by Valley Gadfly | Jan 19, 2023 | Main Articles
Property, Violent Crimes Soar Past New York City, Chicago; With 100 Cars Stolen Daily, Auto Theft Is Nation’s Second Highest
by Glen Richardson
Once amazingly safe, crime in the Mile High City is now worse than New York City or Chicago, and growing increasingly dangerous as the new year begins. Ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime), Denver outranks New York City in violent crimes by 2.5 points. Denver’s property crime has doubled that in New York City. Chicago continues to edge Denver in Violent Crime (19.2 points), but property crimes in Colorado’s capital are 4.5 points greater than in the Windy City.
Denver’s violent crime rate has been rising over the last 10 years and especially the last two. Furthermore, police don’t believe the pandemic triggered the crime spike. Denver Police Department records show 6,810 aggravated assaults, robberies, and homicides through mid-December, up from just 4,924 in 2019. Property crimes during the same period totaled 42,100, up from 26,133 in 2019. Most come from just a portion of the city’s 78 neighborhoods. The higher-income neighborhoods located east of Broadway and south of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard have lighter violent crime numbers than Denver’s urban core and southwestern neighborhoods.
Auto theft is now an epidemic in Denver and the second highest in the nation. Denver Police Department data as of Dec. 5, 2022, showed auto theft had skyrocketed 71% compared with the city’s three-year average. The car theft rate in Denver is now averaging 19.8 crimes per 1,000 residents. Nearly 100 vehicles are stolen every day in Denver. Furthermore, Colorado now leads the nation in auto theft per capita.
Least Safe City
People wielding guns recorded 6,810 assaults, robberies, and homicides through mid-Dec. 2022.
Denver now also ranks as one of the nation’s least safe cities, according to data
from website WalletHub. The study analyzed 182 U.S. cities for home and community safety, natural disaster risk, and financial safety, then gave each city an overall score and reported the results. Denver is sandwiched in between Little Rock and New Orleans in terms of overall safety.
Colorado’s largest city ranked 166th for home and community safety, in between Baltimore and Fort Lauderdale. Denver’s growing troubles with elevated property and violent crime, low first responder recruitment, high homelessness concentrations, and growing drug overdoses played large roles in the low ranking. While Denver doesn’t have hurricane or earthquake risks, the city ranks extremely high for risks from wildfires, hail, and tornados. The website ranked Denver 139th for natural disaster risk.
On the plus side, the Mile High City’s financial security ranks high. Of 182 cities, Denver ranked 62nd for financial safety. The city’s high concentration of high-income workers and rebounding post-COVID unemployment likely pushed the personal financial measurements higher.
Risky, Safe Spots
Hate Crime Rally: Colorado had more hate crimes in 2021 than any year since the FBI began tracking them in 1990. Photo is of Denver Asian-Pacific Islander hate crime rally.
Auto Theft Epidemic: Stolen vehicles are often wrecked and stripped according to local police. Chart, below, shows thefts per 1,000 residents from 2008 to 2021. From six per 1,000 residents in 2008, thefts jumped to 18 in 2021. At end of 2022 it’s at 19.8.
Five Points continues its multi-year streak as Denver’s most violent neighborhood. The Montbello, and Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods that straddle Interstate 70 rank second and third. The city’s urban nightlife center and public transit hub Union Station ranks fourth. Capitol Hill and Central Park (previously Stapleton) are fifth and sixth, trailed by East Colfax in the seventh spot. Most of Denver’s other high-violence neighborhoods are seated in the city’s southwestern edge.
Five neighborhoods have remained steady for violent crime: Washington Park West, Regis, Cory-Merrill, Clayton, and East Colfax.
The biggest news, though, is the drop in violent-crime counts for four of the five areas among the highest in overall offenses: Capitol Hill dropped from 163 in 2021 to 157 in 2022, North Capitol Hill from 104 to 85, and the Central Business District from 185 to 131. Union Station also dropped, albeit a single point, from 167 to 166.
