by Mark Smiley | Apr 21, 2022 | Main Articles
Nebraska Plans To Use Eminent Domain To Take Colorado Land, Build A Canal To Divert Denver Destined Water Into Husker State
by Glen Richardson
Deepening Drought: Eight western states are in severe drought conditions and Nebraska isn’t one of them. Map shows levels of drought, much of it severe (dark orange), extreme (red), or exceptional (dark red). Data is from the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Fishing Vs. Feedlots: With more cattle than people, Nebraska seeks more water for its 1.94 million head of cattle. It takes 1,847 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef. The South Platte is also a gold medal western trout river. Photo Courtesy of Danny Frank, Colorado Trout Hunters
Nebraska — with more miles of rivers than any other state — is planning to build a canal into Colorado to drain water from the South Platte River before it can be enjoyed or used by Denver.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, the state’s attorney general, and the Nebraska legislature have given approval to divert water from the South Platte under a 1923 compact. Nebraska claims Colorado is planning to build projects to serve the Denver area and use the water before it gets to Nebraska.
Nebraska proposes to build more than 60 miles of canals and several reservoirs under a 1923 agreement between the two states. Cornhusker state news sources report, “the project would cost $500 million and be the biggest nonfederal project in decades.” The idea isn’t exactly new, Nebraska attempted to start a canal here before World War I, but ran out of funds and abandoned the project. Denverites can still see relics of the project from Interstate 76 near Julesburg. In the 1980s the state tried to restart the project, but it also failed.
No Set Water Volume
Water Wager: Nebraska is seeking to build a canal into Colorado and drain water from the South Platte River. Shown here as the river flows through Denver at Confluence Park, the plan would destroy outdoor activities in and around the city. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Brennan Linsley
Nebraska is seeking to build a canal into Colorado and drain water from the South Platte River. Shown here as the river flows through Denver at Confluence Park, the plan would destroy outdoor activities in and around the city.
“There is no set volume of water Colorado must allow to flow into Nebraska each year,” according to Kevin Rein, Director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources established in 1881. The Denver native, who is also the state’s engineer, adds, “Currently, the state is meeting all its water obligations to Nebraska.”
From April 1 to Oct. 15 — the irrigation season — the South Platte must flow at 120 cubic feet per second into Nebraska. The flow is measured at a water gate in Julesburg south of the Colorado border, Rein explains. During the non-irrigation season, there is no such requirement for the state and officials believe, “Colorado has uninterrupted water rights for the South Platte.”
Should flows drop below the threshold, the state must curtail water use to certain areas for water right holders whose rights were established after 1897.
Deals With Nine States
Snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is the prime source of water for the West. The state has signed nine compacts with other states over the years to define how much water each can use and the amount they must let flow downstream to neighboring states.
Nearly a century ago when Colorado River water was divvied up, it was a wetter period than normal. As a result, states vastly overestimated the river’s annual flow. Currently the river’s reserves are especially low, yet states are still claiming the same amount of water as they always have.
Presently eight western states are in severe drought conditions — California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana — and Nebraska isn’t one of them. The most recent University of Nebraska Drought Monitor indicates that, “98% of the state is in at least a moderate drought.”
Mega-Drought
For all the warnings people in Denver get about turning off sprinklers and taking shorter showers, agriculture uses by far the most water. Ranching and farming uses more than 70% of the water that flows from the Colorado River to the seven river basin states.
Beauty Of The River: Beautiful and scenic, the South Platte offers splash-worthy adventures. It is amazing to walk along the river and enjoy the relaxing view, free from city distractions.
The West’s current mega-drought is the driest 22-year period since the year 800 C.E. The NOAA Spring Outlook predicts prolonged, persistent drought in the West with below average precipitation.
Intensifying drought and declining reservoir levels have prompted the first-ever cuts to Arizona from the Colorado River. Canals are empty and Arizona crops are weathering. Lake Powell’s massive Colorado River reservoir is at its lowest level on record. A hydroelectric plant on Lake Powell that feeds electricity to millions needs only to fall 35-ft. and it could no longer support power generation.
Cattle Vs. People
A major reason Nebraska requires so much water despite a moderate drought compared to other western states is the number of cattle. There are 1.94 million head of cattle in the state compared to just 1.8 million people.
Nebraska is the nation’s top cow/calf, cattle feeding, and beef processing state. It takes 1,847 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.
Growing crops to feed animals consumes 56% of the water used, and in 2021 Nebraska planted 9.9 million acres to corn. More than 1.85 billion bushels were harvested last year, up 17% from 2020, making Nebraska the nation’s third largest corn producing state.
About The Platte
Fiddling With Flow: The Platte River begins high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, then flows through central Denver at the confluence with Cherry Creek pictured here.
The river begins high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, then flows through central Denver at its confluence with Cherry Creek. From Colorado’s Great Plains the river goes into Western Nebraska until it reaches the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, Neb.
In and around Denver it is popular for hiking, biking, and fishing. The South Platte is a gold medal western trout river. The river serves as an important part of the continental bird migration route, providing habitat for sandhill, whooping cranes, and millions of other migrating birds.
