“All human beings are my neighbors. We share the same planet.” — Ana Monnar
by Luke Schmaltz
By mid-March of this year, a new reality had descended upon Denver, as the COVID-19 lockdown forced residents to curtail social behavior, forgo daily objectives and divert vocational routines in never-before-seen ways. As thousands of “non-essential” workers were forced from their jobs and directed by government officials to stay at home, the Denver Department of Public Works continued to operate as usual. The ever-elusive “ticket ninjas” crept along their daily routes, issuing citations for meter violations, time-limit abuses and parking in prohibited areas on street sweeping day offenses.
Neighborly Gestures
After grapevine investigation, it was discovered that some of these anti-citation signs were the work of a local artist known as Rez, who explains, “ I decided to make the signs because I know personally that the street sweeping catches me off guard, especially in the spring. I figured I was not the only one, and if I could help out a few neighbors and essential hospital personnel, it was worth making a couple of signs.” Although obstructing street sweeping is a fine-able offense, the actual presence of these machines is an urban mystery. Rez continues, “I think I saw a street sweeper that last day [last year] it was supposed to clean our street.”
With extra time on their hands, some residents of the Baker district decided not to take the untimely, insensitive issuance of parking tickets sitting down. In a bold, First Amendment-inspired move, locals began taking matters into their own hands and warning neighbors, locally employed professionals and other passers-through to be mindful of the cruel, merciless scourge of Denver meter maids. By the time street sweeping day came around in the first week of April, several sidewalks featured homemade signs warning that the citation hammer was afoot and set to drop on anyone and everyone parked on the wrong side of the street.
Residents aim to warn neighbors about costly tickets with fines that can quickly triple.
The Pen Is Mighty
Small Infraction, Massive Price
The consequences for non-payment of a parking ticket can be severe. Essentially, the issuance of a ticket initiates a process that, if not complied with, can result in the city commandeering (impounding) your vehicle with no obligation to return it. Rather, it could be held for months accruing ever-increasing fees and fines, and finally sold at auction for a fraction of its value so that the paltry revenue can be absorbed into a corpulent government bureaucracy.
Rapid Escalation
The average parking ticket in Denver cites the vehicle owner anywhere from $25 to $50. If not paid within 20 days, the fine doubles — making the vehicle eligible to be fitted with a wheel clamp and/or towed away. After 60 days, a collection fee is added and credit bureaus are notified, and after 120 days a default judgment is entered against whomever the vehicle is registered to — stating that all fines and fees must be paid by legal mandate. Finally, after one year, the file is turned over to a law firm which then pursues
aggressive private collection. An article published by The Denver Post in September 2019 reported that annual parking fee revenues for the previous year were in excess of $27 million. Believe it or not, that was the lowest figures reported in almost a decade. With that sort of money sitting in the city’s coffers, all streets should be free of potholes, every stoplight should sparkle, and shine and every street sign should be polished to a squeaky-clean sheen.
Shame Of The City
While Denver is known for many great things such as the Broncos and a certain omelet of the same name, it is also known for the infamous Denver boot. The aforementioned “wheel clamp” is deployed to disable any vehicle linked to unpaid parking violations. This blatant violation of Fourth Amendment rights (unreasonable searches and seizures) has spread to municipalities across the nations, giving the Mile-High City an unfair name among unfortunate motorists nationwide. Parking fines and additional fees notwithstanding, having a boot on a car entitles the owner to pay yet another fee to have it removed.
Supply And Demand
While parking enforcement has its place in keeping bike lanes and jogging paths obstruction-free, the aggressive policy of writing tickets, doubling fines and confiscating private property seems altogether overkill — especially in the midst of a pandemic — thus the vigilant residential blowback. As mentioned above, the issuance of tickets across Denver has leveled out over the last couple of years. The reason being for this? The economy was so good that the Department of Public Works couldn’t find enough people to fill all the parking agent positions — shedding light on what must be a truly lousy job.
Eight months out of the year, parking tickets are issued once a month to cars parked in the way of “street sweeping.”
