On Election Day May 7 we will all learn who the leaders are
in the City and County of Denver that we “deserve” particularly as pertains to
the next mayor. There are no excuses for us this election cycle. Four years
ago, Mayor Michael Hancock ran unopposed so we can hardly blame ourselves for
re-electing him to a second term.
Michael Hancock
Eight years ago, our excuse was, sure, he was inexperienced,
badly lacking in basic knowledge of important civic issues, but he was an
engaging African American councilman with an incredible feel good saga of
arising from poverty to prominence. Back then we just didn’t want to look
behind the curtain and see developer Pat Hamill and the executive crony
capitalists of the hilariously named “Colorado Concern” to see who would really
be running the city, with Hancock the mayor in name only.
We now know with absolute certainty that his Honor is a
moral and intellectual pigmy. If his rude, foul mouthed son is any example, he
is an equally disgraceful father as he is husband. Hancock spends his time going to
ribbon-cuttings in between workout sessions and chasing and harassing women
here in Denver, and out of town in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. We discovered
shortly after his first election that he is a john that cavorts with
prostitutes and is shameless in endlessly lying to try to cover it up. We
learned last year from a policewoman that he harasses women who work for him
and uses taxpayer money to gain their silence.
What Hancock has done to the city in eight short years is in
its own way truly amazing. He has destroyed parks and open space throughout the
city at the whim of high-density developers. Homeless street people control
portions of the 16th Street Mall where the smell of urine and feces permeates
the air for outdoor diners. Beautiful boulevards like Speer Boulevard have
become concrete canyons with buildings pushed right up to the street. The
Cherry Creek Bike Path has become, in part, a heroin needle drop-off point. He
championed, along with Councilman Albus “The Buddha” Brooks, to make Denver the
heroin capital of the West with so-called “Safe Injection Sites” only to be
shot down at the state capitol thanks to a state-wide revolt.
A City Hall awash in tax funds has done nothing for the
neighborhoods he and his compliant City Council and Planning Commission are
destroying. Not providing adequate parking in new developments has not stopped
people from using cars but rather made streets clogged and virtual parking lots
at certain times of the day.
Lisa Calderon
The one positive aspect to the homeowners of Denver has been
the ever-increasing value of homes and condominiums in the city. But that party
appears to be over with price of homes decreasing the last few months as the
quagmire that Denver has become is ever more evident to potential home buyers.
There are three great candidates for the office — urban planner Jamie Giellis, former state legislator and lawyer Penfield Tate III and Colorado Latino Forum Lisa Calderón. Each was featured at length last month on Page 3. So why in the world would anyone vote for Mayor Hancock this time? The city’s only daily paper, the sad and ever shrinking Denver Post gave a it a try in its endorsement of Mayor Hancock for a third and final term. It is broadly known that that The Denver Post, (which is no longer located in Denver but housed in its production plant in Adams County) is financially dependent on the City and County of Denver which is bailing it out of its white elephant office building across from City Hall and the State Capitol.
Jamie Giellis
In its endorsement, The Denver Post could not name a single
accomplishment of Hancock in his eight years in office. Instead the paper
proffered that we all should look forward to future projects such as the
revitalization of the National Western Stock Show Complex (which Hancock
originally tried to pawn off on Aurora) upgrades for the 16th Street Mall which
Hancock has effectively destroyed and bond money for roads and bike lanes etc.
How pathetic. The Post notes the many personal failings of Hancock but states
“accusations that he is in the back pockets of developers . . . miss the mark.”
Yeah, right.
In a bizarre, concluding paragraph, the paper declares that
we must re-elect Hancock because “he is the only candidate ready to meet the
challenges if this nation faces an economic downturn.” What in the world is the
editorial board of this 130-year-old paper talking about? Michael Hancock is
utterly inept at everything he has ever done. He could not manage his way out
of a paper bag. Maybe The Denver Post is referring to his handlers like
developer Pat Hamill but the paper should at least have the guts to say so.
Penfield Tate
One could sense The Denver Post Editorial Board was ashamed
of what it had composed and argued. The Comment Section in the paper on the
editorial was devastating with virtually every comment mocking and laughing at
the editorial. One of the less vitriolic, but apt comments, was one that stated
the Editorial Board should have published the editorial on April Fool’s Day
rather than April 12.