At the end of March, the federal government announced it was awarding Denver $350 million to pay for sweeping renovations to the South Platte. It will restore aquatic, wetland, and riparian wildlife habitats along the river. The project is expected to create 7,000 jobs and protect area homes and other structures from flood risk.
Nebraska Proposal Impact
Western states have been fighting over water since the start of the 20th century, and the latest Nebraska proposal suggests those fights will only intensify amid rising populations as climate change reduces snow-rainfall. The most obvious scenario is the two states will end up in court to determine whether Nebraska can use eminent domain to build the canal and whether it can take more water out of the South Platte if it’s built.
A few argue Nebraska is simply using the proposal as leverage to get Colorado to the negotiating table. However, water professionals believe Colorado’s hand is a “royal flush” and the state won’t consider a counteroffer.
Moreover, the 1923 compact allows Colorado to build a 35,000-acre-feet reservoir in the lower section of the South Platte River and make future appropriations in the upper section. Both uses take precedence over Nebraska’s claim.
by Regan Bervar | Mar 18, 2022 | Main Articles
“Well, if there ain’t gonna be any rules, let’s get the fight started.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Terry Hildebrandt, PhD, is at war. The Denver district where he lives — the Golden Triangle — is anything but a gilded community of urban bliss. On any given day, he encounters the detritus of illegal campers which can include feces, trash, burned up tents, used needles, and more. At all hours of the day and night, Hildebrandt contends with fighting between encampment tenants, incessant screaming, blocked sidewalks, theft of businesses and residences, sexual abuse, and physical altercations which threaten his safety, that of his neighbors, and just about anyone else who enters the area.
Two Steps Back
The alley behind Hildebrandt’s office has been dubbed “Heroin Alley.”
The latest installment of feckless legislation poised to exacerbate spiraling crime was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis in early July 2021, and enacted on March 1, 2022. For Terry Hildebrandt, the most concerning features of Senate Bill 271, the Misdemeanor Reform Bill, “is that the law now allows certain felons to possess guns, making it harder for police to remove guns off the streets, due to a change to Colorado Revised Statutes Section 346: 18-12-108 regarding possession of weapons by previous offenders,” he explains.
“Previously, all convicted felons were prohibited to buy or possess firearms. Now, many felons will be allowed to possess firearms, unless they were convicted of Victims’ Rights Act offenses, such as murder, child abuse, and sex assault. For example, this means all previous offenders convicted of felonies that were related to drugs, burglary, arson, and many other reasons will now be allowed to possess guns. Both 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner and Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen have publicly expressed serious concerns about SB21-271 and the likely impact it will have on crime rates in Colorado due to more felons being allowed to possess guns.”
The New Skid Row
Meanwhile, Hildebrandt is fighting for the sanctity of the downtown Denver community at large and for the dignity of those who choose to call the Golden Triangle home. Defelonization of the possession of illegal drugs and use of illicit substances, along with the neutralized authority of a Denver Police Department, has turned his district into an urban hellhole. “During the summer of 2021,” he begins, “I had to call 911 to report a man passed out in the alley right by 10th Ave, laying in the way of traffic on the hot concrete. The man could have been run over by a car since that is a busy alley. The Fire Department arrived quickly to check on him. It was around 95 [degrees] that day, so heat stroke was a real possibility,” he says.
Hildebrandt continues, “In 2021, we had a lot of heroin and meth open use in the alley right outside my home and business, which I renamed to Heroin Alley. I have dozens of photos of addicts with heroin needles in their arms and toes and smoking meth and fentanyl. We regularly found used needles all over in the Golden Triangle neighborhood. I was calling 911 up to five times a day to report open drug use and other health crises in my neighborhood. In 2021, I joined forces with a nonpartisan, diverse group of like-minded people, to cofound the nonprofit, Citizens for a Safe and Clean Denver,” he explains.
Complicated Circumstances
Hildebrandt is quick to point out he is not simply condemning the dangerous conditions in his community. He is instead, pointing to contributing factors, such as how many of his property-owning peers choose to simply look the other way rather than insist upon the city doing better. The current policy is for authorities to offer treatment services and shelter to the unhoused living in tents (which is almost universally declined) rather than insist on it — especially for people suffering from addiction and/or severe mental illness. “I see no excuse left to ever tolerate allowing anyone to rot on the street in an illegal tent to overdose and freeze to death,” he says. “How is there any dignity for the unsheltered in allowing dangerous, illegal enc
The Golden Triangle district in downtown Denver is dangerous to all residents, housed and unhoused.
ampments to remain?”
“The sad part is that Denver can find shelter for everyone on the street,” Hildebrandt says. “Skye Stuart (Legislative Director & Sr. Advisor for Policy & Legislation, Mayor’s Office) at Public Hearing: CB 21-0592, said, ‘I do want to be clear that we do have hundreds of beds available every night. If every person off the street wanted to come in, would we need to do some things — like open some rec centers — absolutely, but we do have some flexibility in our system that will accommodate for that.’”
