For people, policy and Colorado politics
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Last night, protesters gathered in downtown Denver over the fact that no officers are being directly charged in the killing of Breonna Taylor. Similar demonstrations took place in many other cities.
Just as the world’s eyes are currently on Taylor’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, so, too, will they soon (or soon-ish) turn to Colorado: three separate investigations — at the city, state and federal levels — into the Elijah McClain case are underway now. We don’t know when they’ll be finished, or what they’ll say, but there are millions of people who feel very personally invested in the outcome.
One of those investigations is being conducted by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. After months of protests that thrust McClain’s name and story into the national spotlight, Gov. Jared Polis tapped Weiser in June to head up an independent investigation into McClain’s death, which followed a violent, late-night arrest on the side of a quiet road in Aurora a little over a year ago, and for which no officers have been charged.
That move by Polis was very clearly a direct result of protests that exponentially increased public visibility into and outrage over McClain’s death. What is also very clear is that if the various ongoing probes don’t lead to charges being filed, these officials will face enormous pushback.
I’m interested in the timing of these probes, since it’s quite possible that whichever one delivers results first could blunt the impact of whatever comes of the following two. In any event, Weiser’s report will be closely watched, and I’m particularly interested in it because he is the only elected official personally responsible for investigating this case. Given the enormous global interest in the case, it strikes me that that this very well may be the — or, at least, a — defining moment of Weiser’s first term in office, and possibly of his political career.
Separately, and speaking of Weiser, he clerked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 1990s, and I spoke with him about her on Friday night, as news of her death had just broken. You can read what he said here.
We wrote plenty this week on RBG’s death and the political consequences of it. Scroll down for links if you missed that coverage. Also, Justin Wingerter has an update out of CD3; Saja Hindi writes on immigrant voters and a ballot measure that targets them; and Conrad Swanson writes about mask-wearing as Colorado braces for a possible third wave of increased coronavirus cases.
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Top Line
Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner on Thursday stressed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power after President Donald Trump declined Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer to Democrat Joe Biden if he loses in November.
Capitol Diary • By Saja Hindi
Immigrant advocates raising their voices
With 40 days until Election Day, immigrant rights groups have been making a big push to get more of their supporters involved and registered to vote. For many Colorado groups, it’s not just about federal policies that could affect them but also about state ballot measures that they’re working to defeat.
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, or CIRC, is hosting remote events, focusing on issues that affect immigrants such as DACA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement treatment of detainees. They’re releasing endorsements of candidates and issues, and they’re trying to engage immigrants and other voters of color.
The group’s goal is to make contact with 1 million voters across the state before the election, an organizer told me.
Various other groups are also working to ensure their voices are heard in this big election year despite the challenges of the pandemic.
On Wednesday, activists launched a campaign — virtually, of course — to oppose Amendment 76, which asks voters to approve a measure saying only citizens can vote in elections, reiterating what’s already in law.
Proponents of the measure say the amendment will make sure the state can’t change its policies to allow noncitizens to vote, but opponents say measures like this one cause fear among immigrants and further racism and xenophobia.
Immigrant rights groups are also engaging on issues beyond those on the ballot. On Tuesday, they protested Denver newcomer Palantir Technologies — a company that has a history with ICE.
More Colorado political news
- A state board is considering changes to names of some Colorado mountains and bodies of water because of racist symbols.
- Colorado and the U.S. Postal Service settled their lawsuit over voting mailers.
- 23,600 state workers will be furloughed because of COVID-related budget problems.
Federal elections • By Justin Wingerter
Losing candidate forms a new PAC
After James Iacino lost a Democratic primary in the 3rd Congressional District on June 30, the former Seattle Fish Co. CEO took a step back to assess how he could make a difference in politics. Then he turned his campaign committee into a political action committee.
Cry Freedom PAC — named after a Dave Matthews song about anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko — will focus on western and southern Colorado and “push back against the increasingly dangerous rhetoric being espoused by elected officials and candidates,” Iacino wrote in an email to supporters Monday. He provided more details in a phone interview this week.