A Temporary Standstill
Now that one-third of the labor force has been couched, the city probably won’t have trouble filling those empty ticket agent positions. Yet, for every hypervigilant meter maid scuttling about ruining people’s afternoons, there will be several dozen unemployed residents like Rez with enough time on their hands to post homemade signs warning others about being ticketed. Thankfully, by mid-April in this strangest of years, the issuance of parking tickets seemed to have dwindled even further. Perhaps city officials finally gave in to their human instincts to have a bit of mercy for their fellow citizens in the midst of a crisis.
One thing is for sure, though — as soon as things level out and the pandemic subsides — the ticket patrol will be back in full force … but so will Rez.
In the two years since Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration implemented Denver’s Vision Zero Action Plan, the city appears no closer to making its streets safe for pedestrians and multimodal transportation than when it began.
HIN: Reducing crashes on Colorado’s High Injury Network (HIN) of roads is a goal that seems unreachable given current traffic trends.
Even though nearly 70 percent of Denver residents still support Vision Zero, according to a survey conducted by the Denver Streets Partnership, the results of the program, critics claim, are hard to justify.
According to the 2019 Vision Zero Report, traffic-related fatalities increased by 15 percent from 2018 while serious bodily injury resulting from crashes also increased. In contrast, Denver cited several case studies purporting to show that Vision Zero has made a positive impact. Those include setting up automated speed and distracted driving enforcement at the intersection of 6th and Lincoln, adding 24-hour transit-only lanes on 15th and 17th streets downtown, and improving signage at the 20th street and I-25 interchange.
However, these case studies show that Denver is focusing on solving only one side of a double-edged problem. While Vision Zero aims to eliminate traffic deaths by 2030 by focusing on infrastructure improvements and behavioral causes affecting Denver’s traffic-related deaths and serious injuries, Denver is only focusing on the infrastructure.
As an example, the report says the presence of a photo radar van at 6th and Lincoln for five days reduced excessive speeding (10+ mph) by 21 percent. But, reducing the number of overall speeding tickets has not influenced the frequency of accidents occurring at that intersection. Denver still lists the intersection as a hotspot for fatal accidents on its Vision Zero Data & Trends website.
Denver’s case studies also do not address the fact that most accidents do not occur at intersections and are not caused by speeding. In fact, over 40 percent of Denver’s accidents occur because of distracted driving, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The Vision Zero Data & Trends website also shows that most accidents occur in neighborhoods and on arterial streets.
Low-Hanging Fruit
The mixed messaging around Vision Zero has also caused some residents to believe the city is just going after low-hanging fruit to make it seem like it is doing more to protect pedestrians.
In May 2019, Mayor Hancock lamented that not enough was being done to protect Denver’s pedestrians during a memorial ceremony for those who lost their lives in traffic crashes.
“Every one of those lives lost is unacceptable and preventable,” Hancock said before listing the safety improvement projects the city is undertaking. Those include adding 19 miles of bicycle lanes and 12 new traffic signals.
One of the ceremony’s attendants, Michelle Roche, who lost her son after a reckless driver hit him in 2014, told Streets Blog Denver that the ceremony itself seemed like a propaganda campaign to make the city seem like it’s doing more to prevent traffic-related deaths.
“If you ask me, that little trickle of dollars that they’re putting towards the action plan … it’s like in marketing, we would call that greenwashing,” she said.
In its 2019 budget, Denver allocated just $2.6 million to implementing the recommendations of the Vision Zero Action Plan, accounting for less than 10 percent of funds allocated for transportation improvement projects. In 2020, Denver allocated just $1.65 million for the same cause.
Since the ceremony, Denver announced it will add up to 124 miles of bicycle lanes throughout the city and is upgrading 15 intersections across Colfax Avenue, one of Denver’s busiest streets. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) announced the upgrades consist of adding “bollards and paint to shorten crossing distances for people on foot and to carve out places where pedestrians can stop in the middle of the street.”
But, residents living along Colfax aren’t impressed with the upgrades. The bollards will cost $120,000 alone, and there is no guarantee they will improve safety.