The city’s south-end Wellshire neighborhood — at E. Hampden Ave. between Colorado Blvd. and University Blvd. — is Denver’s safest area. North Park Hill, Wash Park, Country Club, and Hilltop also recorded low violent crime rates compared to the city’s other districts.
Crime Surge Statewide
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Busy Beat: Calls to potentially deadly crime scenes continue to surge in Denver. Officers are pictured at a September shooting next to the Carla Madison Center where two juveniles were hospitalized. Photo: Jeremy Sparig
he 2022 crime rate statewide was also up — averaging 530 crimes per 100,000 residents — with no relief in sight for the year ahead. While slightly lower than 2021’s peak, crimes in Colorado remained 7.3% higher than in 2019, and 20% higher than in 2008. Incidents of robbery, arson, car theft, vandalism, prostitution, and the purchase of stolen property continued to increase in 2022. Compared to other states, Colorado ranks first in motor vehicle theft and second in property crimes.
Concurrent with Colorado’s rising crime rates, since the start of the pandemic, incarceration in the state’s Department of Corrections facilities have dropped by 15.5%. Moreover, the number of offenders on parole declined by 14.1%, and the number of offenders on probation fell by 14.4%.
For the sake of public safety and justice for victims, law enforcement officials imply that a rise in crime should create a corresponding rise in arrests, convictions, and incarceration.
Hate Crimes Climb
Surge In Violence: Memorial where six people were shot on E. Colfax Ave. on Nov. 2, 2022. Photo by Denverite’s Kevin J. Beaty
Colorado had more hate crimes in 2021 than any year since the FBI began tracking them in 1990. There were 285 reported to the agency, up from 280 in 2020. Data for 2022 isn’t yet available. The state saw a 138% jump in reported hate crimes between 2018 and 2019, and an additional 23% surge in 2020.
In the last five years, three out of every 10 Coloradans experienced a hate crime. More: an October 2022 Hate Free Colorado survey found that most of those crimes go unreported. The survey also indicates that racial and ethnic minorities are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to experience hate crimes than white Coloradans. It also found that only 18% of hate crimes are reported to law enforcement and just 29% are reported to workplace managers or others in authority.
Collected statewide data indicates that 60% of hate crimes in the state are committed based on someone’s race or ethnicity; 20% due to sexual orientation; another 12% because of religion. Additionally, the FBI found the offender’s race was overwhelmingly white.” This is a wake-up call that more must be done at the local, state, and federal level to address the rise in hate,” warns Scott Levin, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.
Denver Vs. NY & Chicago Charts:
New York, NY Denver, CO United States
Violent Crime 28.2 30.7 22.7
Property Crime 24.9 50.8 35.4
Chicago, IL Denver, CO United States
Violent Crime 49.9 30.7 22.7
Property Crime 46.3 50.8 35.4
by Regan Bervar | Jan 19, 2023 | Editorials
“Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”
by Luke Schmaltz
At first glance, “magic” mushrooms and marijuana seem to be kindred commodities. Both have deeply stigmatized perceptions which are softening due to the myriad benefits of their consumption.
Yet, when examined through an economic lens, these elements are less like siblings and more like distant cousins.
The “green wave” was one of the most significant economic and social events in Colorado history. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, state-licensed sales of marijuana have exceeded $13.4 billion since 2014 — resulting in $2.3 billion in tax revenue.
Not So Fast
Decriminalization: Local mushroom entrepreneurs contend that decriminalization of psilocybin will not lead to another “green wave.”
Yet, marijuana’s fungal counterpart — mushrooms containing psilocybin — are having a much more subtle impact. In November 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, which decriminalizes the possession and consumption of psilocybin while making it legal to grow over 50 species of mushrooms within the Psilocybe genus.
