Commentary
Vaccine nationalism could backfire on America
As the number of COVID-19 cases tops 20 million worldwide, scientists are racing to find a vaccine. Many countries are collaborating. America, by and large, is not. Vaccine development has long been a globalized process. Between research, procurement of materials and manufacturing, vaccine production all but requires regional cooperation. Especially for a new disease like […]
Pro-police too often means pro-entitlement
The protests that appeared in cities and towns across America after Minneapolis police killed the unarmed George Floyd have led to many reforms of law enforcement. But another outcome is a backlash in which self-appointed police defenders have become increasingly hostile not just to reforms but also, paradoxically, to the police. This malign force should […]
Green space is essential during the pandemic. Not all Denverites have equitable access to it.
By Kristi Roybal As public officials continue to urge Denver residents to stay home to reduce the spread of COVID-19, many of us may be walking our neighborhood streets and using our local parks more often. The pandemic puts green space front and center as a necessary urban amenity to deal with the current restrictions […]
Colorado’s low vaccination rates may complicate COVID-19 recovery
The novel coronavirus is a mere 120 nanometers in diameter. That’s roughly 700 times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair. It’s hard to fathom something so small wreaking such big havoc, yet here we are, still facing unprecedented challenges caused by a tiny, spiky virus that as of eight months ago wasn’t […]
Sen. Gardner must stand for Coloradans over politics by supporting the HEROES Act
By Rachel Wall I thought things couldn’t get worse when Colorado suddenly shut down on March 24 with little directive from the government on how to proceed. Now, when our government has the opportunity to help its citizens, our senator, Cory Gardner, continues to let us down by not pushing for the next COVID relief […]
Mismanagement in oil and gas drilling exposed in Extraction bankruptcy
By Lizzie Lario The Extraction Broomfield project, which we have been told produces natural gas and oil primarily for export outside of the United States, has left a permanent scar on me, my family and my community. The company and its lobbyists demanded we allow this high-risk drilling process near my home then, weeks later, […]
Halt evictions in Colorado
When Gov. Jared Polis issued a statewide eviction moratorium at the end of April, his executive order referred to the economic hardship caused by COVID-19. “Many Coloradans experienced substantial loss of income as a result of business closures and layoffs, hindering their ability to keep up with their rent or mortgage payments and threatening their […]
First the pandemic, next the climate: The Republican threat to science
More than ever, our lives depend on medical science to provide reliable testing, diagnosing and mitigation of a deadly virus. Scientists in the United States and around the world are studying the coronavirus, working day and night to uncover the secrets of this disease and develop a safe, accessible vaccine. This breakneck research is taking […]
Schools can reopen when adults follow the rules
If a gin and tonic is your pastime of choice, your local bar is open until 10 p.m. But if education is your right, be ready to stay at home a little longer. There had been much to celebrate in Colorado’s early response to COVID-19. We were among the first states to successfully “flatten the […]
Fascism isn’t new. It’s just been rebranded by Trump.
One of the defining characteristics of fascism is the elevation of loyalty to things and symbols over people and democratic ideals. There is no such thing as compulsory patriotism in a democracy. We are very much seeing a test of that principle right now, in Portland and states across the country. A nation that began […]
The Colorado leaders who want Denver to look like Portland
The deployment in Portland, Ore., of federal law enforcement agents, who eschew insignia and have been captured on video making what appear to be unaccountable arrests of civilians, is a chilling escalation of the Trump administration’s response to police-reform demonstrations in American cities. President Donald Trump himself has said federal law enforcement is needed to […]
Racism and health care inequity demand a federal response
We are at a cultural flashpoint when it comes to recognizing and dealing with racism here in the United States. Across the country, people are taking to the streets to protest police brutality and push for real change. Unfortunately, for people of color, racism is not something that we only face when it comes to […]