by Charles Bonniwell | Dec 17, 2021 | Editorials
Now is the winter of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s discontent. A pitiable individual who has been deserted by all but the developer vultures and others that feed off his political carcass for fun and profit. Even his wife of 28 years, Mary Louise Lee, has deserted the philandering mayor and is seeking a divorce. His Honor’s biggest problem is that his final day isn’t officially until July 23, 2023.
He has told friends that he plans to move to Florida once his term is over. Who could blame him? In places with traditional corruption like Mexico, you pay a politician off upfront and then get the actions from the politician you need. In this country it’s just the opposite. The politician does not get paid off until after he leaves office in the form of consulting contracts, board positions, and other sinecures. That form of payoff is deemed perfectly acceptable in America. Still, it’s better off to retire to Florida before getting your just rewards. That way it will be done far from the probing eyes of the Denver media.
Still, every day left in political office, Hancock must take one more humiliating bite of the proverbial sh*t sandwich. After waiting weeks for Governor Polis to reinstitute statewide COVID-19 mask mandates, and after surrounding counties did so, Hancock finally acted. Then Polis announced that the pandemic is over and there is no need for mask mandates. Polis then goes on a triumphant national media blitz on his “courageous” announcement while Hancock once again looks clueless.
Governor Polis seems to take delight in embarrassing this Denver mayor. When Major League Baseball decided to move the All-Star Game from Atlanta because the Commissioner didn’t like new Georgia voting laws, the Colorado Governor’s Office announced that: “The Governor will be burning up the phones the next few days to see if there is an opening to bring the All-Star game to Denver.” Other notable Colorado politicians like Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette and Secretary of State Jena Griswold encouraged MLB to come to Denver. Notably absent was the mayor of Denver. Why would anyone care what the useless politically inert mayor thought?
Polis isn’t the only one who likes to humiliate Hancock. Hancock has put all his political might and a lot of the Denver taxpayer’s money behind the effort by Westside Development to get rid of the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course area, and destroy the open space with a development. Denver’s first African American mayor Wellington Webb decided to take on Westside Development and behind the scenes Hancock.
The white developers who support Hancock love to play the race card. They successfully turned Hancock’s opponent in the last election, Jamie Giellis, into a caricature of a white supremist. For the November Initiative 301 and 302 which initially determined the Park Hill Golf Course area fate, they tried to make believe, as stated by Wellington Webb, that “Park Hill is inhabited by racist bullies.” But Webb was a more formidable force than Giellis and this time Hancock’s race baiting failed overwhelmingly at the polls.
Hancock’s own City Council also likes to kick him around these days. For Hancock’s first two terms the extraordinary powers of the mayor in the city charter kept the Councilmembers at bay, but not for the third term. The Council put three proposals on the November 2020 ballot, opposed by Hancock, that expanded the Council’s powers and limited those of the mayor. The first allowed the Council to hire their own professionals, including legal council, without the approval of the executive branch. The second, which was even opposed by former Mayor Webb, mandated Council approval for 14 mayoral appointments. The third one gave the Council the power to initiate appropriation of new and excess revenue. The voters gleefully approved all three and for the first time in over 100 years the strong mayor form of Denver government was not so strong.
Having lost the voters, his City Council, and his wife, Hancock appears to do little more than spend his days working out at the Denver Athletic Club getting his “beach body” ready. Perhaps the City Council should pass a provision whereby he could move to Florida and work virtually as mayor of Denver from the beach. It would cheer him up and it is doubtful anyone in Denver would notice.
— Editorial Board
by Glendale Sports Center | Dec 17, 2021 | Glendale City News
by Jessica L. Giffin, MPH, CHES, NBC-HWC, Director of Health Partnerships, YMCA of Metro Denver
Take a second and picture your neighborhood. Where is the closest grocery store? Is it easy to get there? Some communities have multiple grocery stores within walking distance, but many communities don’t have easy access to a full-service grocery store. They may have to travel far to find one or rely on convenience stores which are often more expensive and have fewer healthy options.
Communities that don’t have access to affordable and nutritious food are known as “food deserts.” You can often find food deserts in urban spaces, rural areas, and low-income neighborhoods. People with chronic illnesses or disabilities may also have less access to grocery stores. This lack of access can lead to food insecurity and impact overall health.
