Commentary
Mask deniers will get us killed
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday issued a mask mandate for Colorado. He waited too long to take this action, but the “alarming” — his word — COVID-19 uptick in the state finally forced his hand. All Coloradans older than 10 have to wear a mask in public places now. That will make Coloradans, of all […]
Groundbreaking law opened police internal affairs investigations records. But more transparency is needed.
By Jeffrey A. Roberts Fourteen months before Colorado lawmakers passed the sweeping law enforcement accountability and transparency bill recently signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis, they approved a measure to shine a light on how police departments police themselves. House Bill 19-1119 was groundbreaking, introducing a statewide standard for the disclosure of records on completed internal affairs investigations. Before […]
Colorado can reduce abortions without banning them
Abortion access is back on the ballot this November. Anti-abortion groups will claim the best way to reduce late-term abortions is to ban them. They are wrong. During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, there is zero fetal viability outside the uterus. There is also zero indication of neural development for pain or perception by […]
Expanded outdoor dining should be state law, even after COVID-19
By Loren Hansen As several cities across the Front Range and beyond have been affected by the novel coronavirus, they have turned to outdoor dining as a means of allowing to increase the capacity of their restaurants. From downtown Golden on Washington Avenue providing additional seating for restaurants, to Breckenridge closing portions of their main […]
We have historic opportunity to reallocate resources, not defund, and make policing more just
By Bruce Brown In his 2002 book “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,” Malcolm Gladwell noted that ideas, trends and behaviors spread like wildfire after reaching a critical threshold of acceptance. It is clear that our nation has reached a positive tipping point on police reform since the brutal murder […]
This is what Gardner says he’s accomplished. Impressed?
Only rarely do Coloradans get to enjoy a Cory Gardner sighting, so when one occurs it’s notable, whatever other news the junior senator makes by what he says, or doesn’t say. Gardner spoke with CPR’s Ryan Warner in an interview that was broadcast July 1, the day after former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper won the […]
Why is the National Guard investigating peaceful protests?
By Alan Kennedy From Kent State to hovering helicopters, the National Guard has never had an easy relationship with peaceful protest and free speech. That was supposed to change after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. Colorado’s top general, Maj. Gen. Michael Loh, wrote that we must “protect our fellow Americans as […]
Turn ‘tough on crime’ into ‘effective on crime’
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the Colorado state Legislature passed sweeping bipartisan police reform. It took a mere 16 days to pass, yet it’s only the beginning. Today’s criminal justice system is not only steeped in racial and gender bias, it’s at odds with emerging science. A growing number of long-held practices are […]
Denver during the 1918 pandemic offers lessons for today
Coronavirus infection rates continue to rise, with the number of new cases climbing in dozens of states and the U.S. reporting record numbers of cases on individual days. Hospitalization across the U.S. has dramatically jumped; some cities are seeing surges that threaten to overwhelm their health care systems. Meanwhile, the demonstrations over the police killing […]
How can we be ‘safer at home’ without a home?
When I was 15 years old, my mom, my brother and I came home in Arizona to find an eviction notice on the door. If you receive an eviction notice, you’re entitled to a court hearing, but we didn’t know this at the time. We packed what we could, including our two dogs, into our […]
Americans more than America worthy of celebration
July 4th is supposed to be a celebration of American independence and, to a greater extent, America itself. In 2020, this is a fraught proposition. The year’s events have shaken many Americans’ faith in their country. Sixteen days into 2020, the U.S. Senate began its impeachment trial of Donald Trump, who is only the third […]
Coronavirus recovery requires end to environmental racism
By Alexis Schwartz “Safer at Home” they say. But all who are weathering the pandemic at home do not have the same level of safety; many people’s health has already been compromised precisely by the location of their residence. A lot of things are unknown about COVID-19, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Where […]