Top Line
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks during a news conference July 24, 2020, in Greenwood Village. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner on Thursday stressed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power after President Donald Trump declined Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer to Democrat Joe Biden if he loses in November.
Capitol Diary • By Saja Hindi
Immigrant advocates raising their voices
With 40 days until Election Day, immigrant rights groups have been making a big push to get more of their supporters involved and registered to vote. For many Colorado groups, it’s not just about federal policies that could affect them but also about state ballot measures that they’re working to defeat.
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, or CIRC, is hosting remote events, focusing on issues that affect immigrants such as DACA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement treatment of detainees. They’re releasing endorsements of candidates and issues, and they’re trying to engage immigrants and other voters of color.
The group’s goal is to make contact with 1 million voters across the state before the election, an organizer told me.
Various other groups are also working to ensure their voices are heard in this big election year despite the challenges of the pandemic.
On Wednesday, activists launched a campaign — virtually, of course — to oppose
Amendment 76, which asks voters to approve a measure saying only citizens can vote in elections, reiterating what’s already in law.
Proponents of the measure say the amendment will make sure the state can’t change its policies to allow noncitizens to vote, but opponents say measures like this one cause fear among immigrants and further racism and xenophobia.
Immigrant rights groups are also engaging on issues beyond those on the ballot. On Tuesday, they protested Denver newcomer
Palantir Technologies — a company that has a history with ICE.
More Colorado political news
- A state board is considering changes to names of some Colorado mountains and bodies of water because of racist symbols.
- Colorado and the U.S. Postal Service settled their lawsuit over voting mailers.
- 23,600 state workers will be furloughed because of COVID-related budget problems.
Federal elections • By Justin Wingerter
Losing candidate forms a new PAC
After James Iacino
lost a Democratic primary in the 3rd Congressional District on June 30, the former Seattle Fish Co. CEO took a step back to assess how he could make a difference in politics. Then he turned his campaign committee into a political action committee.Cry Freedom PAC — named after a Dave Matthews song about anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko — will focus on western and southern Colorado and “push back against the increasingly dangerous rhetoric being espoused by elected officials and candidates,” Iacino wrote in an email to supporters Monday. He provided more details in a phone interview this week.
“This election cycle, we’re working in (the 3rd District), at the county level in Garfield County, and at the state level we’re looking to do some work on the initiatives that are coming up. But I do see this carrying on into the 2022 statewide elections,” Iacino said.
“Garfield County in particular has important races all up and down the ballot, from county commissioners to state Senate to Diane’s race and Hickenlooper’s,” he added, referring to Diane Mitsch Bush, who defeated him in the 3rd District primary, and U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper.
Expect to see direct donations to candidates in some cases, but also digital and mail ads. Rural issues and rural voters — especially farmers and ranchers — will be priorities, he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Tuesday it has booked $631,000 in fall TV ads for the 3rd District. It’s the first time the DCCC has gone on air in the district since 2012, according to a DCCC spokesperson.
More federal election news
Mile High Politics • By Conrad Swanson
Wear your mask for the sake of your gym
It seems elected officials are running out of new ways to say it, so let’s try this as bluntly as possible: Wear a face mask.
Not just over your mouth. Cover your nose, too. And try to remain at least six feet away from others while you’re out and about.
If you don’t believe the scientists, believe that you could get your favorite business in trouble for failure to comply.
No fewer than 157 Denver businesses have been cited since July for either staff or customers failing to follow pandemic-related rules, according to a list from city officials. The businesses range from restaurants and bars to liquor stores, hotels and fitness clubs. Some were shut down because of the violations.
For example, last month, Fast Performance, at 4650 Leyden St., was ticketed and closed because 9 out of 10 customers weren’t wearing face coverings while working out in the same room. That was after an inspection two days earlier that found 8 of 10 employees weren’t wearing face coverings. Fast Performance was scheduled to reopen today.
Some hotels have been cited for selling alcohol past the state-mandated last call, and a number of restaurants have been cited for having employees without masks working in the kitchen. Other venues violated large-group restrictions … the list goes on.
The longer the virus sticks around, the more those restaurants, fitness clubs, hotels and other businesses suffer.
And the city has already been hit hard. As Mayor Michael Hancock
released his proposed 2021 budget last week, which assumes a $190 million tax shortfall, he reiterated the need for Denverites to continue following best practices. The city is facing historic tax shortfalls because of the economic impact of the pandemic. Less money means fewer services, including cutbacks in large-item trash pickups, the continuing closure of recreation centers, and employee furloughs across the city.
The budget shortfall is the estimate if the virus remains manageable. A substantial uptick means more budget slashing. And that’s just the financial side. People are dying. Colorado just surpassed
2,000 deaths from the virus, which has claimed 200,000 lives nationwide.
This week Gov. Jared Polis warned of a
possible third wave of the virus. The uptick is so notable around colleges that the University of Colorado Boulder announced it would shift classes online for at least two weeks and Boulder and Denver are both ratcheting up restrictions near campuses.
Doctors, public health experts and government leaders all agree that following the rules is the way to keep schools, jobs and the economy going.
More Denver and suburban political news