Passing The Buck
Meanwhile, people who are arrested for offenses such as drug dealing, burglary, trespassing, automobile theft, sexual assault, harassment, and other crimes are being inexplicably released by the courts on PR (personal recognizance) bonds in a matter of just a few hours after being detained. Hildebrandt has voiced his concerns to top officials, stating, “We met with District Attorney Beth McCann, and she blamed the judges for releasing accused criminals on PR bonds. McCann took no responsibility for the dramatic increase in accused dangerous criminals being released on PR bonds while awaiting trial, saying that the judges set bail — not the DA,” he says.
Hildebrandt continues, “McCann also told us that she has no data readily available to us to understand which judges are to blame for this mess. I am deeply frustrated and disappointed in the lack of accountability in the judiciary. The public has no easy way to hold judges accountable for releasing dangerous, violent criminals, and drug dealers to re-offend. Tony Kovaleski at Denver7 reported that data from open records laws from the courts show 1,298 arrests for felony drug offenses. The data also show that 69% of all accused individuals arrested for those drug offenses were granted PR bonds and show that 45% of individuals arrested for felony drug offenses and granted a PR bond failed to appear for at least one court hearing,” he explains.
To say these circumstances are discouraging to law enforcement officials with “boots on the ground” would be an understatement. “I have personally witnessed the negative impact on the
Dr. Terry Hildebrandt, PhD. lives and works in the Golden Triangle district which has become an urban hellhole.
morale of our police force when accused, violent criminals and drug dealers are released after the police risked their lives to arrest dangerous criminals,” Hildebrandt says. “I have also seen the frustration and fear of victims, who are subject to the same perpetrators over and over when these criminals are back in the community where they can re-offend.”
A Glimmer Of Hope
Despite the host of setbacks in his front yard, Terry Hildebrandt is focused on solutions. He is quick to point out that legislation which is counteractive to SB 21-271 has been introduced. “HB 22-1257 just passed the house,” he says. “It will help fix some of the issues if it passes in the Senate. [It] would add certain felony offenses, such as criminal extortion, enticement of a child, unlawful termination of pregnancy, and arson, back onto the ‘possession of a weapon by a previous offender’ (POWPO) list. However, it does not fix the issue of felons with drug convictions being allowed to possess guns,” he explains.
Extreme Measures
Some citizens are fed up, mistrustful of the legal system, and doubtful that law enforcement will come to their aid should they be accosted, assaulted, attacked, robbed, or worse. What then, you might ask, can you do to bolster your personal safety?
There are numerous Denver enterprises in the business of teaching people to protect themselves from violent criminals. This is not a new idea, rather, it has been a celebrated aspect of daily life in the Mountain West region since before the Mile High City was founded back in 1876. For a fair price, any able-bodied adult or minor with parental consent can learn to safely and proficiently operate, carry (18+ only), and maintain a firearm intended for self-protection. Places such as Lipstick Tactical (emphasizing women’s safety), BluCore Shooting Center, and Final Protective Line Academy are centers of education, awareness, and training for law-abiding citizens concerned with their personal safety. These and other similar enterprises are ideal places for garnering the proper training, knowledge, and testing required for obtaining a conceal and carry license.
If firearms are not your cup of tea but personal safety is, Denver offers a wealth of destinations for self-defense training in hand-to-hand combat styles such as Krav Maga, Jiu-Jitsu, Kung Fu, and many, many more. Folks too busy to take on a new discipline are wise, at the very least, to invest in practical means of deterring assailants such as pepper spray, bear spray, mace, or some similar, user-friendly device. If the government will not exact punishment against those who aim to harm law-abiding citizens — then the populace at large must assume sole responsibility for their own wellbeing. As for those who choose to harm themselves on the taxpayers’ dime — that mess, for now, is still your problem.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Main Articles
Easter Won’t Fall Until Day After Full Moon On April 17
by Glen Richardson
Easter Sunday is uncommonly late this year, falling on April 17 for the first time in 62 years. The holiday will keep us waiting in 2022, but not because of disruptive supply chains, instead blame the moon.
Christian tradition sets the holiday on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox, the start of
April’s Full Moon: The first full moon of spring is Saturday, April 16. Known as the Paschal full moon, it is pushing Easter to the 17th for the first time in 62 years.
spring. This year, the first full moon of spring — the Paschal full moon, Christians call it — comes on Saturday, April 16, pushing Easter and Valley Sunrise Services to the 17th.
Just after the March 20 vernal equinox occurs, spring shifts into overdrive as flashy, flamboyant, and fe minine fashion flares into an Easter parade of runway shows. Floaty floral outfits and pretty dresses from quality labels that ooze romantic style, parade on the catwalk of Denver’s Ephemera Fashion West Runway Show at ReelWorks March 27, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. That’s followed by seven nights of Denver Fashion Week with 250 models, April 3-10. Forbes Magazine has proclaimed the Valley’s annual spring showcase, “One of the fastest growing American fashion platforms.”
