Whole Foods Union-Busting - Phil Goodstein - Naysayer - July 2013

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.

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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.

The Contempt of the Rulers - Phil Goodstein - The Naysayer July 2013

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 New World increasingly resorted to direct action, arming themselves against English tyranny. The upshot was the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin was among those decrying the deafness of the British government. “Where complaining is a crime,” he observed, “hope becomes despair.” Far from learning this lesson, officeholders of all stripes in the United States have increasingly looked to the British model in recent decades. They have thrown armed guards around their buildings against the public while arranging for ever greater compensation for their elected positions. Simultaneously they have howled about terrorist conspiracies while the politicians have insisted that the everyday public show unquestioning respect to public officials.

This has particularly stood out of late with the Adams County board of commissioners. In April, it decreed that the public can only protest or seek to interact with the administration at extremely limited, isolated spots around the courthouse. Part of the reason, board chairwoman Democrat Eva Henry explained, was because dealing with the citizenry is too time consuming. In particular, she lamented that high-priced lobbyists and attorneys have to wait for everyday people to have their say at public hearings.

Such elitism is not surprising. Henry gained office as a goody-goody opposed to the allegedly evil role of Alice Nichols on the board.  The latter was typical of traditional Adams County politics where nepotism and business and political connections defined the daily workings of the administration. Against this, many proponents of good government have seen themselves as enlightened agents who, through their own virtue and self-righteous commitment to public service, will automatically provide for a fair, just administration. As such, they are extremely intolerant of dissent, especially protests by those who have a completely different way of judging what is good and whom the government should serve.

Such reformers are not usually venal, unlike the thoroughly corrupt British administration of the 1770s which scorned petitions of redresses.  In some ways, the modern arrogant officeholders are far worse. While the practitioners of traditional politics are amenable to change, especially when pressured by an aroused population, the reformers simply resort to gun control, armed power, and restrictive “free-speech zones” to keep themselves protected from the everyday public. As such, they are far more dangerous and a threat to liberty than politicians who pocket extra money. They further guarantee cynicism whereby the populace knows the rulers will not listen to everyday citizens, assuring more and ever bitterer clashes against the fragile, fairy-tale world personified by Eva Henry.

Once touted by populists as a way of forcing the government to respect the people, the electorate has rarely employed the recall since voters adopted it more than 100 years ago. Far from seeing it as a way of checking arrogant officials, goody-goodies have usually regarded it with outrage. They have been particularly loud in denouncing it because concerned citizens have petitioned for the recall of Colorado Springs state Senator John Morse. By so doing all in their power to limit this means of direct, popular democracy, self-avowed enlightened advocates of good government simply make actions like those of Henry ever more likely on the part of officeholders.
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 Hentzell Park. The prime purpose of the initiative and referendum is to affirm that ultimate sovereignty is with the voters. They have the right to make their opinions known by petitioning the government and forcing elections on controversial issues. Against this, Johnson ruled that council was acting in an administrative capacity when, in a highly political setting, it agreed to dispose of the park land in a questionable deal touted by Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Public Schools. According to Johnson, elected officials are beyond the reach of the referendum process when they act in such a manner.  pp A United States District Court judge recently ruled illegal a Colorado statute on foreclosures. The measure, passed in 2006 by a Democratic legislature led by speaker Andrew Romanoff, allows a lender, with virtually no court oversight, to seize a property it claims is in foreclosure. This was a green light to the mortgage industry to encourage ever more people to take out residential loans. Added to this were public policies that defined “affordable housing” as dwellings that occupants purchased rather than good, clean, safe rental properties.  The goal was to induce one and all to put their savings into real estate.

That the mortgage law passed under the leadership of Romanoff is indicative. He has projected himself as Mr. Morality. Seeking a place in Congress, he states he will not accept corporate money for his campaign. Given his record when he was speaker, this means he will give away his favors rather than asking a price on them. His actions have helped make possible the polices of Henry and other “reformers” whose haze of “respect” and “good government” beclouds what they actually do.
The Denver Post featured the tales of Nichols and Henry. It has paid far more attention to the inside workings of Adams County politics than anything it has printed in years about the Denver city council or the school board. This is a striking anomaly in the paper. It has much preferred to bait supposed terrorists, complete with a ludicrous tale that a Saudi was actually the real person behind the murder of Tom Clements, the director of the Colorado Department of Corrections. While it has had exposés about problems with the way the state has handled paroles and child welfare, it has never dug beneath the surface to explain how these problems developed and festered under the administrations of governors Roy Romer, Bill Owens, Bill Ritter, and John Hickenlooper.

