Like something stuck on your shoe, Bill Airy just won't go away. I thought I had fallen into a time-warp when I saw this:
Airy was paid $30,000 by the City for his poo bags last year and the "contract put on hold". Now it's like none of this happened, and we have started all over again.
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A Denver based engineering firm tested for contaminants in Lowry groundwater. The result: High levels of radiation everywhere over the site.
Another firm commissioned by the EPA and others, found levels of plutonium and associated isotopes 10,000 times higher than naturally occurring.
Conveniently, by about 1993, the EPA decided to put on a pair of verbal flip flops --- now , the plutonium laced waste was suitable for sewage sludge. It could be mixed, diluted or whatever with municipal wastewater. That was a much cheaper means of dealing with unacceptable levels of radioactivity.
Flopping its assessment meant that clean up dropped from billions of dollars to less than $100 million. Obviously, there are contentions that the EPA studies were “flawed” and that the cleanup board had mutants sitting amongst the environmentalists. Due to the “sludge” safety reports, the product was spread on farmlands from Virginia to Oregon.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that H.J. Heinz and Del Monte refused to buy tomatoes, beans, and other fruits and veggies fertilized with sludge.
SEWAGE TREATMENT
As for the ground water and other contaminants, the “stuff” from Lowry was dumped into Metro Wastewater . The EPA maintained that millions of gallons of Lowry (plutonium) laced toxic water could run through sewer pipes before high readings of hazardous materials would be detected.
One lab technician at the Denver Wastewater plan opted for early retirement when they began to accept Lowry waste. Marilyn Ferrari, the technician, told the Monitor, management had “pressured” technicians to “make readings look right… if numbers came in high, they would say, retest.”
As much as I laud the effort being made by Parks are for People, I don't think that any amount of calling and letter writing will change the fact that this Admission Based Policy is a done deal. Whenever they got a chance, the people spoke out against it, and it didn't matter. The HickenMaster has spoken and his Parks Czar Patterson has carried out the order, with the assistance of the Parks and Wreck minions.
It's going to take a lawsuit (injuction?) to stop this "experiment" in City Charter manipulation which was accomplished by redefining the words - lease, permit, concession, etc. by Friar Broadwell. And, if a successful effort is mounted to force it to a vote of the people, the Gentry (promoters) will fund a TV campaign to get it passed, as they usually do, with lemons, dancing letters and other advertising gimmicks. Those opposing its passage will be characterized as rigid old fuddy-duddys, resisting change, seeking serenity in their dotage, while those in favor will be the fun-loving, beer-drinking, rock and rollers, ready to partay!
While I agree that a dedicated Festival Park would be a great idea, it's not what HickenMaster has dictated, because it would cost too much money, and anyway, the parks are already, by his reckoning, available for the taking.
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The "old Safeway" (16th and Josephine), as we old-timers knew it, or the "Church in the City" as those who came to the neighborhood in the last 16 years knew it, is now being demolished. The City agreed to pay a price $5,000,000 more than it had been appraised for the previous year, to build a Central Denver Recreation Center, dependent, of course, on future bond-financed borrowing.
Ooops, ain't gonna happen' now! Maybe in 5, 10, or 15 years, they say. Soooo... (bait and switch), how about a dog-park or a garden, or, better yet, how about both of those at the same time! Presumably separate, one hopes, but very, very expensive. Thank you Councilpersons Robb and Madison for bringing us the most expensive Central Denver Recreation Center Dog Park Gardens.
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I recently was at a mayoral event. The mayor greeted me, and I said, "John, if you become governor, keep your hands off the 42 state parks. People are worried." Before he could answer, someone snagged him for a photo. But when he left the event, he came by to tell me: "I promise, if I become governor I won't put admission-based private events in the state parks."7 News report here. More on this site here. Also see Parks are for People here.
My, what a refreshing idea - a Councilperson who actually sent out a questionnaire to her constituents asking for their opinion. We should all be so lucky. (You can enlarge font size with control+).
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- Fees: For Denver residents, a $25 annual user fee and coinciding color-coded dog tag will be required for entry into all Denver dog parks. This annual fee is for one dog. Additional dogs under one owner may be eligible for a discounted annual user fee for each additional dog. Non-Denver residents will be required to pay a $40 annual user fee for use of all Denver dog parks. Volunteer efforts in helping maintain dog park facilities and helping with educational outreach will be recognized through a discounted fee program. Fees will cover costs for additional enforcement in Denver parks, will go toward matching funds for building new facilities, and will provide a more sustainable revenue stream for maintenance.
