witnesses with direct personal knowledge that prior to Dec 31, 1955 the city encouraged citizens to use the land for horseback riding, hay rides, walking, and recreation.
Any persons with knowledge of such witnesses please email John Case atcase@bensoncase.com with a copy to jjrcase@msn.com. You can call John on his cell at 303-667-7407.
Thank you!!
John Case
BENSON & CASE, LLP
1660 S. Albion Street, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80222
Phone|303-757-8300 Fax|303-753-0444 Web| www.bensoncase.com
City Park West Neighborhood Survey (and upcoming meeting)
Via email:
Neighbors, please take a minute to complete this survey about living in CPW! It only takes a few minutes and will greatly help the CPW neighborhood reorganization!
Go to http://www.cityparkwestsurvey.com
Don't forget; the first meeting is next Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30pm, at Harry's at Vine St Pub on 17th. Thank you!!!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Denver City Council gets greedy, discusses imposing new tax on medical marijuana
from Rx MaryJane via Facebook
Dear Honorable City Council Members,
I know you that you are discussing a special marijuana sales tax for the City of Denver. In the last A64 working group meeting, the idea of applying it to medical marijuana sales as well as recreational/retail sales was brought up. I would discourage The Council from doing this for several reasons.
No prescription drug card for cannabis. Unlike other medications, cannabis isn't covered by prescription drug programs so 100% of the cost comes out of the pockets of patients. Most patients with conditions that allow one to be on the registry like MS, cancer, AIDS and even chronic pain, are already at a financial disadvantage. This tax will make more expensive and more difficult for patients to afford the medication theyneed.
Prescription drugs are not subject to sales tax in Colorado. Although technically cannabis is not "prescribed", the process for legally obtaining it is even more onerous and expensive. Patients already have additional expenses like a special visit to the doctor and registry fees which are not covered by insurance. Medical marijuana patients and the industry didn't object to paying standard sales tax because we wanted acceptance, figuring that cities would be more open to allowing medical marijuana if there was a financial incentive. However, piling on another special tax simply because it's marijuana is unreasonable. Calling it a "sin tax" and applying it to medical marijuana is offensive to thousands of patients in Denver and across the state.
Patients are patients. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that many (if not most) of the people on the medical marijuana registry don't really need it. Some people think that marijuana should be reserved for those who are on their deathbeds, have tried everything else and have run out of options. Who would we deny someone dying of cancer a medication that might give them comfort in their final days? But those who are not at that point, who might actually feel better, must be faking it and really only want marijuana to get high. We do not apply these same standards to patients using other medications. Are we as concerned about the 19-year-old who gets a prescription for a potentially lethal opiate when he gets his wisdom teeth removed? Perhaps we should be.
This will hurt the chances of passing the tax. Amendment 64 specifically states that medical marijuana is separate and distinct from recreational marijuana. The voters recognize that difference as well. The general public is sympathetic to cannabis patients, and applying this special city sales tax to medical could be enough to push voters to vote against it. And because of the way A64 is written, this tax could be open for a constitutional challenge. Are you willing to risk that?
Although I think that trying to pass an additional special tax this November is a mistake and should wait until 2014, it would be an even bigger mistake to apply that tax to medical marijuana sales. For patients across Colorado, I hope that you will reconsider and eliminate this as an option in your discussions.
Sincerely,
M. Teri Robnett
Cannabis Patients Action Network
(07/08/13)
ALL THINGS MJ with Jessica LeRoux - July 8, 2013
Ed. Note: Jessica needs our help to be selected as a member of the State Licensing Authority working group. Who could possibly be a better choice? Please email as suggested.
If any of y'all would like to support my bid to be a part of Colorado's A-64 rule making team please email jordan.wellington@state.co.us and ask please that Jessica LeRoux be chosen for the SLA working group. Thanks, you really only need that one sentence with my name saying you support my candidacy.