On the evening of May 7, we will learn whether we will have
assured a third term for Michael Hancock or we will have a runoff between
Hancock and one of the challengers. If it is a Hancock third term, we can look
in the mirror and realize that Denver’s greatest enemy is ourselves. If it is a
runoff, we can all gear up for a battle royale to try to save the city, we
love.
A new month is with us; the month of flowers, the fifth
month of the year and the month of big, important celebrations. Welcome May!
All things seem possible in May. Spring has sprung and we can again enjoy
running outside, the beauty of new flowers, and the passing of showers. It is
said this is the month when plants really start to grow.
May was originally the third month of the year in older
Roman calendars. It became the fifth month when the months of January and
February were added.
Here are our sweetest, stimulating springtime choices for
shopping, dining and entertainment to send you off into May’s bright, sunny
days as the clouds move on:
3 As the
ponies get ready to “run for the roses” on Sat., May 4, race down to the Bar
Car on Colorado Blvd. for Leukemia’s Benefit Bash derby party. The start time
is noon for this fun fundraiser. Information: 720-524-8099.
3 For a top
flight day, wing it to Jewish National Fund’s Breakfast for Israel at Wings
Over the Rockies May 9, 7-9 a.m. Information: 303-573-7095.
3 Enjoy a
colorful start to spring attending Spring Blossoms Gala benefit at Infinity
Park Event Center May 10, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-867-4605.
3 Experience
the Harmony of Children at Children’s Choir concert of fun songs in Gates
Concert Hall May 11, 3 p.m. Information: 303-300-0470.
3 Allow
springtime and banking to blossom by banking on Sunflower Bank’s service this
season. It’s the largest bank headquartered in Denver with offices in Cherry
Creek and downtown. Information: 303-297-0333.
3 Transition
into spring-summer by enjoying late nights at the Bull & Bush. Popular
brewery-eatery offers a “$10 Late Nite Menu” from 10 p.m. to midnight every day
with burgers, more. Information: 303-759-0333.
3 Symphony
plays film scores from Psycho, Mother Goose and Batman at Boettcher May 17-19,
7:30 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 See nearly
30 paintings by Denver born artist Jordan Casteel on display at the Denver Art
Museum through May 26. Information: 720-913-0130.
3 As Mother’s
Day (May 12) approaches nearly 48,000 women in Denver and Colorado are living
with Alzheimer’s disease. Women account for roughly two-thirds of all cases.
Furthermore nearly two-thirds of all unpaid volunteer caregivers are women. As
you celebrate your special mom consider a donation. Plus plan for annual
two-mile walk Sept. 4 to support the Sherman St.-based Assn. Information:
303-813-1669.
The hallmark of Spring is the return of color. The skies
seem bluer, the grass begins to green again, and the flowers bloom, bursting
open with color and fresh life. The trees begin to bud and the birds and
animals are becoming active again. The entire Cherry Creek Valley seems to be
waking up from this year’s very long Winter’s nap.
James Thomson, known for his poems The Seasons, put it this
way: “Among the changing months, May stands confest; The sweetest and in
fairest colors dressed.”
T.S. Eliot famously wrote: “But May is here, and what better
way to welcome this merry month than with music?” Johannes Brahms set many
texts about May and springtime to music. Yet it is Lerner & Loew’s The
Lusty Month of May from Camelot that for us lets memorable melody flow: “It’s
mad, it’s gay, a libelous display.”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at
newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
If Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships this sad young
woman closed a thousand schools. Front Range media went on full alert, in fact
some businesses closed because she was here in the Mile High City.
I’m sure by now you all recall in the week leading up to the
20th anniversary of the mass murder at Columbine High School we had a very
underweight, very small 18-year-old girl who never saw snow in her life arrive
at DIA. In a matter of hours, she became a combination of Rambo and Che
Guevara, frightening the entire Front Range from south of Greeley to north of
the Springs as the FBI claimed they were investigating her as a “credible
threat” against Colorado schools.
