Big US Banks sold toxic financial instruments to EU countries that are now going bankrupt and needing to be bailed out and which are imposing "austerity" measures on their people. The people don't like that and are taking to the streets to express their outrage where they are being beaten by well-equipped thugs.
From the May-June edition of Greater Park Hill News:
By Arthur Rosenblum
At the May 5 Greater Park Hill Community meeting, GPHC chair-elect and co-chair of the GPHC Zoning Committee, LeAnn Anderson, announced to the board and guests that Guardian Angels will be patrolling the portion of East Colfax Ave. between Monaco Pkwy. and Quebec St.
Anderson has been meeting with representatives of the Historic Montclair Neighborhood Association whose area includes that portion of Colfax. Nearby neighbors have been alarmed at the growing number of vacant storefronts, deterioration of properties, and violent crimes (including two murders) on the avenue. Knowing that police resources are limited and understanding that pedestrian activity on the streets helps reduce crime, the group has been meeting with the Guardian Angels who have agreed to walk the streets.
Guardian Angels representatives are encouraging residents who live along the Colfax corridor to accompany them on their walks and become familiar with the life on the street. Members of Historic Montclair, the police, GPHC and others are also encouraging neighbors to organize their blocks, receive police training and become members of Neighborhood Watch, a city wide effort to organize neighbors to look after each other’s homes and report suspicious activity.
Councilwoman Marcia Johnson, whose 5th Council District includes that portion of Colfax, indicated that it was expected that Guardian Angels patrols would take place on weekend evenings. At press time, a final decision on the days and hours of the patrols had not been finalized.
Councilwoman Johnson acknowledged the dangers in the area, but at the same time pointed to positive changes, including the purchase of the old St. Vincent de Paul building at Colfax and Pontiac by Dorothy and David Hotchkiss, owners of Hotchkiss Auto Repair. Johnson also announced that the Pasquini’s Pizzeria, with popular locations in the Highlands and on South Broadway and East 17th Ave., will be opening their fourth restaurant on the ground level of the Phoenix on The FAX apartments at Colfax and Pontiac.
District 2 police commander Rhonda Jones informed attendees that as the weather became warmer there would more police foot and bike patrols on Colfax. She also spoke well of the new COPS program that encourages taxicab drivers to report crimes and suspicious activity. The commander also urged neighbors to call the police whenever they were aware of potentially criminal activity. Initially, she said, crime would be displaced to other areas, but eventually those responsible would get the message that that type of behavior would not be tolerated.
The Denver Police Department’s non-emergency number is 720-913-2000.
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| Doctors prepare to remove dressings from Adrienne's head 3 days after brain surgery. |
In the on-going and seemingly endless Denver campaign for mayor, Michael Hancock continues to whine about Chris Romer's dirty campaign practices. For example, by email today, Hancock says "Chris Romer and his allies have reached a new low, using dirty tactics never before seen in Denver." I've gone to mayoral debates, watched the TV ads, read the emails, and listened to the robocalls, and I have yet to see anything I would call dirty campaigning.
To me, a dirty campaign would include spreading false rumors about your opponent or trying to set up your opponent for an embarrassing gotcha moment with a good-looking woman, hopefully in a sleazy bar. I've seen none of this. What I have seen is egregious violation of City laws as to where you can legally place campaign signs. Both candidates, and their eager volunteers, seem to condone plastering the public right-of-way with campaign signs.
When I saw approximately 40 Romer for Mayor signs neatly spaced on the west side of Colorado Blvd, south of 23rd Ave, in the public right-of-way, at about 4:30 pm today, I had had enough. At about 5:00, I called Romer headquarters and told the young man who answered that these signs had to be taken down. At first he said they were legal because it was "24-hours before the election cycle". What?
I told him that they had until tomorrow morning to remove them or I was going to go there and videotape myself removing them, and post the video on this blog. He got all huffy and said he would call the police and have me arrested for theft. No, says I, I would be picking up litter on the public right of way, a public service. I would even return the signs to his headquarters once I removed them. When I asked for his name, he hung up.
