I Love Colorado but not this unfortunate video

Ed. Note: This email was forwarded to me concerning a "We Love Colorado" video contest, which I had previously heard nothing about. Click below to view the "winning" videos.

"Dear Colorado Legislators:

The winning entry for the “We Love Colorado” Video Contest has brought up a lot of concern within the group that I represent, the Colorado Film Forum.

 Winning Entry: http://www.colorado.gov/video-contest/don-john-kulish/colorado-musical.html 

The list below reflects some of the matters.

Concern on how this event was distributed throughout the Colorado community.

Concern about contest rules being violated due to copyright laws.

Concern about the accuracy of the expressed statements and images representing Colorado.

Concern about judging on production value vs creativity.

John Conley and Donald Zuckerman, the individuals that approved the winning film have addressed each of these concerns; however, we are actually quite dumbfounded at their reasoning. At minute 1:35 the video is describing Colorado's beautiful outdoors while a picture, perhaps illegally used, of Delicate Arch in Utah is shown. This is not just a video on YouTube, this is a video promoting Colorado on the official website of Colorado, Colorado.gov. Mr. Conley quickly dismissed this concern by stating that it wasn't against any rules.
What about the rules of common sense? I also feel that Wyoming, the Equality State, was the first state where women could vote but this seems to be a moot point.

I have profusely talked about the copyright issue and even provided links where these pictures were obtained but I was told that the Offices do not have the manpower to do anything about it and will address it in the future. SIPA has rewarded the video with $1500 for using other people's work. What type of statement is being presented to our community? Donald Zuckerman, a Hollywood producer, should have known that these images would need releases as stated in the contest rules. This is why I believe the Office of Film, Television, and Media was involved in the first place.

Links to some of the pictures used in the winning video found on Google Images. 

http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/dus_1
http://denvertop5.com/files/2010/10/denver.jpg
http://www.cityprofile.com/colorado/photos/9171-denver-denver06.html
http://www.elements.nb.ca/theme/ecologicalfootprint/ray/cote.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/MemberPhotos-a_uid.E__2E__ZdwYpqXDwK0%253D-w1#1610232
http://www.yellowmaps.com/maps/img/US/blank-base/usa.jpg
http://photos.igougo.com/images/p197218-Sydney-2000_Olympic_Medal_Podium.jpg
http://www.wallsarena.com/wallpapers/Big_Horn_Ram_Colorado_882.jpg
http://warwickdenver.com/bpcms/ImageUpload/LifeStyle_/Coors%20Field.jpg
http://newgambiranlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mikes_wedding_altar_arrangements.jpg
http://byteful.com/media/d/9677-3/Coors+Brewing+Company+entrance.jpg 

It has gotten to the point that some of us feel that maybe this film was chosen in the hopes of a late night comedian saying something and then the video would go viral; “no such thing as bad publicity.”

We urge you to talk with your colleagues as this concerns all of Colorado, not just the artists. Mistakes have been made but let us show how we can come to the table and work on a resolution for the betterment of our community. Once again, thank you for your time.

Judge's Contact Information

Colorado.gov - SIPA
John Conley, 303 866-3992, john@cosipa.gov 

Colorado Film Commission
Donald Zuckerman, 303 592-4075, donald.zuckerman@state.co.us

SIPA Board Members' Email:

bill.cadman.senate@state.co.us; jarrowsm@douglas.co.us;
bill.hobbs@sos.state.co.us; murrayhouse45@gmail.com; 

Regards, 

Sal Steels, Organizer

Colorado Film Forum"

Did Bennet and Easley lie about the DPS deal?

At least David Sirota and Guerin Green are still asking the question. Listen here. Cost to Denver tax-payers - $42 million and counting.

Get used to it...

I was issued a ticket for stopping at the red light at 6th Ave. and Lincoln. My front wheels crossed the white line, my bumper extended maybe inches into the crosswalk. And for this I am issued a $75 ticket for "Failure to stop at marked stop line on red light"!!! Do I have to spend my own time fighting B.S. trivialities? Any suggestions on what I do next??
By Anonymous on From DenverGov Photo Red Light Enforcement Progra... at 8:53 AM

Get used to it, you are going to be getting more tickets as you learn the new rules, the hard way. The fines have been raised and the surveilence is being sharpened. Soon these will be photo tickets of "Failure" infractions such as yours as cameras are being installed in all new intersections. Remember back when Denver's City Council was discussing this issue? You have to stop with your bumper behind the "marked stop line", even if, and especially if you are going to make a legal right turn on red. No more gliding into and through the intersection. This will be a great new source of income for the City - increased amount and frequency of fines on the citizens (remember, 20% unemployment means 80% employment; there's still revenue out there to be had).

