by Editorial Board | Sep 26, 2024 | Editorials
Editorial —
Kent Thiry — A pretty face can hide an evil mind.
It is said that money is the mother’s milk of politica. But what if we could make it not only just the most important thing in politics but the “only thing.” Kent Thiry, the former CEO of DaVita, a dialysis provider, who somehow managed to escape two federal charges for labor market collusion, is back with another ballot measure to finally destroy elections in Colorado.
Thiry is well known for pouring millions of dollars into highly effective and unopposed television commercials that push changes to the Colorado electoral system that would benefit “practical politicians” like himself, but what he means is multi-millionaires like himself.
He hates political parties where everyday citizens can have a say and not just the millionaires who fund the parties. His latest scam is Proposition 131 which will abolish partisan primaries and impose rank choice voting for the four top vote getters that go on to the general election.
In Alaska where the system was imposed in 2020 there were over 40 candidates running in the nonpartisan open primary. Four candidates made it to the general election where voters listed their preferences from one to four. As no one got a majority of the number one votes, they dropped off the candidate who got the least number one votes of the four, and saw who those voters’ second choice was and counted them as number one votes. This went on until one candidate received a majority.
This is the system that Thiry wants Colorado voters to adopt under Prop 131. In the nonpartisan primary to make the final four for the general election name recognition is the name of the game. In Alaska one person who named himself “Santa Claus” came in sixth.
To get name recognition, normally candidates must run countless television ads which cost a great deal of money. Either you’re rich or are the candidate of one or more wealthy donors.
Average citizens who participate in politics normally become party precinct committee persons and work their way up the chain. Under Prop 131 all that would become void; only the very rich, like Kent Thiry, will determine who is elected to public office. In back rooms they will also manipulate the final four candidates to see who finally becomes elected to the public office.
Thiry is running endless ads saying that if 131 passes it will get parties out of politics (true) and comically that Prop 131 will even get wealthy donors out of the political process. If he was an honest person (which he is not) Thiry would have said that under Prop 131 only the very rich will have any say in elections.
Alaska was so disgusted by Thiry’s system that voters have placed a proposition to get rid of nonpartisan jungle primaries and rank choice voting on the ballot this year. It is hoped that the latest fool’s gold proposition by Kent Thiry is decisively voted down by the Colorado voters. If not, it may be one of the last votes by Colorado voters that matters.
— Editorial Board
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | Glendale City News
by Mark Smiley
Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon (left), and Central Street Capital President Isiah Salazar proudly display the shovel that officially broke ground on the Four Mile District. Photo courtesy of Iris Miceli Photography
On July 25, 2024, Glendale officials and Central Street Capital break ground on Glendale’s new Four Mile District. Photo courtesy of Iris Miceli Photography
The much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Four Mile District was held on July 25, 2024, for a 10-acre entertainment district in Glendale. With a few stops and starts and obstacles over the last decade, forward progress is happening, and the $150 million project is underway.
In 2020, it appeared that Lincoln Property Company, a Dallas based international real estate firm, would develop the district and plans seemed to be moving forward on what was then known as Glendale 180.
The project is now being developed by Central Street Capital, a family office founded by health care entrepreneur Rob Salazar. Central Street Capital has been investing in projects for 25 years including the Assembly Student Living on the Auraria Campus.
The Four Mile District is a nod to the Four Mile Historic Park, which is home to one of Colorado’s oldest standing structures, the Four Mile House Museum. The development site is along Glendale’s popular Virginia Avenue which many know it as home to the nation’s busiest Target and the popular gentleman’s club, Shotgun Willie’s.
In order to make room for the 10-acre entertainment district, the wastewater treatment facility, was decommissioned and demolished in 2006. The land and office building formerly occupied by Gamma Construction was purchased by the City of Glendale and also demolished.
One confirmed tenant, Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theatre, will have nine screens and consume approximately 40,000 square feet. A groundbreaking is scheduled for next year with an anticipated grand opening
of late 2026 or early 2027.