Spring Fashion Parade
LoDo-based fashion designer Brooks Luby whose outfits are on parade in this year’s Ephemera show, tells the Chronicle, “Soft, free flowing garments in neutral and bright colors are in this year.” Making women feel special for spring and summer since 1974 — the designer-couturier with a studio at 1616 14th St. — Luby adds, “Natural fabrics that are easy to wear and breathe in the heat of summer make women feel confident while being comfortable and stylish.” Information: 303-573-3801.
Then April kicks off Denver Fashion Week with a series of runway shows bringing together designers, models, stylists, and show-goers. Unique to Denver and the Cherry Creek Valley, this year’s events are at the Forney Museum of Transportation on Brighton Blvd. and Void Studios on S. Bannock St. Produced by 303 Magazine — a Denver online lifestyle daily — the event opens by bringing back its kids’ fashion show on April 3 from 3-6 p.m. at Void
Easter Beauty: This linen sheath dress by LoDo-based fashion designer Brooks Luby is perfect for Easter. It is seasonless, has pockets, and can go day to date night.
Studios. Introducing the fashion world to kids ages 8-13, the event will showcase some of the Valley’s top kids’ boutiques.
Designs featured on the following days during the week-long fashion event include Streetwear, Wardrobe, Local Couture, National-International, and Sustainable. The week concludes by showing lifestyle clothing lines from outlets at Castle Rock April 10, 4-8 p.m. Two days later on April 12, the Spring Brass Ring Luncheon-Fashion Show is at the Hilton City Center beginning at 10 a.m. The Children’s Diabetes Foundation fundraising event features LA-based designer Lourdes Chavez who worked for famous fashion house Travilla before launching her own line in 2000. Information: 303-863-1200.
Easter Shopping
Cherry Creek North is known for its fashion boutiques and Adornments at 2826 E. 3rd Ave. is recognized for its unique and artistic fashions. Ladies credit longtime staffer and now owner Consuelo Diaz-Nasios as having a discerning eye for fashionable and flattering cloth
Shopping Season: Cherry Creek boutique Adornments on E. 3rd Ave. is known for its unique and artistic fashions. Spring womenswear by Igor Dobranic — designer behind the IGOR fashion brand — is among spring selections on display, at right.
es. Information: 303-321-7992.
Offering a distinctive assortment of top women’s designer and contemporary collections from all over the world, MAX Clothing at 250 Columbine is considered one of the district’s style leaders. Information: 303-321-4949.
One of the Valley’s most iconic men’s and women’s specialty stores is Lawrence Covell established in 1967. Located at 225 Steele St., many fashion brands make their Colorado and, in some cases, national debut here. Whether you’re looking for preppy, eclectic, Bohemian, sexy, conservative, classic, or hipster they offer something special and different. Information: 303-320-1023.
Red Rock’s 75th Easter
Following a virtual service last year, the 75th Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre — the most renowned sunrise service in the nation — will rise again as an in-person gathering on April 17. Gates open for the non-denominational service at 4:30 a.m., music begins an hour later, followed by worship service at 6 a.m.
Rockin’ Red Rocks Easter: Following a virtual service last year, the 75th Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will rise again as an in-person gathering on April 17. Gates open at 4:30 a.m., worship service begins at 6 a.m.
As the sun begins to rise above the naturally occurring geological phenomenon — this year at 6:19 a.m. — a capacity crowd is expected. The Colorado Council of Churches will again produce magnificent music and a stunning sermon that changes the jaw-dropping sunrise into a performance not to be missed.
The Rev. Dr. John Yu, lead pastor of Aurora’s True Light Community Church, will deliver this year’s gospel message in the dramatic setting. He is the 2022 president of the Pastors’ Assn. of Korean
Churches in Denver and serves on the National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches. Information: 303-825-4910.
The Valley’s other major Sunrise Service is the Western States Easter Observance at the Denver Scottish Rite Masonic Consistory, 1370 Grant St., 6-9 a.m. Seating 500, the Consistory is a unique worship experience. Moreover, attendees can enjoy a hot breakfast in the Consistory’s dining room following the worship service. Information: 303-861-4261.
Scrambling For Eggs
Glendale Sport Center’s Easter Egg-stravaganza is at Infinity Park’s turf field April 9, 10 a.m. Bring your camera and Easter Basket for the free event that has three prize eggs with special surprises. Event features three age groups — ages 0-3, ages 4-6, and 7-13, all startin
Catwalk Glam: Flashy, flamboyant and feminine fashion flares into an Easter parade of runway shows this month. Photo is from Glam Night during a prior Denver Fashion Week. The seven nights of glamour with 250 models is April 3-10.
g at the same time. Information: 303-639-4711.
Stapleton’s annual Egg Scramble is April 9 at Runway 35, 10-11:30 a.m. Children ages 0-5 start at 10:05 a.m. with one parent allowed per child. The next wave is at 10:20 a.m. for ages 6 and older (parents not allowed). Event has an Easter bunny, food trucks, a magician, a balloon artist, and a face painter.
