by Valley Gadfly | Dec 17, 2015 | Valley Gadfly
Residents begin the next chapter of Valley life this month hoping it will be a fun romp through knee-deep powder and bright sunshine. We live, of course, in a rich and morally complex territory. Plot for the next chapter is presently raw material yet to be written but certain to be enthralling and likely to transform us from the very first page.
With epic changes taking place in nearly every neighborhood, the choices made this year will be rare works of non-fiction destined to become a cultural benchmark.
Here are our novel choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to write a panorama of fascinating, warm and enjoyable ways to craft first-rate winter tales:
3 Enjoy masterpieces of music as the Whiffenpoofs — the oldest and best known collegiate a cappella group — perform at the Newman Center Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., again at 1:30 p.m. on the 9th. Information: 303-871-7720.
3 Colorado Chamber Players perform pieces for two violins and a piano in Saint Johns Cathedral Jan. 12 at noon. Information: 303-871-7115.
3 The Ziegfeld Follies story of Fanny Brice comes alive as Funny Girl plays Aurora’s Vintage Theatre through Jan. 17. Information: 303-856-7830.
3 Warm up with food and wine being served at the Geyser Peak Wine Dinner at Coohills in LoDo Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-5700.
3 Find that spark again! Whether you’re newly dating, happily married or anywhere in between you’ll find the ideal Valentine’s Day gift at Cherry Creek North’s Oster Jewelers on Steele St. Information: 303-572-1111.
3 Hear a transforming musical tribute to Cantor Regina Heit at a Temple Emanuel fundraising concert Jan. 23, 8 p.m. Information: 303-388-4013.
3 Cook up dubious, fun yarns about fish tails during a Seasoned Chef Cooking School class on Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-377-3222.
3 Attend authentic Chinese New Year’s fundraising gala for the Nathan Yip Foundation at the Hyatt DTC Jan. 30, 5 p.m. Information: 303-817-8400.
3 Kick up your heels and imagine cowboy characters of yesteryear as the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo rides into town with a parade downtown at noon Jan. 7. Then take in Western Americana with a variety of events featuring cowboys, horses and cattle at the National Western Complex, Jan. 9-24. The “Super Bowl” of livestock shows also has horse shows plus a western trade show. Information: 303-296-6977.
As our new chapter opens, Valley neighborhoods are being transformed by massive building projects. Just when readers think there couldn’t possibly be more drama or mystery, multilayered characters unexpectedly add mystifying twists certain to create a gripping ending. Just as with any good book, it’s raw and dazzling, brutal and real.
Like any page-turner breaking new ground, this chapter will most certainly also have inspiring tales and entertaining developments that everyone will enjoy.
The New Year presents all of us with the challenge of how to take this shifting, teeming change and from it find a way to write a book that will give meaning to Valley life. An autobiographical account given the attention and imagination demanded of a rare book, it should draw you into the action and provide a grand and beautiful ending.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2015 | Editorials
The Denver Community Planning and Development Department under Brad Buchanan repeatedly has publicly declared that its overarching goal in planning and zoning for the City and County of Denver is “transparency, partnership and meaningful public involvement.”
Denver neighborhood leader and attorney Greg Kirwin, however, described what actually happens “as anyone with experience trying to shape their neighborhood knows, the land use process is primarily a collaboration between planning staff and consultants for the developers who cherry-pick language from Denver’s Plans and Zoning Code to build whatever kind of new development they want.” He went on to note, “The playing field is tilted in favor of developers throughout the planning process despite the illusion of ‘outreach’ to residents.”
Neighborhood activist Chris O’Connor was even more brutal declaring, “Mayor Hancock and his planners are trying to jam high-density, high-rise buildings into every Denver neighborhood without regard for thriving, existing communities and without adequate infrastructure . . . The entire process must be reformed.”
How does Mayor Hancock, Planning Director Brad Buchanan and the thoroughly compromised Denver Planning Board get away with such a perverted and corrupt system? First, of course, is the fact that the Denver City Council is also controlled by real estate developers and their friends. While three pro neighborhood candidates won this last election they are still only less than one-fourth of the entire 13 member council.
