This Just In - City Releases Documents HHNP is a PARK‏

http://friendsofdenverparks.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/2014-0225_friends_reply_cert-final.pdf Dear Friends, Attached is our reply brief in the Colorado Supreme Court in support of our Petition for Writ of Certiorari. When you read the brief (it’s only 11 pages double spaced and written in plain English), you will see that the city turned over a treasure trove of documents in discovery on February 6. The documents show that HHNP always was considered a designated park - when the Charter was amended in 1955, when it was amended in 1983, when it was amended in 1996, and especially when the city adopted the new zoning code in 2010. In other words, I am brimming with optimism that we will prove our case and get justice. To all of you who have worked tirelessly to locate witnesses, donate money for court costs, and help us and encourage us in so many ways, I am truly grateful. Warm regards, John Case BENSON & CASE, LLP

Audit: Colorado agencies sitting on $25.6 million beyond legal limits - The Denver Post

"The biggest offender is the Medical Marijuana Cash Fund, accounting for $12.5 million when the fiscal year ended last June. As a result, the $35 fee for a medical marijuana license dropped from $35 to $15 last month.

The fee fell from $90 to $35 in 2011, but money continued to pile up. The annual fee was $140 when licensing began in 2000."

Read more here 

[Ed. And while you are at it, cut those outrageous application fees, please.]

DENVER TO GAMBLE ON 4/20 - NO POT SMOKING IN PARK TO BE ENFORCED

Is Chris Nevitt the only City Councilperson with any common sense?

Oh yeah, lets do this again on 4/20 (Denver police clear Civic Center Park during Occupy)

DEMOCRACY SCHOOL

Marijuana much?

via email from Kevin A. Mahmalji

Political Director | Pink House Blooms

720.469.0080 | kmahmalji@pinkhouseblooms.com |

http://www.wherestheweed.at/ | http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=66170414&trk=tab_pro 

Pot legalization: What can Washington learn from end of prohibition?

http://m.kuow.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#mobile/29186

US state gets high return on cannabis sales

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2014/02/us-state-gets-high-return-cannabis-sales-2014221162222520665.html

Sentencing commission backs lesser pot penalties

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Sentencing-commission-backs-lesser-pot-penalties-5255370.php

LeDuff: In the Mile High City, is pot legal or not?

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/24780009/in-the-mile-high-city-is-pot-legal-or-not

Massport safety official padded pot shop resume

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/02/massport_safety_official_padded_pot_shop_resume

Marijuana odor too much for some residents

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Marijuana-Odor-Too-Much-For-Some-Residents-246518151.html

Read more »

Conceptual master plan of the proposed development at 9th & Colorado Blvd

The arrival on 9^th Avenue with the repurposed Research Bridge and new development along 9^th

Illustrates the proposed neighborhood park located north of 9^th between Albion and Ash.

The third rendering is the proposed retail plaza environment located between 8^th – 9^th and Albion – Ash. The parking for this mixed use retail area is a single level below grade, using the voids left from demolition of the basements under the School of Medicine complex. 

 

Representatives from Continuum Partners will present their plan at the Colorado Boulevard Health Care District meeting on March 6^th.  Time and Place will be announced later.

Please join us at City Loop Stakeholder/Focus Group meetings!

The City has scheduled two meetings at Bogey’s on the Park (26th & York) from 6:00-8:30pm and will provide a Taco bar.

Wednesday, February 26th
Wednesday, March 12th

As far as we know, Parks & Rec may have invited as many as 100 representatives to participate: 42 Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs) were asked to submit 2 reps each, and an unknown number of schools were asked to submit two reps each from their Parent Teacher groups (PTSOs).
As we understand P&R's rules about such meetings, only the people invited are allowed to speak, but anyone from the public is allowed to attend. For those who aren’t an invited group representative, we suggest you wear a hat to show you're a silenced observer. We’ve also heard that the City intends to stay after the official event is over to give everyone who wasn’t invited a chance to speak.

We've documented what we know as best we can, based on communications we've pieced together from the City.

The following neighborhood organizations (RNOs) have approved Resolutions regarding City Loop: Greater Park Hill, South City Park, and Whittier. Other RNOs representing neighborhood residents are carefully considering City Loop and thoughtfully choosing members to represent them at the City's Stakeholder/Focus group meetings, including North City Park, City Park West, and Cole.

Denver Police to Confront Pot Celebration Lawbreakers on 4/20

from Robert Chase at (720) 213-6497 or copatientsandcaregivers@gmail.com

Denver Police will try to enforce total ban on public consumption of cannabis

Over a year after Denver voted two-to-one to “regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol”, the City Council still has not instituted a process to issue permits for the public consumption of cannabis and plans a crackdown on Denver’s annual 4/20 Rally against Prohibition instead.  “The Constitution does not protect the public use of cannabis, but it does not ban it, either” said Robert Chase of Team420,  “Councilor Charlie Brown and our so-called Marijuana Czar Ashley Kilroy, are pretending that the City cannot do what our Constitution says they should do and what a large majority of the People of Denver want them to do – treat cannabis like alcohol”.  Denver lets organizations applying for Festival permits also obtain special permits allowing the public to buy and use alcohol there, but maintains a total ban on the public use of cannabis.