Given the paper’s miserable record, obviously there is something more than a commitment to good government in emphasizing Adams County corruption. The latest blast at Adams County came at the same time the Post has been heralding Mayor Hancock’s scheme to build a city in the sky around Denver International Airport. Not surprisingly, Adams County wants its cut of the lucre. Real investigative reporting would examine whether there is any link to this, the history of failed airport proposals, and the way greed and real estate schemes have long been at the center of everything associated with the airport, doings which make the scandals of Alice Nichols small potatoes. 

The New Yorker is almost as dense as the Denver Post. Recently, it had a feature on Hickenlooper, hinting at the man’s presidential ambitions. Seeing nothing, it employed every stale, trite, and tired journalistic political cliché in arguing that Colorado was starting to emerge as a liberal bastion. The evidence is simply that, opposed to the increasing hysteria of parts of the country about abortion, homosexuality, and marijuana, Colorado has failed to hop on the bandwagon.  On the contrary, it has virtual homosexual marriage and the decriminalization of marijuana while it has passed a gun control statute.

Missing from all of this is the essential Hickenlooper. The New Yorker presents him as Mr. Clean, a politician who describes himself as sickened by negative political campaigning. There is no mention of the demeaning way Hickenlooper treated his employees as a bar owner, his attacks on public workers, and his relentless efforts to turn public parks over to private profiteers. Nor is there any reflection on the way he has arranged for his political and media backers to bash those who have opposed the governor’s policies. Most of all, there is nothing about Hickenlooper’s complete lack of moral leadership, especially in opposing the death penalty, tobacco pollution, or the insanity of the war on drugs.

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 Adams County and the doings of Debra Johnson.

ALL THINGS MJ with Jessica LeRoux - July 1, 2013

Hey Now,
HOUSTON WE HAVE THE RULES.... and i dont think the MED recalled that the theme of this week is supposed to be independence!
maybe we're turning that corner Ive been waiting to turn, sales are finally picking up big time, and all my annual fees are already paid for the year, from here on out its upwards to lower middle class baby!!! maybe now i can think about those quarterly payroll taxes !!! So much Fun to be in charge.

we got a short week and most of us should be busy so please plan ahead and know that we are bumping forward some deliveries this week so that everybody will receive their orders before the big holiday! call us ASAP at 303 922 3661... 1st six orders called in or replied to this email will get an independence day bonus for your team!!!
Here are the "emergency" rules for recreational cannabis, I am gonna need a day or two to review these in depth so expect a full review with next week's news!
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pdfhost.net%2Findex.php%3FAction%3DDownloadFile%26id%3D7eb039e57da693f43f933cf4335a5c24

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The subversion of democracy

from Colorado Public Banking
The initiative to amend the Colorado constitution and create a publicly owned state bank.

On May 1st, 2013, at a rehearing requested by the Colorado Bankers Association (Don Childears) and the Independent Bankers of Colorado (Barbara M.A. Walker), the title board of the state of Colorado, which operates under the auspices of the office of the Secretary of State, found in favor of the bankers' argument that the current initiative for a publicly owned state bank contains more than a single subject, thus temporarily placing this year's drive on hold, until an appeal could be filed with, and relief granted by, the state supreme court.

In granting the bankers' motion, the title board invoked the single subject provision as an all-purpose bludgeon to suppress the initiative. Dan Domenico, who voted in favor of last year's initiative, reversed his position because of the added powers of the bank to take on multi-year obligations (bonds), in order to initially capitalize its operations, and the power of the bank to transfer moneys into the state's general fund without limitations (such as imposed by the oxymoronic TABOR amendment). Essentially, Mr. Domenico used single-subject as a mask for his personal political beliefs, denying the people of Colorado a means for expressing their collective political beliefs.

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Judge rules against park advocates, refuses to stop land deal (Hentzell)

Hentzell Park Natural Area - Photo by Ray Ehrenstein 

by Dave Felice
In a case he describes as “quite difficult and bothersome in many ways,” Denver District Judge Herbert Stein turns down a request for temporary injunction which would block the transfer of natural area land in southeast Denver to the school district.

Through their attorney John Case, the plaintiffs, Friends of Denver Parks, argue that the land has been used as a park since the city acquired the property in 1937.  As a park, the land would have been designated in the 1955 revision of the City Charter, Section 2.4.5, making disposition of the property subject a vote of the people.

“I recognize there is an emotional aspect and a political aspect to this case, but I have to focus on the legal aspect,” said Judge Stern at the conclusion of an hour-long court session.  “I’m going to deny the request for a preliminary injunction.  I cannot in good conscience say there is a likelihood of success on the merits of the case.”

