Happenings in and around Historic 5 Points, Northeast Denver and Aurora November 2020
Voter Access For Those In Custody
5 STAR NEWS
Formerly 5 POINTS NEWS. Proud Recipient of the Dr. Syl Morgan Smith Excellence in Media Award and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Colorado Media Award
It was election season and the freedom to vote is a powerful and important right. It is just as important to educate individuals who are incarcerated of their right to vote. Voter registration drives were held at the Downtown Detention Center and the Denver County Jail through partnerships with the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, the League of Women Voters, and the Denver Elections Division. Events like these ensure that the people in custody are educated about their right to vote and receive the opportunity to register to vote. - Daria Serna Communications Director, Denver Sheriff Department
Five Points Leads the Way in Voter Engagement and Turnout
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Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez, daughter, staff and Welton Street Cafe staff worked to engage voter turnout Historic Five Points was ground zero for voter engagement, registration and turnout. Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez along with his staff spent considerable time at brother jeff’s Cultural Center in the Free Think Zone educating the community on voting rights, ballot locations and proper procedures for filling out ballots. “Democracy requires that everyone has access and the ability to participate,” Lopez said as a guest on brother jeff’s daily social media show. “We have identified areas that have high eligibility for voter registration and low voter turnout. Hundreds of voters filled Welton Street for the Be Woke Vote festival. Masks, physical distancing as well as a car show, music, free food and Covid-19 safety items were distributed. “This was a way to express our voice and the importance of voting and coming together as a community,” said event coordinator Norman Harris III. “There are lots of people that are concerned with the political outcomes we have been receiving in our community and it was beautiful to see so many people come out and register to vote and participate in this historical moment.” These voter engagement efforts resulted in unprecedented returns. Colorado was among the top states in the nation for voter turnout. The Centennial State’s mail-in-ballot history was well ahead of other states that are just getting up to speed on the new norm for voting in the wake of Covid-19. More photos on page 11. - 5 Star News
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15 Norman Harris III, Maisha Fields and Lamont “Motion” Shannon were among hundreds at Be Woke Vote festival
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The Largest Voter Turnout in History
Dorthy King-Stockton, Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez, and brother jeff Editor 5 Star News
Ballots continue to be tallied in the largest voter turnout in U.S. history. The nation is divided and President Elect Joe Biden has vowed to bring the country together. Meanwhile Trump claims a stolen election and refuses to concede. The bitter president who built his political strategy on lies and doubt has no intention of leaving the White House without a legal or Electoral College fight. For those expecting a peaceful transference of power, don’t hold your breath. Trump continues to exhibit power and politics at its worse. Meanwhile half the nation awakes from a four-year nightmare while the other half braces for a horrible sleep. Some have predicted a civil war. Has the country come to that point, again? I don’t think so. There has not been a time in U.S. history where a defeated
president refused to step down. Then again, there has never been a president like Trump. There is lots to learn from this election and I am sure it will be studied for year to come. For example, how did a president considered to be a raging racist do so well with Black and Brown voters, mostly men? How could someone know for dividing families and putting kids in cages garner vast immigrant support? In the end, it was the Black community, particularly Black women, who propelled Biden to victory. He has already made history by selecting Kamala Harris to become the first Black woman and first woman vice president. Biden said he owes the Black community. Let’s see what the IOU means. I’m excited for the days to come. –brother jeff
Dr. Cottee J. White 9-02-1940 - 9-23-2020
Dr. Cottee J. White was born in Marianna, Florida on September 2, 1940 to Earnest and Lillian White. He was the youngest of seven children and the foundation of his life was his loving family. He accepted Christ at an early age at Bethlehem A.M.E. Church and remained a faithful member all his life. He received his elementary and high school education at the historical all black
5 STAR NEWS Monthly Publication November 2020
Publisher brother jeff Editor brother jeff
Layout & Design Cynthia R. Martin Photography brother jeff Lens of Ansar
Jackson County Training School. He was always recognized by his teachers and administrators as an outstanding student. His love for learning led him to continue his education. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Social Studies Education from Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Social Sciences with concentrations in Sociology and Anthropology from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. He was awarded a NDEA grant for an academic year of study at New York University. He completed the requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Affairs with concentrations in Sociology and Ethnic Studies at Florida State University. During his career he was a catalyst for academic excellence for many students and scholars as he served on staff at several prestigious colleges and universities across the country including Albany State University, Albany, GA. For nearly two decades he was on staff at Metro State College as a Professor and African American Studies Chair.