The evidence now points to she never made a death threat on
anyone, never threatened anyone. One of her friends said she was infatuated
with Columbine. Note to self, the entire Front Range media including my
award-winning radio show has been infatuated with Columbine. They red flagged
the entire state of Colorado. There’s been a post death complex picture of this
young woman. She’s been described as deeply troubled, lonely, talked about
suicide, and was also described as brilliant, kind, and a very talented artist.
That sounds like a lot of people I’ve worked with in radio.
Her mother told the cops she never did drugs as they filed
the missing persons report after her last text when she said she was going to
an art history review.
The seemingly missing pieces of this puzzle are why did the
FBI get involved? Who notified whom? Did the Miami FBI call the Denver FBI? Was
she on her way to DIA? This one person held all of the school systems and, in
fact, the whole Front Range hostage and to a high degree of probability was dead
in the snow (not nude and no tattoos of Klebold and Harris) by the time the
massive manhunt was even launched.
She went up there, saw snow and killed herself near the Echo
Lake Lodge near the base of Mount Evans. She purchased three one-way tickets
for three different days, which is dumb but not against the law. The gun dealer
who sold her a shotgun did not break any laws. So, you tell me, why was she
such a “credible threat?”
But the real critique comes in the aftermath with the
opinion makers, the Governor, and other dumbasses who seem to be running the
State of Colorado.
How about armed guards at schools? While I was researching
this thesis, I found numbers of papers and reports done by the politically
correct who say guns on the teacher’s hips will frighten the children and they
won’t be able to study. Having been in Israel that must be news to all the kids
there who go on to earn great degrees. It would make infinite sense but as you
now know the PC left of center advocates say a gun can never be a good thing.
And hence, as Patsy Ramsey noted, a gun can’t be an answer except when it’s
World War II when a good guy with a gun comes up against a bad guy with a gun.
So, when little Muffy and Buffy don’t have armed guards to
stop armed intruders they will hide in the closet and the lunchroom and you
know how fast police will respond.
Schools should have armed guards to stop armed violence.
Is it missing on the Front Range media and Democrat Party
that you cannot find one mass shooting at a police station, National Guard
armory or a sporting goods store that sells guns? Conspicuous by its absence
because good guys stop bad guys. It’s a simple reason we should embrace armed
guards in schools. I love it when the Democrats say guns in school produce a
police state and America will become an armed camp.
Really? Don’t forget we have armed guards at Broncos games,
Denver City cops working off duty to protect the south stands from the Oakland
Raiders.
But don’t expect to see anyone talk about this.
She was more than just a threat; she became an excuse and in
the brilliance of my grandson who, when his mother told him school was closed
that day, looked out the window and asked, “where’s the snow?” Someday maybe
he’ll write this column.
The Denver municipal election is set for May 7, 2019, and
City Council District 5 promises to be a close race with incumbent Mary Beth
Susman vulnerable to defeat or perhaps a run-off election which would be slated
for June 4, 2019. A run-off would occur if no candidate receives more than 50%
of the vote. In that case, the top two vote getters would go head-to-head in
the June 4th election.
Leading Contender: Amanda Sawyer, who many feel has the best chance of defeating the incumbent, has gained ground with a campaign that speaks about common sense and a rational approach to development within the city.
Incumbent Susman has a reputation in Denver for being a
proponent of high-density development even in quiet residential neighborhoods.
As a result of her negative reputation she has garnered three opponents for the
District 5 seat. District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Hilltop, Crestmoor,
Mayfair, Lowry, Windsor, Washington Virginia Vale, Hale and Montclair.
One candidate who is apparently gaining ground and hoping to
defeat Susman on May 7 or at least June 4, is Amanda Sawyer. Sawyer’s message
is resonating with voters and experts say she has a legitimate shot to upset
the incumbent Susman. Susman has $106,000 in her war chest while Sawyer has
approximately $75,000.
Also in the hunt for the District 5 seat are Michele Fry and
Steve Replin. Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, also has attracted supporters
with her experience in government and close ties to the community. She has
raised $24,000 to date.
Dark Horse: Steve Replin is running for city council in District 5 and has proposed a moratorium on all building projects for two years. Replin is seen as a dark horse candidate but Denver residents remember that John Hickenlooper was considered a long shot when he ran for Mayor in 2003.