This piece of legislation sets a legal precedent, making Colorado the only state in the union aside from Oregon to decriminalize at this level. This does not necessarily mean big business is lining up to throw capital investment dollars at mushroom-based startups. Rather, according to some, this burgeoning marketplace will be relegated to scrappy, niche-savvy entrepreneurs who have already been hard at work building an economic framework to support the needs of psilocybin consumers.
Organic Roots
Monster Mushroom Company is one such enterprise, headed by a Denver — based entrepreneur, who introduces himself simply as David. The company manufactures and markets grow kits designed for those who aim to cultivate mushrooms for private consumption. “I started growing mushrooms about 15 years ago as a personal hobby,” he begins. “I got pretty good at it but didn’t do anything with it except to occasionally grow for myself and friends.”
David talks about his personal journey of growth and healing through psilocybin mushrooms. “I was able to solve a lot of personal issues through microdosing. I was able to get off SSRIs (antidepressants) and other medications. Then, in May of 2019, they decriminalized mushrooms in Denver, and I thought to myself, ‘There’s got to be a business opportunity here.’”
To clarify, the May 2019 passing of Initiative 301 deemed the prosecution of psilocybin “the lowest legal priority” according to Decriminalize Denver — the political action group who introduced the measure.
Opportunity Knocks
“Since I already knew how to do it, I started making the grow kits,” David continues. “I went to a grow store called Cultivate, and said, ‘I have these grow kits I’ve been making and I would love to get them on your shelves’ and they gave me a shot. Basically, no one else was really interested at the time, but they saw the possibilities and they started selling our kits. It’s been a long stair-step,” he explains.
“I got into one store, then into five stores, and now I’m in about 120 stores nationwide,” He continues. “It started in my basement and garage, and two years ago we moved to a 3,300 square-foot, climate-controlled warehouse facility in Wheat Ridge. That was not easy because no one wanted to rent to a startup company, especially not in a taboo industry like the mushroom industry.”
Its Own Monster
Grow Kits: Monster Mushrooms Grow Kits are affordable and usable by just about anyone. Photo: Monster Mushrooms
While Monster Mushroom Company’s operation doesn’t parallel the massive labor teams necessitated by the large-scale cultivation of marijuana, the small but mighty enterprise does have its own distinct type of economic impact. “We’ve created over nine jobs,” David begins, “My business partner is a single mom working hard to support herself and her kids. She is also a practicing Mycologist, which is the study of mushrooms,” he explains. “We are cash flow positive, and we are paying all of our bills, but it has been an uphill slog without a doubt.”
“There are all kinds of people who think of this as the new cannabis, which it is not,” David attests. “I don’t see it (psilocybin) ever becoming legal for recreational purposes, at all, and I’m happy about that. It’s a powerful drug. I spend at least 25% of my day on the phone answering questions from people who say, ‘Hey, you guys sell mushrooms?’ and my answer is always, ‘No, we do not grow or sell mushrooms, we merely supply the materials so that you can grow your own.’”
Beware The Uninformed
“Then, they’ll ask, ‘Where can I buy them?’ and I’ll say, ‘It is legal to grow, possess, and consume mushrooms in Colorado but it is not legal to buy or sell them.’ I doubt you’ll ever, in our lifetime, be able to walk into a dispensary and buy a half-ounce of mushrooms,” David says. “There’s just too much risk. If we just open this up to recreational use and there’s tours coming through here, people are going to get more messed up than they know what to do with, and it’s not going to be a good situation.”
“I firmly believe in this medicine for therapeutic use,” David says. “But the people who were against Proposition 122 thought the same thing that happened with cannabis was going to happen with mushrooms. They thought the guys in suits would come in and turn this into a big corporate money-making machine. I certainly hope that does not happen. Allowing people to grow their own plant medicine is a wonderful thing. But I don’t see this becoming a full-on Amsterdam where you can go into a place and buy a sack of mushrooms.”
“Therapeutic use is great and I’m a proponent of microdosing, but I place a strong caution on use,” David says. “People can smoke cannabis four or five times a day or more, you’re definitely not doing that with mushrooms. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t think it will be the new cannabis. People don’t consume mushrooms four or five times a day — it just doesn’t happen.”
