by Ashe in America | Dec 13, 2024 | Feature Story Bottom Left
ASHE IN AMERICA — OPINION
On October 18, 2022, The New York Times shocked themselves when their Siena College poll revealed that 68% of likely US voters answered the same open-ended question the same way:
What do you see as the biggest threat to democracy?
Government Corruption — That the government is not working on behalf of the people.
That was one month before the 2022 midterm elections. I doubt that metric has gone down.
Corruption is a national concern, and Americans are sobering up to the realities of unaccountable governance via public private partnerships. Here in Colorado, this shift in awareness is pronounced.
On October 29, 2024, during early voting, the Colorado GOP revealed the Colorado Department of State (CDoS) published the BIOS passwords for hundreds of pieces of election equipment on their public website.
According to a redacted affidavit, later revealed from Colonel Shawn Smith (USAF, Ret.), from August 8 through October 24, the BIOS passwords were exposed for 600+ individual pieces of election equipment in 63 counties. On October 24, the spreadsheet was removed from the website and replaced with an updated version without the passwords.
The October 24 date is important, because it proves that CDoS knew about the breach but failed to alert the county clerks. The clerks held the potentially exposed devices, and this breach occurred during the voting period.
In November, the Libertarian Party of Colorado unsuccessfully sued CDoS and, during that hearing, it was revealed that the passwords had been up since June 21 — before the 2024 primary — and that there was true security exposure for devices in 34 counties.
But the clerks found out like the rest of us: From the Colorado GOP press release on October 29.
This was a coverup, and following the GOP press release, the crisis communications began immediately. Deputy Secretary Chris Beall (public) and Colorado County Clerks Association Executive Director Matt Crane (private) handled the clerks, while Secretary Jena Griswold (public) shared her story with her pal Kyle Clark (private).
There was never any real threat. They were all acting out of an abundance of caution. There is no security breach.
Again, these contemporaneous assertions were later proved untrue in court and, regardless, at the time Beall, Crane, Griswold, and Clark made these assertions, CDoS could not possibly have known if there was exploitation for a very simple reason: They didn’t tell the Clerks, and the Clerks had the devices.
It was just spin. Narrative. A Story.
They said it anyway. On November 1, just three days after news of the breach hit the public, Griswold claimed victory:
“All of the passwords in affected counties have been changed…every eligible voter should know their ballot will be counted as cast.”
The coverup appears to have been successful for now; but, earlier this month, additional news about Colorado Executive Branch corruption broke.
On December 2, The Gateway Pundit published a bombshell article with newly discovered emails that revealed Mesa County Treasurer Sheila Reiner working with Dominion Voting Systems in 2021. Reiner had a Dominion email address and was coordinating with the election vendor in 2021, without the knowledge or involvement of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
Open Records don’t cover Dominion email addresses. Hiding communications from open records exposure is an intentional choice.
Reiner was appointed, by CDoS, to run the Mesa County Clerk’s Office after Griswold removed Peters — for what they claimed was a BIOS password leak.
You can’t make this up.
In August 2021, I reported on Reiner inexplicably renewing her elections credentials on August 3 — a week and a half before the Peters story broke — and I speculated about premeditation with CDoS. The sequence of events was a heck of a coincidence if Reiner didn’t have a heads up from Griswold.
Now we know that Reiner was very involved in elections, with a critical election vendor and CDoS, in shadows behind Peters’ back.
How did none of this come up in the reporting? How did it not come up in the local/state/federal investigations into the Peters “breach?” How did it not come up during Peters’ trial?
The simplest answer: Corruption.
You cannot restore public trust without accountability. CDoS is hoping this story fades away; the people must ensure this is just the beginning of this exposure.
The corrupt will never hold themselves accountable.
Ashe in America is a writer and activist. Find all her work at linktree.com/asheinamerica.
by Valley Gadfly | Dec 13, 2024 | Valley Gadfly
Welcome to 2025, the 25th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 6th year of the 2020s decade. Don’t get rattled, 2025 is also the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Snake.