The rest of the space will be occupied by retail, restaurants, parking garages, and outdoor plazas. There are also plans for a hotel but it is unclear how that will co-exist with Staybridge Suites which is already next to the yet to be built district.
This district will be classified as a common consumption area, allowing visitors to walk around with alcoholic beverages, and bars to serve until 4 a.m. The City of Glendale owns the land where the entertainment district will be built. However, a 2021 development agreement that Central Street and the city reached allows Central Street to purchase it for $1 when a certain amount of progress is completed.
Mayor Mike Dunafon called Glendale “the Vatica
n of liberty and Luxemburg of freedom,” and said Glendale “had the No. 1 entertainment district in Colorado before LoDo” while addressing the attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony. Dunafon indicated it was undone by state regulation, but Four Mile District will hopefully return Glendale to the entertainment hub it once was.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the city was home to a variety of now well-known establishments that attracted visitors from across metro Denver. Colorado Mine Company (home of the “Fool’s Gold” which was Elvis’ favorite sandwich), Cork ’N Cleaver, Celebrity Sports Center (owned by Disney), Cooper Theater, The Riviera (The Riv), Soda Straw, Sportspage, The Lift, and Tommy Wong’s Island are long gone but fondly remembered. Additionally, Andy’s Smorgasbord became Shotgun Willie’s Country Western Bar which is now Shotgun Willie’s Show Club and, almost five decades later, Bull & Bush Brewery is still a favorite.
The start of the construction will be the not so glamourous improvements to 7-acres of the property. It will include the creation of a private road, and stormwater and power infrastructure. The parking garage will be the next item to construct and work on that will begin November 2024.
With a fence surrounding the former Creekside Park and markers placed all over the property, it appears the project is moving full steam ahead. More updates in this publication will be forthcoming.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
Megan McNeil, who reported for the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle before moving to Arizona, has written her first book.
The beautifully written and illustrated “The Silver Lining” is available at Amazon.
Megan McNeil is a former reporter for this publication and since leaving the newspaper, moved to Tucson, Arizona, and became a television reporter for Channel 13 News in Tucson. She left the station in 2022 to pursue her dream of writing books. McNeil graduated with a BA in Electronic Media and a Political Science minor from San Marcos Texas State and shortly thereafter, began her career with the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. She has fond memories of the start to her career at this publication.
McNeil joined the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle staff in October 2015 and wrote articles until her 2017 departure including a piece on Tiny Houses in Denver which in 2015, were just starting to become prevalent. “I used to write these horrible stories as a child, but I that’s where my passion for writing started,” said McNeil. “In college it developed into journalistic writing as I became more aware of the world around me.”
McNeil has now written a children’s book for ages 5-10 which came out in May 2024. This 34-page paperback book is beautifully illustrated by Venus Angelica and tells the story about a little cloud with a big decision to make. Which cloud will it be? The cloud sets out on a fun-filled journey across the skies, meeting cloudy characters along the way. Get to know what makes each cloud unique and how to spot them in the sky. Will the little cloud find out what it is meant to be? And what lesson will it learn along the way?
In this “whatever you are be a good one” story, colorful illustrations, and a heartwarming tale make learning fun. This scientific children’s book about clouds is great for kids 5-10 and guided reading for younger children. A pronunciation guide helps young readers with cloud names.
The Silver Lining retails for $12 on Amazon and can be purchased at https://a.co/d/07xuWjIT.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
With specialty coffee drinks approaching $6 without tip, many consumers are turning to brewing their own at home. There are a plethora of options depending on your budget. If you want one of the best on the market that money can buy, consider the Terra Kaffe TK-02.
The retail price comes in at $1,595 so it isn’t for everyone. But, the savings add up if you brew your own lattes and cappuccinos at home. In fact, the app you can download that syncs with the machine provides a running total of the money saved by brewing at home.