Far Cheaper Than Weed
From a practical standpoint, David points out that anyone interested in growing their own mushrooms can do so with a low investment. “Less than 100 dollars will get you everything you need,” he explains.
As a former cannabis grower, David is quick to point out the drastic differences in what it costs to grow fungus versus weed. “It costs a lot of money to grow cannabis,” he begins, “Equipment, lights, nutrients, you name it. The electricity alone is astronomical. But you can grow a batch of mushrooms in your closet for almost nothing — just 100 dollars to get you going and nothing else — no lights, no nutrients, they will grow in a small environment, and you don’t need to dedicate a whole room of your own house.”
Future Growth
Not only has Monster Mushroom Company created quite a few jobs, they are supplementing a local cannabis industry that has fallen on tough times. “We have a couple local retailers who have indicated that they wouldn’t be open right now if it weren’t for the mushroom supplies they were selling.”
“We’ve got a couple chain stores, but 90 percent of our business is mom and pop retail chain stores,” David says. He cites local sole proprietorships such as Mile Hydro in Lakewood and Aurora Hydroponic who claim to be selling more mushroom growing supplies than anything else.
“We also work with bigger chains such as Cultivate and Way to Grow. We are everywhere that has decriminalized mushrooms such as Washington, D.C.; Santa Cruz, CA; Oakland, CA; Detroit, MI; Ann Arbor, MI; and a couple places in Massachusetts,” he says.
Unlike marijuana’s “green wave” of big business, the mushroom boom is destined for a different path. The benefits of this grassroots economic movement will be realized incrementally and enjoyed by mom-and-pop pioneers like Monster Mushroom Company.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 19, 2023 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Now that the holiday season is in the rear-view mirror, many valley residents with families are now focused on traveling for weekend ski getaways and spring break. Those trips undoubtedly require luggage and many people have been using the same pieces for years without realizing that they are in need of an upgrade. We reviewed the Carry-on Pro from Carl Friedrik in a past edition. With so many roller luggage options on the market, it can be hard to know where to even start. The following pieces are ones to consider rounding out whatever trip you have planned next.
Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case
Spectra 3.0: The Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case is a rugged and handsome piece of luggage that can fit the entire family’s clothing and toiletries for a trip. It features innovative materials and thoughtful design that is built to last.
Victorinox is a knife manufacturer and watchmaker best known for its Swiss Army knives. They also have a line of travel gear and the Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case is one to consider adding to your lineup of luggage. The Spectra 3.0 features innovative materials, expandable compartments, and clever engineering. This collection is made with SORPLAS, a high-performance recycled polycarbonate designed to withstand the rigors of travel. SORPLAS is made from used water bottles and waste optical discs collected from factories, and has a proprietary flame retardant quality.
This suitcase was put to the test over the holidays and it did not disappoint. It proved to be durable, smooth gliding, and easy to maneuver with its 4-wheel dual caster wheels. It allowed for maximum packing with 103 liters of space that also expands to 40% more of its capacity. It was large enough to pack Christmas gifts and clothes, yet never felt too large to wheel through the airport and check in. This piece weighs 15 pounds and measures 12.6 x 20.1 x 29.5 inches. In addition, it was easy to spot at baggage claim.
While the wheels are smooth, so are the YKK racquet coil zippers that are strong yet smooth and feature a water-resistant coating for improved weather resilience. Also, this suitcase can be locked using TSA approved locks with three digits providing peace of mind and secure storage for belongings. The process of setting the combination and locking the zipper pulls into place was effortless.
If you are in the market for an attractive, durable, and easy to handle suitcase with plenty of space to pack for the entire family, consider the Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case.
For more information or to see what other options Victorinox has to offer, visit www.victorinox.com. This piece retails for $700.
Nomatic Check-In
The Nomatic Check-In: This suitcase is made of ultra-durable polycarbonate material and effortlessly glides through the airport without any problem.