One resident who walks Colfax regularly told The Denver Channel that he worries about his safety because drivers on Colfax don’t watch out for pedestrians.
“My neighbor got hit by a car down the street, I’ve yelled at several drivers because they’re not looking when I’m crossing over, they’re making turns without looking both ways,” he said.
Colfax is one of several streets listed on the High Injury Network (HIN) — the corridors in Denver with the highest number of fatal and injury crashes. HIN roads account for just five percent of the total roads in the city but have seen more than 40 percent of the crashes since 2013. Other HIN roads include Broadway, University and Evans.
Federal Intervention
Denver’s problems with Vision Zero haven’t gone unnoticed by people living outside the Centennial State.
In December 2019, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) sent officials to meet with CDOT, DOTI, and the Denver Police Department to discuss means of improving Denver’s Vision Zero plan.
Among the concerns raised by DOT officials during the meeting was increasing rates of fatalities among pedestrians and bicyclists and other vulnerable road users. DOT found this fatality rate increased by 23 percent from 2018.
DOT’s nationwide data also showed that 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred overwhelmingly after dark, 38 percent occurred when many pedestrians had some alcohol in their systems, and 74 percent occurred when they were outside of intersections. Half of accidents involving bicyclist fatalities occurred after dark, while only 26 percent of such accidents occurred with some alcohol in their systems.
“We clearly have more work to do to ensure that Denver’s transportation safety needs are met,” said James Owens, acting administrator of DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “I’m confident that with the help of our safety partners, we can make the Denver area one of the safest in America for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.”
In the past three years, NHTSA awarded Colorado $46 million to address its road safety concerns. Even so, nearly 600 people across the state were killed in traffic-related incidents in 2019, according to statistics from CDOT.
So far in 2020, 57 people have been killed in crashes.
Project Expansion
While Denver struggles to achieve its Vision Zero goals, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) plans to expand the program to become more regionally focused. DRCOG claims this approach will help cities and communities in the metro area deal with increasing traffic deaths.
“Vision Zero switches safety from being solely the responsibility of roadway users to a shared responsibility of system designers and roadway users,” the agency said in its announcement of the plan. “It is inevitable that roadway users will make mistakes, so roads should be designed to ensure these mistakes do not result in severe injuries or fatalities.”
However, the principles of Vision Zero and the implementation seem to be out of line with each other. Last year, DRCOG reported 242 fatalities resulting from crashes across DRCOG’s service area which includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin and Jefferson counties. This total is more than one-third of traffic-related fatalities reported in the state.
Denver admits there is still work to be done and plans to focus on improving the HIN in 2020. But, residents are still waiting for the program to make an impact.
Breaking Down Denver’s Rising Levels Of Air Pollution
by Luke Schmaltz
It’s rush hour on a Denver weekday
afternoon and bumper to bumper traffic is making the ride home a frustrating
punishment rather than a jettison to freedom. Then suddenly a jogger flies past
your window and a pang of guilt overcomes you that you are not getting your
cardiovascular exercise for the day.
But is that wannabe Forrest Gump really
engaging in a healthy activity? What the exercise-crazed spandex-clad hordes of
Denver may not be aware of is that hyperventilating amid throngs of automobiles
ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. The air circulating through your lungs is
saturated with elevated levels of ozone. On many a smoggy day, (there were over
100 in 2019) the air hanging over the city is what the Environmental Protection
Agency calls “in serious violation” of Air Quality Index (AQI) standards.
Essentially, by breathing rapidly and deeply next to a busy Denver street, you
may slowly be poisoning yourself.
A Man-made Hazard
Polluted Skyline: The Denver skyline takes on a New Jersey-esque complexion roughly one out of every three days.
A series of circumstances have coalesced to
form what could be considered a perfect storm of pollution across the city.