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I am submitting my application to participate in the SLA process for the rules concerning implementation of A-64. This will be my second letter of intent, I sent a Letter to Barbara Brohl, Laura Harris & Ron Kamerzell back in April/May after attending every task force and legislative work group meeting, when the legislative session was winding down as I felt the group would likely begin immediately (as there is much work to do).
My Name is Jessica LeRoux
I am the Owner of Twirling Hippy Confections founded in mid-2009, and the president of the Colorado Juror Education Project, Current member of the town of Nederland CO A-64 task force, as well as a past member of the Board of Directors of Act4CO.
you can contact me at 303 922 3661 or by email at lady@twirlinghippy.com please feel free to reach me with any questions you may have.
My Qualifications:
Twirling Hippy Confections is the oldest sole proprietorship licensed by Colorado to manufacture edibles, & the 1st to complete MMED renewal of any license for a MIPs this spring! I think my strong record of compliance is a real asset, but most importantly I can maintain timely progress because I understand the promulgation process, being the sole industry member on the original DOR/MMED rule making panel who is still in the business, *with no investigations for violation of MMED rules. I bring needed perspective from small business owners; Most of my clients are family owned and have a single location, not some big slick front range conglomerate insiders eating up the smaller competition due to unfair rules written for them during the promulgation of HB101284. It is very important that the small town owner operator model be given equal consideration to the desires of the large Lobbyist driven conglomerates who represent a mere minority of completed licensees. I personally deliver my company's products (in the state's only refrigerated truck dedicated to delivery of medicated products) thereby securing a solid relationship with my rural clients who do not have access to the big city politics up in Denver. I am well known throughout the state for putting the needs and concerns of rural patients and their providers on the legislative map (though we rarely get our voices heard over the din of all the bought -n- paid agendas coming at the industry from every side).
Thank you for considering me for a position in the working groups, I would be honored to once again provide a voice of reason on behalf of the smaller but noticeably more compliant businesses who prioritize paying their fees and following the rules rather than wasting money lobbying for rules to benefit their own profiteering agenda, but not paying to operate legally as many of the biggest operators are the ones who have been playing games with their investor money and not paying the MMED their much needed fees.
Thanks again, Now more than ever y'all really need some credible honest owner operators to represent the industry side without giving the state agency a black eye when they get caught with their pants on fire, please choose me, I wont let you down!
Jessica LeRoux
303 922 3661
2145 W Evans
Denver CO 80223Annotated A-64 rules and other Cannabis news of the week!
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Jessica LeRoux ** a note from the writer: as I was enjoying some lovely sunshine and free wifi at a friends house and typing up my annotated notes with my beloved dog at my feet a mean tempered hound came over and bit Panama all to hell sending my computer flying from my lap and prompting a 2 hour dash to find an emergency veterinarian. We ended up with a $700 vet bill but the vet was able to put the skin back on, and therefor save his entire leg! I got back to Denver but all my stuff is still at my friends house in the mountains including the pages I was working on... I did manage to settle him in under the desk and we can stay here tonight so he doesnt get bumped and jolted back up the hill... what i did not manage was to save a portion of the newsletter in progress, so Ive redone what I could recall, and plan to get my papers back and begin again on the type up for y'all as well as maybe sending anything else I can recall a bit later this week. Right now I dont have the emotional resources to start over so this is a truncated news letter thanks for reading anyway!
Hey Now,
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23575602/republican-state-rep-mark-waller-run-colorado-attorney
Don Quick is no fucking better as an avowed prohibitionist and supporter of DUID limits for THC...http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_22569557/democrat-don-quick-former-da-run-colorado-attorney
And dont even get started on Ken Buck the dumb fuck: http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_23357999/colorados-2014-race-attorney-general-could-be-crowded
*If y'all dont pay attention to this race you stand to loose all the so called "legalization" ground that CO has gained in recent years.
That said do you have to be an Atty to be Atty General? Cause if the options dont improve I might have to make a run, we gotta find a candidate for this job!