Another large suitcase that was also put to the test over the holiday season is the Check-In suitcase from Nomatic. Relatively new to the travel game, and founded in the summer of 2014 by cousins Jacob Durham and Jon Richards, Nomatic prides itself on creating minimalist products like travel bags, backpacks, watches, notebooks, and wallets.
The Nomatic Check-In proved to be durable and the wheels glided through the airports thanks to silent Hinomoto wheels. These wheels are smooth, whisper quiet, and almost run on their own.
All Nomatic suitcases are built from an ultra-durable polycarbonate material intended to survive impacts with sledgehammers and even cars. The usual impacts during airline baggage handling are no problem for this piece.
Another nice feature of this suitcase is that it offers a number of individual zippered compartments inside. These zippered compartments are not intended to store bulky items or much clothing but are great for containing things like chargers, small electronics, toiletries, books, socks, and the like.
Magnetic Compression Straps: The Nomatic Check-In features 78 liters of space and magnetic compression straps. These straps allow you to ratchet down your neatly folded clothes in order to maximize your space.
It also has magnetic compression straps which allow you to ratchet down your clothes to maximize the space, also giving the benefit of keeping your neatly folded clothes in place during transit. The Check-In also comes with a folding compression panel, which compresses what you want and in which area of the suitcase you want it.
Similar to the Victorinox Spectra 3.0, the Nomatic has the TSA approved locking YKK zippers. No additional lock needs to be purchased to lock the zippers as the combination lock built into the top of the case will handle that for you.
The Nomatic Check-In weighs in at 12.32 pounds and has a capacity of 78 liters and 90 liters when expanded. The size is 29” H x 18.5” W x 9” D. It features low profile handles for ease when gliding through the airport.
More information about this piece of luggage can be found at www.nomatic.com. The Check-In retails for $600.
Filson Original Briefcase
Filson Original Briefcase: Made of rugged twill, a water repellent, industrial fabric, this briefcase can be your everyday staple no matter your career.
Construction Details: The Filson Original Briefcase features Tin Cloth binding on the interior seams that prevents fraying and wear. Two interior dividers keep contents organized and are sized to accommodate tablets and smaller laptops.
To round out your trip, consider the Filson Original Briefcase as a piece of carry on. This briefcase can be used as your new day-to-day briefcase between home and the office.
Filson has designed, manufactured, and distributed men’s and women’s outdoor clothing, accessories, and luggage since 1897.
The original briefcase is made of rugged twill, a water repellent, industrial fabric. Filson Rugged Twill is a very dense, 100% cotton fabric made from 2-ply and 3-ply yarns woven in a 2×2 twill pattern. This material is abrasion resistant and comes from Britain’s oldest, most-storied mills, and is lightly waxed to keep valuables dry and protected from the weather.
The individual compartments inside are suitable to separate your laptop from your tablet and your documents from your other items. Exterior stow pockets keep quick-access necessities close at hand, and the adjustable shoulder strap is detachable for convenient hand carry.
There are two strips of heavy-duty leather for the two very solid brass zippers that close from either side of the top of the bag. Covering that is an extra rugged twill flap that buttons closed over the zipper. The shoulder straps and handles are made of bridle leather and are durable enough for horse tack. The rustproof heavy-gauge zipper is built from solid brass and is reinforced with more saddle-grade leather.
This briefcase, like the aforementioned suitcases, is durable. It adds an element of class to your workday and in-person meetings. It is a unique combination of style and durability which most will find suitable for their job or travel. It won’t be one you replace anytime soon, if at all.
For more information on this briefcase or any other products Filson offers, visit www.filson.com. The original briefcase retails for $450.
by Regan Bervar | Jan 19, 2023 | General Featured
“Inspiring hope in a cynical world might be the most radical thing you can possibly do.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Every once in a while, a childhood dream matures into an inspirational, sustainable, ongoing pursuit.