Cook Park Recreation Center hosts a Bunny Eggstravaganza on April 16 at the park on Cherry Creek S. Dr. from 10:20-10:50 a.m. Take pictures, play games, and go on an Easter egg hunt. Information: 720-865-3400.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Main Articles
Audit Of City Council Operations Muzzled By Gilmore, Torres; Council Strips Auditor’s Subpoena Power After Suit To Force Audit
by Glen Richardson
Watchdog O’Brien: Pending audit of City Council operations has been halted by Auditor Tim O’Brien, CPA, because leadership refuses to comply with required audit standards.
Efforts by Denver’s top watchdog — City Auditor Timothy O’Brien, CPA — to begin a pending audit of city council operations stalled because the leadership refused to allow his office to comply with required audit standards. The audit had been planned for more than a year after some of the council members requested the audit. As the Chronicle went to press O’Brien sued City Council to force an audit and as a result Council members voted to repeal the existing subpoena power ordinance (see sidebar article on page 4).
O’Brien insists that interviews with council staff members be conducted without their bosses nosing in. Each city council member receives $264,000 to pay the salary of staff and to operate their office. Council President Stacie Gilmore and President Pro Tem Jamie Torres, however, refuse to allow staff interviews without a senior staff member or an attorney present. Gilmore says they will work with the Auditor’s Office to “resolve the issue in the next year.”
That’s apparently how long the duo and newly appointed City Council Executive Director Bonita Roznoa think it will take to correct or cover-up problems O’Brien and his staff might uncover. Appointed in January, she fills the revolving door position that has been vacant since Aug. 2020 when her predecessor was fired after less than a year in the position. The position oversees the six legislative service staff, helps with budgeting, plus other personnel functions. She was council operations manager for Sacramento, Calif.
Menacing Bosses
President Pro Tem Torres refuses to allow City Auditor to interview staff without a senior staff member or an attorney present.
Council President Gilmore
“Council leadership won’t allow their own staff to have open and honest conversations with my audit team,” Auditor O’Brien explains. “This intimidating behavior throws a wet blanket on our audit work.”
Consider, as an example, a council boss or lawyer interrupting an interview with, “what he or she meant to say…” — just as the audit team was questioning something suspicious or agenda squabbling. What a nerve-wracking weight it would have on a staffer that was about to become a whistleblower.
“My authority as auditor comes from the people,” Auditor O’Brien continues. “The people voted to update the charter and require that we follow Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards. This requirement is not subject to change by the City Council.” He adds that conducting unrestricted interviews with staff is a standard step in performance auditing.
Out Of Sync Values
Wage Recovery: The labor division of Denver Auditor’s Office has recovered more than $3.7 million in unpaid wages in the last six years.
In an era of increasing public scrutiny of city services and integrity, performance
auditing provides critical information needed for accountability. There are currently city auditors in 116 major cities in the U.S. and Canada.
O’Brien says that while other city agencies have made similar requests, his office is typically able to explain why having a staffer present during interviews is not appropriate and persuade the agency to agree. “I hope they talk it over and change their minds,” he concludes. “I can’t conduct the audit under their standards. That doesn’t make sense.”
Local citizens the Chronicle talked to agree: “They’re out of sync with the core values of Denver. Those in elected positions should be truthful, frank, and candid. That’s what we expect of them plus it’s part of their job. It’s also why voters elected them.” A few added they fear this kind of cageyness would lead to increased public mistrust of Denver’s city government.
Subpoena Power Stalled
The City Council’s Finance & Governance Committee directed by Chair Kendra Black and Vice Chair Robin Kniech has likewise rejected — at least temporally — Auditor O’Brien’s request for subpoena power. They halted forwarding the proposal to the full city council for approval but agreed to reconsider on April 20.
O’Brien is seeking the subpoena power to speed up audits of outside groups that receive money from the city — the Denver Zoo and Denver Art Museum are examples — plus private companies accused of violating minimum-wage laws. O’Brien says delaying those audits costs the city about $10,000 per week.
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Colorado Competitive Council oppose the measure. The business groups say the 21-day response time the bill allows them is too short. They’ve also expressed concerns about city government demanding payroll records from businesses. The council committees want O’Brien to meet with the groups to discuss their concerns before allowing the proposal to move forward.
Chat Changer
Subpoena Brownout: Finance & Governance Chair Kendra Black has at least temporarily refused to forward Auditor’s request for subpoena power to the full city council for approval.
Councilman Jolon Clark said he was worried information gathered through subpoenas might be leaked to the public by an audit. O’Brien, however, noted that when investigating wage complaints, none of the information has made it into the hands of the general public. Moreover, he adds that almost all companies accused by credible wage-enforcement complaints cooperate with the city.
Furthermore, O’Brien says that the new authority his office would get will assure that minimum wage and city contract cases he gets but is unable to resolve could come to a conclusion. “I think subpoena power changes the conversation,” O’Brien conveyed to the committee. “It puts the burden on the agency or the contractor.”