This inspired me to call the non-emergency number for District 2 police. I was informed that "no police officer in District 2 would write you a ticket for removing the illegally placed signs from the right-of-way", and that I could "ask for a "civil stand-by" to have an officer there". Now emboldened, I got back in the car and drove to 23rd and Colorado Blvd. It was about 5:30, and all of the signs were removed. They were now in the hands of three people who were just then crossing the boulevard. Mission accomplished.
I certainly didn't want to fall into the same category as John Bailey, who, you may remember, was accused of threatening people over yard sign removal back in 2007, when his wife Sharon was running for District 8 City Council. I understand John Bailey is now Wil Alston's campaign manager.Which brings me to the current District 8 City Council race, between Wil Alston and Albus Brooks.
I attended the Denver Decides District 8 forum at Church in the City on Wednesday, May 11. Having seen the mobil TV truck parked outside, I didn't bother to bring my camera, opting instead to give each candidate a packet of information before the debate about the on-going pollution of City Park's Ferril lake with Lowery Landfill water - you know, my favorite "Dead Duck" issue. I included my card and asked each of them to call me to set up an interview at their convenience.
Ch 8 had it covered, with three cameras and a nice setup on-stage. You can watch it here. Aside from the mistaken information from moderator Beverly Weaver about Carla Madison's running for a 3rd term, it was all pretty much pro forma, that is to say, boring beyond belief. There were about 50 people there, and I suspect that about half of them were with one or other of the campaigns.
Alas, neither candidate called . Neither Wil Alston nor Albus Brooks had the fortitude to even call and politely decline my invitation for an interview. They both say they want to hear about resident's concerns, but they are both more concerned with mouthing platitudes and promoting themselves. OK, I know this Dead Duck problem might be considered a State issue, but the original secret deal was between then-mayor Wellington Webb and the major polluters. This, and the fact that a least one neighbor who lived across the street from City Park has now died of cancer, and that dogs walked in City Park are dying of tumors, would seem to make it a matter of some importance to all of the residents around City Park - that is to say, District 8.
So grab those ballots and get started. For Mayor - you've got your choice between the slick bankster and the dumb guy, and in District 8 City Council race you can choose between the basketball scholarship guy (Alston) or the football scholarship guy (Brooks), neither of whom has the balls to talk to me on camera.
Editorial Opinion by Cathy Donohue
The current campaign to become Denver's next mayor has, thus far, been lacking in specifics regarding how either candidate will fix the "red tape" challenge. There is little meaning to this phrase, and no candidate has yet proposed any solutions, but "red tape" seems to be a big issue.
Unlike San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco and most cities across the country, Denver has no Development Services Program. Whenever anyone wishes to develop a project in Denver, they must stumble through all of the separate agencies (Zoning, Planning, Water, Wastewater, Environmental Health, Transportation, etc.,) without guidance. It is not "red tape", it is Denver's antiquated development services method that is costly and time consuming. There are many small developers who simply do not get permits for construction; its much cheaper to avoid the city agencies.
Since the days of Mayor McNichols various individuals have presented proposals to fix the problem. Harold Cook (Manager of Public Works) wrote a consolidated services program for builders. McNichols did not want to do anything that might change the "system", mostly corrupt, that was used during his reign by building inspectors and agency managers. Margaret Browne, a Pena appointee, wrote a similar proposal called "The Transfer Study", which he ignored.
When I was the chair of the Public Works Committee of Council in 1991, just before Webb took office, Council approved funding for a major study of the same subject. As a Webb appointee, I used the basic framework of this report (The Prior Report) to put together a development services proposal that Webb was uninterested in pursuing.
I met with Mr. Hickenlooper very shortly before he won his race for mayor, hoping I could persuade him to use the recommendations of all the former studies. He simply told me he did not want to use "any" of Webb's programs; he would build a "new" Denver--his way.
Six months before he marched up the hill to the State Capitol, Hick asked a competent senior city employee to build a Development Services Agency. After almost eight years, he finally remembered that he had promised to "cut red tape" and "fix permitting".
Unless the next Mayor of Denver takes the initiative and tells his new appointees that Development Services will finally be established, the program will die and the agencies will return to their former practices. Why has Denver remained in the same rut for the past 45 years? No Mayor has chosen to take control of the agencies under his command as soon as he is sworn in, ordering Denver to join the rest of the country and give builders the kind of service they expect.
