by Mark Smiley | Mar 23, 2018 | Editorials
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them One ring to bring them all and in the daRkness bind them
Norm Brownstein
David Sirota, senior editor for the International Business Times, called the Denver based law and lobbying firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, LLC (the “Brownstein Law Firm”) the Octopus as its corrupting tentacles stretch to every important institution in Colorado and even Washington, D.C.
Norm Brownstein, Jack Hyatt and Steve Farber formed the firm 50 years ago just out of University of Colorado Law School. Today the law firm law has over 500 attorneys in 11 offices across the country. From the start Brownstein and his fellow attorneys were never the most talented or brightest lawyers, but operated on the maxim — “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”
The firm has and does pour enormous sums of money to politicians and other movers and shakers in Colorado and Washington, D.C. In turn the Brownstein Law Firm expects, or more correctly demands, favors in return. One can go nowhere in Colorado in any hallway of power and not run into a present or former Brownstein attorney. Brownstein attorneys have been the City Attorney for Mayor Michael Hancock, the Chief of Staff for Governor John Hickenlooper etc. etc. It is not simply state and local offices as the United States Attorney for Colorado, Robert Troyer, is a former Brownstein partner who will undoubtedly return to Mordor once his term serving Donald Trump is over.
The Brownstein Law Firm is only interested in power and thus it makes no distinction between Republicans or Democrats. Troyer himself was appointed to the United States Attorney’s Office by President Obama, but the Brownstein Law Firm had enough pull in Republican circles to get Troyer appointed to a permanent U.S. Attorney for Colorado position.
If you have been wronged by the Brownstein Law Firm do not think you can successfully seek justice in state or federal court in Colorado, as many, if not most, of the judges have been appointed to their positions due to the influence of the Brownstein Law Firm.
The most recent scandals involving Denver Mayor Michael Hancock show just how far the malodorous influence of the firm extends. Back in 2011 The Denver Post and Channel 9 News discovered that Hancock had been a client of the Denver Players/Sugar brothel. Bruce James, the managing partner of the Brownstein Law Firm, who was the co-campaign manager of the Hancock for Mayor effort, convinc
Doug Friednash
ed those two news organizations not to publish anything concerning the Hancock scandal until after the election promising to provide proof that Hancock was innocent.
After Hancock won James reneged on his word. It was believed that Hancock had been filmed going into the brothel by the Denver Police. When the Post and Channel 9 News submitted a joint open records request for the video, James volunteered to sign on to show Hancock was “open and transparent,” but, in fact, he surreptitiously and separately sent a second secret letter to Police Chief Gerry Whitman on behalf of the mayor-elect. The police chief, of course, knew that in a matter of weeks Hancock would have the power to fire him without a moment’s notice. In the secret letter James instructed the police chief to send him all the evidence and then not tell the public what had been done. Unfortunately for James the second letter was discovered by Channel 7 News. Allegedly the members of the Brownstein Law Firm were unfazed at the bad publicity, allegedly laughing about how clever and utterly unscrupulous the firm’s attorneys were.
Bob Troyer
The scandal went away when The Denver Post simply declared that there was all of a sudden no proof tying Hancock to Denver Players/Sugar. Since that time The Denver Post has acted as little more than a cheerleader for Hancock.
Now when the Post identifies Norm Brownstein it often no longer calls him a lawyer or a lobbyist but rather a “philanthropist.” Cynics note that even Al Capone gave back a little bit of his ill-gotten gains to soup kitchens in Chicago, but the Chicago papers were never so debauched as to call him a “philanthropist.”
Don’t want the Winter Olympics in Colorado in 2026? Not to worry; the Brownstein Law Firm doesn’t care what you think or want and they have a partner on the Denver Olympic Exploratory Committee to help with the legal work to bring that financial and logistical nightmare here. Don’t want the massive taxpayer giveaways to b
Bruce James
ring Amazon’s second headquarters to Denver? Once again don’t worry, the Brownstein lobbying arm has a lucrative contract to try to make it happen, citizens be damned.
There is virtually nothing in Denver which citizens hate that the Brownstein Law Firm hasn’t had a hand in and made a profit from. It has gotten so bad when a member of the Denver illuminati sees horrendous traffic jams or when parks and open space are destroyed or when neighborhoods are ruined by high density apartment houses he or she simply shrugs and notes: “Well I guess we have just gotten Brownsteined again.”
Over the last 50 years since the founding of the Brownstein Law Firm, Norm Brownstein and his partners have gotten incredibly rich, but they have done so on the backs of every man, woman and child in the City and County of Denver. Happy 50th Lord of the Rings. May justice someday come to your doorstep.
by Valley Gadfly | Mar 23, 2018 | Valley Gadfly
Listen, can you hear it? The music of spring’s sweet cantata: The song of buds swelling on the vine as if on a recital tour performing works ranging from Schubert and Schumann to Copland and Porter. As William Shakespeare often explained it: “Well-apparel’d April on the heel of limping winter treads.” April brings all the seven wonders!