District 10 Councilman Chris Hinds — he represents Cherry Creek, Cap Hill, Cheesman Park, Country Club, the Golden Triangle, and Speer — says he likes the bill. But he adds, because O’Brien didn’t initially meet with business owners representing the trio of groups, “I too would be willing to keep this in committee.” Elected in a 2019 runoff, he will be up for reelection in 2023.
Digging Into Deals
The potential audit setbacks, however, aren’t slowing down the forceful O’Brien. He’s swinging big with nearly a dozen 2022 city audits. He is taking on some of Denver’s most pressing issues: How the city is managing homeless camps, residential permitting, and affordable housing.
He’s also diving into campaign finance, Denver Human Services’ child welfare placement system, plus the city’s recycling and composting programs. His agenda also includes audits of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Denver Water.
“Our residents are letting us know what’s most important to them, and I applaud the widespread interest in our city’s key issues,” O’Brien states. “We take the time needed to do our due diligence and fact-checking, while adhering to generally accepted government auditing standards as required by the city charter. This is how the public knows our work is of the highest quality and can be trusted.”
Subpoena Brownout: Finance & Governance Chair Kendra Black has at least temporarily refused to forward Auditor’s request for subpoena power to the full city council for approval.
Auditor Sues To Force Audit; Council Retaliates By Stripping Subpoena Power
Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien filed a lawsuit to rectify the damage caused by the Denver City Council’s ordinance amendment that improperly restricts independent audit work. The City Council quickly retaliated by repealing the existing subpoena power ordinance and thus preventing an audit.
The City Council voted 11 to 1 to revoke the subpoena powers, with the lone “no” vote by Councilwoman Candi CdeBada. Acknowledging the Council chose to repeal the existing ordinance, O’Brien told the Chronicle in mid-March: “We are aware of plans in the weeks ahead to discuss restoring the subpoena power to our wage investigation work. I hope to work with council to find a solution that works for everyone.”
As for the Audit Services Division he adds: “As I have said previously, we already have the right to all records we need without restrictions, according to the Denver Charter and contract audit clauses. However, without the subpoena power to speed the process up, we will have to go back to working as we were before.”
by Jessica Hughes | Mar 4, 2022 | Main Articles
By Jessica Hughes
Community Icon: Larry Ambrose was a revered member of the Denver community and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Longtime Denver neighborhood advocate and former INC (Inter Neighborhood Cooperation) President, Larry Ambrose, passed away quietly in hospice care after his battle with cancer, on January 28, 2022.
A Pueblo native, Ambrose began his education in business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from CU, an MBA from UCLA, and a JD from the University of Denver. He started his career in the glitz and glam of Hollywood as a cabaret manager, producing a variety of shows and events, some of which made their way to CU Boulder.
For nearly 50 years, Ambrose had been involved in the formation and advocacy of Denver neighborhood groups when he and his wife, Jane, started Northwest Neighbors. Within those 50 years, he co-founded the Sunnyside Highland Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, the INC Parks committee, and (with his wife) the Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood Association, where he served as Vice President.
With a passion for saving historic buildings in Denver, Ambrose was intrinsically involved with projects preserving Denver neighborhoods. One such initiative was a movement for citywide building height control back in the mid-1980s, where he co-chaired. He helped to preserve historic buildings in the Highlands, and most notably, he is known for moving the Golda Meir House at the Auraria Campus from total destruction to a fully restored structure now placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of his contributions came through during his time at the INC where he served on the board for nine years as Secretary, Vice President, and President. Ambrose also served on numerous city planning committees and task force groups, including his time as an INC representative to the Visit Denver Olympics Civic Engagement subcommittee. Plus, he served as Executive Director for Southwest Improvement Council, whose purpose is to improve living conditions for its residents through civic engagement, health and human service programs and affordable housing.
In 2021, Larry was awarded the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the surrounding communities. With this award, the legacy of Larry Ambrose will live on with his “lifetime” commitment to tackle the betterment of Denver neighborhoods.
Those who knew Larry well, spoke of him with warm words and true admiration. Bridget Walsh, who was a friend and dedicated advocate alongside Larry at INC, remembers him fondly. “He was one of our public voices for the community,” says Walsh. So much so, he had been encouraged to run for Mayor. Walsh and Ambrose were partners in many community initiatives, one of which was to stop the Denver Zoo from giving recycled water to its elephants.
“He was so smart and able to present issues in an approachable way. Larry would say the most damning things with the biggest smile on his face,” recalls Walsh, “a true advocate for the neighborhoods he served.”
Another close colleague at the INC, Jane Lorimer, reminisces about Ambrose saying, “He was a positive force for parks and open space. His dedication to an institution that advocated for neighborhoods was sincere and passionate.” A cancer survivor herself, Lorimer recalls when he was diagnosed a few years ago, “We could talk through treatments and our feelings together. His optimism and positive attitude gave him extra time with those he loved. I will miss his humor, insights, leadership, and friendship.”
Toward the end of his life, Ambrose participated in clinical trials when conventional treatments were exhausted, leaving behind his own legacy not only in how he valiantly fought for his community but also for those suffering from a similar diagnosis.