It’s difficult to eat healthy if someone doesn’t have access to fresh produce or if their neighborhood is full of fast-food restaurants. Access to foods that aid healthy eating affects someone’s health throughout their life. Because healthy eating can lower your risk for certain chronic health conditions, people that can’t regularly get nutritious foods are more likely to develop obesity and diabetes.1
The YMCA of Metro Denver also runs a program for the community called Beyond Hunger to give food to people in our community who need it. Our nutritionists work with Beyond Hunger to make sure people get items that will nourish them, help them feel good, and are culturally relevant.
Health is more than what medicines you take or how often you see a health care provider. Your lifestyle, including what you eat, plays a big role in your health! That’s why it’s important that everyone has access to affordable and nutritious food.
We hope that we can learn more about how environment and lifestyle can impact health. That will take more research! If you want to help scientists find out more about health and how every community has different experiences, here’s how you can play a part.
The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program is bringing together at least a million volunteers to share information about their lifestyle, health needs, where they live, and more to get a better picture of everything that makes up health. That way health care providers, nutritionists, maybe even city planners, can make more personalized choices for every person and community.
There are a number of ways you can help advance health research with All of Us, including taking their newest survey about social determinants of health. These are your life experiences that impact your health – like how close your nearest grocery store is and what kind of food it sells!
If you’re interested in helping researchers learn more about how your lifestyle and community impact health, visit Join AllofUs.org/togetherDENVER.
1 HealthyPeople.gov, “Access to Foods that Support Healthy Eating Patterns.”
by Mark Smiley | Nov 19, 2021 | Travel
The Covid Grinch Could Steal Christmas As State Becomes Giant Covid-19 Mixing Bowl, Mountain Town Cases Soar; Flare-Ups In Denver Are Threatening Christmas Concerts
by Glen Richardson
Hospitalizations Skyrocket: Dr. Abbey Lara tends to patients in an ICU room at UCHealth as hospitalizations soar. She is pleading with people to do the “easy thing” and wear a mask and limit social gatherings.
As Cherry Creek Valley residents and families look to celebrate the holidays this month, Colorado has become a giant Covid-19 mixing bowl. Seeking a safe way to get festive, travelers and shoppers are shifting their sights away from mountain towns and downtown Denver to the Cherry Creek-Glendale neighborhoods. Nevertheless, fears are growing that the grouchy covid-19 creature is attempting to put an end to those holiday hopes.
At the beginning of November with Thanksgiving still weeks away, Colorado hospitals for the first time moved their transfer plan to the highest level during the pandemic. About one in every 51 Coloradans is now contagious with Covid-19 as the state registers the fifth-highest rate in the country with new infections compared to population.
With the pace of new coronavirus cases accelerating in Colorado, the state had asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send in medical teams to help in areas where hospitals are especially full. During the last two weeks of October the rate of new infections in Colorado accelerated rapidly. Only Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming have higher case rates compared to population.
County Countdown
Colorado Cases Spike: Daily Covid-19 cases in Colorado started ramping up in May and were soaring by early Sept. The Colorado Public Health & Environment chart was created by Evan Wyloge.
Most of the state’s large counties have seen increasing cases, though the trend line is especially steep in Pueblo County, which concerns state officials. “It’s probably not a coincidence that this is roughly the same time that Colorado saw rapidly increasing cases last year, though it’s not clear if that reflects changes in the weather itself or in human behavior,” they suggest.
If the current trajectory continues, the state should stay slightly below the peak set in December 2020, when 1,847 people were hospitalized with confirmed Covid-19, officials estimate.
Even if transmission goes down by 5% it’s still possible the state could exceed the previous peak, they warn. As the holiday nears, some heath officials are urging Gov. Jared Polis to issue a statewide indoor mask mandate.
Denver Cases Rising
Even more worrisome, the number of hospitalized covid patients and deaths in Denver County is also on the rise. An average of 274 cases per day were reported in Denver County as November got underway, a 47% increase from the average two weeks earlier.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, one in eight residents of the City & County of Denver has been infected, a total of 93,464 reported cases.
Events Altering Tune: Fans at this year’s Westword Music Showcase in September were greeted by reminder to show their Covid-19 vaccination status. Photo: CPR News
An article in the New York Times at the beginning of November suggested, “Denver County is at a very high-risk level of unvaccinated people because there was an average of 37 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks.” The risk in Denver County will decline from the high-risk level if the daily case rate drops to less than about 11.4 cases per 100,000 and the test positivity stays low, the paper suggested.