Another problem, of course, is that the paper of record for the city, The Denver Post, has generally buried the story of how real estate projects actually get approved and are helping to destroy the city’s neighborhoods in order to not anger the Hancock administration or its allies. Moreover the local state courts have refused to address concerns when presented with lawsuits by angry citizens. The local courts and judges similarly refused to address the brutality and corruption in the Denver Jail and City Attorney’s Office. Only when a courageous federal district court judge, John Kane, refused to look the other way were any reforms undertaken. Unfortunately, planning and zoning questions normally do not involve federal questions of law.
Finally, the zoning and planning process is highly complex and knowing how to reform the corrupt system is not easy. Fortunately, the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) has set forth the principles for an honest system in a seven page “Platform for Denver Planning and Zoning,” which is available at the entity’s website. INC is the umbrella group for Denver’s myriad neighborhood groups called Registered Neighborhood Organizations or RNOs.
Many of the principles are just common sense and it is shocking that many of them are not included in the present broken system. The platform urges the mayor and other city officials to appoint representatives of RNOs to all city boards, commissions, advisory committees, etc. Presently only shills for developers need apply for positions on the Denver Planning Board or the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. At one time an appointment to one of these boards was a badge of honor while today it is a mark of shame. In many sections of the city if an individual has been appointed to either board by Mayor Hancock, he or she is highly unlikely to be able to successfully run for an elective office in the future.
INC’s Platform has many important provisions but perhaps its greatest guiding principle is that “higher density development, zoning or projects should not be approved unless it can be shown that adverse traffic and parking impacts on the neighborhood will not result or will be mitigated. Traffic and parking impacts can cause serious harm to the quality of life and economic vitality in a neighborhood.” Under the present system parking ratios have been steadily decreased and the city literally declares that it will not ever consider traffic impacts. It is not clear if any other major city in the country refuses to consider traffic impacts when approving major real estate projects.
City planners have publicly stated that they want to make Denver less automobile friendly and force residents to ride bikes and take public transportation. Unfortunately, the public transportation system in Denver generally stinks and while a single millennial might be happy to take a bike around town, a mother with three small children might find such a dictate from a planning official ludicrous, particularly during the winter season.
Any future candidate for City Council should be asked to adopt and approve INC’s Platform for Denver Planning and Zoning. Any candidate who does not is probably not someone one would want on the City Council. More boldly, neighborhood groups might want to ask existing city councilmembers if they will adopt the INC’s Platform. If they refuse, some may begin to wonder whether they want those persons on the City Council at all. The City Charter provides a method by which citizens can undertake to remove from office a person who ceases to represent their interests and that method, recall, is being increasingly used throughout Colorado by angry citizens of all different political stripes. No city councilmember has ever been recalled in the history of Denver, but there is always a first time for everything.
— Editorial Board
by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2015 | Feature Story Bottom Left
What is it with people these days? Have people lost their collective minds? Is anyone else out there experiencing an anything goes, holier than thou attitude from the people you’re dating?
I’m seeing a selfish trend from single people. Dating is a very important time that deserves time, consideration, foresight and patience. Dating isn’t an easy endeavor, but why date if you’re going to do it half-heartedly? Why waste your time or another person’s time if you’re just going to play games or be reckless with their lives?
Here are some things I’m noticing from this new culture of daters who are seemingly dating to just pass the time. I really can’t believe the gall that some people have so I am going to call them out and declare “Gall Wars!”
- Selfishness. I’m so tired of people being selfish so easily. I mean come on, you’re dating. You should be putting your best foot forward not displaying what a baby you can be if you don’t get your way. Being a selfish, self-centered person is such a turn off and it is a horrible quality to have as a human.
- Rude, Rude, Rude, Rude, Rude. Here is another one, just plain rude. Have people forgotten how to bite their lip or let something that irks them roll off their back? Be nice, smile. People don’t have to put up with your rudeness. In fact guys, if you want to find a quick way to get kicked to the curb go ahead and be a rude person. Ladies can get away with being rude a bit more than a guy depending on how hot she is, but in the long run, rudeness makes everyone ugly to the core.
- Entitlement. You are dating, you’re not entitled to anything yet! Put some work into making a relationship before you think you deserve something. You’re basically a stranger to the person you’re dating. Try earning a position into someone’s life instead of just acting entitled to access into someone’s life just because you’re dating them.