Indicating that he had carefully considered the arguments, Stern continued:  “It is extremely bothersome that land represented as parkland can be pulled from the public and turned into other use.  Absolutely something needs to be done with other (city-owned) properties which fall into the same category (as undesignated parks).”

Friends of Denver Parks indicated they would continue to pursue all legal remedies.  Case immediately stated:  “I would like to set a trial date, with a jury.”  Stern said he would accept a motion for a trial, with or without a jury, and get the matter on the calendar as soon as possible.  Responding to a request for more time to gather petition signatures to get the issue on the November ballot, Stern said he would rule by midday Monday.

The case hinges on 11 acres of Hentzell Park Natural Area.  The plaintiffs contend this land is part of property which the city named Hampden Heights North Park.  Before issuing his ruling, Judge Stern repeatedly asked Case to define what constituted a “park.”  Assistant City Attorney David Broadwell said the land had been used for a variety of purposes.  Attorneys for Denver Public Schools said nothing.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock has pitted community interests against one another in the complicated scheme to trade the natural area to the school district as a building site.  In exchange, Hancock would get an aged building at 1330 Fox Street which the city would turn over to a non-profit agency to operate a center for victims of domestic abuse.

Nightmare on Greed Street

Proposed Wall of 20 Story Highrises Along 17th Avenue Shock Sloan's Lake Citizen Senses
By Larry Ambrose


On Wednesday, June 26 the Sloan's Lake and West Side communities saw for the first time the St. Anthony's General Development Plan presented by EnviroFinance Group (EFG). The meeting, was held as a requirement of the the City's General Development Plan (GDP) and rezoning process. The City code requires the GDP applicant, in this case EFG, to hold a public meeting, present the substantive content of their preliminary application, record public comment, and submit a written report of such recorded comments to Community Planning and Development.

The GDP showed massive development with a wall of buildings along 17th Avenue 12 to 20 stories tall. The meeting was run in such a manner that no public comment was allowed. There was, however, more than an hour of content presented by EFG's Cameron Bertron, former Redevelopment Manager for the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) and architecture and planning firm RNL. RNL principle, Brad Buchanan, who recently retired as Chair of the Denver Planning Board, addressed the benefits of 20 story buildings next to 17th Avenue.

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The Friends of Denver Parks denied injunction to stop Hentzell deal

From The Denver Post:

A Denver judge on Friday denied an injunction that would have stopped a land swap between the city and county of Denver and Denver Public Schools.
A group fighting to overturn the swap filed suit in district court to stop the pending transaction.
The Friends of Denver Parks nonprofit is trying to halt the swap of nearly 11 acres of vacant city land in southeast Denver that would become the site of a new school.

MORE CARCINOGENIC TOXINS ADDED TO PURPLE PIPE WATER

Video above from April 11, 2010. Anderson died of glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumor) November, 2011

Just found this on the EPA Region 8 site here under What's New which was updated October 2012

North Area Response Action: The organic compound 1,4-dioxane has been detected, at concentrations slightly higher than the Colorado groundwater standard, in groundwater monitoring wells up to 2.4 miles north of the Lowry Landfill site. The EPA has evaluated the health risk associated with public exposure to 1,4-dioxane at these concentrations north of the site and found no significant health risk associated with surface water or groundwater. The extent of the groundwater plume has been determined through a groundwater investigation conducted by the City and County of Denver and Waste Management of Colorado under oversight by the EPA, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Tri-County Health Department.

Denver and Waste Management have implemented a groundwater extraction and treatment response action immediately north of the Lowry Landfill site to minimize the potential for additional contaminant mass to migrate northward beyond Section 31 (located within a one-square-mile area immediately south of Yale Avenue). Several groundwater extraction wells in the area of the plume are currently extracting contaminated groundwater, which is being conveyed to the on-site wastewater treatment plant via a pipeline. The wastewater treatment plant treats the collected groundwater, along with other site groundwater, then discharges the treated water to the sanitary sewer system for additional treatment at the metro and Aurora municipal wastewater treatment plants. Denver and Waste Management are continuing to monitor groundwater in the area of the plume to ensure response action objectives continue to be met and to monitor concentration trends. Additional extraction wells will be added as necessary.

Don't be fooled. When they use the words "treated" or "treatment" they don't mean removed. Often the "treatment" has no effect on the toxic substance in question.

Central Denver Recreation Center Public Meeting

A Word from Councilman Brooks

When: Thursday, June 27th, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where: Church in the City - 1580 Gaylord Street

Parking available at the church

What: Discuss new developments in the plans for a Central Denver Recreation Center, including acquisition of land and next steps for planning and funding the project.

Sincerely,

Albus Brooks

Denver City Councilman, District 8