Contributing Writers & Researchers brother jeff Jim “Dr. Daddio” Walker Jon Bowman Shay J Distribution Gerald Borden 5 STAR News is a publication of brotherjeff.com 2836 Welton Street Denver, CO 80205 303.297.0823 5pointsnews@brotherjeff.com
Alert! America, WE the People have Elected a New Leader, Woo-Hoo, the nightmare is beginning to come to an end. We have named a new President who will take office in 2021. Joe Biden and his accomplished Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris will orchestrate a kinder, gentler, greener, inclusive, and more scientifically based America. They will focus on unity rather than division. They will lead by example and wear the mask until COVID-19 is under control. There will be no more Russian roulette to see how many presidential aides can contract the virus. Jokes about reporters or supporters doing the right thing by wearing a mask, will cease. False claims of magic potions that will cure the virus or supersonic speed to release COVID-19 vaccines that are not quite ready for prime time will be no more. I think we knew President Trump saw the writing on the wall when he started trying to stop the vote counting. The numbers don’t lie. The last counts I saw Senator Joe Biden had 74,915,998 votes to President Trumps 70,790,500. This was a good whipping. However, there were still too many red states, particularly in the south. Does that say something that Trump won most of the southern states and the nonhomogeneous northern states? We know about Florida’s severe racist roots. History tells us that Texas (red) continued the enslavement of Black people for two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Does it tell us something when the southern border of Texas, populated heavily with Latinx still voted for President Trump as Mexican babies were separated from their mommas and held in cages? President TRUMP is dangerous. He is unstable, unhealthy, and certainly not very presidential. 2020 has been a historic year in many respects. The election was no different. We had the highest voter turnout ever. As COVID-19 cases were reaching an all-time high (118,000 single day case count) the crescendo of the presidential election kept me up late many nights this past week. Each night I would go to bed praying that we would have a change. Four states laboriously spit out their ballot results as myself and others anxiously awaited some shred of hope for a new day. Friday I went to bed disappointed that no antidote to the dreaded current presidential poison was announced. Then Saturday morning I flipped on the television and there was Van Jones fighting back tears as the announcement had been made about Joe Biden winning the election. It was a hard fought battle. They did not think that Biden was tough enough, but we know that kindness shouldn’t be taken as a weakness. It too can kill. Joe Biden will be the oldest man in U.S. history to be elected president. Kamala will be the first BLACK and woman vice president. She will also be the first of the vice president to be a graduate of a historically Black college and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She will also be the first woman of Southeast Asian decent to be a vice president. God is good all the time. We need this just about now! In between counts the news reporters would mention that COVID-19, though in the shadows of the election, was still alive and kicking. COVID-19 remained busy as the current president spent his time talking about rigged elections and how he had won before the bell even rang. COVID-19 clearly did not care about a U.S. Presidential election. This long drawn out election process in some respects was a welcome relief from the COVID-19 tragedies. However, when I dragged into the office after only a few hours of sleep, I was reminded that the virus was taking a toll, taking a dis-
proportionate toll on some groups but still affecting every group. I heard: “ My mother died last night from COVID-19.” “My momma’s caretaker had COVID-19. What should we do? She wasn’t wearing a mask.” “I was tired so I made this appointment, however I just received a call saying my COVID-19 test was positive.” “I was exposed to COVID-19, but I’m not staying home, I have to go to work.” President-elect Biden spoke about Black Americans helping to seal the deal in this historic election. Black Americans were warriors for Biden early on in the battle and on election day in many urban centers, where their votes were crucial. Will we see fruits of this labor? Black people voted in this 2020 election to kill the pain and inhale the hope that we will be able to breathe again. We voted so that sacrificial lambs that we saw die from COVID-19, social injustice, and racism would not have died in vain. Blacks are banking on not having to witness another 8:46 that sparked civic unrest under the current President. He chose to pour gasoline on the fire rather than seek justice. The Biden team plans to tackle the most pressing issues that are impacting the Nation. Front and center is COVID-19, but also the economy, systemic racism, and other health care concerns. The new presidential team is already talking about reconvening a COVID-19 taskforce. The taskforce will have scientists that advise the Biden team on best approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will keep the American public apprised of what is happening. We have to find a way to break the vicious cycle of this deadly virus. We need a NATIONAL strategy. Defeating this virus will require collective cooperation not solo free will. What one word would you use to describe the 2020 Presidential Election? I am going to say E-M-O-T-I-O-N-A- L. Waiting for the count, myself and others expressed anxiety and stress, just wanting to know the outcome. We wanted to know what fate lay ahead. Finally when the winner was declared there was so much display of emotion and people in my spheres crying, screaming. There was tweeting, texting, tap dancing. I saw many reporters just not being able to contain the emotion. It was like all the suppressed emotions now had permission to be unleashed- tears to wash away the last four years. Some Trump supporters were emotional as well. He had them convinced that his way of leading had been indelibly stamped into the soul of the Nation. He felt he had done a very fine job and was unbeatable. But, WE the people spoke, which our democracy allows us to do. Emotional indeed! I felt like this last year was stressful enough in itself. Black people still having to fight for basic rights, being harassed, and killed. The debates over whether Black Lives Matter should trump All Lives or Blue Lives Matter. Black people had to be cautious about walking, running, driving, and breathing, while Black. Many people in our communities of color and health care workers had to worry about contracting COVID-19 during work exposure. –Dr.TeaNT Dr. TeaNT is a Medical Doctor in the Public Health Sector for Over 30 Years & Counting. Now a freelance blogger – giving the real perspective on popular medial topics. An avid biker, hiker, gardener, walker, reader, and dancer. Read her blog at www.drteant.com
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Different Era, Same Big Tobacco Tricks
Leanne Wheeler
Since 1954, the tobacco industry has been clear about their approach in marketing and keeping a customer base in the pipeline. They fully understood that when their customers died from tobacco related disease, the industry would fail if new smokers were not on board and addicted. Big tobacco was not in the tobacco business, at all; they were in the nicotine business. “We don’t smoke that sh*t. We just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the Black and stupid.” – R.J. Reynolds Executive Efforts to market to Black people stepped up in 1970. In fact, for many, it would be the first time that Black people began to see themselves represented in advertisement. Just imagine it, attractive Black men and women, young and vibrant, depicted as users of tobacco products, engaged in activities that other vibrant young Black men and women saw themselves doing, if only they had a Kool