In spring they say there’s always something new that’s come to stay. “Another bud, a new bird, another blade.” Drop off mind and body, they’re weeding new cuttings.
Here are our fresh, damp, sweet and cool choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to bring you longer, brighter and warmer temps with accompanying joy:
3 For a cat-and-mouse drama about art, politics, sex and truth make plans to see Cherry Creek Theatre’s two-character stage production of A Picasso playing at the JCC’s Mizel Center April 5-29. Information: 303-800-6578.
3 Help hilarious Karen Mills raise funds for Firefly Autism treatment at DCPA’s Seawell Ballroom April 12, 5 p.m. Information: 303-759-1192.
3 For great musical entertainment catch the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band playing at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall April 13, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
3 Hear John Hopkins’ Dr. Christina Bethell speak at CASA’s Light of Hope Breakfast at downtown Sheraton, 7-8:30 a.m. Information:303-832-4592.
3 Spruce up for spring with shades and drapes from Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery marking 50 years as a family-owned business. Also custom made drapes, window coverings and upholstery. Information: 303-355-4223.
3 Race into the season at the 8th Annual Kentucky Derby Party Leukemia fundraiser at The Bar Car on Colorado Blvd. May 5, 12-7 p.m. Food, live bands, mint juleps, hat contest and prizes. Information: 720-524-8099.
3 Celebrate the 25th Colorado Symphony Ball with pianist Natasha Paremsky at the Fillmore April 26, 6 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
3 See the Pulitzer Prize winning Diary of Anne Frank playing at Lowry’s John Hand Theater through April 28. Information: 720-530-4596.
3 Don’t miss the very first professional rugby game ever played at Glendale’s Infinity Park Stadium April 21, 3 p.m. The heavyweight tilt is between the Glendale Raptors and the Austin Elite. It is also the kick off to professional rugby on the CBS TV Network. Other teams playing this year are the Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves and Utah Warriors. Information: glendaleraptors.com.
Historically you can tell it’s April by the sound of falling rain. That mystic, mournful music as it trickles down the drain. This month we experience essentially constant cloud cover with the sky overcast to mostly cloudy about 46% throughout the month. More: The chance of a wet day begins the month at 18% and increases to 25% by month’s end.
The good news: The chance of a day with mixed snow-rain decreases from 5% to 1%. More: The chance of a day with only snow remains constant at 1% throughout.
April marks a great time of year with beautiful weather that yields blossoming gardens and springtime bliss. It’s the time of year for change and new beginnings. Meadows of wildflowers dance in the wind. Sunrises paint the sky like a canvas. This is the time when wonderful things happen. Don’t let the charm of spring slip away.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Peter Boyles | Mar 23, 2018 | Blasting with Boyles
The best example that I can show anyone for my beliefs that Denver, Colorado, has been run by a cabal of bankers and developers, media elites, law firms and power brokers, is best illustrated by the story being covered by this newspaper, my colleagues Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden, Steffan Tubbs, Westword’s Michael Roberts, Craig Silverman and, of course, Channel 7’s Tony Kovaleski. The aforementioned cabal is a long list that includes bankers, newsmen, corporate leaders, political spokesmen, religious leaders who have all been as I call it “in the hat” and “on the take.” They are actually controlling the narrative itself since the arrival of Mayor Federico Peña and Governor Roy Romer.
Because I am, as I have long been, accused of being a pseudo intellectual, I harken back to one of the all time important books about this called The Critical Path, written by Buckminster Fuller. What the Buckster is saying is we have long been controlled by invisible power behind the thrones of kings, prime ministers, czars, presidents and other official “head men.” As well as the underlying causes of control, whether it’s a nation, state, a city, or a corporation. Bingo Buckey. While seemingly the rest of the media plays a cover up game, the above mentioned wave the bloody shirt.
I guess I would call my true idol, when it comes to understanding the media, is the father of us all, Thomas Jefferson. (TJ the DJ — disc jockey to the world.) Jefferson talked about a notion that only when truth can compete in a free market of ideas, truth will prevail. There is no marketplace in Denver. So let’s create one.
What has happened, what have we all witnessed in this eight years of Michael Hancock? An explosion of developers, fat cat bankers, butt boys and water cops. I ask you the Watergate-esque question, what did the power brokers know and when did they know it? I was told by my secret friend, “Peter you broke the code.”
In the beginning, this had nothing to do with a young African-American councilman going to visit the escorts. This had to do with the invisible czars seeing the ladies of the evening, i.e. Misty Dawn, Kitty, Amber, Daphne, Bailey and Autumn. For you guys reading this right now you all remember them. This is a case of the power brokers covering for themselves and owning a replacement mayor. They knew. My secret friend told me that in locker rooms and toney country clubs, athletic clubs, boardrooms and law firms, “Peter they’re all talking about you guys.”