Increasing volumes of car exhaust due to population explosion, carbon emissions
from oil and gas mining operations, smoke from fireplaces and woodburning
stoves, emissions from power plants and industrial furnaces and sunlight
reacting with molecular oxygen particles has elevated the ozone levels past the
70 parts per billion (PPB) maximum recommended by the EPA. The aforementioned
100+ days in 2019 involved ozone levels past 80 PPB. The national ambient air
quality standards (NAAQS) were redefined in 2015 after extensive research into
the detrimental health effects of common air pollutants such as ground-level
ozone, particulate matter, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon
monoxide.
In Collaboration With Nature
Smokestacks: Smokestacks may not paint the sky black, but they deliver convincing shades of brown and gray.
What’s more, a global warming-driven
weather phenomenon known as temperature inversions are acting like an invisible
lid — trapping pollution in the troposphere rather than allowing it to
dissipate up through the stratosphere. Yes, the infamous brown cloud of the
1980s that Denver was internationally mocked for is back once again. This time
around, however, like fugly apartment buildings, a whitewashed retail landscape
and gentrification itself — this phenomenon is taking place in metropolitan
areas across the nation.
In a nutshell, ground-level ozone is
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) reacting with
sunlight and atmospheric air molecules. The Denver Regional Council of
Governments estimates that every day, between 250,000 and 350,000 cars are
being driven across the metro region. This transportation sector is the second
largest contributor of greenhouse gases next to industrial emissions. Plus,
there are over 23,000 active oil and natural gas wells across the front range
as well as numerous power plants across the Denver metro region.
A New Agency To The Rescue?
As of January 1, 2020, the Denver
Department of Public Works was renamed the Department of Transportation and
Infrastructure (DOTI) in a symbolic display meant to mark a new chapter of
planned environmental objectives. Among DOTI’s concerns is the Climate Action
Plan launched by the City of Denver in 2007 and rebooted in 2015. This “plan”
presents an “80×50” objective — meaning that through new measures and policies
the city aims for an 80% reduction of emissions (from the 2005 baseline) by
2050. A recent heavy-handed screed issued by Mayor Michael Hancock’s office
outlines a protocol of “aggressive and decisive action” for reducing emissions
through new renewable energy programs, energy efficiency and low operational
cost of electric vehicles. This letter celebrates Denver as having “a long
history of trailblazing when it comes to climate change.” If that is so, why do
pollution levels continue to rise? All of the industrial facilities, oil wells
and natural gas mines on operation require permits, correct? It would seem that
progress, when left to bureaucracy, is inevitably hindered by the inherent
sluggishness of government. Either that, or the tax revenue generated by these
facilities is simply too hard to pass up. Regardless, it would seem that the
climate action plan (CAP) is really just a bunch of crap.
It’s Up To You
Traffic: Many are involved but it’s nobody’s fault.
Like traffic jams — where many people are involved but are usually no singular person’s fault, pollution is the cumulative result of many people simply going about their daily business. As willing participants, the responsibility to reduce emissions should be taken up by the populace without being prompted by finger wagging and knuckle cracking from the hand of big brother. The EPA outlines a simple protocol of steps anyone can take at any time to reduce pollution. For example, you can walk, ride your bike, carpool or take the bus instead of driving a single occupant vehicle. Use slow-burning logs instead of wood in your fireplace, properly inflate your times for better fuel efficiency, use environmentally safe cleaning products and paint, reduce use of air conditioners and furnaces and mulch yard waste instead of simply throwing it away. But, and be realistic, you already knew all this, didn’t you? The issue is whether or not you care enough to endure a bit of inconvenience to do your small part, or if you’re going to carry on as usual — assuming that your neighbors and fellow citizens will pick up the slack while you lumber forth in a smog-laden haze. Theoretically, that’s fine enough, but the problem is — they are probably thinking the exact same thing about you.
“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. They are important … for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities.” — Robert Spector
The commercial topography of Anytown,
America, is changing due to a distinct set of economic circumstances. The
buying power of large corporate entities and the low overhead of online
retailers are undercutting the profit margins of independent brick-and-mortar
businesses. As mom & pop shops give way to big box outlets, national chains
and web-based sales platforms, the independent business model is becoming an
increasingly difficult equation to balance.