cigarette in hand. In truth, the first time they saw themselves represented in print advertisements and in television commercials, was for a product that would addict them, adversely affect their health AND their pocketbook; then, ultimately kill them, but not before they suffered an excruciating decline in health. A recent conversation with several Black men, some fifty years after the first advertisements appeared, revealed the pervasive, and worse yet, the efficacy of this targeted marketing strategy. This focused dialogue brought a shocking revelation. At least, to me. Black men KNOW they are being targeted by the tobacco industry. Those who participated in the conversation shared that their path to nicotine addiction began as young as 13 years old, with their earliest memories of billboards, and Jet and Ebony magazine advertisements. Every one of these Black men began smoking menthol (mint) flavored cigarettes, or blunts, before graduating from high school. Also clear in the discussion was, these Black men are self-aware and selfpossessed (aside from their nicotine addiction, of course), and fully realize that they are the “influencers” in the Black community. If an industry wanted to sell their wares, that industry knows to target Black men, first and foremost. After all, it is, “cool to be like a Black man”. White men “follow” Black men in the hope of being perceived as cool themselves. With more than 70% of Black smokers using menthol cigarettes and mint flavored nicotine, it is apparent the tobacco industry has done extraordinarily little to change their targeted marketing to Black men, and the Black community. –Leanne Wheeler
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NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Jon Bowman 5 STAR NEWS Journalist
WHERE IS WE? Scorpio Moon is all we needed? It doesn’t matter! All I know is that a slightly crazy ethos came over these great USA, one which has seen a nation decide to ‘vote-up’, in an effort to oust awould-be dictator. Donald tRump has done more damage to America than any other President in history! With an opportunity to take this nation into the 2020s, with verve, swagger and a chance for all citizens to better their lives, this rouge President made job one to get all he could, for his grifter-family to prosper, and the rest, of us just get by. America had the best answer for his bull-crap, we collectively voted his butt out, but his mental acumen won’t let him ever accept losing this Scorpion-type sting, from an older white guy, with a semi-good heart I am sure, and a dynamic, strong, beautiful Black woman, who embodies where Black people find ourselves, in these uncertain times. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election! I understand the President can’t handle this, but yo, get over your puzzlement over how you have divided this nation. You led us into a pandemic of neverseen proportions, one that has seen a wave of death, splashing from sea to shining sea.! How much of a chance does tRump have at winning any of his lawsuits filed in perhaps a dozen states? Experts say none! Let’s look at the totals. Electoral College reflects 279 votes for Biden and 214 for tRump. Joe will wind up with five million more votes than tRump, and maybe 74 more in the Electoral College. Since 1920, the EC, when an incumbent runs, has only seen a higher total in three races. Joe is forecasted to win a higher percentage of EC votes than all but FDR and Ron Rea-
gan. They say Biden is running away with the popular vote, might wind up with 5152% of the vote, which is more than FDR in 1932. Joey is in select company! The race being called a decisive win, a huge blow out, a major beat down. And to rub the win in, Biden will get the exact number of EC votes are tRump did in 2016...306, which is 57%. Any way you want to look at the totals, even with recounts, Joe beats Don, even fi tRump is not man enough to make a concession speech. In states where recalls have been heard, since 2000, the average shift of votes is 430 or 0.02%. The biggest shift of 0.11% resulted in 2,456 votes being added to the challengers totals. Good luck tRump. In the remaining states to be called, on November 11, Joey leads by 20,000 votes. The President is said to be infuriated by his loos... hasn’t spoken yet in public, and is said to be having a meltdown after meltdown. His niece, Mary Trump says, “He won’t concede or engage in normal activities that guarantee a peaceful transition. All he’s got now is breaking stuff, and he’s going to do that with a vengeance.” So, what can Joe do for us? He has already set up a Corona Virus Task Force attempting to get care unified thru the states, let science dictate ways to understand the how, to attack the killer plague, and to figure out ways for us to not forget what normal felt like eight months ago. Black women did their thing, in this election. Record numbers as they strolled to the polls. In particular, Stacey Abrams, following a stolen race in 2018, she formed Fair Fight Action, to combat voter suppression in and around Georgia. This former State Representative led Black women to the polls, an mail-in ballots, in record numbers. Her efforts brought the right numbers, to deliver Joe and Kamala much needed help, to likely carry the state, but she also help put both US Senate seats in play. My thought is she would be a refreshing change from old Bill Barr, as US Attorney General. Oh, and I need to say, Kamala wasn’t doing ‘winter white’ by accident, no in keeping with the history she is making.... the first everything...her deal was honoring the Suffragette Movement. Like Shirley Chisholm, Geraldine Farraro, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, they all wore white —as did Cingressiinal newcomers last election—it’s now a thing to honor those who fought long and hard for women to get the right to vote. NOW RUN AND TELL THAT! –Jon Bowman
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Governors Thoughts on Election 2020 Governor Polis spoke to what Coloradans have been seeing over the past 48 hours since Election Day. Here in Colorado, we saw our biggest voter turnout in state history and further cemented our status as a national model for holding safe, secure, and reliable elections. The Governor thanks Secretary of State Jena Griswold and her team, and the county clerks and volunteer election judges across our state, who worked tirelessly to ensure that Colorado is counted among the places in the nation to cast a ballot. Coloradans spoke clearly -- casting their ballots for change at the federal level. Colorado voters also voted to ensure that Colorado can continue to be one of the best places in the nation to live, work and play. Voters: Overwhelmingly supported a measure to provide free preschool to every four-year-old in our state; Repealed the Gallagher Amendment to support our firefighters, small business-
es, and local communities; and Provided tax relief for every Coloradan and paved the way for broader fiscal and tax reform. While many of us are ready for this election to be over, uncertainty remains surrounding the outcome of the presidential race, along with many other federal races -- and we must be patient in waiting for those final results. It’s clear that our country remains divided, and for many people, this election was all too personal. Maybe you lost a loved one to COVID-19 or have seen your business suffer because of the pandemic, or suffered job loss. The Colorado Way means that regardless of your political affiliation or the outcome of this election, we remember that above all else, we are Coloradans, and we come together when times get tough. And now more than ever, is the time to come together to emerge stronger and more resilient from this pandemic.
