Everyone is Going Gay!

From the looks of things at the Denver's Annual Pridefest Parade, everyone is going gay! Hip, hip, hurray! Great turn out, great weather, homophobia be gone! Spread the word.

(Second) Update on Former Planned Parenthood Site...

from Peter J. Hynes, Architect, of urbitecture, inc. 1736 Race St, Denver

20th and Vine

IMPORTANT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING: Come discuss the Argus Senior Residences project proposed on the corner of 20th & Vine Who: CPWNA and Argus Home Health When: Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30pm Where: Harry's Chop House, next to Vine Street Pub Why: We need your input! Pizza and beverages will be provided For more information, please contact Bryan Craig with City Park West Neighborhood Association at (303) 885-2861 or Sean Maley at (303) 570-3096 or smaley@crlassociates.com Ed. comment: Looks great to me! The new zoning map shows this as a G-MU-3 zone (too bad I can't find a definition of this anywhere at the site).

Newborn Miniatures

Our friend Tom has a ranch north of Denver where he raises miniature horses. He's got a new batch this spring and has started the process of "gentling" them.

Credit Cards Akimbo

The entire credit card "industry" is one giant scam. Remember when our mailboxes were being flooded with entreaties to sign up for another “introductory zero interest rate” scam? Remember when people proudly showed you that they had 20 credit cards, and they actually carried them all in their wallets? It seemed a mark of wealth but was really an indication of extreme stupidity. You might have had a total of $100,000 “available” in your credit limits. Wow, you were “rich”. But how could you not see that paying $18 a month on a debt of $3000 would have you paying interest for the next ten years? And if you added a few purchases from month to month you might have been able to see that you would never pay off your actual debt and that with rates as high as 29%, you might be paying forever. You probably could not even remember what you bought with your card, and yet here you were now paying it off – forever! And then it seemed prudent to refinance your house to pay off your credit cards. Now you were turning your credit card debt into a mortgage. Now you could take 30 years to pay off that $10,000 debt, with the result that you would pay back $30,000 for that $10,000 worth of stuff you couldn’t even identify. Not smart! Now with some kind of “reform” coming down the pike, these companies are scurrying to fleece you in new, creative ways. As usual, I’ll take an example from my own experience to elucidate. I keep two cards, one for business expenses and one for personal expenses. In May, I, along with millions of others, received a notice from Chase that my limit was being lowered from $9800 to $3000 (merely a business decision they said) and the interest rate was being increased to 29%. I really didn’t care that much since I always pay the entire balance off each month. But then I encountered the recent inflation of dental costs. One of my next to front teeth broke off at the gum line. I was flabbergasted to discover that the cost of fixing it was going to be $2200, but you can’t go around with a gaping hole in your smile, so I put it on my personal credit card. I knew I might be close to my new limit, but I didn’t actually check on it since I had just paid off the previous months balance. When the credit card bill arrived, I carefully scanned the charges (something you MUST now do every month). Apparently, for one day, my balance had exceeded the new $3000 limit. And there it was, a $39 charge for exceeding this new lower limit. Mind you, this was not for not paying, just for exceeding the new lower limit they had set. You may have also discovered that if you protest these charges, the credit card company may back down and remove them. I called to protest, and they agreed to remove the charge BEFORE I EVEN ASKED! My point? Scan every month’s bill and protest every charge. Better, yet, keep your card for emergencies and pay in cash.

Medicare for All!