- Fines: To stress the education and requirement of licensure, vaccination, and payment of the annual user fee for access to Denver dog parks, fines for falsification of any of these requirements is being recommended.
- Owner Responsibility: In order for dog owners and dog park users to have a full understanding of the rules and regulations and requirements for use of Denver’s dog park facilities, owners will be required to review and sign off on educational materials clarifying these elements at the time of purchase of the annual dog park user fee.
With 19 million houses now sitting empty, the mortgage banking industry continues to grind through the foreclosure process, although apparently without enthusiasm, to evict even more delinquent home owners. However, there may be hope on the horizon. You've probably heard of a case or two where the bank couldn't produce the mortgage paper to prove that they owned the house. What if they couldn't prove that they owned 62 million of them? From here:
That means hordes of victims of predatory lending could end up owning their homes free and clear—while the financial industry could end up skewered on its own sword.
California Precedent
The latest of these court decisions came down in California on May 20, 2010, in a bankruptcy case called In re Walker, Case no. 10-21656-E–11. The court held that MERS could not foreclose because it was a mere nominee; and that as a result, plaintiff Citibank could not collect on its claim. The judge opined:
Since no evidence of MERS’ ownership of the underlying note has been offered, and other courts have concluded that MERS does not own the underlying notes, this court is convinced that MERS had no interest it could transfer to Citibank. Since MERS did not own the underlying note, it could not transfer the beneficial interest of the Deed of Trust to another. Any attempt to transfer the beneficial interest of a trust deed without ownership of the underlying note is void under California law.
from 5280 Magazine:
Why the Water in the South Platte River Is Bright Green
Here's another concern for the "brownliner" anglers who fish the less than pristine waters of the South Platte River, as well as those who brave the unpredictable rapids. Bright green water, caused by algae, is flowing through the river, reports 9News, which consulted Denver wastewater worker Al Ortiz, who traced the sludge to a major storm drain from a City Park lake in east Denver. Witnesses tipped off the television station to the problem near Globeville Landing Park, where green water flowed from a culvert near 38th Street and Arkins Court. "In probably seven or eight years of riding this path almost daily, I've never seen anything like this," says Denver bicyclist Eric Michieli. Ortiz had his crew pull dozens of manhole covers along the storm-drain line to determine the source of the green water. He does not know if anyone from Denver Parks and Recreation had informed his office that the lake would be drained of the brightly colored goo.
I'm putting up both Romanoff and Bennet without comment. I don't want to spend any more time lamenting how the Democrats picked the wrong man who will now go on to lose to Buck. The thought of 6 years with Buck as our senator...
City Councilman Doug Linkhart tells DenverDirect that when Hickenlooper wins the race for Colorado Governor, he will run for Mayor.
Let the fun begin. I am guessing that this is going to more fun than a barrel of monkeys. I've heard so many names mentioned as possible contenders that I've lost track. Could we have a field of 10 or more?
And then to read in the
from Tom Morris:
Mayor Hickenlooper wants to rent out our parks. Those who oppose this plan contend that renting out our parks is a violation of the City Charter. The Charters says that the city may not sell, lease or rent any park or portion of a park without a vote of the people.
The mayor has no doubt told his city attorney to find a way to ignore this section of the Charter. They do it with words. They’ve changed the name of what is illegal and, because they’ve come up with these new words, the Hickenlooper administration proceeds undeterred.
In point of fact the Charter doesn’t ban renting our parks. It doesn’t, however, leave the decision up to the mayor. It says that you can rent our parks if the people of Denver approve it.
John Hickenlooper doesn’t trust his constituents. And, as in all relationships, I urge his constituents to assume the reflective position and not trust the mayor.
There is no reason to believe that renting out our parks is a harmless action. His first subdivision of a park will be City Park, if the mayor gets his way. He will rent out the large meadow west of the Museum of Nature for movies. Once established, this policy will extend to all city parks.
The large meadow is recognized by television networks, postcard producers, tour guides and the city itself as an iconic view of Denver. The city has protected the view with a view plane ordinance which prevents thoughtless greedy developers like John Hickenlooper and other pirates of real estate from blocking the view.
During the replanning of City Park, historic preservationists suggested recreating two paths which once extended from the rose garden to the big lake through the big meadow. The stake holders involved in the planning process objected, pointing out that the meadow is the largest expanse of green grass with a classic view anywhere in the city. The plan preserves this meadow as a part of the iconic view.
