The Chronicle is distributed in both Denver and Arapahoe counties. If you were alleged to have committed a crime it didn’t normally matter on which side of the county line it occurred, but today it can. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann is a longtime Democratic politician and she approached her job as D.A. with her political sensitivities very much intact. George Brauchler, the term-limited District Attorney for Arapahoe County, has been a Republican candidate for governor and attorney general and is considered a viable candidate for statewide office as a Republican in the future.
D.A. Beth McCann
McCann’s and Brauchler’s different views of what is a crime in Colorado has been on great display regarding political protests/ riots in both jurisdictions. In a May 28th protest at the State Capitol, demanding justice regarding the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a group of protesters surrounded the car of Jennifer Watson, 37, who was on her way home. A protester jumped on her hood and smashed her windshield in two places which obstructed her view. She appears to turn and brush against the protester who was previously on her hood without real injury.
A petition on Change .org gathered 38,000 signatures demanding that D.A. McCann charge the driver with a crime. In response, two months after the incident Watson was charged by McCann with third degree assault for knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury. She faces 6 to 24 months in jail on those charges. She was also charged with reckless driving. The person who jumped on the car, nor anyone connected to the May 28th events in Denver, was charged by McCann.
Over in Aurora on July 25th, protesters seeking justice in the death of Elijah McCain in the hands of that city’s police department, poured into the streets and sought to block traffic on Alameda Avenue and Interstate 225. A driver of a blue jeep sped through the protesters on I-225 while a protester apparently fired two shots at the vehicle, hitting two other protesters.
D.A. George Brauchler
Brauchler publicly declined to charge the driver stating that: “If this guy wants to run into people he had plenty of opportunity to do that [but didn’t].”
Brauchler did, however, file charges against four persons who organized the protest for rioting, and the attempt to commit first degree kidnapping. Dave Young the Democrat D.A. for the 17th Judicial District which includes that part of Aurora in Adams County also charged those four and two additional individuals.
In response to Brauchler’s actions, Aurora protester Rebecca Wolf declared: “It doesn’t surprise me, but it’s all nonsense. I’m pretty sure if it was my son driving, who is young and brown, he’d be behind bars already.”
We are not sure skin pigmentation is necessarily how D.A.s in Colorado charge in most cases, but the politics of the D.A. sure does make a difference. In the recent September 23rd Breonna Taylor protest, there was a driver going through the crowd that was blocking downtown and he was detained. His chances of getting charged are significantly greater in the City and County of Denver than they would have been in Arapahoe County.
May 28th protest at the State Capitol.
These days you can get the justice you want by voting for a D.A. candidate that reflects your values. If you identify with the protesters there are justice warrior D.A.s like Kim Foxx of Chicago, Kim Gardner of St. Louis, and Larry Krasner of Philadelphia. If law and order is your mantra there are viable candidates that fit that slot, except, of course, in Denver. Beth McCann knew the danger to her re-election this fall would be from the left and she shored up her support on the left with her charging decisions. Her only opposition is Libertarian William F. Robinson III which means she is a shoo-in.
However, it is a different story outside Denver. In the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln) George Brauchler is term-limited and Amy Padden (D) and John Keller (R) face off, while in the 1st Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties) Democratic candidate Alex King is reputedly strongly supported by George Soros affiliated groups over Republican Matt Durkin.
July 25th protest in Aurora.
At one time Arapahoe and Jefferson counties were deemed Republican strongholds, but no longer. The two races should be close. Pick your D.A. and get the justice system you want. In Denver, you get Beth McCann and her politically oriented justice, for better or worse.
by Kim Schulz, VP of Youth Development, YMCA of Metro Denver
Virtual schooling has more kids and teens online now than ever before. While technology has led to ease of learning, resources and flexibility, it can also make more teens vulnerable to cyberbullying.
Remember, bullying doesn’t just happen at school. It can happen anywhere, including through texting, the internet, social media and gaming platforms. So, just what is cyberbullying? It is most often repetitive behavior aimed at badmouthing, humiliating, scaring or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:
• Spreading lies about someone or posting embarrassing photos of them on social media.
• Sending hurtful messages or threats using online messaging platforms.
• Impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf.
So what should you and your child do when it happens to you? Here are some helpful tips to not only recognize cyberbullying but to deal with it.
Prevention
The first step is to place appropriate permissions and restrictions on technology usage and access to electronics. Setting reasonable limits early on can prevent kids from becoming too attached to their computers and devices later.
It’s also a good idea to have open communication with your child. Encourage your son or daughter to come to you with questions and concerns and let them know that no subjects are out of bounds.
Spot It And Stop It
There are some red flags when it comes to bullying; behavior changes include isolation, withdrawal and avoidance of activities and events. Be on the lookout for changes in your child’s behavior and inquire about the root cause.
If you observe any behavioral or emotional changes in your child, be sure to address the subject in a calm, non-threatening, private manner at a time and place when both you and your child can communicate openly. It may even be helpful to rehearse what you’re going to say to your child in advance.
Another telltale sign of cyberbullying is your child’s preoccupation with his or her computer or device; fixation on a device in concert with behavioral changes can often signal something going on behind the scenes.
If you do need to check your child’s device, it’s recommended that you have a discussion with them first and involve them in the process. Unless it’s an extreme circumstance, it’s rarely advisable to betray your child’s trust by going through their private messages without their knowledge.
If your child cites a cyberbullying instance, it’s important to remain calm and let them know you’re glad they shared it with you. Then the two of you can have a discussion about the best next steps, whether it’s alerting the bullying child’s parents, closing an online account or another method; by working together, you can arrive at a solution that will not only help remedy the issue but also alleviate additional stress for your child.
Keep Communication Open
Keep the lines of communication with your child open; continue to have ongoing dialogue with your child after the incident. As parents, it’s up to us to inspire confidence in our children, both online and off.
And, if you and your child have done everything you can to resolve a situation and nothing has worked or something is in immediate danger, seek the appropriate authorities for help.
To learn more about youth education and leadership programs, as well as health and fitness programs at the YMCA of Metro Denver, visit www.denverymca .org.
In the August 2020 edition of the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle, the story entitled ‘Target’ Secretly Going Into Lowry Boulevard One, it was stated: “Requests for commentary on this issue were either deflected to other entities or ignored entirely by the Lowry Redevelopment Authority, Denver District 5 City Council Office, Lowry United Neighborhoods (LUN), Lowry Community Master Association (LCMA), Boulevard One Master Association (BOMA) and to some degree — Target Corporate Headquarters.”
It has been brought to our attention that a request for comment was sent by our journalist to the Denver District 5 City Council office on August 2, 2020. On August 4, 2020, Denver District 5’s Chief of Staff JoyAnn Ruscha, responded via email to our journalist: “The Councilwoman found out about the Target coming to BoulevardOne when a friend posted about it on Facebook. She has no information or comment on it.”