Despite these daunting circumstances, a few
independent proprietors have found a way to stand their ground against the
seemingly unstoppable tsunami of hospital waiting room-like establishments and
soulless, whitewashed, cookie-cutter stores. While Denver’s ongoing
transformation into a generic urban sprawl mirrors that of most American
cities, a stubborn patchwork of retail holdouts continue to express traits of
their 20th Century DNA by operating with distinct, inimitable identities. These
holdouts are singular brands that cannot be duplicated or synthesized any more
than the personalities of their proprietors could be mimicked, molded or
mass-marketed.
This is by no means a comprehensive index, rather, it is a suggestion of infamous standouts across several industries — a list intended to expand the perception of your daily commercial options. Whether you must drive an extra mile, rearrange your schedule to make “normal” store hours or spend an extra buck or two — spending your hard-earned money in businesses with soul is damn well worth it.
Cigars On 6th
Cigars: Cigars on 6th is a welcoming place for sociable connoisseurs.
(707 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
A circle of ornate, leather-padded chairs
await tobacco connoisseurs, humidor aficionados and enraptured novices alike.
Visitors can expect knowledgeable advice on the nuances of different cigar
brands and can be reassured that at no point will they be harangued by salesy
pretense or over-accommodating smarm. You can choose from a world-class
selection, light up on the spot and relax into conversation with your
companions and other patrons while the game plays in the background on a giant
flat screen TV.
Rupp’s Drums
Drums: The gang at Rupp’s Drums offers personalized, world-class expertise.
(2045 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80224)
This retail percussion mecca was originally
opened by the infamous Bob Rupp in 1984 and is revered among local musicians
and internationally renowned rock stars alike. Just about every stackable
square inch of space is occupied by the necessities of the percussive arts.
Every member of the sales staff is either a seasoned drummer, an accomplished
musician of another sort, a sound engineer or all three. You can expect expert
advice on every facet of their product line and practical suggestions based on
your specific needs. The difference between shopping here and going to a chain
store is the difference between front row seats at your favorite band’s live
concert and watching a video of said event shot on a wobbly smartphone.
Wax Trax Records
Records: Wax Trax Records boasts a massive collection of music across all genres. Wax Trax has been in Denver since 1975.
(620 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)
This Capitol Hill landmark has been Denver’s
go-to place for recorded music since the early 1980s. Unlike corporate retail
stores, the staff are neither instructed nor inclined to adhere to the notion
of “the customer is always right.” You will not be bombarded by insincere
politeness or overly-helpful attention. Rather, you can expect to be left alone
to browse a staggeringly comprehensive offering of music across all genres. The
selection of domestic and imported music is unparalleled, and if you can’t find
what you’re looking for because you don’t remember the artist’s name or you
can’t spell — you may get the idea that you shouldn’t be there in the first
place. This mainstay has outlasted several pivotal trends, including the file
sharing fiasco, the music pirating era and the Independent Records location
that set up shop a few blocks away and recently folded. Wax Trax is currently
riding high on the wave of the vinyl record resurgence.
Mutiny Information Cafe
(2 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209)
Books: Book lovers will find their “epicenter of cultural mojo” at Mutiny Information Cafe.
A South Broadway landmark for years, this
one-of-a-kind bookstore, coffee bar, comic book shop, used record rack and
pinball arcade is what some refer to as Denver’s “epicenter of cultural mojo.”
Proprietors Matt Meygasi and Jim Norris personally curate every piece of
inventory — be it the latest issue of X-MEN or a newly-released, signed album
by Steve Earle. You can order a Thai iced tea, an Americano or a matcha tea
latte, grab a chair in one of the lounge areas and read, philosophize, play
chess, work on your epic poem or just stare at all the shelves and wonder where
to begin. Frequent poetry readings, musical performances, book signings and
presentations by literary luminaries make this place a shining example of what
can happen when you disengage from virtual media and go interact with people
the old-fashioned way — in person.