Bringing new business to Denver is only part of the battle. If professional developments services do not become a reality for Denver under the leadership of a strong mayor, we will continue to have this black mark against our reputation. The message has to be given to his appointees before they breath the rarified air in each of their "separate kingdoms".
We are all waiting to hear how our new mayor will cut "red tape".
by email: (attachments not included - use the Google)
Neighbors –
I wanted to make you aware of increased crime in the neighborhood. There have been a number of car break-ins (one individual was seen using a “slim jim” to unlock the door). Also, late last week a woman was jogging at the intersection of East 16th Avenue and Vine Street and was nearly assaulted / kidnapped. Fortunately one of our neighbors was driving by at the time and scared the guy off.
** As a reminder, if you see ANY suspicious activity call the police immediately. ** We have been very successful over the years in cleaning up our neighborhood by being proactive and collaborating with the DPD. The police appreciate our “eyes and ears” as ultimately we are the ones who know what’s going on in OUR neighborhood.
On a lighter note, find attached some information that you may find interesting . . .
1. Denver Parks and Recreation Community Meeting – Rec Center tiering and associated fee changes, scholarship opportunities and My Place program (see attached);
2. Denver Public Library Community Budget Meetings – the DPL will be holding a series of meetings to raise awareness of the Library’s current budget shortfall, inform the public of possible long-term funding solutions and gather community feedback (see attached);
3. City Park Road between Montview and East 17th Avenue permanent closure (see attached);
4. Mayoral Run-Off debate Tuesday at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science;
5. Home improvement tips from the City of Denver;
6. The Vine Street Pub is proposing a Block Party in September to celebrate Belgian Month – please let me know if you are opposed to this event.
Hope all’s well!
Justin
Via email:
Dear Parents & Faculty,
DPS is currently under contract with TruGreen Chemlawn for pesticide and herbicide application at every school in the district. The pesticides and herbicides are applied twice a year, supposedly when students are not present. However, last fall these chemicals were applied while a group of parents and students were congregated outside of the school and they were overcome by the "fog." Research showed the pesticides in use contain 2,4-D, a chemical that may be toxic and harmful to human health.
Because children’s immune systems are particularly sensitive to environmental toxins, we're asking for your support in letting DPS know that we find the use of these products unacceptable in areas where our children are playing. The district contract for these services is up for renewal soon, and we want to ensure our voice is heard.
Please help us send this message by signing our online petition entitled Help Stop the Use of Pesticides with Harmful Chemicals at Denver Public Schools HERE.
We're trying to collect 100 signatures and we will send this to the adminstration at DPS.
It'll just take a minute! Once you're done, please ask your friends to sign the petition as well, particularly families within the DPS system.
Thanks in advance for your support!
The Edison Green Team
A Denver City Council District 8 run-off candidate forum is going on today from 5-6:45 p.m. at RedLine Art, 2350 Arapahoe St. The forum is aimed at letting people find out more about run-off candidates Wil Alston and Albus Brooks. Brooks and Alston received the most write-in votes to replace Councilwoman Carla Madison, who died this year from cancer.
DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Gerald R. Whitman, Chief of Police
PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 16, 2011
To: All Denver Police Officers, Media, Denver City Council, and Denver Community Associations.
Contact: Sonny Jackson
Phone: 720-913-6534
Dennver Police are looking for a robbery suspect believed to be involved in several robberies in the Metro Area. In two Denver cases, the suspect approaches the victims on foot with a knife, demands valuables and flees. In one case the suspect uses his vehicle to "bump" the rear of the female victim's car. Once the victim gets out to view the damage, the suspect the pushes victim out of the way and reaches into the victim's car and takes her purse and then flees.
These crimes occurred:
04/23/11 0231 hours 1600 block Gaylord Street
04/25/11 2133 hours 303 Josephine Street
05/01/11 0030 hours E. Wesley Ave. & S. Quebec St.
The suspect is described as black male, 30-40 years old, 5'10-6'00 tall, 200-230 pounds. The suspect vehicle has been described as a 2001-2003 Acura CL coupe, black or dark blue in color, 5 spoke star type rims, tinted windows.
If you have any information regarding the identification or location of this suspect, please contact the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000 or call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash award up to $2,000.
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