Sure, snow slithers into Denver’s January forecast, but averages only 1.9 inches and has never exceeded 4.7 inches. A month of quiet, snowy days offering us upbeat new beginnings.
Dashing through the snow, here are our choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to keep us focused, meet challenges, and tackle tough tasks to make the most of the new year:
Experience the power of songs like “Feeling Good,” as jazz vocalist La Paloma pays tribute to music icon Nina Simone. The enchanting evening of artistry, and reflection is at Dazzle Jan. 2, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
Melody lines, embellishments highlight China’s Gold Medalist pianist Tony Siqi Yun’s Newman Center show Jan. 5, 4 p.m. Information: 303-871-7720.
Sturtz’s vocals highlight the string band Sturtz & Salome Songbird playing fiddle tunes at Tuft Theatre, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. Information: 303-377-1003.
Whoop it up as the annual Stock Show returns with rodeos, horse shows, bull-riding at the National Western Complex, Jan. 11-26. Information: 303-297-1166.
Closed after 38 years, the Monaco Inn Restaurant space has become the second location for Lowry’s Italian eatery Pomodoro Pizza & Pasta. The larger Monaco Square space has the same menu as the Lowry site. Information: 303-360-5200.
Tired of the same old clip joint? Consider Boulder Barbers featuring nine barbering, four beard services, for a polished look. Sites at Broadway & Bayaud (720-524-8144) and in Cherry Creek North at 6th & St. Paul (720-549-0879).
Singer Austin Brown entertains with Grammy nominated New Orleans band Tank & Bang at the Bluebird Theater Jan. 17, 8 p.m. Information: 303-377-1666.
Catch Motown’s “supergroup” The Miracles entertaining with singer Sid Justin at Lone Tree Arts Center Jan. 24-25, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-509-1000.
Singer, actor, and record producer Justin Timberlake, dubbed the “Prince of Pop,” entertains at the Ball Arena Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. Information:303-405-1100.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast fundraiser celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Speakers will deliver Dr. King’s vision of peace and unity at the in-person gathering. The morning of reflection and community is at Mile High Station, 2027 W. Colfax Jan. 17, 9-11 a.m. Information: 720-946-7721.
January is like a Monday. No one likes it. No one looks forward to it because it comes after a holiday month. Besides, it’s the dead of winter, and typically cold, wet, and dreary.
We find ourselves sitting around a cozy fire more often, and bundling up when we step outside. Nonetheless, January is the month that wipes the slate clean and triggers spring fever.
Cheers to the future in all we do: May the year ahead be our brightest one yet! What do you call a temper tantrum that a snowman throws in January? A meltdown.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Valley Gadfly | Nov 15, 2024 | Main Articles
New Audit Reveals 22% Of City’s Aging, Oversize, Underused Fleet Is Driven Less Than 100 Miles A Month
by Glen Richardson
Key Party: Facilities Management stockrooms — a division of General Services — has an unknown number of keys in circulation, meaning parts can be accessed by unauthorized parties.
Watchdog O’Brien: City Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA
Riddled with oversized, underused, and aging vehicles, Denver’s Fleet Management Department is wasting limited resources, according to a new audit from City Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA. As a result, the city is increasingly at risk for fuel and parts theft.
“Too many older vehicles sitting idle costs taxpayers’ money,” O’Brien says. Moreover, he follows up, “Underused vehicles still require regular maintenance and storage.”
“But Fleet Management doesn’t have the authority to right-size the fleet because the vehicles are owned by other agencies,” Auditor O’Brien explains. “These issues stem from the way Fleet Management is funded, but it doesn’t help that the areas they do control are not being adequately safeguarded.”
Fueling Flaws
Transportation & Infrastructure’s Fleet Management Division maintains and provides fuel for over 2,500 vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to 43 city agencies — not including Denver Police, Fire, and Denver International Airport.
More: It operates six fueling stations across the city and processes about 7,000 fuel transactions a month. For 2022 and 2023, that totaled about 169,000 fuel transactions worth $9 million.