As we go to press, I really can’t tell you what will happen next. Former Police Chief Gerry Whitman must come forward and explain to the public, did he hand over to the Brownstein law firm requested information pertaining to the surveillance of Scotty Ewing brothels, at that time owned by Brenda Stewart? What did Whitman know and when did he know it? Audiotapes that we secured from Scottie Ewing (he taped everybody when they talked to him, including me) allude to the fact that a couple of powerful members of the Denver media had more than a running access to the truth of what was taking place. Much like Nixon’s 18-1/2 minutes of missing tape all of that evidence is missing. We are led to believe it never made it to the police property room. And if you wanted to speak to the mayor-elect the Brownstein law firm was acting as his press secretary and apparently a lot of people breathed a sigh of relief when, in essence, a press shield was thrown up.
This could be a turning point in how the city operates or it could be another bag over the head, punch in the stomach and the Mayor stays on the job.
Stay tuned to KNUS. Keep an eye on Mike Roberts at Westword and hope Tony Kovaleski throws another knockout punch.
Believe me when I tell you, God doesn’t roll the dice.
The Critical Path author Buckminster Fuller
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth and his coaching resume is a handsome one.
Last December nearly 200 athletes, all of them High School All-Americans, traveled to Arizona for USA Rugby’s 2017 Boys High School All-Americans Camp. Joining them was Glendale’s Under-23 team head coach, and professional Glendale Raptors strength and conditioning coach Dave Synnott. Attending in an administrative and coaching capacity, Synnott spent the five-day camp at Casa Grande Sports World interacting with the next generation of rugby talent.
Head Coach Salty Thompson oversees the USA Rugby 15s and 7s High School All-Americans teams and orchestrated the December camp. Athletes invited to the camp must first be named All-Americans, meaning they were likely scouted while playing in one or more of five annual tournaments, known as Regional Cup Tournaments. The largest and most attended Regional Cup Tournament, known as the Rocky Mountain Cup Challenge, takes place in Denver each June. Selection by the All-American scouting network is not the exclusive path to an invite, however, with some participants selected through the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), and others scouted while playing in high-performance rugby events.
All-Americans teams are comprised of players from across the United States, and field both 15s and 7s squads. The December gathering of the best young rugby talent from across the country was the largest in some time, with 184 athletes in attendance alongside more than 30 coaches, trainers, and staff. Players are grouped according to their ages, with the camp fielding Junior Varsity (Under 17) and Varsity (Under 19) teams. Synnott noted that he acted largely as a coach during the camp, and that he worked primarily with the U17 and U18 players.
The focus of the five-day gathering is on individual skill development, involving not only physical training and scrimmaging, but also strength and conditioning work, classroom sessions, and cognitive training. Camp days are full: participants wake before 7 a.m., followed by stretches, breakfast, a classroom session, and then two hours on the training paddock. A coaches’ evaluation precedes lunch, then it’s back to the classrooms for another session before more training or a scrimmage. Following an evening meal, players review the day before a final coaches’ evaluation and more stretching. The lights are out at 10 p.m.
The Boys High School All-Americans sing the national anthem before one of their matches with Canada during the 2017 USA Rugby High School All-American Rugby Camp in Arizona.
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth, representing the East Midlands in Academy level competition. His coaching resume is a handsome one, having worked extensively at the high school level, and winning two U.S. national titles as an assistant coach for a women’s college team. He describes this period of extended success as the time when he fell in love with coaching. Synnott moved to Colorado in April 2017, and endeavored to join the Raptors immediately, “I reached out to Raptors coach Dave Williams and said I’d love to get involved. I started with the men’s D2 team, then Dave let me run some drills with the elite guys, and since then I’ve been doing the skills part for them. They made me head coach of the U23 team in June.” Synnott’s role in Glendale and at the All-Americans camp is significant: he is helping to shape the future of rugby talent in the United States.
Embracing the excitement of international competition, the December camp included matches against two of Canada’s Under 18 teams. Synnott describes the action: “The Canadian teams trained all week, and then we scrimmaged them on the second day and the last day. It’s a way for the boys to get an international taste of the game, and also to get the Americans and the Canadians an extra couple of games in the winter.” The presence of the Canadian competition brought an additional level of excitement for the players, as well as furthered development. Synnott noted that the level of play at the camp was exceptional, “There were definitely some future Eagles at this camp and some future MLR talent as well.” With Glendale’s U23 team poised to act as a true feeder team for the professional Raptors squad, this is high praise.
The Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy Elite Development Program offers a pathway to professional-level competition for players under 23 years of age. Synnott explains the Academy’s strategy moving forward, “We are recruiting the top talent in the country out of high school. We have a good relationship with EIRA (Eagle Impact Rugby Academy), which is run by Salty Thompson, and he will send players our way if they’re not going to college or if he thinks they’ve got a professional prospect. It’s definitely a program that’s building for the future and it could be very handy for the MLR Raptors team.” Although scouting was not permitted at the All-Americans camp, it is clear that Synnott, and Glendale, have their proverbial finger on the pulse of young rugby talent in the country. Building on a history of distinction, it’s clear Raptors programming will continue to be among the strongest in the nation.