You’ve probably noticed a lot of discussion on healthcare – how many people don’t have health insurance, how a medical calamity can cause a family to lose their home through foreclosure, how universal healthcare is socialism, etc. You may have become confused with the new terms “single-payer”, “public option”, and so on. And what about the confusion between “healthcare” and “health insurance”? President Obama seemed committed to getting something done, but “single-payer” was “off the table”. What is going on? I see the whole thing from the point of view of a person who, for most of my life, could never afford health insurance, but who always got good healthcare for myself and my family by paying for it. As luck would have it, we all stayed pretty healthy, and never suffered a medical calamity. When I reached the age of 65, I enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. I didn’t get “supplemental” insurance to pay my parts of A and B, and I didn’t get Part D (Bush’s give-away to the big drug companies). So far I’ve done okay with that as well. Learning how the system works has been quite interesting. Here’s my example. 1. I went to the emergency room at PSL on Jan. 5 with severe abdominal pain. I gave them my Medicare card and signed a statement that I would be financially responsible for the bill. 2. Among other tests, I was given two ct-scans, one before and one after an iodine injection. The ER doctor talked to me for about 5 minutes and said I might have irritable bowel syndrome, but that the tests showed nothing unusual. I was given a shot of morphine and a prescription for a pain killer. 3. Days later the invoices began arriving. The total for the ER visit was $7,304.00. The ER doctor was an additional $789.09. Had I not had insurance of any kind, these are the amounts I would have had to pay. However, based on my prior experience without insurance, I know that PSL would have offered me a deal – pay now and we will give you 50% off. But with Medicare as my insurance provider, I was going to get a much better deal. 4. The ct-scan charges were listed as $2,064.00 and $1,766.00. Medicare actually paid $176.00 and $111.63 to PSL. I had to pay a total of $24.55 for both. In total, I paid about $200.00 for the $7,304.00 ER visit. 5. BTW, Medicare is administered by the Government at an agency called CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). I understand their “overhead” is 3%. From this example we see that: 1. Soaring medical expenses are the “list” or retail price. 2. Medicare allowed about 10% of the list price. 3. The poor schlumps without any insurance were the ones who would pay the highest price (50% off), and, I presume, those with other kinds of insurance would pay somewhere between the list price and the Medicare price. 4. Everybody should have Medicare. But how will we pay for this? you may ask. Well, we could stop trying to be the world’s police department and cut the military budget in half. But most likely, we would pay for it the same way we are paying for the bailouts, the stimulus plans, the wars, and that $250.00 check I just got along with 50,000 other Coloradoans. We would simply have the Federal Reserve cartel print the money, and use that money for “quantitative easing” to monetize the debt by having the Fed buy Treasuries, just like they are doing now. Of course this “fiat money” path leads to inflation and eventual ruin. But that’s coming anyway, so why not get good health care along the way. Medicare for all! Addendum: I forgot to add that this Medicare "insurance" costs me $96.40 per month, automatically deducted from my Social Security payment.

Aim for the Middle

My good friend George McKelvey (1936 – 2009) passed away in March and I’ve been contemplating writing a bit about him since then – but death brings a new perspective and sometimes you have to let that settle for a while. I first met George back in the mid-seventies through Linda Byers and John McClure III. Linda was a film student in a class I was teaching at the Western States Film Institute. Linda made a great short film, and John, a musician, played the main role. George was always thinking – and constantly coming up with new ideas. The first project we worked on together was a film about the Kennedy assassination (but that story, involving John McClure II (John III's father), John Denver and Dick Gregory, will have to wait for a while, because it’s too long for this occasion). We also went to Hollywood to shoot a pilot (I was the cameraman, George the producer) starring Jonathan Moore, an English comedian who also became a good friend. We shot scenes which included Pat Paulson and Rory Flynn, and a guy from Mash, whose name I can’t remember. After a month in L.A., we returned to Denver, frazzled and fried. George was always making “moves”. Building a gigantic log lodge in Evergreen himself, and then selling it. Selling his RV, buying a boat. Selling that boat, and buying another. Starting Denver’s first comedy shop, “The Comedy Works” on Larimer, second floor, and then pulling out and starting another, and another. He ran many improv classes which turned into acts, including one which my then-wife Bonita joined called “Spur of the Moment”. I think he was also instrumental in starting “Chicken Lips”. which earned a life of its own. And George was a maniac joke teller. He always made sure that you had heard the “latest”, and they were always funny. When he moved to Albuquerque where his wife Carole had gotten a job, he continued to call me to discuss current events, and would always start with a great joke. In fact, I have to admit, that it was George who saw to it that our friendship continued, with his periodic phone calls, after he left Denver. Years of hard living took its toll on George, and his health began to decline in Albuquerque. He lost a lot of weight due to a misdiagnosed bout of diverticulitis, which he had correctly suggested was the problem all along. Boy did he carp about that one. Although George always contended that a black cloud hovered above him all the time, he was actually an eternal optimist, plotting against the fates to continue his routine. I was amazed to learn that he had moved once again, to Hemet, CA, to be closer to L.A., still thinking about potential movie parts and comedy routines. Over the years, I shot a lot of footage of George, some of which is now so old I don’t even have the hardware to play it on. But I’ve got a lot of good stuff, one of the best of which is his original “Aim for the Middle”, which I present here. Thanks for all the laughs and friendship George, you were one of a kind. Also check out the tribute to George on YouTube created by his son Ian, and his Scopitone music video.

New Senators Sworn-in

Michael Johnston (SD33) and Patrick Steadman (SD31) were sworn-in this morning in the Colorado Senate chambers.

Update on Former Planned Parenthood Site...