Larry’s funeral was held at Fairmount Cemetery on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. A celebration of his life will be held in early March. Cards can be sent to 1750 Meade St., Denver, CO 80204, and donations can be sent to One Sky One World at P.O. Box 11149 Denver, CO 80211.
by Regan Bervar | Mar 4, 2022 | Main Articles
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” English proverb
by Luke Schmaltz
On a typical day, Dwayne Peterson awakens at 4 a.m. to go to the gym. Until recently, he would begin his day at the Colorado Village Collective (CVC)-run housing facility known as Beloved Community Village (BVC) in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood. On his way out of the gated “tiny home” enclosure, he would regularly witness other residents getting high on illicit substances, engaging in the trade of illegal drugs, and selling packages of dope through the chain-link fence. “I chose to get up early and leave the premises for the day to minimize the amount of interaction I would have with other residents,” he explains.
Peterson is a longtime Colorado resident who attended CU Boulder for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He is a professional ballet dance instructor, teaching students of all ages and ability levels through his company, This is Dance, LLC. Four years ago, his landlord of 17 years sold the house where he was renting an apartment. The property was quickly slated to be demolished — leaving Peterson and four other residents suddenly unhoused.
An Unwelcome Guest
Dwayne Peterson encountered racism, violence, a death threat, and other adverse conditions at the CVC’s Beloved Community Village. Image courtesy of Dwayne Peterson
Peterson is sober with no criminal record and has never been a drug user — nor has he ever been diagnosed for mental health conditions. These factors not only made him an outcast among the BVC residents, but also made him the target of stalking, death threats, and racial attacks — which ultimately forced him to move out for the sake of self-preservation. “I was in an altercation the first day I moved in,” he begins. “There are constant disputes among residents because of the drug economy and the problems which inevitably arise” he explains.
At weekly BVC resident meetings, “there were heated disputes and physical altercations,” Peterson says. While he was quick to voice his concerns about the nonstop illegal activity, the resident-on-resident fighting, the all-night noise, and the open use of drugs — his protests fell on deaf ears as he was ignored by administrators and harassed by fellow residents. He could not shake the feeling of being constantly scrutinized by his neighbors as a non-drug user. Essentially, he was seen and treated as a rat.
Looks Great On Paper
CVC is headed by Cole Chandler, an ordained minister with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Baylor University. He runs a non-governmental organization on a mission to “bridge the gap between the streets and stable housing by creating and operating transformational housing communities in partnership with people experiencing homelessness.” The CVC website further states, “We embody radical solutions to homelessness: housing that centers human dignity, empowerment of marginalized voices, and design solutions that are affordable, sustainable, and community oriented.” While the part about “radical solutions to homelessness” is definitely true, the rest — according to Dwayne Peterson’s eyewitness accounts — is window dressing at best.
Not What It Seems
Peterson firmly states, “Cole Chandler is lying to you. Plain and simple. The BVC is just a haven for criminal activity — a sanctuary for people to openly engage in crime — a contamination of resources and the community as a whole.” Peterson repeatedly went through the established CVC protocol for filing complaints about other residents who were making meth on site, preparing other drugs such as cocaine and heroin for distribution, and selling them directly from the property. “There was trafficking between residents and outsiders,” he says. “Exchanges were taking place right through the fence. People would drive up, make the trade and the customer would either drive off or just sit there and get high in their car before leaving.”
Blatant Disregard
When Peterson would file a complaint through the on-site “complaint portal” he would then receive notice that the situation was being investigated. “What would happen,” he states, “is that an administrator would knock on the resident’s door and casually tell them there was a complaint against them without having a discussion or conducting an investigation of the premises in question.” Essentially, the offending party was given ample time to cover their tracks, remove evidence, and come up with an excuse as to why they were being accused of drug trafficking, assault, etc. Peterson maintains, “These were haphazard investigations with unsubstantiated conclusions.”
Another instance of negligence on the part of CVC/ BVC staff occurred late one night when an outsider climbed over the fence and jumped into the enclosure to pursue a resident. An altercation ensued followed by a fight and the intruder stabbed the resident. “There was blood all over one of the decks,” Peterson explains. “Then, staffers started cleaning up the crime scene without even calling the police. The Tiny Home Village Director, Dorothy Leyba, was on site and said to a protesting Peterson, ‘We will handle this internally.’”
Rampant Racism
The CVC hosts Lifepoint Needle Exchange so their SOS residents can have plenty of fresh supplies for shooting up illicit, highly addictive drugs. Image courtesy of: Dawn McNulty
In an open letter to law enforcement and all others who should be concerned with his plight, Peterson describes a racially hostile environment where Caucasian residents repeatedly harass, threaten, and use racial slurs against African-American residents like himself. “I know of two previous individuals of color who resided at Beloved “Community” Village [who] left not because they located housing but attributed their weariness to being violated by Caucasian individuals residing at this emergency homeless shelter,” he writes. In the same letter, he elaborates further, “A current individual of color residing at this emergency homeless shelter, who continues to be violated by Caucasian individuals residing at Beloved “Community” Village and their guests, is reticent to communicate their being harassed. This individual believes [that by] reporting their being violated that they will be evicted.”