But John Hickenlooper is going to allow a movie company to construct a bank of bleachers, a 30 foot tall movie screen, probably an advertising fence to keep out non-payers and banks of portable toilets and trash dumpsters in the big meadow for almost two months at the height of the tourist season for every summer for years to come.
It is for this reason that I urge all Denver voters to support Hickenlooper's bid to quit his job and vote for him as governor.
Hi Tom,
I understand that you are clearly against Open Air and any other admission based events. You have worked for decades preserving the green space of City Park for passive purposes (and some active uses, like City Park Jazz) and so I in no way expect you to see things differently but I do want to address a couple of things.
Below is the language from the charter:
§ 2.4.5 Sale and leasing of parks.
Without the approval of a majority of those registered electors voting in an election held by the City and County of Denver, no park or portion of any park belonging to the City as of December 31, 1955, shall be sold or leased at any time, and no land acquired by the City after December 31, 1955, that is designated a park by ordinance shall be sold or leased at any time, provided, however, that property in parks may be leased for park purposes to concessionaires, to charitable or nonprofit organizations, or to governmental jurisdictions. All such leases shall require the approval of Council as provided for in Article III of this Charter. No land acquired by the City after December 31, 1955, shall be deemed a park unless specifically designated a park by ordinance.
The underlined part was added by the voters in 1996 and completely eliminated the original charter prohibition on parks leasing, allowed leasing of park lands with voter approval in some situations, and allowed leasing of park lands with City Council approval in other situations. The charter empowers the City Council to approve or disapprove any “leasing” of city-owed real property, park land or otherwise, in excess of 30 days.
Also, Open Air will not be occupying the open meadow in front of the DMNS. They will be located off to the south, out of the view plane. Still visible, certainly, but not blocking the view. This is a contract for 2 years and the liquor license will have a new hearing every year. The neighbors will, through this mechanism, always have a say so in whether this event happens and/or continues as well as the contract will have to go up before council again if it is to continue beyond 2012.
Thank you,
Carla
Carla Madison
City Councilwoman District 8
303-587-6543 cell
303-298-7641 office
2713 Welton Street, 80205
by Dave Felice
Members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB):
I am a member of the Admission Based Events Task Force that supposedly recommended this policy to this Board. I have been and am unalterably opposed to allowing commercial interests to close parts of Denver public parks and charge admission for events in the parks. There were many of us, mostly neighborhood representatives, who volunteered to serve on this panel that also believed and expressed over and over that without the citizens of Denver being able to vote on this issue, public parks must be free and open to all people.
In 1977 I met with the owner of Ceavco, the biggest video and film equipment rental house in Denver at that time, with a revolutionary idea - using video to create tapes of houses and land for sale. Sony had just come out with the Porta-Pak, and it seemed like a natural combination. The idea was met with a big yawn. Who would want to look at video tape when you could just go there and see for yourself?
Today many real estate sales listings include a short slide show (virtual tour), but most still don't use video. The great exception is Todd Gatza at Trinidad Land Realty. He makes a video for every property. I love the way he points on camera to distant mountain peaks and ranges. His videos are rough and ready, and they convey a real feel for the property.
I've always dreamed of owning a mountain property and Todd sends me an email once a week with a new listing and video. We can still dream.
Dr. Kristen Iversen, professor and author of "Full Body Burden", (coming soon) spoke from the Colorado Capitol steps in Denver at the press conference announcing the findings of breathable plutonium in the crawl space of a house downwind of Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, now decommissioned but still contaminated.
At a press conference on the steps of the Colorado Capitol in Denver, Rep. Wes McKinley, in reporting the findings of a new citizen-led plutonium sampling test that found breathable plutonium in 2 of 4 samples gathered near Rocky Flats, suggests that the only real solution would be to cover the 6000 acres with two feet of cement, and pray. And he's not kidding - that's what he was told by a scientist who worked on the remediation of Rocky Flats. The scientist later died of cancer, and his remains were confiscated by the FBI.
Further reporting from Westword.
The results from the citizen-led sampling study are in: 2 of the 4 samples contained plutonium.
from today's AolNews:
Plutonium particles were present in dust from a crawl space in an older home near the plant, Kaltofen said. He said the highly toxic substance presumably accumulated during the period from 1952 to 1994, when workers assembled the plutonium pits used as triggers for hydrogen bombs.
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