Christmas Events Impact
Holiday Crowd Concerns: With tens of thousands expected to attend holiday events such as the Dec. 14 Colorado Symphony Holiday Brass concert, check for new rules and regulations in advance.
In addition to the normal winter shows and concerts, dozens of Christmas events that were canceled last year are scheduled to return this month. They include several Nutcracker performances, A Charley Brown Christmas at Dazzle, and Colorado Symphony’s Holiday Brass at Boettcher Hall.
Covid flare-ups at metro-area concerts and events have been rare this year, with fewer than a half-dozen indoor events being canceled according the state’s Department of Health.
Nonetheless, promoters and artists are scrambling to impose sterner guidelines to slow down the virus and keep holiday concerts and shows on track. Upshot: If you and your family are among the tens of thousands planning to attend a holiday performance this month, check for new rules and regulations in advance.
Mountain Town Spike
People from all 50 states arriving in Colorado’s mountain towns to play this winter — plus vaccinated foreign travelers since Nov. 8 — are contributing to the high-country spike. Mountain activities where people gather without masks at restaurants-bars plus carpooling can lead to transmission. Many communities are seeing high enough Covid-19 transmission that authorities are putting restrictions on indoor dining, lodging, and gatherings. A surge of hospitalizations in Pitkin County — where Aspen is the county seat — has already resulted in a mask mandate order.
In addition to the influx of visitors, elevating factors include the winter weather, and because many essential employees live together in dense housing. Moreover, many of the visitors are coming from high pandemic states. Health officials have also found that when there is an increase in the number of mobile devices pinging in mountain towns, a rise in coronavirus cases follows seven to 10 days later.
Additionally, the pandemic is driving a migration of Americans to the state’s high-country communities. San Miguel County, for example, has seen a 20% increase in full-time residents. Plus, many people that own second-homes in the mountains are now starting to relocate to their mountain homes permanently.
Downtown Decline
Mountain Crowds: Even before the ski season began, crowds were flocking to Colorado’s mountain towns. Photos show crowds at September’s Jazz Aspen and at Little Nell’s gondola base. The hospitalization surge in Aspen has resulted in a mask mandate order for all of Pitkin County.
While mountain towns are booming, downtown Denver isn’t faring nearly as well. Denver’s downtown is currently seeing about 150,000 people walking around downtown compared to between 250,000 to 300,000 prior to the pandemic. According to the Downtown Denver Partnership, it’s hard to draw an apples-to-apples comparison because the data doesn’t go back to the summer of 2019. Nevertheless, it’s clear downtown foot traffic remains way down.
Remote work is a major reason for the drop downtown. Many companies still offer flexible work-from-home policies. Others are beginning to delay employee office return plans due to the renewed pandemic surge.
But pared down corporate travel to downtown Denver is also a major factor. Activities at the Denver Convention Center have picked up somewhat, yet remain far below where it was prior to the pandemic. Rich Carollo, director of sales and marketing at the Convention Center, reported few events in November.
by Luke Schmaltz | Nov 19, 2021 | Editorials
“There’s always an easy solution to every problem — neat, plausible and wrong.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Although camping in public areas has been “illegal” in the city of Denver since 2012, the homeless presence is expanding, tent cities are widespread, and the encampments are perpetuating crime, illegal drug use, and wholesale danger to everyone in the immediate vicinity.
A 2019 attempt to overturn the urban camping ban was unanimously voted down by 83%. Yet, while the sporadic sweep of encampments continues, often it is not until a deadly situation has arisen such as with the Morey Middle School encampment last year, and the encampment at 11th and Ogden on Capitol Hill, which was recently dismantled after a gun battle within the camp finally inspired action by the Denver Police Department.
In a June 30 public statement outside a women’s homeless shelter at 4600 East 48th Avenue, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock stated, “An episode of homelessness should be no more than a brief, one-time circumstance, and we must do everything in our power to stabilize our most vulnerable neighbors,” he said. “House keys have more power to change lives than a tent.” During this speech, the mayor also announced a new housing and homeless strategy — a five-prong plan which includes purchasing motels and hotels and turning them into supportive housing, extending housing voucher programs, adding more sanctioned camping sites, increasing the availability of housing, and adding more eviction protection and rental assistance.