Rockmount Ranch Wear
(1626 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202)
In 1946, “Papa” Jack Weil founded this
Denver institution that has organically grown into an international fashion
phenomenon. For three generations, these western-themed stylings have enticed
blue collar folks, alternative icons, country music legends and rock ’n’ roll
superstars. The company has remained family-run since its inception, was passed
down to Jack Jr. and is currently run by Papa’s grandson Steve Weil. Their LoDo
storefront avails visitors to a museum-like stroll through a rustic setting
abundant with western motif, custom embroidered shirts and everyday “ranch”
wear. Papa Jack was also the inventor of the snap-up button shirt, which has
been endorsed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Steve Buschemi and Elvis Presley.
Although internationally acclaimed and often imitated, the store and its wares
exude an undeniably genuine appeal to everyday people.
The Wizard’s Chest
Toys: Gift shoppers, game lovers and toy experts will find paradise at The Wizard’s Chest.
(451 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203)
This family-owned gift-shopping paradise
that first opened in 1983 has become a Denver institution. This 18,000 square
foot behemoth hearkens back to a time when kids’ games were played in actual
reality with tangible toys, inspired imaginations and physical human beings.
The original Cherry Creek location was moved to South Broadway in 2015 and
features, gifts, gags, gadgets and games of every imaginable stripe along with
costumes galore and a professional theater makeup department. Such gargantuan
retail overhead would spell disaster for a start-up, but decades of building a
large clientele has enabled proprietors to leverage their brand loyalty into a
real-life community of exciting weekly events. Meetups are held for fledgling
magicians, board game experts, Lord of the Rings lovers, Dungeons and Dragons
players, Star Wars geeks and much more. Their impressive calendar of
constructive extra-curricular engagement is no doubt one of the keys to their
long-lived success and a feature that would be impossible to replicate in a
corporate bureaucracy.
The new Denver location boasts an assembly line of sparkling, brightly-lit retail facades adorned by careful corporate branding. Yet, a few stalwarts of the old business model dare to offer personality, sincerity and expertise rather than the bland, sterile mediocrity that seems to be all the rage. So, the next time you see a storefront that is not emblazoned with a generic logo that has been burned into your psyche through mainstream marketing, take a chance and pop in. You just might experience what yesterday was commonplace and what tomorrow may be but a dusty memory.
“Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
by Luke Schmaltz
Psilocybin mushrooms occur naturally in many areas of the world.
On May 14, 2019 Denver’s profile as a
one-of-a-kind American city expanded in dimension. Initiative 301 passed by the
slimmest of margins (50.6% to 49.4%) which enacted the decriminalization of
psilocybin — the active substance in psychedelic mushrooms.
Those who are curious as to what may happen
next can refer to the cannabis legalization history book and take note of a few
crucial milestones. Firstly, psilocybin is not yet legal, it has simply been
demoted to “the lowest legal priority” according to Decriminalize Denver, the
grassroots political action group that introduced the measure. This important
step toward legalization means that, at some point in the future, anyone over
21 will be able to legally purchase psilocybin mushroom products and services
in a retail or clinical setting. Currently the City of Denver’s policy is to
devote zero resources to the prosecution of psilocybin with a review panel in
place which will intermittently assess public and fiscal impacts of the
measure.
Just as the monetization of marijuana
continues to prove, when a controlled substance with numerous benefits becomes
legal, innovation and entrepreneurship flourish. In the case of psilocybin,
however, consumption on a massive scale as in the cannabis industry is
tentative, due to the distinct differences between the psilocybin and THC. The
greatest of these being that magic mushrooms do not have the same widespread
appeal as marijuana. Regardless, impending legalization harkens the creation of
a new segment of commerce that will, for a while at least, be unique to the
Mile High City.
An Element Of Familiarity
Like the marijuana flower, “magic”
mushrooms occur naturally across the world in dozens of strains with varying
potencies. Once mature, the dried caps and stems can be consumed raw or added
to food and beverages for greater palatability. Also, psilocybin holds great
allure for recreational substance users while presenting untold value for the
medical and wellness fields.