During the two years he lived at BVC, Peterson’s vigilance placed him in the crosshairs of one particularly aggressive Caucasian resident. “This person called me ‘a f***ing n***er’ and threatened to kill me by shooting me with a gun,” he explains. In the aforementioned letter, Peterson states, “I report these crimes to the city of Denver, law enforcement, and Denver City Council. Beloved “Community” Village staff, Cole Chandler, and Colorado Village Collaborative, et al have not performed their due diligence investigating these crimes. In ignoring the individuals committing these crimes, Colorado Village Collaborative, et al has only emboldened these individuals to continue their nefarious and insidious activities and lifestyles. Cole Chandler, regardless of the funding Colorado Village Collaborative, et al is receiving, is lying to the public and those he engages for funding.”
At The Crossroads
Peterson estimates that during the time he resided at BVC, he made at least 50 complaints with the Denver Police Department. “Nothing was ever done,” he explains. “That’s why I started blanketing Denver with what’s going on in BVC.” Drawing on his postgraduate-level college education, the well-spoken Peterson has drafted and sent articulate letters explaining the conditions, the lawlessness, and his specific circumstances to news outlets, lawmakers, government officials, law enforcement, and more. Peterson has recently been featured in articles by The Denver Post, Westword, and other publications. “Before I left,” he says, “They [CVC staff] became more aggressive towards me. They don’t want me talking to the Denver City Council or the press.”
At the time of this interview, 02/04/2022, Dwayne Peterson had been out of the BVC/CVC system for just two days — speaking from the parking lot of a Denver motel. His frustration is palpable, as he weighs his options for the foreseeable future. The irony of his situation is truly baffling, as a plethora of local agencies such as Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, St. Francis Center, and many others have refused to give him assistance because he is “high functioning” and “low risk.” “I was told by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless that I can’t be helped because I don’t have any problems,” he says.
To compound matters, Peterson has been diagnosed with cancer and is wary of overnight shelters. “They are unsanitary and unhygienic (think Hepatitis A, B, and C). Homeless shelters, in general, invite disease and violence,” he states. Additionally, and it should go without saying — the Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult, and at times impossible, for Peterson to run his business which is built on in-person learning.
Reach Out
In yet another effort to remedy his situation, Peterson has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds so that he can secure long-term housing without having to endure the deplorable conditions in places like CVC’s properties and overnight shelters. Concerned readers who are interested in helping Mr. Peterson can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/seeking-to-secure-housing.
Proliferation Of Dysfunction
Across town, the battle for the sanctity of the Lincoln/La Alma neighborhood continues, as Dawn McNulty — a resident of the adjacent Baker neighborhood — continues to fight the CVC’s recent installment of a Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) at 780 Elati St., on the outskirts of the Denver Health and Medical Center campus. Among her many concerns is the glaring reality that this property is governed by the same policies as the CVC’s other villages — including the BVC — former home of Dwayne Peterson. The fact that the Lincoln/La Alma SOS is within 1000 feet of three Denver Public School properties is in itself cause for alarm. “This is a bipartisan issue with well-intentioned, compassionate people working on both sides,” McNulty explains. “We must demand more of our city’s officials to ensure public health and safety. SOS sites are an incubator for crime and disease.”
Citizens for a Safe and Clean Denver do not want addicts and people with mental illness living next to schools and families with children. Image courtesy of Terry Hildebrandt, PhD
McNulty and fellow citizens of a group known as Citizens for a Safe and Clean Denver are staunchly against Safe Outdoor Spaces. They intend to address and remove the glaring oversights and extreme safety hazards to neighborhoods populated by families with children. As it turns out, their fight just got a whole lot tougher, as Denver City Council recently voted to allot $3.9 million of Denver taxpayer money to Cole Chandler and CVC so that they can install more city-sanction drug camps. If you think this issue doesn’t affect you, think again. An encampment of mentally ill, drug-addicted, illness enabled people could be coming to your zip code very soon. These folks do not stay in the camp all day, so they will most certainly be dropping by for a sprawl and an afternoon dope fix on your front lawn. Welcome to the new Dystopian Denver.
Adding insult to injury, the CVC enables the use and injection of illegal drugs by allowing Lifepoint/Vivent Health to distribute — for free — supplies such as syringes, needles, tourniquets, cotton swabs, cookers, and sharps containers to residents of Safe Outdoor Spaces. Also, should their assisted addiction service prove to be too effective, they supply Narcan for overdosing addicts and Fentanyl testing strips for suspicious-looking illegal narcotics that are well known among users to be deadly. Saintly enablement indeed.
Your Tax Dollars Not At Work
Meanwhile, Dwayne Peterson’s parting statements are stark, harrowing, and ring as true as the pavement under his feet. “Homelessness is being managed, not rectified. What astounds me is that no matter how much money is being thrown at it, it keeps getting worse.”
