Commentary
Alabama’s experiment with death
This commentary originally appeared in the Alabama Reflector. Alabama will soon attempt to suffocate a death row inmate. It could be several months away. Maybe longer. And it’s never been done to a human being before. But despite that — and despite Alabama’s record of incompetence in carrying out executions — it’s almost certain the […]
Safe, healthy outdoor spaces for underserved communities are becoming more of a reality
We Coloradans love the great outdoors, it’s not just a stereotype. Our mountain vistas, hiking trails, and national and state parks are core to who we are as Coloradans and momentous to the millions of people who travel here to experience them for themselves. But the grim reality is that not all Colorado communities, like […]
Suicide prevention is a priority for me now
Editor’s note: This commentary discusses grief, loss and suicide. I live in an old Denver building with six units, one of which was occupied, until recently, by a mathematician. I met this neighbor several years ago when I asked permission to enter her apartment, because I was looking for the building’s main water shut-off valve, […]
To see dividends of quality public education, we must invest in it first
From the first day of preschool to the triumphant strides across the high school graduation stage, there is a solid cost to provide a quality public education to U.S. students. In a climate of tightening budgets and shifting priorities, the urgency of investing in public education has never been more evident. Ignoring this critical investment risks falling […]
Canada’s wildfires are a country away but affect Colorado in multiple ways
The North American boreal forest, a sprawling terrain of spruces, firs, and lakes, is the world’s largest remaining undisturbed forest, covering more than one billion acres in Canada. Fires, propelled by climate change, are mottling the usually green and blue landscape with orange flames and black burn scars from coast to coast. So far, the fires […]
After a century, states are loosening child labor laws. Where’s the outrage?
This commentary originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector. When Jacob Riis came to Emporia, Kansas, in 1902 to give a lecture, audiences knew what they could expect. Twelve years earlier, he had published “How the Other Half Lives,” which exposed through candid photographs the living conditions of the poor in the slums of New York […]
United Auto Workers strike — if it happens — should channel the legacy of Walter Reuther
This commentary originally appeared in The Conversation. The United Auto Workers are engaged in high-stakes labor negotiations that could lead to the union’s first simultaneous strike against all of Detroit’s Big Three automakers: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the company that owns Chrysler. After decades of making concessions to their employers, the union’s demands for […]
The overlooked but crucial election subversion ties between Colorado and Georgia
When Georgia prosecutors this month charged former President Donald Trump and others in an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, the indictment included a couple of names that were familiar to Coloradans. But the massive crimes that are said to have occurred in Georgia have ties to Colorado that go beyond those notorious defendants. […]
Joan Meyer, Marion newspaper owner, gave cops a piece of her mind. Honor her righteous indignation.
This commentary originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector. Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the Marion County Record, finally had her say last week. Boy, did we get a talking-to. Meyer’s previous silence was sadly excusable. She died of cardiac arrest Aug. 12, a day after unconstitutional police raids on her home and beloved newspaper. […]
We must get to root causes of Colorado’s mental health crisis
For 70 years, Mental Health Colorado has prioritized the health and well-being of Coloradans across the lifespan by improving access to and quality of care, supports and services while fighting against policies that perpetuate disparities and increase the potential harms of substance use. Our state is in the midst of a serious health crisis and […]
Ohio native Vivek Ramaswamy can’t slick talk his way past his disturbing authoritarian mindset
This commentary originally appeared in the Ohio Capital Journal. Ohio’s horse in the first Republican presidential primary debate struts with the confidence of a Preakness thoroughbred. Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy is turning heads as a slick, self-assured newcomer with all the charm and charisma of Harold Hill, the fast-talking traveling salesman in The Music Man. […]
Policy framework for coexisting with wolves could benefit both people and the environment
This commentary originally appeared at The Conversation. A video showing a close encounter between a hiker in Utah and a mountain lion defending her cubs went viral in 2020. The video, during which the hiker remained calm as the mountain lion followed him for several minutes, served as a visceral reminder that sharing the land […]