Colorado to Join National Popular Vote
With the vast majority of the votes in Colorado counted, giving us a substantial lead and with the composition of the outstanding votes, Proposition 113 has an insurmountable lead and will pass in Colorado. This has been a long journey and we could not have done it without you. Expanding voting rights has always faced opposition from those who believe the current system benefits themselves, and the National Popular Vote was no exception. From the time the National Popular Vote bill was introduced in the Colorado legislature in January of 2019, through Governor Polis signing it in March of that
year, and for the next 20 months, we overcame a loud and organized opposition that just does not believe every vote should be equal. As we’ve said many times, the “National Popular Vote is indeed popular” and Coloradans proved it yesterday. Coloradans get it. One person should equal one vote no matter where that person lives. Presidential candidates should care about voters in every state, not just battleground states. And the presidential candidate who gets the most votes should win the election without exception. –Yes on Proposition 113
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Dear Friend and Neighbor - We Won!
State Senator Rhonda Fields
From the bottom of my heart, “Thank You” for your support of my re-election campaign to the Colorado State Senate, District 29. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity and hard work over the course of this campaign. Our movement met the moment and this victory wouldn’t have been possible without YOU. Whether you made phone calls, gave a few dollars, drop door literature, or shared our message on social media, you helped ensure that we reached voters where we needed to! Now, its time to get back to it. I will continue to be a voice for healthcare, economic recovery, racial justice, public safety, equality, education, and the environment. I’m so incredibly grateful to all of you, and I can’t believe how far we’ve come. Together, we stood by our values and fought for what we believe in. We must never stop fighting to make sure this democracy serves all of us.
A big “Thank You” to my colleagues in the State Senate for electing me as the Senate Assistant Majority Leader. This is the one thing of which I am certain.... the struggle continues and we fight on. The only way we can change things is when we vote and the votes that you cast proved we are able to change things. Nothing like filling out my official Arapahoe County ballot with the pens I received from Gov. Polis for passing laws during the 2020 Colorado legislative session: State Senate. I am so glad to live in the great state of Colorado where every registered voter was sent a mail in ballot. In 2020, there is no reason for those lines in Georgia other than willful voter suppression. It is quite sad. Election 2020 has been monumental in teaching us the importance of being engaged, remaining vigilant and engaging fully in the political process. As we move forward from yesterday into the future, America requires us to be active in producing the democracy that we want to see. I have hope for what we can accomplish together in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead ... despite the challenges we face. Again, thank you for all of your support, and please never hesitate to reach out. I’m here to work for you and fight for our shared values every day. In Gratitude. On a sad note, my heart sank when I learned about the passing of Bishop Phillip H. Porter. A Spiritual icon in Colorado and beyond. He will be missed by soooo many. I’m asking you to join me in lifting the family and community up in prayer as we mourn the loss of our beloved Bishop Porter. Rest In Heaven. –Rhonda Fields Colorado State Senate Senate District 29.
Denver Department of Public Health & Environment Recognizes Racism as a Public Health Crisis
Over the course of the pandemic, the City and County of Denver has witnessed the convergence of two public health crises: COVID-19 and the continuing impacts of institutionalized racism. People of color and immigrant and refugee communities have been and continue to be disproportionately sickened or killed by COVID-19. The vulnerability of these communities is a direct result of inequitable health and economic policies and systems exacerbated by this pandemic. The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) recognizes that racism is a public health crisis. As Denver’s public health authority, it is the responsibility of this agency to improve health and racial equity through its own efforts and in partnership with other city agencies. Only then can DDPHE achieve its mission of “empowering Denver’s communities to live better, longer.” DDPHE’s response to COVID-19 highlights the department’s commitment to eliminating health and racial inequities. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic response in Denver, DDPHE immediately launched a mobile testing unit to bring tests to those who are homebound, have limited transportation ability, or are otherwise unable to access standard testing sites. The department continues to make this service available to those who need it. The centrally located mass test site at the Pepsi Center removed many barriers to testing, including cost and the necessity of a doctor’s order to receive a test. However, DDPHE leadership and staff learned that communities of color continued to experience barriers to these services. As a response, the department further adapted its community-based testing strategy by
shifting its focus from one large test site to highly localized, rotating sites in communities of color, as well as in low-income, immigrant and refugee communities. The new strategy was informed by data and coupled with community partnerships, outreach, and education to increase access to testing for Denver’s most vulnerable, underserved and affected communities. DDPHE’s response to the pandemic is just the beginning of its broader commitment to addressing racism in public health. “Our work related to COVID-19 is the first step in a long journey of commitments and actions that lead to the elimination of health inequities created and sustained by racism,” said Robert McDonald, executive director of DDPHE and public health administrator for Denver. “Time is of the essence. As a department, we will create policies and actions that consider everything that impacts health. This is especially critical with virus trends indicating that marginalized communities are disproportionately vulnerable to health crises and the steps we take to contain them.” Racism and other structural inequities are an ongoing public health crisis that demands immediate attention. As evidenced by its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DDPHE is well-positioned to support systems-level change and foster collaboration between city agencies, stakeholders, and community organizations to advance racial equity and improve public health. –Source The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), Denver’s nationally accredited public health agency, empowers Denver’s communities to live better, longer.
We Have a New President Elect
James “Dr. Daddio” Walker Sr.