Multiple Culprits
Homeless In Neighborhoods: It is widely known that anyone can camp out on the streets of Denver without legal consequences.
The City of Denver is allocating more funds than ever before to deal with the homeless crisis; the solutions, however, seem to be missing the mark. Although there is some truth to the observation that homelessness is caused by an inability to afford a place to live, it is far likelier that the situation is the result of a more complex combination of circumstances.
If housing was the sole issue, then the myriad sanctioned shelters offering beds, showers and meals would be — at the very least — having somewhat of an impact on the growing problem. Yet, contrary to the expected result, the solution at hand seems to be having a reverse effect. Perhaps it is not working because it is not accurately addressing the problem. The current policy is akin to a Band-Aid on an ax wound, a cup of water on a forest fire, a moldy biscuit into the hand of a starving person in a country with no shortage of food.
You Don’t Say
Once it is accepted that the causes of homelessness run deeper than a simple lack of places to live, the discussion can continue. Among the many possibilities are four standouts which deserve consideration: Drug addiction, the lack of healthcare for the mentally ill, an experimental (and failing) approach to law enforcement policy, and a populace that is vastly divided on the imminent threat and what it means to self-police.
Just Take Two
The prescription drug boom of the early-to-mid 2010s created millions of addicts as doctors, using the tried and true “misdiagnose and overprescribe” approach, made handsome amounts of money in kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. Finally, under intense pressure from the DEA and the public at large, the FDA began imposing tighter regulations in 2014. In the case of the near 50 million patients who were prescribed opioids in 2013 alone, this created a growing tide of addicted users of painkillers such as Demerol, Vicodin, and Oxycontin.
A June 2021 report published by drug abuse.gov cites extensive studies which link heroin use to prescription pills and their increasing unavailability. The report explains, “… almost half of all opioid deaths in the U.S. now involve a prescription opioid … Research now suggests that misuse of these medications may actually open the door to heroin use. Some also report switching to heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription opioids.” Someone addicted to opioids who turns to street drugs may not have both feet in the gutter, but they have definitely begun to step off thanks to the medical/pharmaceutical industrial complex.
It’s All In Your Head
Refuse To Be A Victim: Most people living near an illegal encampment do not understand the level of potential danger they are in.
The saying “homelessness causes addiction and addiction causes homelessness” gets thrown around a lot in discussions like this, and the term “mental illness” can be substituted for “addiction” with great accuracy. It has long been acknowledged that mental instability is an underlying contributor.
In fact, a report published in July 2009, by the National Coalition for the Homeless states, “Serious mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life, such as self-care and household management. Mental illnesses may also prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships or cause people to misinterpret others’ guidance and react irrationally. This often results in pushing away caregivers, family, and friends who may be the force keeping that person from becoming homeless. As a result of these factors and the stresses of living with a mental disorder, people with mental illnesses are much more likely to become homeless than the general population (Library Index, 2009). A study of people with serious mental illnesses seen by California’s public mental health system found that 15% were homeless at least once in a one-year period (Folsom et al., 2005). Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are particularly vulnerable.” Yet, nowhere in Mayor Hancock’s five-prong plan to address homelessness is there mention of mental health services.
Police Paralysis
Intense public pressure and widespread scrutiny after the 2020 Downtown protests have forced Denver police officers and those in surrounding districts to adopt a hands-off approach to fighting crime. Police departments are having to operate in a fire department-type capacity where they respond only if a citizen calls rather than use proactive tactics such as patrol, stop, search, etc., to reduce crime. This policy has placed normally actionable crimes such as drug dealing, drug using, assault, theft, and public evacuation of one’s bodily wastes on “low priority” — sending a signal to campers that there is a new era of lawlessness afoot, it’s a free-for-all drug party and there are no consequences for committing many types of crimes.
What’s more, a new group of policy influencers are at work known as The Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety. This group is comprised of activists and youth ministry leaders as well as individuals from civil rights, faith-based, policy advocacy, and youth services organizations. They have put together a 53-page report of a total of 112 recommendations on how the police at large can better serve the communities in which they work. Strangely, not one of the 140+ members is a police officer or has any experience whatsoever in the business of fighting crime.
Their recommendations were recently submitted to Denver City Council, who will review and determine the next course of action. Movements such as this reinforce the message to the criminal element that more bureaucratic red tape is on the horizon, police will have to continue to “look the other way,” and the consequence-free camping, drugging, stealing, and raping party can continue indefinitely.