In the face of an increasingly apathetic world, Demi Merrit and company have managed to do exactly this — harnessing compassion, empathy, and charity to improve the lives of Denver’s less fortunate, four-legged residents.
Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store and Cat Lodge is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization located at the Denver/Aurora border near East Evans and Holly intersection. Their website states that the five-person staff is focused on, “…solving pet homelessness through adoption, spay/neuter, and pet retention. We do not discriminate against any animal that is in need and open our door to all regardless of their breed, age, or special care required. We strive to see the day that pet homelessness is eliminated worldwide.”
True Grassroots
All animals adopted through Demi’s have passed an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Photo: Demi’s Animal Rescue
Demi’s Animal Rescue (DAR) was founded in 2010 in Merrit’s basement when she was still in high school. She discovered her passion for animal advocacy while volunteering, doing fundraisers, and fighting to end breed specific legislation. She eventually began helping people in the community with emergency vet bills and then, with the blessing of her parents, she began fostering animals in “cat rooms” built by her family. From these humble beginnings, DAR was grown into what it is today — a place where animals can grow, improve, rehabilitate, and find homes.
Adoption Is Easy
Meanwhile, DAR’s Development & Operations Manager, Jessica Roeger, encourages anyone interested in pet ownership to work with shelters and rescues. She offers insight into the ease of the adoption process. “We try to make adopting from a rescue an enjoyable experience,” she begins. “We have a short application that is required to be submitted if you are interested in adopting. From there, it is typically reviewed within 48 hours, and we can schedule a meet and greet with the animal(s) you are interested in. If there are concerns on the application, we like to educate people in hopes that we can approve the application after that discussion. An amazing home can’t always be chosen based on a questionnaire which is why we like to engage in conversation to get a real idea of who they are.”
Demi’s Animal Rescue is operated by five staffers and numerous volunteers.
DAR’s current facility was opened in 2021 and features a few unique distinctions. The premises, “…provide two free-roaming adoption rooms for cats that have helped to increase the number of lives we can save,” Roeger says. “The Cat Lodge also provides a space for some of the most at-risk cats including FIV+, bonded pairs, seniors, and shy cats. Since being founded in 2010, we have grown every year in terms of adoptions, fosters, lives saved, and funds raised.”
A Thrifty Twist
Cherry enjoys a treat at Demi’s Animal Rescue. Photo: Demi’s Animal Rescue
Roeger explains how the thrift store aspect of the organization fits into the overall operation. “We wanted to get creative in providing income to the rescue so we can continue to grow, which brought the idea of a thrift store for sales to help support the rescue. It took a lot of planning and a lot of rejection before we finally found a landlord willing to rent out space to a non-profit, but our determination paid off.”
Roeger continues, “All sales from the thrift store help support the daily operations of the rescue. The extra income allows us to save more lives and to take on more complicated cases, such as an animal with medical needs or behavioral issues. Having the thrift store and adoption center has also helped get our name out more into the community, which has increased interest in adopting, volunteering, and donating.”
An Endearing Mission
Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store features high-end clothing, accessories, household items, and more.
In addition to adoption services, DAR also helps with pet retention for struggling animal owners. Roeger encourages people to reach out to local organizations for help before giving up. “If you are struggling with food, supplies, basic veterinary care, or training, there are places dedicated to helping with some of this or rescues willing to assist, including us,” she says.
“We place a large focus on helping animals that are the most in need, which is why you may not see as many animals come through our rescues as others,” Roeger continues. “We ensure that every animal is healthy (veterinarian approved) prior to adoption. We address behavioral issues so that we can ensure success for both an adopter and an animal. When you adopt from us, or support us in another way, you can ensure that the extra mile is being taken for all animals and that we will provide support in any way possible.”
DAR welcomes donations of clothing, household items, books and DVDs. Demi’s Animal Rescue Thrift Store features plenty of the above as well as high-end boutique items, name brand clothing, and more. Shoppers are welcome Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