President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris is what we have been praying for. They are exactly what the country needs. It is time to get rid of Donald Trump and put in place new leadership. Moving this country in a different direction is going to be tough and will not be something that will happen overnight. We are going to fight even to get to the inauguration. Donald Trump refuses to concede the election. He will not turn over vital information and is making sure money is not released to the Biden transition team. Trump’s actions are nothing more than an effort to launder money. Think about all the money being paid to attorneys to be in courtrooms day after day. The plan is to pull as much money out before Trump leaves. Trump knows that his freedom is on the line. With all his friends and political appointees going to jail he knows he could be next. When Trump leaves the White
House there will be a mountain of legal actions he is going to be facing. He is not going to be able to handle it. It would not surprise me if we wake up to the news between now and January 20th reporting that Donald Trump just landed Air Force One in Russia. He can go there and fight extradition back to the U.S. He can continue to run his businesses and dictatorship from behind the Iron Curtain rather than Iron Prison Bars This election highlighted Trumps mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic and is a major factor in he becoming one of ten one-term Commander-In-Chiefs. Covid-19 has taken far too many lives and U.S. cases are among the highest in the world. Trump’s lack of Covid strategy, refusal to wear a mask, and host of many super spreader events and rallies led to him contracting Covid as well as countless others. Biden’s administration will have to untangle this mess along with his newly formed Covid-19 Task Force. Unfortunately, many more will die before a vaccination or cure comes along. In the meantime there are three things we have been told to do: wear and mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance. I am adding a fourth way of dealing with Covid-19: Use common sense! Biden thanked Blacks for securing the presidency for him and promised us an IOU. To make good on that promise he needs to make sure economic opportunities are available to Blacks, quality health care is attainable, and Blacks are protected from the very climate that cost George Floyd and countless others their lives. In closing, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and in the words of Daddy Bruce, I love you and you can’t do anything about it. –James “Dr. Daddio” Walker Sr.
Housing Discrimination is Against the Law Denver Metro Fair Housing Center (DMFHC) is the “only” fair housing agency in the State of Colorado. We were created by the National Fair Housing Alliance over eight (8) years ago and our mission is to advocate, educate and enforce fair housing laws. The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits discrimination in housing related transactions as a result of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or familial status. Many state and local laws also prohibit housing discrimination based on several additional protected classes. Most recently, the City of Denver as well as the City of Boulder added “source of income” and “immigrant status” to their list of protected classes. The Fair Housing Act applies to a wide variety of housing transactions: rentals, sales, home mortgages, appraisals and homeowners insurance. Landlords, real estate agents, lenders, insurance companies and condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations cannot discriminate against anyone based on that person’s membership in a protected class. The Fair Housing Act makes hous-
ing discrimination in the sale, financing, or rental of housing or housing related services unlawful if based upon one of the following: Race; Sexual Orientation; Creed/Religion; National Origin ; Gender; Familial Status; Ancestry; Disability; Color; Marital Status; Source of Income; and Immigrant Status.[Source of Income and Immigrant Status are protected class in Denver & Boulder] If you feel that you HAVE been discriminated against, and the discrimination has taken place LESS THAN 1 Year Ago, please send an email with a brief summary of the discrimination to info@dmfhc.org. If you are unable to use email, please call 720-279-4291 and leave a brief but detailed explanation of the discrimination issue. If you or your organization are interested in free Fair Housing training, please contact rrobinson@dmfhc.org directly. If you would like to report housing discrimination and/or file a complaint, please contact Denver Metro Fair Housing Center at (720) 279-4291 or fil-out the complaint form on our website (www. dmfhc.org).
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Council Says No to 25-Million-Dollar Contract
Councilwoman Candi Cedebaca
Before getting elected to Council in the summer of 2018 I remember getting a call from a friend about Mr. Stinett’s beating at Union Station. I was being asked by this friend what could be done, who was in charge of Union Station security, how we could demand justice. I was in disbelief about the details of the case from this third party telling me the story. I hadn’t seen the video yet. Nevertheless, I showed up on a hot summer day to a press conference where several others had been invited to amplify the incident and the call for justice. I stayed in touch with Mr. Stinnett and monitored his case from afar. I got elected a year later and the Stinnett case resurfaced through my colleague and friend on the RTD Board, Shontel Lewis - RTD Director for District B. She had revived a call for justice 3 years later in 2020 on this case by calling for RTD to divest from Allied. Allied was refusing to cooperate in the courts even asking for a gag order on the victim and
his attorney because the case was catching too much attention. Jeff Campbell brought Mr. Stinett’s story to life to compel action after 3 years of inaction. He built an army of abolitionists through his own art that were now themselves ready to stop Allied. Unfortunately, as tirelessly and boldly as Director Lewis fought, she was unable to change the minds of her colleagues who could not see the damage caused by this company. I also could not compel my colleagues to SEE Mr. Stinnett when the Mayor proposed Allied as the contractor for our emergency shelter earlier this year. My colleagues supported the emergency COVID contract and we lost a life in that shelter under their so-called “security services” that cost us 4mil. They popped up again for a $25mil contract and I went through it again. Trying to help my colleagues and our city team SEE the people these companies don’t see. My office requested a public hearing in committee and on the floor. The hearing was moved from last week to this week with no explanation as to why it wasn’t filed. Community rolled with the punches and signed up in droves ---one courtesy public hearing, two required public hearings and regular weekly public comment. Allied was last and public testimony didnt start until close to 11pm. Allied stacked testimony again with employees and subcontractors, even our own Housing Department. Council had already approved money on another Allied contract just a couple hours earlier. Community thought it had already been voted on and lost. But the same members who voted “no” on their earlier contract stayed firm and we added CM Kashmann to the “no” votes to deny this company another opportunity to hurt or neglect our residents. – Councilwoman Candi Cedebaca
Chef D Brings Culinary Skills to Five Points
Executive Chef D inside MBP, Five Points new upscale dinner restaurant
Daniel Young (Chef D), one of the nation’s top culinary artists, is now providing his extraordinary talent in Five Points. He is a Certified Executive Chef who has studied with Master Chefs and share his mouth watering craft all over the country. “Chef D has been in the Metro Area for a number of years and has been the Executive Chef for Flyfisher Group over the past seven years,” Haroun Cowans told 5 Star News. “He is an excellent chef and now curates the menus at Mimosas and MBP.” Cowans is Chief Real Estate Officer for Flyfisher Group and oversees their commercial investment, development, asset management, property management and commercial brokerage. The Fly Fisher Group has a