..at 20th and Vine. From architect Peter J Hynes:

I have attached the latest rendering that currently seems to be most palatable with the neighborhood. We are still in the process of working with the adjacent neighbors on the zoning of the property. Our project is 100% affordable senior housing with home health services. The project is 5 stories with 45 underground parking for the residences and 20 surface parking spaces for the home health agency. It is our mission to help seniors age in place within their communities while designing sustainably. This project is proposed on an existing underutilized site and will not displace any families in the community. We do anticipate housing seniors from within the community which could result in making available existing housing stock for new and young families. Finally, through the use of our planned shared community space, we hope this project will foster intergenerational dialogue, create a wealth of interaction between seniors and younger families, and encourage sustainable/smart growth.

Commercial Use of Denver Parks

By Dave Felice Denver Parks and Recreation Manager Kevin Patterson is reviving a controversial proposal to allow park lands to be closed for exclusive commercial events such as music concerts. About nine months in his new position, Patterson is now summoning members of the Admissions-Based Special Events Policy (ABSEP) Task Force to a public meeting May 21 at La Alma Recreation Center to discuss moving forward on the policy which would prevent free and open public access to parks. The meeting, open to everyone, will be from 3:00 to 5:00 at 1325 West 11th Avenue. Patterson earlier indicated he would pursue the development of a policy to govern closed commercial events in public parks, but declined specific comment. “Parks and Recreation has an admission-based special events task force that has been in place for several months. The department will continue the process already in place and continue to develop a policy,” said Patterson shortly after taking his new post. “Once the task force draft policy is completed, we will vet it through the proper channels, including neighborhood organizations, City Council and others.” The policy would affect all Denver parks, but focuses on seven so-called “festival parks” where selling and serving alcoholic beverages is already permitted. The seven “festival” parks are Sloan's Lake, City Park, Confluence Park west of lower downtown, Civic Center, Creekfront Park along Speer Boulevard between Lawrence and Larimer, Skyline Park along Arapahoe Street in downtown, and the DCPA Sculpture Park. Former Parks Manager Kim Bailey set up the Task Force in late 2007 after promoter Chuck Morris proposed taking over the western two-thirds of City Park for a multi-day, multi-stage rock music festival. When the Denver Zoo and neighborhood advocates objected, that festival was successfully moved to a sports field complex in Commerce City. “Last year Denver Parks and Recreation asked (the Task Force members) to consider the idea of allowing Admission Based events in Denver's Parks,” now writes Patterson in his meeting notice. “This conversation was put on hold to allow me to get up to speed on the issues surrounding this subject. Though it has been some time since you all have met as a task force, I would like to ask you to come together again to review the final recommendations of each committee and discuss the viability of this policy moving forward.” In 2008, ABSEP committees discussed organizational matters such as policy and legal considerations, fees, park locations, and site plans. The Task Force gives the appearance of public involvement. Morris publicly presented plans for his festival in November 2007, even though documents show he was in private talks with Parks and Recreation as early as July of that year. Neighborhood advocates are outnumbered by about three-to-one by event organizers and city officials on the ABSEP Task Force. Numerous neighborhood representatives contend it is improper to prevent open access to public park land. They declare parks are public property and should not be turned into sources of revenue. Other skeptical neighborhood representatives are concerned about the adverse environmental impact, noise, and congestion. Former City Councilwoman Cathy Donohue has said closing the parks for private, profit-making ventures would constitute a lease, in violation of city charter. Former Parks Manger Carolyn Etter has stated emphatically: “The parks are not for sale.” Cindy Johnstone, of Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park (FANS) and former Denver Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member, questions how Parks and Recreation actually determines the overall wishes of city residents. Larry Ambrose of Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood Association has repeatedly said that “there is a right place, right time, and right type of commercial activities charging an entrance fee”, maintaining that a new park like a “Red Rocks in the City” would be the only acceptable admission based park. Bailey said there appeared to be little or no interest in development of a genuine permanent festival site in Denver. While some neighborhood representatives continue to suggest the city develop a specific site for commercial events, Bailey commented “I doubt Elitch's is moving” and noted that a festival park has not been considered as new neighborhoods and city facilities were built in recent years. Several neighborhood activists have also expressed strong sentiment that any draft policy should be presented to the public for approval, through public hearings and a vote. Cheesman Park area resident Steve Lang contends “it makes sense to find out what voters want,” since the policy would “take public facilities and convert them to private or semi-private uses.” He described the policy as “a significant change to the way public facilities are used and managed.” Although allowing closed commercial events would be a major change in parks management, Assistant City Attorney Patrick Wheeler claims the