The fueling stations allow authorized employees to refuel city-owned vehicles, but audit found significant flaws in how the division tracks fuel usage. Issues include abnormal transactions, access to former employees, code sharing, access to override codes, and the same person adding and authorizing fuel users.
Fleet Of Hitches: Fleet Management maintains-fuels vehicles and equipment belonging to 43 city agencies it doesn’t control, creating risk of fuel and parts theft, new city audit reveals.
Ex-Staff Tank Up
These inconsistencies could be leaving the city at risk for fuel theft, O’Brien warns. When auditors compared the city’s list of 7,180 authorized drivers with city employees, they found 1,782 — 25% of them — no longer worked for the city.
When looking closer, they found 104 fuel transactions worth about $3,500 linked to nine drivers who were former city employees. The division’s current processes may fail to detect ongoing suspicious activity, the auditors suggest.
Fleet Management does not track override transactions and does not have official procedures to identify, resolve, and document all fuel transactions. Consequently, the audit could not identify the volume, associated costs, and reasons for the city’s override transactions.
Key Keepers?
When the audit looked at how parts are managed, they found Transportation & Infrastructure faces several obstacles.
First, the unstaffed stockrooms belong to Facilities Management — a division of General Services. There are an unknown number of stockroom keys in circulation. This means parts storage could be accessed by unauthorized parties.
Second, parts are supposed to be allocated to work orders for tracking purposes, but auditors found 979 parts that were not, totaling $21,292.
Oldy-Moldy Fleet
Fleet Facility: Roslyn Campus is one of two sites where Fleet Management maintains and provides fuel for more than 2,500 city vehicles and other pieces of equipment.
Fleet Management’s biggest issue, however, is the size of the city’s fleet and how it is being used. Fleet Management’s goal is a 95% use rate, but the audit found 22% of the city’s fleet was driven fewer than 100 miles in a month.
When it comes to replacing aging vehicles, the city’s goal is to replace 10% of vehicles annually. That goal isn’t being met the audit reveals: 36% of the city’s vehicles are beyond their useful lives of 10 years. Furthermore, 6% of city vehicles are over 20 years old.
One problem is the size of the city’s fleet is still at pre-pandemic levels. The city’s needs have changed since then. A third-party report, commissioned by Fleet Management, estimated the cost to the city for maintaining, repairing, and housing underused vehicles was about $5.7 million in 2022-2023 combined.
Hamstrung By City
Auditor O’Brien suggests that Fleet Management is hamstrung in rightsizing the fleet it is charged with managing because it does not have the authority to sell or dispose of vehicles. Other city agencies make those decisions. “Fleet Management can only advise those agencies,” he asserts.
City agencies rely on Fleet Management to service vehicles and ensure they are available for operations. But because of a decision in 2015 to change the fleet’s funding structure to use the city’s General Fund — instead of using an internal service fund —city agencies do not directly experience the financial impact of maintaining the vehicles.
The previous funding structure allowed Transportation & Infrastructure to bill agencies for the services they use. But since 2015, Transportation & Infrastructure pays for those agencies’ fuel and maintenance costs, so those agencies have no incentive to monitor their spending habits.
Fix Fee Free: City agencies rely on Fleet Management to service vehicles without directly experiencing the financial impact for maintaining those vehicles.
Funding Flaw
Funding fleets through the General Fund is not a leading industry standard. When auditors looked at how other cities and counties manage their fleets, they found that of 17 similar-sized municipalities, 14 use an internal service fund. Denver ordinance still requires the fleet to be funded by an internal service fund and was never updated after the switch to using the General Fund.
“The funding change was made nearly a decade ago but there’s very little paper trail to explain why this happened,” Auditor O’Brien says. “Departments can’t just pick and choose which ordinances to follow — they’re not optional.