Hopeful Opponent: Michele Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, hopes to defeat Mary Beth Susman in the upcoming May 7 election.
Replin, although a dark horse candidate, has proposed a
two-year moratorium on building anything within the city. To date, Replin has
not yet reported any outside contributions to his campaign.
District 5 is known for activists fighting inappropriate
development and, in at least one case, they were victorious. The proposed Green
Flats project on Holly Street, which this newspaper covered extensively, was
defeated by neighborhood groups even though Councilperson Susman tried to force
the development on the neighborhood.
The Green Flats project is what prompted Sawyer’s interest
to run for the District 5 seat. She has been vocal about development in her
district and is unafraid to ask the tough questions of developers. She
recognizes that development will happen in Denver, but she wants a more
thoughtful approach and protection of the character of the neighborhoods.
As Denver voters are grappling with this decision in
District 5, a candidate forum is scheduled to help them make an informed
decision. The Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association and Bellevue-Hale
Neighborhood Association will co-host a forum on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at
6:30 p.m. for the candidates seeking the District 5 Denver City Council seat:
Michele Fry, Steve Replin, Amanda Sawyer and Mary Beth Susman.
Additionally, there will be information and presentations on
ballot initiatives. Specifically, they have invited the supporting and opposing
organizations for Initiative 300, The Right To Survive, to present their
positions an take questions.
Unpopular Incumbent: Mary Beth Susman, whose popularity has plummeted, is fighting for her political life and faces three strong candidates in the municipal election set for May 7, 2019.
On March 16, 2019, Two Parts hosted the 6th Annual
Collaboration Beer Fest at the Hyatt Regency in Denver. This creative beer
festival featured 100+ beer projects with over 200 participating breweries. How
does a beer project happen? Two or more breweries come together to brew
something special with one or both being a member of the Colorado Brewers
Guild. The result? Some of the most exciting, rare, and delicious beer tappings
you’ll find anywhere.
Comrade Brewing: Benjamin Housman, left, and Andrew Lester from Comrade Brewing were among the breweries that collaborated with other breweries to make unique beers. Comrade, located at 7667 E. Iliff Avenue in Denver, worked with Pelican Brewing and Epic Brewing.
Many good beers filled the exhibit hall of the Hyatt
Regency. Some standouts were Comrade Brewing and Epic Brewing (Denver) who
combined to make a Dry-Hopped California Common. Comrade Brewing also
collaborated with Pelican Brewing (Pacific City, OR) to brew an IPA with Orange
Peel and Citrusy Hops.
The longest lines were at the booth reserved for Cerebral
Brewing (Denver) and WeldWerks Brewing Company (Greeley) who collaborated to
make a New England-style Double IPA Brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, and Citra
Hops.
New Terrain Brewing Company (Golden) and Molly’s Spirits
(Lakeside) also had a crowd for their Desert Berliner Weisse with Yogurt. It
was one of the most unusual beers found at the fest and was a hit among
attendees. Stop by Molly’s Spirits in Lakeside for this and other collaboration
beers while supplies last.
Milkshake IPAs were at a few booths and one collaboration
that stood out was from Launch Pad Brewery (Aurora) and Bent Barley Brewing
(Aurora). This beer was brewed with fresh carrots, walnuts, lactose, vanilla
beans, and spices.
Fiction Beer (Denver) and Calicraft Brewing (Walnut Creek,
CA) brought a single malt grain bill to set the stage for the combination of
yeast, hops, and fruit. Peaches and Viognier Grapes made up 25% of this beer. A
custom blend of bretttanomyces and champagne yeast were used to ferment this
beer dry with almost no residual sugar. Only whirlpool hops and huge dry hops
add to the complexity. The bright aroma of citrus, tropical and stone fruit
from the hops are the perfect complement to the sweet nectar and herbal aroma
from the fruit and our blend of yeast. The flavor is enhanced by the incredibly
dry finish. Crisp, bright, and complex.
Collaboration Fest: The 6th Annual Collaboration Fest was held on March 16, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.
Visit www.collaborationfest.com for more information and a full list of all collaborations. Stay tuned for next year’s event as Two Parts always puts on a high quality and well-organized event.