The TK-02 is easy to set up out of the box and takes less than 15 minutes to assemble and prepare for brewing. When asleep, in our tests, it took less than 3 minutes for the machine to wake up from the previous day’s brews. In fact, the app can wake the machine so you can tap “wake” from bed and let it warm up. Also, the TK-02 can brew your favorite drink the same time every day with its programmable settings. It also allows for you to name the drinks with what seems to be an infinite amount of options.
How does the regular drip coffee taste? With the ability to add coffee beans to the hopper, the drip coffee is one of the best ever tested on a home machine. You are getting an authentic coffee house experience as the machine grinds the beans with every cup. Also, you can add ground coffee to a separate hopper. Just don’t forget to press the “pre-ground” option on the display.
The TK-02 includes a 30-day/150-brew trial and a 2-year/5,000-brew warranty. It also includes a simple to use milk carafe for lattes. You add the milk and then connect the hose to the machine and the TK-02 produces a latte in less than one minute. We recommend playing with the temperature settings because the default setting likely won’t be hot enough for the average latte fan.
The TK-02 also does a good job of brewing iced coffee which is a new feature on this model. Set your cup of ice under the chute and the drip coffee will brew directly into the cup, eliminating the need for a 24-hour cold brew in the refrigerator.
Speaking of the chute, make sure you lower it to the cup/mug before brewing as it can get messy without lowering. The TK-02 also intuitively knows when it is time to add water to the carafe (which includes a filter), empty the water tray, and empty the ground coffee bin. It is one of the simplest to use yet best tasting coffees from home you can find.
For more information on the Terra Kafe TK-02, visit www.terrakaffe.com/products/tk-02.
by Editorial Board | Aug 23, 2024 | Editorials
Editorial —
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer
Philip Anschutz
Governor Jared Polis
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has called another special session to address the problems with extraordinarily high property taxes caused by the elimination of the Gallagher Amendment to the State Constitution in 2020. The Gallagher Amendment was originally adopted in 1982 and froze the homeowner real property tax rate at 7.15%.
The repeal of the Gallagher Amendment was backed by chambers of commerce, business groups, and Colorado Concern, a consortium of wealthy businessmen. The repeal was passed by a 58% to 42% margin. Then came the sticker shock to homeowners.
Polis, afraid of political backlash, called a special season of the state legislature in 2023 to address the issue. But the session granted only short-term minimal relief to homeowners while robbing taxpayers of state Tabor refunds to benefit low-income taxpayers. Republicans like State Senator (and moral reprobate) Barbara Kirkmeyer celebrated that con job on homeowners along with Democrat legislators.
This is one of the times the business class is in sync with the governmental entities which have become bloated with tax revenues as a result of the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment.
Advance Colorado, a political advocacy group funded by Phil Anschutz, proposed, to control the anger of the homeowners, two ballot issues that would address the problem, but that is little more than a ruse to make sure the business and governmental classes control the process.
The governor has now called a second special session for August 26 which has been preceded by a negotiation between the different sides. With Advance Colorado on the side of homeowners and Colorado Concern on the side of businesses.
But it is really a negotiation between Phil Anschutz and Phil Anschutz. The billionaire is a prominent member of Colorado Concern and the main donor of Advance Colorado.
By the time you read this editorial the special session will be over, and you will be able to assess how screwed over the average homeowner was. Of course, it could be that that problem has been solved and homeowners having prevailed with a fair solution. It could happen even if it has almost never happened in Colorado history in similar circumstances. There is always a first time! We wait with bated breath.
— Editorial Board
by Valley Gadfly | Jul 18, 2024 | General Featured
by Glen Richardson
Bassist Baier: Frank Baier and his wife Christine host the neighborhood music series on their front lawn, where his band Groove Machine entertains.
Singing With Soul: New singer-soloist at this year’s summer lawn singalongs is Biff Gore, dubbed “The Ambassador of Soul” by LA pop rock band Maroon 5.
As sure as the sun rises and sets, summer graces us with its warm embraces, bringing with it delightful lawn singalongs. None is more charming, nor more quintessentially local, than the sunset serenades of Cory- Merrill neighborhood bassist Frank Baier and his band Groove Machine.