But Fleet Management is really being asked to do the impossible, maintain the city’s fleet without having any authority over it. “This audit will give them the tools they need to pursue solutions to getting that proper authority,” O’Brien hopefully suggests. Transportation & Infrastructure Department officials agreed with all 13 of the audit’s recommendations.
by Valley Gadfly | Nov 15, 2024 | Main Articles
As Beloved Blockhead Charlie Brown Says, ‘Good Grief, The Holiday Season Is Here Already’
by Glen Richardson
Winter Takes All: The 1940s-era White Christmas Ball returns to Wings Over the Rockies Dec. 7. The Metropolitan and Hot Tomatoes Jazz Orchestras play.
Ho Ho Ho, ’Tis the Season: The Nutcracker is at the Ellie, ice skating is downtown, and rooftop at Cherry Creek’s Halcyon Hotel. Plus, there’s a host of Hanukkah events including Latkes & Lights at the JCC. Then New Year’s Eve brings fireworks, light displays, plus the Symphony’s annual A Night in Vienna at Boettcher Concert Hall.
The holidays will rock again in Glendale- Cherry Creek, and downtown. ’Tis time for high-spirited merriment, as we prepare for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Here are the Chronicle’s annual picks to fill your December with fun, food, and good fortune to carry you into a bright new year:
Balls
White Christmas Ball, Wings Over the Rockies, Dec. 7, 5:30-11:59 p.m. An evening of 1940s era dancing to the Metropolitan and Hot Tomatoes Jazz Orchestras. Information: 720-924-1945.
Winter Solstice Ball, El Jabel, Dec. 7, 6-11:30 p.m. Live music, DJ play hits, and local cosplayers. Information: elevateimmer sivecolorado.com.
Concerts
Santa Drone Tracker: Denver’s drone-in-the-sky with Santa will light up the sky downtown for 15 minutes from Nov. 22-Dec. 31 beginning at 7 p.m.
White Christmas Symphony, Dec. 5 —Celebrate the season as the multi-platinum Irish sensation Celtic Women entertain with the Symphony at Boettcher, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Take 6 Christmas, Dec. 11-12 — The vocal cats perform an acapella Christmas- jazz, R&B, and pop at Lone Tree Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-509-1000.
Holly Jolly Holiday Concert, Newman Center, Dec. 14, hour performances at 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. Seasonal music and singalongs. Information: 303-871-7720.
Chris Daniels & The Kings, Dec. 20 —Daniels entertains with horn-drenched rock and soul in Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1725.
Home for Christmas, Dec. 21-22 — Holiday music that will fill you with joy, nostalgia, and warmth at Auraria’s King Center, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-556-2296.
Dance
Nutcracker Dolls: Colorado Ballet’s 58th season has 26 performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Nov. 30 through Dec. 29.
Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, a festive dance performance at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Dec. 7 through 21. Information: 303-295-1759.
The Nutcracker, Colorado Ballet’s 58th season has 26 performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Nov. 30 through Dec. 29. Information: 720-865-4220.
Dining
Lunch With Santa, a kids’ matinee at Dazzle, with piano styling by Ralph the Elf doing holiday songs-stories Nov. 30, noon. Information: 303-839-5100.
Handy to Home choices for the holidays, restaurants listed within the Glendale- Cherry Creek neighborhood by Open Table:
Del Frisco’s Grille, chophouse at 100 St. Paul St. open Dec. 24, noon-9 p.m.; 25th until 8 p.m.; Dec. 31 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Information: 303-320-8529.
Fontana Sushi, Japanese eatery specializing in sushi and sashimi in Wash Park at 534 E. Alameda Ave. Information: 303-778-8818.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Japanese yakiniku (grilled barbecue) dining experience at 100 Steele St. Information: 720-826-3214.
Hana Matsuri Sushi in Glendale’s City Set on the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Cherry Creek South Dr. Information: 303-600-8477.
Electrifying Neighborhoods: Neighborhoods get into the holiday season action with decked-out homes, many with LED color-changing lights set to music.
Mehak India’s Aroma, an Indian eatery in the lower level of the Promenade at 250 S. Steele St., Suite 100. Information: 720-638-9350.