A New Retail Market
Palatability has long been an issue with
psychedelic mushrooms, as most who have partaken attest that chewing the dried
fungi is less than pleasant. So, it stands to reason that the first retail
products will address this objection — most likely with the same creative gusto
seen in the cannabis industry. One can expect chocolate bars infused with
“shake” — a term for ground-up mushroom caps and stems. Other anticipations
could also include gelatin capsules, peanut butter (creamy or crunchy), green
tea bags, jars of honey, pasta sauces, and smoothie-ready fruit medleys — all
infused with specific doses per serving of psilocybin. Although tax revenue on
these gross sales may pale in comparison to the cannabis numbers, there’s no
doubt that this new market will produce jobs and stimulate commerce.
Guided “Trip” Tourism
Once psilocybin can be legally sold and
openly consumed, all-inclusive magic mushroom experiences may further expand
Colorado’s tourism appeal. These “trip” packages would most likely include
measured doses in the preferred method of ingestion, a controlled environment
based on the clients’ personal tastes and a shaman-type guide to administer the
proper amounts and lead the weekend adventurers through each phase of their
journey. These psychedelic retreats could be marketed as self-care vacations
and consciousness-expanding getaways.
Alternative Treatment Clinics
Magic mushrooms can be cultivated in artificial environments.
The prescription opioid crisis has proven
that assigning a pill to every affliction may not be the best long-term
strategy. In a search for non-addictive compounds for treating difficult
maladies, science and medicine have discovered some compelling therapeutic
aspects of psilocybin. Studies by the Heffter Research Institute,
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Beckley
Foundation have proven the efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression,
addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cluster headaches, anxiety and PTSD
among other conditions. Upon legalization, health and wellness professionals
may be setting up psilocybin therapy practices that treat the root of health
problems instead of masking the symptoms.
Peace Of Mind Services
Aside from recreational allure and
therapeutic potency, perhaps the greatest benefit magic mushrooms have to offer
is inner peace. A 2016 FDA-approved clinical trial called the NYU Psilocybin
Cancer Anxiety Project revealed that psilocybin had a profoundly positive
effect on those struggling with end-of-life issues. Specifically, through
measured, guided doses, cancer patients experiencing depression and anxiety in the
face of impending death were able to confront their fears and find peace of
mind. This profoundly valuable service will no doubt find a robust clientele
when psilocybin becomes legal. Palliative care clinics designed to help
patients enjoy their final days with clarity and mental tranquility may carve
out a significant market share. Rather than being a sad and somber last chapter
of life, hospice may present a final opportunity for the dying to celebrate the
beauty of life.
Psilocybin has not been decriminalized in America since the 1970s, which puts Denver at the forefront of territory that has been unexplored for the last 50 years or so. With legalization a distinct possibility, so too are the possibilities for new segments of commerce forged by highly valued products and services.
The Winners And Losers Of Legalized Sports Betting In Colorado “One of the worst things that can happen to you in life is to win a bet on a horse at an early age.” Dan McGoorty
by Luke Schmaltz
On May 14, 2018, in a lawsuit filed by the
State of New Jersey, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 was
unconstitutional. Removal of this piece of anti-gaming legislation opened the
sports betting floodgates. Currently, a deluge of widely accessible sports
wagering is fanning out across the nation and is steadily flowing to the north,
to the south, across the Midwest and toward the west coast.
Mobile Betting: Emptying your bank account is just a click away. App-based betting means no more waiting in line at the wagering window.
After the Garden State legalized sports
betting one month later, other states began following suit (19 total to date)
including New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois and most recently, Colorado.
Currently, 18 more states including Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California are
introducing similar legislation that will allow anyone with an internet connection
or a mobile device to get in on the action. The indications are two-fold —
pointing to massive tax revenues for state programs along with daunting
potential for negative social impact.
In Colorado, the ballot measure that passed
by a narrow margin on November 5 will grant the 33 licensed casinos in Black
Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek the ability to offer betting on
collegiate, professional, Olympic and motor sports. Beginning in May 2020,
wagers can be placed in person at a casino sportsbook or online from anywhere
in the state. The second part of that allowance is where the issue compounds.