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complete portfolio that includes Five Points property as well as Mimosas and MBP restaurants. “Having two new eateries on Welton Street is huge,” says Cowans. When you have a variety of Blackowned eateries it gives the neighborhood more options that now include breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Mimosas (2752 Welton) is a balance of comfort and innovation, celebrating classic comfort fare with a twist. MBP (2844 Welton) is an upscale dinner restaurant conceived by Chef D. Its has began a soft launch with its Grand Opening coming soon. Chef D has received rave reviews for both menus. –5 Star News
Aurora City Council Passes Campaign Finance Reform
Aurora City Council passed a landmark campaign finance reform ordinance dramatically reducing the role of big money in local politics and empowering regular Aurorans to be more engaged in elections and the political process. The decisive 7-3 victory drew support from the full spectrum of the non-partisan City Council, uniting Unaffiliated, Republican, and Democratic members and serving as a testament to a collaborative process that reflects widespread support from the community. The ordinance repeals Aurora’s outdated and relatively unregulated campaign finance system and replaces it with a comprehensive system that focuses on equity and transparency, leveling the playing field and making municipal office accessible to all Aurorans. The ordinance was co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Johnston (Ward II) and City Council Member Juan Marcano (Ward IV), who worked with Aurora residents Dale Nichols and Susan Gilbert to write the original draft and engage community members throughout Aurora to refine the ordinance over the course of the past 12 months. Seven public meetings were held between October of 2019 and October of 2020 to get input from constituents throughout the city, and City Council Members offered vital input at every stage of the process to help shape the final ordinance. “I am very proud of the work we’ve put into this home-grown ordinance,” Marcano said after the new campaign finance law passed Monday night. “I believe it will be the gold standard for municipal elections in our state.” The ordinance achieves four primary goals: it sets campaign contribution limits where there had previously been none, heightens transparency and disclosure re-
quirements, provides stronger oversight and enforcement, and enhances accessibility for a diverse candidate pool by reducing the outsized influence of big money in campaigns. In addition to banning “artificial persons” from contributing to candidates, the ordinance sets new campaign contribution limits for candidates at $400 per donor per election cycle for ward council candidates, $1,000 per donor per cycle for citywide candidates (mayoral and at-large council candidates), and 10 times those respective limits for the newly established Small Donor Committees (SDCs) who only take contributions up to $50 and only from natural persons. “This is the most comprehensive campaign finance reform the city has ever had,” Johnston said Monday night. “It won’t solve all of our issues, but it will bring the much needed transparency and accountability the community deserves.” In addition to sponsors Johnston and Marcano, the ordinance received YES votes from Council Members Curtis Gardner (At-Large), Angela Lawson (AtLarge), Allison Hiltz (At-Large), Crystal Murillo (Ward I), and Alison Coombs (Ward V). With the new ordinance set to go into effect on January 1, 2021, Aurora becomes the third of Colorado’s five largest cities to pass cutting-edge campaign finance reform in the past three years, making Colorado a leader in campaign finance reform nationwide. Denver passed the Fair Elections Act in 2018 with a mandate of 71% of the voters, and Lakewood City Council unanimously passed similarly comprehensive reforms in 2019. Aurora’s reforms draw, in part, on the best practices from around the state and across the country. –Aurora Democracy For The People Coalition
‘Champion of Community Colleges’: How Jill Biden Will Impact Higher Education as First Lady
U.S. First Lady Elect Jill Biden
President-elect Joe Biden comes into office with a higher education agenda that would be a boon to the nation’s community colleges. And soon-to-be First Lady Jill Biden is expected to make sure those institutions aren’t overlooked. Enacting Joe Biden’s agenda will be costly and likely face an uphill battle in a divided Congress, but community college leaders say Jill Biden, a community college professor, will focus attention on two-year institutions regardless of any policy changes or monetary investments. They believe Biden, who will continue to teach English at Northern Virginia Community College, will be a persistent ally, advocate, and spokeswoman over the next four years for two-year colleges, which enroll nearly half of the nation’s undergraduate students and are typically more diverse and have an older average population than do four-year institutions. They also see her insight especially crucial as schools struggle with enrollment declines and budget woes during the pan-
demic. “She will be able to help people get a better understanding of who we educate and why, and the difference that makes in our economy,” said Joe Garcia, Colorado Community College System chancellor. “That is what I’m really excited about, almost regardless of how much money they can put into our colleges.” Community colleges have garnered bipartisan support over the years because of their affordability and role in educating students who face the most difficult economic circumstances. But some feel they can also be an afterthought for lawmakers whose experience in higher education typically revolves around four-year colleges. The president-elect has targeted higher education, including community colleges, in his policy platform. His agenda might also prove costly, potentially limiting what he can get done before Congress. Joe Biden’s policies include a $50 billion investment in workforce training, student debt relief, and more money to increase the size of Pell Grants, which are awarded to low-income undergraduate students. Biden’s community college goals include a plan to increase student retention and completion, and the resources available to schools and students. The American Association of Community Colleges has advocated some of those over the years, including a goal to make community college free for all Americans and to increase investment in job training, said David Baime, the organization’s senior vice president for government relations and policy analysis. Baime said he’d like to see Biden focus on funds directed to community col-
leges to help train workers who will fuel the economy. Community colleges played a crucial role in the recovery after the Great Recession. The coronavirus has hit the schools hard and has eaten into enrollment, prompting calls for more federal aid to help the schools weather the pandemic. Those who know Jill Biden said she will keep community college goals at the forefront of the president-elect’s mind during and after the pandemic. Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Senior Fellow Robert Templin, who also served as president of Northern Virginia Community College for 13 years, said the first lady will be a “champion of community colleges” and elevate them in higher education discussions. “But, I think, she’ll be more than that,” Templin said. “I think she will be a champion for public education, generally.” Templin oversaw the college during Biden’s time as second lady and said her main focus was always on students. In addition to teaching community college students, she has a solid understanding of policy. Her doctoral dissertation focused on maximizing student retention in community colleges. Templin said that she is a talented teacher who is completely dedicated to her students. On White House trips, she would take her English class papers with her to grade and once even taught class right up until she was to introduce President Barack Obama at the college. “She won’t let community colleges be forgotten or shoved to the periphery,” Templin said. On the campaign trail, she touted the importance of community colleges.