Gems on the lawn providing spirited musical entertainment with a good beat, lots of feeling, plus easy listening singalong lyrics. Like George Gershwin’s Summertime composition for Porgy and Bess, the music has a rhythmical hook and instrumental beat that embodies “Good Vibrations.” Tunes as rhythmic as the Beach Boys’ pop and rock songs, with an edge and a synthesized beat with electric guitar riffs. Neighbors, friends, walkers, bicyclists, music fans, and their dogs flock to the neighborhood to listen-dance to the jam sessions that in recent years have progressively become a ball and blast. They stand, sit on chairs, or stretch out on lawns at homes adjacent, across the street, or nearby to enjoy the sunset concerts.
A top musician, Baier has worked on Broadway shows including Grease, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He has performed with such musical talent as Brook Benton, Hall & Oates, and the Bee Gee’s. He’s also played with the Minneapolis and St Louis Philharmonics, and New York’s finest society orchestras. Each summer Baier and his wife Christine treat the neighborhood to the summer music series on their front lawn.
Top Talent
Lawn Keynoter: Groove Machine’s keyboardist Tim Greenhouse adds depth and color to lawn singalong sunset serenade in the Cory-Merrill neighborhood.
Keyboards add depth and texture to a band’s sound, and Tim Greenhouse is one of Colorado’s best. Sometimes flashy, his work allows the band to add extra layers while often adding some edge. Moreover, he gives the band the opportunity to vary the sound and atmosphere of a song.
Artistic Greenhouse is a Denverite who has played with such stars as Bob Hope. Furthermore, he has participated in Switzerland’s prestigious annual Montreux Jazz Festival that annual draws nearly 250,000 spectators. He has also played with celebrated Colorado-based entertainers Hazel Miller and Lannie Garrett.
Adding captivating sounds and emotional expression to every concert is longtime Groove Machine percussionist Doug Bainbridge. A top musician, he helps maintain the rhythm and adds vibrancy to the music. Bainbridge spent several years playing around the Pacific Rim. He worked for a half-dozen years as a drummer-percussionist on South Korea television before returning to the U.S.
New as singer-soloist at this year’s summer lawn singalongs is Biff Gore, a powerful soul-singer with down home guitar styling. Dubbed “The Ambassador of Soul” by LA pop rock band Maroon 5, the soloist-guitarist adds a feeling of connection that engages the lawn crowd. While providing entertainment and joy to listeners, his performances create bonding, lower stress, improve the mood, while also adding emotion.
Lawn Lineup: Neighbors, friends, walkers, and music fans line up along the sidewalk to enjoy a diverse genre of music at a lawn event that has become a ball and blast.
His rich vocals landed him a spot on the sixth season of NBC’s talent show The Voice, in the spring of 2014. His grueling blues sound moved him to the top eight. During his time on The Voice, Gore realized his desire to share his musical gifts with people, so he returned to Denver. Worship Pastor at the Highline Community Church, he has “The Biff Gore Radio Show” on KLTT-670 AM, where soul meets sound in a symphony of inspirational stories, music, and wisdom.
Harmony & Bonding
The music is rhythmic, warm, lyrical, and melodious. But it’s about more than the music. It’s about moments between people. Families and friends getting together who haven’t seen each other in a year, and picking up a conversation like they’d just seen each other yesterday. It’s about kids enjoying the music with mom and pop. There’s a family feel that you rarely experience.
Concerts are not just an evening of pleasure, but a true immersion into the heart of our communities. From the toe-tapping rhythms of the band, the lawn singalongs are a true sensory feast that beckons both young and old to revel in the joys of summer.
Family-friendly, offering diverse genres of music, they are a great way to enjoy being outside in the evening when temperatures cool off. Sometimes soft, smooth, and gentle, other times rich, loud, and wild, they signal everyone to chill out, and take it day by day. Giving people a sense of freedom, an escape to “let loose” through the means of music. It boosts everyone’s moods and dispositions.
