As a long-time bike commuter, I’ve easily pedaled thousands of miles over the years. But as much as I love to ride, I’ve always felt a small pang of guilt for falling short in not using my bicycle for all my daily transportation needs. Hopefully, Colorado is about to reduce my carbon footprint with its […]
Julie Gonzales
Posted inClimate, Environment, Equity, Health, News
How Colorado’s changing climate is putting children’s health at risk
This March, Colorado State Sen. Faith Winter stood at a podium in the State Capitol and spoke to a gathered crowd about reducing the state’s air pollution. After introductions, Winter, Gov. Jared Polis and others unveiled a package of environmental bills that aim to increase access to public transit, build more energy efficient buildings, and construct safe […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers withdraw bill aimed at removing racial bias in jury selection
A bill aimed at addressing racial bias in how Colorado juries are picked was withdrawn by Democratic state lawmakers after the legislation faced unanimous opposition from the state’s 22 district attorneys. The measure, Senate Bill 128, would have prohibited attorneys from trying to disqualify a potential juror from service based only on reasons such as […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Proposition 119, which would have raised Colorado marijuana taxes to pay for out-of-school learning, fails
Colorado voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal to increase taxes on recreational marijuana to pay for out-of-school support services for students like tutoring and therapy. Supporters of Proposition 119 admitted defeat at about 8:30 p.m. With more than a million ballots counted at 10 p.m., the measure was failing with 54% rejecting the initiative and […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Latinos want Colorado’s new congressional and legislative maps to give them influence reflecting their growing numbers
Latino leaders are worried that Colorado’s once-in-a-decade redistricting process will continue to give them the short shrift at the state Capitol and in Congress, even as their community’s share of the population grows to nearly a quarter. The current class of elected state lawmakers includes the largest number of Latino lawmakers in the General Assembly’s […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Housing, News
Struggling renters get one more month — likely the last — to postpone monthly rent payment
With thousands of Coloradans still waiting to be approved for — or receive — available rental assistance, some relief came Thursday as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the national eviction moratorium another month to July 31. The CDC said this is likely to be the last time it extends the order, which […]
Posted inHousing, News, Politics and Government
Colorado cities will be able to require developers to build affordable housing in new rental projects
A 20-year-old court precedent that has blocked Colorado cities and towns from forcing developers to build affordable housing in new rental projects is no more, after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law Friday. “Communities are strongest when people who work in a community can live in the community, and that’s something that sadly […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Democrats advance historic slate of legislation to aid Colorado’s unauthorized immigrants, roll back restrictions
State lawmakers this year are advancing a historic slate of legislation aimed at assisting the estimated nearly 200,000 Coloradans living in the U.S. illegally, including through measures to shield them from federal immigration authorities and granting them access to state-funded benefits and services. The bills would also remove requirements that people prove legal residency to […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
How expensive is it to call Colorado jails and prisons? Lawmakers want to find out.
The $9 that Jim Anthony paid for each video visit with his jailed son last year was expensive, but the best way he could make sure his son got to know his own child, after the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person visits to the jail. But several of the calls dropped after a minute or […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado leaders must enact lasting reform to prevent evictions and promote an equitable recovery
Many Coloradans who are still struggling to make ends meet due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were relieved when the latest $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package was signed. Individual stimulus checks, however small, will help to keep a roof overhead, and millions of federal dollars in rental assistance will keep landlords solvent and […]