“There is nothing more important to our democracy or the future of our nation than giving our students the kind of educational opportunities that they deserve,” she said during an online Democratic rally. “And it’s clear: Community colleges change lives.” Achieving the Dream President and CEO Karen Stout added Biden as first lady will create an unprecedented moment for community colleges nationwide. Never has there been a first lady with such intimate knowledge of what the institutions can provide to students. The organization focuses on closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success at community colleges nationwide. Stout expects Biden to continue advocating for causes she’s championed for years, such as helping women succeed at community colleges. “She will be putting the student voice in the middle of policymaking not just for education, but for so many other things that touch our students, including transportation, health care, the pandemic,” Stout said. And at least for now, many hope the Biden administration and the first lady prompt states to also look at increasing investments in schools. In Colorado, higher education funding lags behind the rest of the country. “If we really want to grow our economy and increase college-going rates, we have to do it through our community colleges,” Garcia said. “And maybe we haven’t been paid enough attention to in the past. That’s what I really hope state legislators will see.” – Jason Gonzales www.co.chalkbeat.org
5 STAR News Photo Gallery Be Woke Vote in Five Points
DJ Virtual Vote at brother jeff’s Cultural Center
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Congratulations to President Elect Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris
Congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris on your historic victory today. You fought for the soul of America. Today marks a new dawn in our country and the beginning of our journey on the road to repair after four long years of repressive policies towards communities of color. The Congressional Black Caucus is proud of our very own, Sen. Kamala Harris who will be the first woman Vice President and the first Black and South Asian Vice-President. Vice President-Elect will be the second member of the Congressional Black Caucus to ascend to the White House after President Barack Obama. A graduate of Howard University, an HBCU, and a Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a Black sorority, VP-Elect Kamala Harris is a product of these longstanding institutions in our community. We are confident that her zeal for improving the upward mobility of marginalized groups in America will continue to be a
priority in this next phase. At a time when democratic backsliding is being experienced in different parts of the world, our ability to defend our democracy in the midst of unprecedented obstacles including voter suppression and COVID-19, is a win for democracy everywhere. Black America’s commitment to freedom and democracy runs so deep that even when we were denied the right to vote, we formed resistance movements to challenge discriminatory and racist laws. We marched, we stood in long lines, we beat the odds. We show up every election season because to us there is nothing more important than leading this nation to its highest ideals: liberty and justice for all. Today’s victory is a testament to this. The Congressional Black Caucus looks forward to working with this new Administration to increase the upward mobility of Black families in America. –The Congressional Black Caucus
“They say the night’s darkest just before dawn, and after four years of the most corrupt presidency in modern history, it’s morning in America again. Our country was given a very clear choice -- four more years of Trump’s corruption and vicious dismantling of our norms, or a return to honor and decency in the White House with Joe Biden. As Biden has said multiple times, he will be a president for all of America -- not just those who voted for him -- and I echo his words that it is time for all our country to come together and put the past four years of horrible division behind us. “We are all Americans, and under Joe Biden, we will build back better an America that has an economy that works for all, that listens to science, that protects our planet, and that puts working families first, not the ultra-wealthy. I offer my deepest congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and my deepest thanks to all the amazing Democratic candidates who bravely stepped forth to run for offices up and down the ticket.” –Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party
“The COVID-19 economic collapse has left the finances of many families in tatters, especially in Black and Brown communities, which have been hit the hardest by the crisis. The situation is dire, making quick enactment of long-overdue relief measures vitally important. To prevent mass foreclosures, evictions, bankruptcies, and other financial catastrophes, President Trump, President-elect Biden, and Congress must pass relief measures like those in the House-passed HEROES Act. “During the campaign, Presidentelect Biden pledged to address widespread economic inequity and systemic racism, which long predate COVID-19 but have been exacerbated by the crisis. It is imperative for the Biden Administration
to carry out this commitment. Tackling these problems, especially the widening and persistent racial wealth gap, requires policymakers – including presidential appointees – to advance bold financial reforms. Change is needed on many fronts, including increased homeownership opportunity, small business lending equity, student debt cancellation, reformed debt collection practices, and the elimination of predatory payday and installment lending. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress in support of a fair financial marketplace for all.” mobility of Black families in America.
“Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris! America made clear who we are as a nation. “In electing Joe Biden, a man whose compassion and kindness has defined his service, America made clear who we want to be. The son of Scranton is a man whose life has been defined by struggle, like so many of us. And our nation’s first woman Vice-President, a daughter of immigrants, embodies the hopes and aspirations of our nation. “We now have the opportunity to come together as a nation to tackle our collective challenges. Make no mistake, there are still tough times and hard work ahead, but I know Joe and Kamala will unite us and help us build back stronger. “The story of America has always been a story of struggle between competing ideas, traditions, and politics. But out of that competition and struggle we have
found a way to move forward. “I often think back to my time in the Army. The soldiers I served with looked like America. Different backgrounds, races, faiths, and politics. We drew strength from that diversity and found a way to come together to accomplish our mission, and come home together. That is what we must now do. “Tomorrow the sun will rise on America like it always does. But it will be different. It will be the dawn of a new day for our nation.” –Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
–Center for Responsible Lending President Mike Calhoun
“Congratulations to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris! This is a historic time for our democracy. We had patience and allowed the votes to be counted. As Americans, we trusted in the democratic process and the integrity of our electoral system...” –Council President Stacie Gilmore November 2020 8
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History Was Made and She Looks Like Me
5 STAR NEWS Journalist Shay J
Until The Flood Free Broadcast
Playwright Dael Orlandersmith
In partnership with ALL ARTS, the free broadcast and digital platform dedicated to the arts, DCPA Theatre Company, along with seven leading regional theatre companies, is proud to present the broadcast premiere of Until the Flood from acclaimed writer and performance artist Dael Orlandersmith. Based on extensive interviews following the 2014 shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson, this tour de force one-woman show, directed for the stage and television by Neel Keller, gives voice to a community haunted by injustice and a country yearning for change. Until the Flood premieres nationwide Sunday, November 15 beginning at 6pm MST and will be available for on demand viewing until the Fall of 2023.