Widespread accessibility equates to more tax revenue and at the same time means
more inexperienced gamblers and folks who are simply prone to addictive
behavior will be blowing kisses from afar at lady luck.
The Good
Colorado Proposition DD passed by the
thinnest of margins — 50.8% to 49.2% to be exact — which equates to about
20,000 votes or so. It can be safely surmised that the idea won favor with voters
because it was introduced in conjunction with a previously passed bill applying
a 10% flat tax on sports betting.
This means that a sizable chunk of net
sports betting revenue will flow directly to the coffers of the Colorado Water
Conservation Board. These funds will be leveraged to implement the state’s
water plan (introduced by the office of former Governor John Hickenlooper) to
meet agricultural needs and the demands of a booming population. This explains
the appeal of the measure across so many demographics within a populace that is
seemingly more concerned with infrastructure planning, economic growth and
environmental issues and less adamant about the right to legally gamble on
Sunday’s big game.
For those who are adamant about their right
to legally wager on sports, the money is doubled, so to speak. Not only can
they gamble the game of their choosing without breaking the law, they can skip
waiting in line at the betting window and play the odds from the convenience of
their homes.
The Bad
Now that anyone in Colorado over 18 will
soon be able to gamble on any game at any time from anywhere, there’s an
excellent chance that the more pertinent issues listed above may be further
obscured by this newfangled vice. The best way to speculate on what is in store
for our Rocky Mountain State is to look back to New Jersey, where sports
betting has been legal for over a year. Officials from the Council of
Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) are expressing concern over the fact
that a 2019 Rutgers University survey discovered that 6.3 percent of state
residents have a gambling disorder — three times the national average.
Executive Director Neva Pryor explains: “It’s that accessibility that makes it
Legal In 2020: Sports betting will be legal in Colorado starting in May 2020. Bet on any aspect of any sport in real time from anywhere.
[gambling]
so easy.” Meanwhile, CCGNJ co-founder Arnie Wexler attests: “Two
years from now you won’t be able to get a seat in a Gamblers Anonymous room
because … people that never would gamble on sports illegally are now gambling
on sports.”
This is due largely to the fact that
participants are using online sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings and/or
mobile apps developed by individual casinos. The convenience of digital wager
placement and the allure of immediate payment have direct appeal to those who
subscribe to the instant gratification mindset. Couple that with rampant cell
phone addiction that is already in place for many, and you have another “double
your money” scenario. On this side of the coin, however, the odds play on the
inherent weaknesses of those prone to compulsive behavior.
The Ugly
Initially, the top four major professional
athletic leagues — NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — opposed legalization of sports
gambling. Yet, since PASPA was overturned they have all quickly assimilated
into the marketplace to secure their cut of the action. The NFL has inked a
sponsorship deal with Caesars Palace while the other three leagues have similar
contracts in place with MGM Grand.
Instant: Legalized sports betting has instant gratification appeal.
The four entities above, along with boxing,
golf, horse racing, tennis, wrestling and many more (that means you, college
sports) have well-documented histories of game fixing, rigging schemes and
gambling infestations of many stripes. Now that the leagues themselves have a
direct interest in betting revenue, gambling terms like “house rules” and “the
fix is in” may take on meaning of a never-before-seen magnitude.
What’s more, ESPN and FOX Sports 1 both
have shows dedicated to sports betting. As the phenomenon sweeps the nation
state by state, the ubiquity of it all could spell a distinct change in how
events are called by sportscasters. Wager and odds-based commentary may become
the dominating aspects of the live broadcast narrative rather than the facts of
the contest at hand.
Finally, to top it all off with a formidable one-uppance, not only can mobile app gamblers wager on an event when it is still underway, they can also bet on just about any aspect of the game at hand. At any point during play, a bettor can wager on such factors as Brandon Allen getting sacked a certain number of times, Jamal Murray hitting his next three-pointer or whether Nolan Arenado connects with the next fastball. Whatever the sport — that’s one way to empty out a bank account in record time.