As to what to do next, Anonymous, I'd suggest paying the ticket (although it's often worth a trip to talk with the "adjuster") and changing your "stopping at a red light behavior". Stop well back from the line so there is no question, because whether or not you are over the line will depend on the angle it is being photographed from. Get used to it...the hammer is coming down.

Aurora Citizens Group Fights Back Against Gaylord Give-away

C.R.A.G

Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government

Aurora City Council - Gaming the System 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2011 

(Aurora) - Gaming the system - or as it is known in Aurora - Incentive Agreement By and Among

• The City of Aurora Colorado
• Aurora Urban Renewal Authority
• And Gaylord Entertainment Company

Having had an opportunity to analyze the 130 page "incentive" agreement between the city and Gaylord, along with the 40 page Urban Renewal "blight" document, Citizens For Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) recently made the following presentation before Aurora City Council. 

   

Highlights of the presentation included:

• How the city is abusing the Urban Renewal "blighting" law
• Circumventing the Colorado Constitution on donation of public funds
• Potentially obligating Aurora taxpayers to debt, without a vote of the people
• Generating a whole new slew of taxes and taxing areas

Aurora is again attempting to blight raw, undeveloped, agricultural land. After a similar tactic was used by Aurora in 2010, blighting agricultural land for the Lend Lease project, state senator Morgan Carroll sponsored a bill to prohibit this type of abuse of the "blighting" laws. The only problem was that there were several loopholes. The City of Aurora is using one of these loopholes to foster a massive tax giveaway ($300 million) to "incent" Gaylord to locate a hotel and convention center in the City of Aurora. 

The particular loophole that the city is using is noted in the state statutes as "No area that has been designated as an urban renewal area shall contain any agricultural land unless each public body that levies an ad valorem property tax on such land agrees in writing to its inclusion within the urban renewal area." Who are these government "bodies?"

• City of Aurora
• Adams County
• Brighton School District
• Urban Drainage and Flood Control
• Urban Drainage South Platte
• Rangeview Library District
• A new General Improvement District (GID)

Have these entities been contacted? Have they made any decision? 

On page 52 and 53 of the incentive agreement, you will find a detailed breakout of the tax giveaways that are part of this proposal. Obtaining a "blight" designation will allow the developer to receive a "Tax Increment Financing" designation. This in turn will allow for the avalanche of tax subsidies. All details are in the incentive agreement. Also, the Aurora City Council is providing a "Moral Obligation Pledge" to secure potential bonds of over $200 million dollars that would be issued by the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority. This was done without a vote of the Aurora taxpayers on this potential debt obligation. 

Other taxes noted include "lodger taxes" of 12.6% per day, all going to the developer and new "admission" taxes, again all noted on pages 52 & 53 of the incentive document. 

In addition, property owners will be voting on a new General Improvement District and "Enhanced Taxing Area?" You can view a map of the area here.
Map of GID 

CRAG encourages development in the City of Aurora - for projects that can be built on their own merits--and not a giant taxpayer subsidy. We urge the affected government "bodies" in this development area to reject this tax giveaway of 25-33 years and send a message to the Aurora City Council that this is no way to do business. 

For more information you can contact CRAG at info@cragaurora.com
-             720.295.8402       - cragaurora.com 

In the gutter

No, I'm talking about the actual gutters on your house. Mine were clogged during this last monsoon and led to considerable water invading the foundation. I searched for some time to find the right guy, but eventually found KC Ingraham with King Tree and Property Services (303 399-7700) who showed up on time and did a great job on my 3-story building, including flushing the downspouts, all for $75. Count me as a very satisfied customer.

Final road paving on York Street in Denver

I know you have been anxiously awaiting the final video on the paving of York Street at 18th to Colfax, so here it is. Two paving machines were called into duty and at one point 14 trucks were lined up to dump their asphalt - quite an operation. Joe, the supervisor, told me that without traffic they would have been able to finish in about 3 weeks. Instead it seemed to take about 3 months. The crews endured the 95+ heat and did a fabulous job, replacing all of the driveways and any curbs that needed repair. As far as I can remember, this is the first time in my 42 years on York that such an extensive road replacement has been undertaken. We'll be paying on the Better Denver $550 million bonds for the next 30 years, but we'll have a nice smooth York Street to drive on.

Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government becoming too effective?

I've cited and admired the Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) on this site before. Now it appears as if their professional PowerPoint presentations at Council meetings are becoming so effective that the "Aurora Mayor Ponders Turning off the TV".


July 30, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Aurora) – Before Citizens For Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) commenced their second slideshow at the Aurora City Council on July 25th, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer apparently suggested council consider turning off the TV cameras when citizens come to testify before city council.

As noted by an Aurora Sentinel editorial writer, (link) on July 28th, the mayor was not keen on CRAG testifying before council, using Power Point slides that Aurora voters could view on the local Channel 8 TV. The CRAG presentation on July 25th dealt with the massive taxpayer subsidy for the Gaylord Entertainment complex to be located near DIA.

As noted below, CRAG member, Greg Golyansky, has submitted an open letter to the mayor requesting a response to this alleged attempt to stifle free speech in Aurora.

OPEN LETTER TO HONORABLE ED TAUER, MAYOR OF AURORA, COLORADO.

Your Honor,

On July 28th, an editorial writer with the Aurora Sentinel noted that you recently expressed a desire to put an end to TV coverage for citizens using power point slides while presenting at city council. In fact, the writer implied that this action was directed specifically at the Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government - CRAG.

It was noted that it appeared this suggestion came about because of the critical nature of CRAG calling council to task for its actions on various issues.

CRAG’s most recent presentation on the Gaylord affair and our contention that it is "gaming the system" and not "economic development" apparently got your ire.

CRAG thinks these issues ought to be discussed publicly, in an open forum, and not behind closed doors. Taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for the million dollar TV production facilities at Aurora City Council. To deny us access to the same video capabilities as council members would be an abuse of council authority.

Because of the importance of this issue, I have chosen the "Open Letter" venue and will release this letter to the press.

If you choose not to answer my letter or to end the TV coverage of the public comment portion of the City Council meetings your actions will speak volumes in their own right.

Respectfully,

Gregory N. Golyansky - member, Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government

For more info on CRAG contact:

Info@cragaurora.com

Phil Goodstein - North Side Story: Denver’s Most Intriguing Neighborhood

Aug 22 2011 7:30 pm

Colfax Avenue: Colorado historian, prolific local author, and Denver tour guide Phil Goodstein will discuss and sign his new history of Denver, North Side Story: Denver’s Most Intriguing Neighborhood ($28.95 New Social Publications). Once treated as the community’s stepchild, North Denver has experienced a renaissance since the 1970s. It is filled with distinguished manors, churches, schools, and long-lived businesses. North Side Storydiscusses these developments and institutions, and shows that the area is the epitome of the American urban experience. Request a signed copy: books@tatteredcover.com

Location: 

2526 East Colfax Avenue

Denver

, 

Colorado

80206

United States

Tree Applications available NOW

The Park People’s Annual Denver Digs Trees Fall Shade Tree Distribution

Apply Online: www.theparkpeople.org or contact The Park People at 303-722-6262

Deadline for applications: September 1

Tree pick-up: October 1

These trees are strictly in your yard (on private property),
NOT along the street in the public right-of-way.
(For street-side trees, consider our spring street tree program.)

Trees are only $25 each and Free to residents in our target neighborhoods
(Trees this size usually sell for $100+)

Denver Digs has provided more than 42,000 affordable and free trees to Denver residents over the past 20 years. We offer a variety of beautiful trees that make our communities healthier, more livable places.

Target neighborhoods: Athmar Park, Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Green Valley Ranch, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sunnyside, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood, and Whittier. While trees for all other neighborhoods cost $25, “Treeships” are available for those with financial hardship.

Uptown crime report

One of our neighbors was attacked and mugged on the 1600 block of Vine Street. Two females and two males came out of hiding near a house as she walked on the west side of the street late at night. The females assaulted her and the males robbed her. The only descriptions I have been given are that the assailants were very tall and all black and similar in age to the Post article. If you have different information or an actual police report please forward it.

Go here for more...Police warn of street robberies in Capitol Hill area