Until the Flood will be streamed at denvercenter.org/until-the-flood, on the free ALL ARTS app and allarts. org. On August 9, 2014, Darren Wilson, a white police officer, shot and killed Michael Brown, an African American teenager, in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting ignited weeks of social unrest, propelled the activist movement known as Black Lives Matter and prompted a controversial investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Traveling to the region a few months after the shooting, Orlandersmith conducted interviews with dozens of people who were grievously shaken by the shooting and its turbulent aftermath. From these intimate conversations, she has created eight unforgettable characters who embody a community struggling to come to terms with the personal damage caused by these complex events. Experienced in performance, these voices offer haunting reminders of America’s continuing struggle with racism and justice. Written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, Until the Flood was directed for the stage and television by Neel Keller, with set design by Takeshi Kata, lighting design by Mary Louise Geiger, costume design by Kaye Voyce, sound design by Justin Ellington, and projection design by Nicholas Hussong. Originally commissioned by Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Until the Flood was filmed in 2018 during the New York engagement at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.
A tear fell down my eye as I realized we had just elected the first both Black and female vice-president of the United States of America. My soul could feel the victory and it had little to do with the party lines, policies or political position. This win was personal; it had everything to do with me seeing someone who looked like me take one of the highest positions in office. This win made my heart beat different, my dreams feel closer and my confidence leap higher. The voices of the naysayers faded to the back, and my spirit was lifted. I immediately remembered my ancestors’ pain and hoped they were watching our progress. I thought about the new world my nieces would grow to know and now the representation that could shape their thoughts on who they could be. 48 vice presidents and finally one was female and Black. As Kamala Harris took the stage in Wilmington, Delaware to address the world; she thanked us Black women, saying we are “too often overlooked, but so often prove that we are the backbone of our democracy.” “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the
last,” Harris said. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” Her words mirrored my thoughts. “You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. But you remember that when you are in those rooms, you are not alone. We are all in that room with you applauding you on. Cheering your voice. And just so proud of you. So you use that voice and be strong.” Black women I hope this win reminded you; just how magical you are, how worthy you are,. That there is an intelligent, loving, caring, dedicated, nurturing, sexy, sophisticated, eye popping, jaw dropping, mentally stimulating, emotionally igniting, physically arousing being who stands equal in every single way. I hope you began to write your legacy and pushed away your limited beliefs and false notion that the sky was your limit. Black men; as you watch us be praised but the world one day and unjustly killed the next, I’m optimistic that this woke up your inner protector. We need you; the Black woman needs your protection, defense, support and love. Now with all the feels; I say what will we do next? While the nation slowly acknowledges and accepts Vice-President elect Kamala Harris,the Black community is now faced with negotiating for a Black Agenda post-election. How will this administration be accountable? Despite the devoted Black democrats being largely responsible for the narrow victory, the community is split. Is there hope for a comprehensive Black Agenda that we can all get behind? What do the next 4 years have in store for Black people in America?As all the questions fell into my mind, I talk to my people because I know if I am wondering so are you. “Black people have always played a role in unlocking the promise of an America that has not yet been realized, and if there was ever a time to tap into that power - It’s NOW!” –Shay J
Herod Appointed to the Joint Budget Committee House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett announced the appointment of Representative Leslie Herod to serve on the powerful Joint Budget Committee (JBC). Herod will be the first Black woman to serve on the JBC since the Honorable Wilma Webb, who served on the committee from 1983-1986. “Rep. Herod has been a leader since the first day she stepped into the Capitol. She will put her policy making skills to work helping the people of Colorado,” said Speaker-designate Alec Garnett. He continues, “Herod is one of the strongest voices for working families in the state, and I’m glad she will apply those skills to making sure Colorado’s economy works for everyone.” The JBC is charged with studying the management, operations, programs, and fiscal needs of the agencies and institutions of Colorado state government in order to prepare the budget for the General Assembly. “Thank you to Speaker-designate Garnett for this appointment,” said Rep. Leslie Herod. She continues, “At a time when Covid has impacted communities across Colorado and our state faces budgetary challenges for months, and even years, to come, the need to ensure that no community is left behind.” Rep. Herod continues: “Covid-19 has had greater effects on
African Americans and communities of colors more than any others. From greater contraction rates, more severe symptoms, less access to health coverage, higher numbers of small businesses closing, and barriers to stimulus and recovery funding, we have felt the brunt of this pandemic. During these difficult times, I am joining the Joint Budget Committee to ensure that all communities in Colorado recover and are stronger than they were before, especially communities disproportionately impacted by this pandemic. It has long been said that the state budget is a moral document. The state budget reflects our values, and after the unrest we’ve seen in Colorado and across the country, it’s important that we don’t just say Black Lives Matter, but that we additionally engrain that value into our state’s budget. As the next JBC member, I am committed to making the lives of each Coloradan better. We will get through this together.” Additionally Rep. Herod plans to focus her work on small business recovery and prison population management, while also continuing her work on criminal justice reform. –Representative Leslie Herod Communications Department
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