It Takes A Village
Opioid Addiction: A prescription for painkillers can lead to opioid addiction, to illegal drugs, and then to living on the street.
It is unfair and inaccurate to label someone as a criminal because they are homeless. As stated above, they could be suffering from addiction, mental illness, or economic hardship which resulted in them not having a place to live. Yet, it is downright ignorant and just plain stupid to think that homeless encampments do not contain a criminal element. As anyone who has had a camp pop up on their block can attest — theft, harassment, assault, muggings, and the widespread presence of hypodermic needles all increase in the area exponentially.
Yet, citizens are divided on taking a unified stance that these phenomena are bad for the neighborhood, and some go so far as to verbally attack their housed neighbors who are not in favor of the denigration of the community. What’s more, without an overt police presence, citizens must protect themselves from predators and the sad fact is that most people do not know how to fight, or even the basics of self-defense. The lack of a unified community mindset and the clear signs that most people cannot defend themselves send yet another signal to people living in illegal camps that it is ok to do as they please because nobody on the block is willing or able to do anything about it.
So, as you drive past the camps in your city, in your neighborhood and on your block and wonder why it is happening, you may want to look past the obvious conclusion of economic hardship and take a further glimpse into causal factors. Instead of blaming the homeless, blame the doctors and pharmaceutical companies, blame inherent human craziness, blame the bureaucrats, and yeah — blame yourself.
by Glendale Sports Center | Nov 19, 2021 | Glendale City News
Here Are 3 Tips To Stay Balanced
by Jennifer Lease, RD, CDN, Director of Nutrition Initiatives, YMCA of Metro Denver
Are thoughts of all the holiday sweets and treats causing you stress?
Do you feel like you can’t enjoy your favorite holiday foods when you’re working on your health?
Are you worried that what you eat during the holidays will throw off progress toward your goals?
You’re not alone!
The holiday season is a time of celebration that usually comes with lots of sweets, treats and traditional dishes that feel indulgent. It can be difficult to find balance during the holidays — wanting to enjoy all the foods you love while being mindful of your health.
You might hear that word balance and feel frustrated by it. What does it even mean? Balance means enjoying nutritious foods most of the time, while giving yourself grace (and space) to enjoy those sweets and treats.
So, how can you find that balance during the holidays and enjoy your favorite foods without the side order of guilt? Here are some tips:
- Balance your plate and practice portion control — You can enjoy a bit of everything with some balance and portion control. Plus, you’ll feel better after the meal, too! The basics of a balanced plate include protein, veggies, and a starch or grain. Try filling half of your plate with veggie dishes and then take a smaller portion of the others you want to try. Holiday dishes tend to be heavy, starchy foods, so don’t forget to add some protein like turkey or chicken to your plate to create that balance. Then, enjoy every bite!
- Move your body — Move your body, not because you think you should make up for eating those holiday treats, but because movement makes you feel good both physically and mentally. Movement can set a positive mindset for the day and the after affect is the feeling of doing something good for your body. Movement also helps with digestion. If you’re feeling super stuffed after a holiday meal, some exercise can help you feel better. Remember, it’s important to find exercise that you enjoy and that truly feels good for you. Exercise is often looked at as punishment for eating “badly,” but it’s really part of a healthy lifestyle that contributes to your overall well-being.
- Remember that every day is a new day — A healthy lifestyle should be sustainable. This means having flexibility and leaving space for the foods you enjoy. You don’t need to “compensate” for what you eat at the holidays. You don’t need to work out for three hours the next day to make up for last night’s meal. Instead, make the intentional choice to enjoy what you want and to be present in the holiday season. Each day is an opportunity to get back on track with your regular eating habits and routine.
Do you want to take the guesswork out of nutrition and work to set realistic healthy lifestyle goals? The nutrition team at the YMCA of Metro Denver can help. Reach out at nutrition@denverymca.org or visit us at denverymca.org.
by Luke Schmaltz | Oct 22, 2021 | Editorials
by Luke Schmaltz
Seven Officers who hold this badge may soon be left empty handed.
An embattled Denver Police Department is learning firsthand what it means to operate under a mayor who insists on politicizing a private medical issue.
On August 2, 2021, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock issued an edict declaring that all city employees as well as some key private sector workers had until September 30 to get vaccinated for Covid-19. This, of course, includes police officers — seven of whom have refused to comply with the vaccination order. The group is currently taking legal action against the mayor’s office while facing disciplinary measures as well as termination of their employment.