Could this possibly be related to the fact that most MIPs are consolidated in big group kitchens that havent paid the fees on the 1st license for their kitchens at all yet???
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Whole Foods Union-Busting - Phil Goodstein - Naysayer - July 2013
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| Historian Phil Goodstein |
When Whole Foods, a national elite supermarket chain, worked out a deal with Sears around the beginning of the 21st century to open a Denver store in Cherry Creek, yuppies went into raptures. The new grocery was their beau ideal, a place which provided top-quality produce and a sophisticated food experience. More than that, patronizing the place and paying high prices made them feel good. It promised to procure its fruits and vegetables locally and from growers who treated their workers with a modicum of respect. Before long, Whole Foods swallowed a local chain of natural groceries, Wild Oats. Today, such fancy markets are a trendy rage. Mile High champions have noted their proliferation. This is especially the case among those who, while being appalled by Walmart’s efforts to get a massive handout to open a store at the site of the old University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, celebrated the announcement of an adjacent Trader Joe’s. Its presence, these affluent individuals were sure, affirms their lifestyle and the success of an enlightened, humanitarian capitalism.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Denver Citizens say " Put it On the Ballot"
FRIENDS OF DENVER PARKS - JULY 5, 2013
On July 1, 2013 the Petitioners Committee filed a referendum petition with city clerk and recorder Debra Johnson to repeal the land swap deal between the city and Denver Public Schools. The referendum petition included 6,664 valid signatures of Denver registered voters. 6,129 signatures are required to place the issue on the ballot. The referendum petition included more than enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot.
On July 3, 2013 Johnson rejected the referendum petition without counting the signatures. Johnson claims that the Petitioners Committee improperly circulated the referendum petition without her permission. A copy of Johnson’s letter is available on the website www.FriendsofDenverParks.Org.
On July 5, 2013 the firm of Benson & Case filed a motion in Denver District Court to bring additional claims against Johnson in the pending lawsuit. Benson & Case is representing the plaintiffs on a pro bono basis. The new claims against Johnson ask Judge Herbert L. Stern III to declare unconstitutional section 8.3.2 (C) of the City Charter. Section 8.3.2 requires Denver citizens to obtain permission of the clerk and recorder before circulating a referendum petition. In this case, Johnson refused to give her permission.
Plaintiff’s counsel John Case said, “We believe that section 8.3.2 (C) of the City Charter is an unconstitutional restriction of the First Amendment rights.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The Contempt of the Rulers - Phil Goodstein - The Naysayer July 2013
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| Historian Phil Goodstein |
In the early 1770s, the British government was sick and tired of the American colonies. All those living in them did was complain. Rather than promptly and cheerfully paying new taxes and readily accepting any and all assertions of royal power, residents protested the king’s actions. They submitted a variety of petitions, spelling out their grievances. In response, the British administration became ever more abrupt with the colonies, chastising those who submitted the remonstrances and denouncing their messengers. Having no other alternative, those living in the
If Denver did not have a completely dead political culture, a recall effort would be underway against clerk and recorder Debra Johnson. Recently, she rejected a citizen petition to force a referendum about a city council vote giving away much of
The Denver Post featured the tales of Nichols and Henry. It has paid far more attention to the inside workings of
Of course, a discussion of labor and poverty is missing from the New Yorker. Traditional liberal slants that all of the populace should benefit from a rising economy is beyond it and the Hickenlooper crowd. At no time since the Democratic resurgence in 2004 has that party used its power in the statehouse to reverse the longtime Republican record of reaction. Particularly missing has been any effort at restoring the progressive income tax destroyed by the Republicans. Instead, all the New Yorker and other trendy liberals see are a few social issues. Far from changing a system of exploitation designed to enhance those with wealth and power, New Yorker establishment liberalism is nothing but the opportunity for a few select women, Hispanos, blacks, gays, and others to rise to the top of the exploitive system, so assuring more misery, hypocrisy, censorship, and the arrogant insecurity which has been the hallmark of the triumph of “reform” in
Editor's note.
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