Parks Department can make the change under its rule-making authority and a public vote is not required. Wheeler has said the “festival” concept is not defined in writing, but is part of the various categories of permits issued for the use of city parks. Generally, he says, a festival would involve some primary event, beverage sales, and vendor booths which would make up the “character of activities.” He also draws a distinction between a festival and an assembly which is considered an event for the expression of free speech. Bailey said developing a policy on commercial closure of park lands was not on her agenda and was generated by the proposal from Morris as head of Anschutz Entertainment (AEG Live). “We are not pushing this (policy),” said Bailey. “When the (AEG) proposal was presented, it was a time to reconsider and rethink our policy.” Bailey acknowledged she was “not comfortable” with the idea of exclusive commercial events in parks, but said the city needs a policy to deal with such proposals. Parks Marketing Manager Jill McGranahan has admitted that the exclusive commercial events policy is an effort to "look at alternative ways to offset the cost" of running the parks. She contends that current nonprofit events effectively result in closure of sections of parks anyway. Bailey also emphasized that Parks is not responsible for regulating alcoholic beverage sales. “(Organizers) have to follow (city) Excise and License rules,” she said. “It is the organizers' hurdle to work with (beverage sales) regulators.” Denver Parks and Recreation has "internal guidelines" on what might be considered objectionable during a festival event. One requirement is that no permanent signage is allowed. Promotion of firearms, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages is not permitted. At one point, Bailey did acknowledge, however, that if nudists presented a proposal for a park event, they would be considered. Architect Tom Morris, of the Capitol Hill area, is highly critical. “As a citizen who has expended years defending City Park mostly against the hair-brained schemes of municipal government, I urge you (Patterson) to join your predecessors…in keeping our parks for public access,” wrote Morris. “Please…stop the latest scheme to fence off parks for private gain. The public does not invest its treasure in our parks so that a few entrepreneurs can harvest the fruits of this investment.” District 4 City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann, chair of the Public Amenities Committee, and Committee member Marcia Johnson of District 5 have not commented publicly on the issue of exclusive commercial events in parks. District 8 Councilwoman, Carla Madison, also a member of the Amenities Committee, was an early and enthusiastic backer of the Morris festival proposal for City Park. Madison appeared in a promotional video prepared even before the proposal was made public. She is also a member of the ABSEP Task Force. Her husband, Paul Weiss, has been active organizing non-profit events in parks. Parks analysts have presented comparisons of Denver's City Park with Grant Park in Chicago, Zilker Park in Austin, and Piedmont Park in Atlanta. At Grant Park, the Lollapalooza festival runs three days with 75,000 people per day, nine stages, and 65 percent of the park is closed of 17 days. Austin City Limits handles 70,000 people per day over three days, with seven stages and one youth stage in half of the park space. The concert area of Zilker Park is closed for 19 days. Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, subject of continuing legal controversy over management, hosted one concert with attendance of 52,000. The concert section, 20 percent of the park, was closed for six-and-a-half days. The City of Milwaukee provides a dramatic precedent for a permanent festival facility. Milwaukee Summerfest is a yearly music festival held at the 75-acre Henry Maier Festival Park along the lakefront. The festival lasts for 11 days, and attracts almost one million people each year. The festival grounds have 10 permanent stages and a 23,000 seat amphitheater. Summerfest is run by the non-profit Milwaukee World Festival Inc. The Maier Park property on Lake Michigan is actually owned by the Port Authority. Milwaukee World Festival sub-leases the property to various other groups for other large festivals throughout the year. For example, Irish Fest in Milwaukee is the largest in the world, hosting up to 150,000 people over four days. Patterson has no actual park experience. He comes to the post of Manager of Parks and Recreation after being the city’s Director of General Services. As Parks Manager, Patterson's official salary is $130,531 per year. Patterson is also a member of the Denver School Board. Residents can send comments to Parks and Recreation Manager Kevin Patterson. His name, address, and phone number are not posted on the Parks web site at www.denvergov.org. Patterson’s city e-mail is Kevin.Patterson @ci.denver.co.us. He can be contacted in his capacity as an elected School Board official at kevin_patterson @dpsk12.org. His postal address is Department 601, 201 West Colfax, Denver 80202. Patterson’s phone number is not listed. His assistant, Angela Casias, can be reached at 720-913-0741. Written and e-mail communication is a public document, subject to provisions of the Colorado Open Records Act.

Colfax Marathon

I wasn't really planning on shooting the beginning of the Marathon, but since I woke up early and it was only 1 block away... Later, I ambled down to 17th and Gaylord where a group of enthusiastic supporters stood and cheered as the runners turned north. I was told that the front runner was way out in the lead and had passed there about an hour and a half earlier. Cheers to all who participated. Update: From 9news.com:

Hear are the winners: Half marathon men's winner: Andrew Smith and his time was 1:10:10. Half marathon women's winner: Becky Pretty and her time was 1:25:54. Full marathon men's winner: Matt Kempton and his time was 2:41:10. Full marathon women's winner: Heather Utratra and her time was 3:13:48.