Thinning Out A Skeleton Crew
Court documents show an injunction filed against the city by officers Dewayne Rodgers, Les Tucker, David Curtis, Bart Stark, Jonathan Christian, Nick Elliot, and Rich Ziegler. The suit was an 11th-hour attempt to dispute the vaccine mandate which, if not complied with, will result in 10-day unpaid suspensions followed by dismissal if not followed by the end of that time. At a time when theft, vandalism, assault, break-ins, drug trafficking, and trespassing have reached a fever pitch in the downtown area — it seems rather counterintuitive to sanction the wholesale termination of police officers who are making a choice which they consider to be a private medical matter.
Attorney Randy Corporon, PC represents the seven Denver cops disputing the vaccine mandate.
Attorney Randy Corporon, PC, represents this group of police officers. He moved to block the mandate before District Court Judge Shelley Gilman on Wednesday, September 29. Judge Gilman dismissed the case, however, stating that the court had no authority over the issue because the officers did not exhaust all of their administrative remedies before taking the matter to court. Specifically, this would have been to first petition to the Denver Department of Public Health to overturn the mandate.
Red Tape Blues
In the meantime, Corporon has filed an administrative complaint with the Denver Department of Public Health (DDPH), and he is currently awaiting notice of a hearing being set. “The only thing they told us,” he begins, “is that they will set a hearing and they will let us know 10 days before that hearing.” Corporon feels that DDPH is deliberately hindering the appeal in order to goad the defiant officers into compliance. “The mystery of their process is whether they will expedite this or drag their feet,” Corporon explains. “The thing about these government entities and these big companies is that the longer they drag it out, the more people will just cave and get the shot.” Corporon explains why he took the matter to court before all administrative remedies were exhausted. “We believed that we had legal exceptions based on the exigency and the urgency, [as well as] the futility of going through that petition process first, but the judge disagreed.”
The immediate, blaring, disconcerting issue is the loss of qualified, able-bodied police officers at a time when the circumstances call for all hands on deck. When asked if he thinks the mandate will spur a mass-migration of police officers from the DPD, Corporon explains, “As much as I hate the practical result of it, I hope so. I don’t see any [other] way to stop this incredible, omnipotent, growing government power grab unless people don’t bite the bullet, accept the consequences and move on,” he says. “Some of these police officers are great cops with tons of experience and I’m sure they would be welcomed in other places like Texas or Florida or in cities that don’t try and force an untested treatment into people’s bodies.”
No Pain No Gain
Many contend that the COVID vaccines are experimental drugs which can cause adverse reactions.
Corporon further explains why resistance from the people in the trenches is the best way to counteract government overreach. “The short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain if more and more people stand up,” he says. He then goes on to explain the collective concerns among his colleagues and clientele about the vaccines, “I worry about the long-term effects. If somebody has the vaccine and new strains of the virus come on, is their body going to react improperly? We have heard about risks to reproductive systems, and for people who are giving this to their kids … God almighty,” he attests. “I have cases in my office now where divorced parents and even parents who are still together are fighting legally whether to vaccinate their kids as young as 10 years old.”
Corporon goes on to express his outrage about the wholesale public adoption of these untested treatments. “I am baffled by the media propaganda, the fear and the blind trust in unelected bureaucrats and so-called scientists who change their own positions constantly,” he says “I just had a news crew over here interviewing me about the Eric Coomer defamation case. Of course, they show up masked and they wouldn’t come inside my building because they found out I was unvaccinated. I’m not sick, plus, they have masks on, and we are maintaining a distance of six feet apart. OK — we can stay out here in the rain, it’s fine with me.”
While the charge to overturn the mandate seems daunting, Corporon maintains that a positive outcome for his Denver police officer clients is not out of the realm of possibility. “The best outcome would be an agreement that the orders were issued in error and that they would be rescinded. Of course, you can’t un-vaccinate people but, at the very least, you could restore cops who’ve lost their jobs and you could restore their pay.”
The counterproductivity of the issue is typical of Denver politics where counterintuitive policies and backward thinking are the order of the day. It would seem that in an effort to “protect” citizens from harm by mandating vaccination for police officers, the populace is being left even more exposed to danger by firing the cops who want to be there to serve and protect.