- Sensitivity. What is it with all of these thin-skinned people out there in the dating pool? There are more people out there who have no idea how to problem solve or have the ability to not let the smallest little obstacle turn into the most drama ever. Pull up your britches people and quit being so sensitive. Being an even-headed person is on the other hand very attractive.
- Inconsiderate. This one kills me. Again, you’re dating! Put your best foot forward. Be considerate of other people’s time. Showing up late to a date chronically shows just how little you care about someone else’s time. You should constantly be figuring out how to be aware and considerate to whomever you’re dating. Don’t be the double standard person who holds everyone else up to a standard that you can’t even manage yourself.
- Respect. Come on people let’s have some basic respect for each other. Have some boundaries and respect the person you’re dating. If they’re not worthy of your respect you should really just move on and find someone who does.
Let’s tighten things up in 2016. We need to be better to each other. We need to reintroduce standards of how we treat each other. We live in such a fast-paced impersonal world but that gives us no excuse for treating each other so poorly. Let’s make this new year one worth living!
Your pal, Sheik
by Peter Boyles | Dec 17, 2015 | Blasting with Boyles
Predictions For 2016 Or Why 2016 Should Scare You
Each of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac has unique characteristics; each one corresponds to one animal. Guess which one corresponds to 2016 — the monkey — in fact, the Red Fire Monkey.
My experiences with monkeys have never been good. I was just never able to have a meaningful relationship with a monkey in all my 72 years. I get along well with rats, horses, even sheep and goats, even the occasional snake. But saints preserve us — it’s monkey time, Republican monkeys at that.
So the burning question is what will 2016 bring?
Historians believe there are crossroad years, Epochs, if you would, where history makes decisions — 1941 would be one of the years, 1929, 1861 another, and 1963 following JFK’s assassination. And as frightening as it may sound, 2010 when his father’s Supreme Court decided George W. Bush should be our next president. So here it comes folks, 2016 year of the monkey, when we’re going to make decisions about foreign and domestic policies that will affect us for the rest of my life, your life, and the yet to be born.
The Democrats believe this will be another historic first. We’ve had the first black man, now we’re going to get the first white grandmother. The Republicans are scared to death that if they don’t serve up the Donald, he breaks from the grand old party, runs on his own, and that walks grandma in. We have what some people call the open double, that means the presidential election with no incumbent running in either party, and therein lies the monkey. At some point something’s gotta give.
There’s a war out there. Each day it draws nearer and closer, there’s a body count, there’s insanity abroad, seemingly mindless people presenting the news, worse people heading the country. Again here comes, “the monkey.” In the former Secretary of State’s words, “I’ll run this country in a way that it’s never been handled before.” When Donald Trump proclaims he’ll run the country, he says “wait till I get in office and I’ll show you what I’m going to do.”
Frankly, are you as frightened as I am, when I’m leaning toward Trump, simply because I think it’s going to be fun to watch? With Mrs. Clinton, she and her rapist husband return to fight for inequality for women. We’re almost to the point where Jeb Bush has become, rightfully so, the laughingstock of the Republican Party. I don’t know what you do with the other also Republicans. On the Democratic side, we’ve got an old hippy Socialist who people say went on his honeymoon to the Soviet Union, although it was a guided tour. He seems to want to replicate the French Socialist model in the United States. Gee, we sure need that.
So what to watch for? According to the Chinese historians I have read that speak about the year of the monkey, the monkey is clever, has the passion of fire; great, that could lead to a very deceitful atmosphere. The monkey follows the year of the sheep, which we were told was going to be a very steady year — shows you how much trust you should put in the Chinese Zodiac.
So here we go. You’ll be reading this in January and because of the way the Chinese zodiac reads this year of the red monkey won’t appear for another 60 years. So get ready, another exciting new year is headed your way. I hope the monkey brings you health, prosperity and longevity, but with what I’m watching I wouldn’t count on it.
Let’s hide and watch.
Happy New Year.
— Peter
P.S.: Here’s my Amazing Kreskin moment . . . it’s going to be Hillary, like it or not, she’s going to be your next Potus!!