While State law now prevents the outdoor sale of cannabis at the 4/20 Rally, there is no legal impediment to Denver issuing a permit for what most who will come, will come to the Rally to do – protest the Prohibition of cannabis by publicly enjoying some.  The collision between the reality of Denver’s general acceptance of cannabis and the dogged opposition of its government takes place this April 20, with the mass-citation of attendees at a City-permitted event under an ordinance (38-175(b) of the Municipal Code), which can stand legal review in any court except that of public opinion.  The City Administration plans a propaganda campaign to “educate” Denver that no one may so much as expose cannabis to public view in our parks based on the mistaken claim that the Constitution prohibits public use.

The City has gone so far as to demand that the Rally erect signs telling those in attendance not to use cannabis as a precondition of receiving a permit – a clear infringement of its First Amendment rights.  “City Council’s unconstitutional ordinance stands against the decision of two-thirds of Denver’s voters, and it cannot dictate what we say at the Rally” said Chase.  “The City Council’s intransigent opposition to the will of the voters on cannabis demonstrates just how unrepresentative Denver’s government is”.  Chase points to the timing of Denver’s municipal elections in May as one causative factor:  “If we change the City Charter to make municipal elections coincide with general elections, we can turn more of the people who live in Denver out to vote for those who will govern Denver, and force municipal politicians to be more accountable to their constituents”, he said.

Unless DPD mounts a major operation inside the Park during the Rally, it will limit itself to picking off those on the fringes – neither signs nor police are likely to deter rally-goers from using cannabis.  In an effort to forestall unnecessary confrontation and inappropriate enforcement, the Colorado Coalition for Patients and Caregivers and Team420 have enjoined public officials against enforcement of Municipal Ordinance 38-175(b) and urged them to abide by the stated purpose of Amendment 64, which legalized some use of cannabis in November, 2012.  “City Council has wasted an incredible amount of time on the subject of cannabis, yet because it has consistently disregarded the will of its constituents and the Constitution both, we are no closer to having comparable systems of regulations regarding the public use of cannabis and of alcohol than we were a year ago.  Do better, now”, he wrote to Denver’s Mayor, City Council, Police Chief, and Czar.

Mercy Killers tour

Coming Colorado March 1st to the 14th:
Michael Milligan in "Mercy Killers"

One man, one show, one hour that will change you forever.

Sponsored by Health Care for All Colorado Foundation a 501c3 educating for single payer health care, fiscally responsible and socially just, and Health Care for All Colorado, the 501c4 that advocates for the political change need to achieve single payer reform.

Tickets and schedule:

Saturday, March 1 - Pueblo, Hoag Theater, Pueblo Community College (tickets and info).

Sunday, March 2 - Canon City, Shepherd of the Hills Church (tickets and info). 

Monday, March 3 - Colorado Springs, High Plains Church Unitarian Universalist (tickets and info). Download flier.

Tuesday, March 4 - Boulder, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder (tickets and info). Download flier.

Wednesday, March 5 - Wheat Ridge, Wheat Ridge Recreation Center (tickets and info). Download flier.

Thursday, March 6 - Denver, Mercury Cafe (tickets and info). Download flier.

Friday, March 7 - Denver, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater (tickets and info). Download flier.

Saturday, March 8 - Denver, University of Colorado at Denver (tickets and info). Download flier.

Sunday, March 9 - Denver, Lannie's Clock Tower Cabaret (tickets and info). Download flier.

Tuesday, March 11 - Frisco, Summit County Community and Senior Center (tickets and info). Download flier.

Thursday, March 13 - Fort Collins, Bas Bleu Theater (tickets and info). Download flier.

Friday, March 14 - Denver, First Unitarian Universalist Church (tickets and info). Download flier.

_______________________________________

Theater Reviews from around the country for Mercy Killers:

Raw, emotional and devastatingly honest. When Joe's wife is diagnosed with cancer and the health insurance company refuses to pay, his life and his beliefs begin to fall apart. Broadway actor Michael Milligan's solo show gives an insight into the destructive personal impact of the American health care system. It makes public the private stories of thousands of Americans and shows an urgent need for change in a system failing so many. His performance is incredibly powerful and passionate, sweeping the audience up in Joe's story; making them laugh sometimes and bringing them to the edge of tears at others. Milligan has written a beautifully moving and thought-provoking piece that will leave you feeling a mixture of thankful, angered and saddened.

This searing one man show manages to make politics personal, largely thanks to a heart-breaking performance from leading man and Broadway actor Michael Milligan. What could have been painfully simplistic or horribly over-played, is executed with considered pace here, in all its devastating detail unfolds.

Journalist Aaron Smith, Ohio: "His play, first and foremost, is an attempt to speak out on behalf of the gross numbers of individuals who have spiraled into bankruptcy as a result of medical debt. In performance, however, Milligan does much more than this. With an eye toward individualism and the American dream, Mercy Killers ultimately calls for much more than medical reform reform of the values that comprise our culture today."

Drink and Skate