Trio Of Hotel Restaurants: Hotel Restaurants open for the holidays include Local Jones in the Halcyon Hotel on Columbine St.; Narrative in The Jacquard on Milwaukee St.; plus Toro Latin Kitchen, in Hotel Clio on Clayton Lane.
Kona Grill adjacent to the front entrance of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center on East 1st Ave. Information: 720-974-1300.
SOL Mexican Cocina at 200 Columbine St. Unit 110 in Cherry Creek North serves coastal Baja cuisine. Information: 303-953-2208.
Hanukkah
Latkes & Lights, Jewish Community Center’s family gala has latke competition, games, plus live music Dec. 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: 303-399-2660.
Hanukkah Family Festival at Temple Emanuel on Grape St. with latkes, dreidel playing, plus crafts Dec. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information: 303-388-4013.
Denver’s North Pole: Cherry Creek’s “Winter Wanderland” has free outdoor events including a Holiday Market with dozens of vendors on Fillmore Plaza, Nov. 21-Dec. 24.
Chabad of Cherry Creek Celebration, in Cherry Creek North’s Grant Plaza. Treats, crafts, Menorah lighting Dec. 29, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Information: 303-744-9699.
Holiday Lights
Blossoms of Light, holiday light displays at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street, Nov. 20 through Jan. 12, 4:30 -9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
Zoo Lights, at the Denver Zoo, Nov. 23-Jan. 5, 5-10 p.m. An 80-acre wonderland with over a million lights. Information: 720-337-1644.
Mile High Drone Show, 40 nights, 400 drones light up the sky downtown for 15 minutes Nov. 22-Dec. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. Information: 303-892-1112.
Ice Skating
Halcyon On Ice, Halcyon Hotel’s rooftop lounge, Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, noon to 9 p.m. Music, drinks, dining, and ice skating. Information: 720-772-5000.
McGregor Skate, an outdoor plaza at McGregor Square adjacent to Coors Field (1901 Wazee), Nov. 29-Jan. 26. Information: 303-313-6090.
Markets
Cherry Creek Holiday Market, dozens of vendors on Fillmore Plaza (2nd Ave. & Fillmore) with drinks, Nov. 21-Dec. 24. Information: 303-394-2904.
Christkindlmarket, German Holiday Market with artisan gifts, treats, plus German biers in Civic Center Park, Nov. 22-Dec. 23. Information: christkindlmarketden ver.com.
Mistletoe Market, Nov. 25-Dec. 17 – New this year in the Dairy Block (1800 Wazee) with vendors, carolers, and holiday music. Information: 303-30
Home Time: Of the holidays and home Charlie Brown says, “Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.”
9-4847.
New Year’s Eve
Concerts
Greensky Bluegrass, Dec. 30-31 — Bluegrass jam band plays the Mission Ballroom, 8 p.m. on the 30th, 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Information: 720-577-6884.
A Night in Vienna, Dec. 31 — Colorado
Symphony plays polkas, waltzes, and marches in Boettcher Concert Hall, 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Information: 720-865-4220.
Dazzle’s New Year’s Eve Gala, Dec. 31 —The Jacob Larson Band — a funk and soul ensemble — rings in 2025 beginning at 10 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
Parties
Decadence, Colorado Convention Center, Dec. 30-31 — Electronic music performances on two stages, 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Information: 303-228-3000.
Sheraton Cocktails, Dec. 31 — Casino games, DJs, live band, toasts & confetti at the Sheraton Denver, downtown, 8 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Information: 303-893-3333.
Gatsby’s Gala, Dec. 31 — The Ritz-Carlton on Curtis St. hosts Roaring ’20s event with live band, DJs, and dancing, 8 p.m.-midnight. Information: 303-312-3800.
Denver Black Tie Party, Dec. 31 — Park Ave. West’s Asterisk has bands, DJs, plus casino games with midnight balloon drop. Information: 720-808-1114.