“This election cycle, we’re working in (the 3rd District), at the county level in Garfield County, and at the state level we’re looking to do some work on the initiatives that are coming up. But I do see this carrying on into the 2022 statewide elections,” Iacino said.
“Garfield County in particular has important races all up and down the ballot, from county commissioners to state Senate to Diane’s race and Hickenlooper’s,” he added, referring to Diane Mitsch Bush, who defeated him in the 3rd District primary, and U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper.
Expect to see direct donations to candidates in some cases, but also digital and mail ads. Rural issues and rural voters — especially farmers and ranchers — will be priorities, he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Tuesday it has booked $631,000 in fall TV ads for the 3rd District. It’s the first time the DCCC has gone on air in the district since 2012, according to a DCCC spokesperson.
More federal election news
- Sen. Cory Gardner will almost certainly vote to confirm a Supreme Court justice this year, he announced Monday. A few days before, he was noncommittal on it.
- Last year, Hickenlooper said he would consider expanding the Supreme Court if “basic civil rights” were at risk. On Tuesday, he didn’t want to discuss it.
- The postmaster general disagreed with President Trump on mail voting on a call with Colorado’s Jena Griswold. Listen to the audio here.
- Gardner released an ad Wednesday that references Hickenlooper’s well-known 2010 shower ad. Hickenlooper released an ad about the Supreme Court and other topics.
- Cook Political Report changed its rating for the Gardner-Hickenlooper race from a tossup to leaning Democratic.
- A music festival, “Hick-a-Palooza,” will raise money for Hickenlooper, The Know reports.
Mile High Politics • By Conrad Swanson
Wear your mask for the sake of your gym
It seems elected officials are running out of new ways to say it, so let’s try this as bluntly as possible: Wear a face mask.
Not just over your mouth. Cover your nose, too. And try to remain at least six feet away from others while you’re out and about.
If you don’t believe the scientists, believe that you could get your favorite business in trouble for failure to comply.
No fewer than 157 Denver businesses have been cited since July for either staff or customers failing to follow pandemic-related rules, according to a list from city officials. The businesses range from restaurants and bars to liquor stores, hotels and fitness clubs. Some were shut down because of the violations.
For example, last month, Fast Performance, at 4650 Leyden St., was ticketed and closed because 9 out of 10 customers weren’t wearing face coverings while working out in the same room. That was after an inspection two days earlier that found 8 of 10 employees weren’t wearing face coverings. Fast Performance was scheduled to reopen today.
Some hotels have been cited for selling alcohol past the state-mandated last call, and a number of restaurants have been cited for having employees without masks working in the kitchen. Other venues violated large-group restrictions … the list goes on.
The longer the virus sticks around, the more those restaurants, fitness clubs, hotels and other businesses suffer.
And the city has already been hit hard. As Mayor Michael Hancock released his proposed 2021 budget last week, which assumes a $190 million tax shortfall, he reiterated the need for Denverites to continue following best practices. The city is facing historic tax shortfalls because of the economic impact of the pandemic. Less money means fewer services, including cutbacks in large-item trash pickups, the continuing closure of recreation centers, and employee furloughs across the city.
The budget shortfall is the estimate if the virus remains manageable. A substantial uptick means more budget slashing. And that’s just the financial side. People are dying. Colorado just surpassed 2,000 deaths from the virus, which has claimed 200,000 lives nationwide.
This week Gov. Jared Polis warned of a possible third wave of the virus. The uptick is so notable around colleges that the University of Colorado Boulder announced it would shift classes online for at least two weeks and Boulder and Denver are both ratcheting up restrictions near campuses.
Doctors, public health experts and government leaders all agree that following the rules is the way to keep schools, jobs and the economy going.
More Denver and suburban political news
- Denver’s emergency reserve fund is well below what it had been in the spring and isn’t enough to cover the entire $190 million shortfall expected for Denver’s tax revenue next year — even if city budget officials were willing to use it all.
- Denver officials proposed millions more in cuts for next year’s budget Tuesday alongside even more unpaid employee furloughs and smaller investments in social services and changes to law enforcement practices.
- On Monday, the Regional Transportation District opened what will likely be — at least for the foreseeable future — the last major rail corridor in its 2,342-square-mile service area.
