SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
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SSUE 48 46 ISSUE
UESDAY OVEMBER24, 9, 2021 TT UESDAY , ,NNOVEMBER 2020
New willtax prohibit indoor dining, gatherings Colo.COVID-19 measurerestrictions to raise pot for education failspersonalVoters Proposition 119 split high-profile Democrats BY DANIEL DUCASSI THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado voters rejected a proposal to increase taxes on recreational marijuana to pay for out-of-school support services for students like tutoring and therapy. Supporters of Proposition 119 admitted defeat at about 8:30 p.m. election night, Nov. 2. With nearly 1.4 million balMarijuana at a Denver grow facility. PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY/DENVERITE lots counted as of late Nov. 3, the regain ground they lost during the measure was failing with 54.4% backs of cannabis consumers; we pandemic. rejecting the initiative and 46% in need long-term solutions that adThe measure enjoyed bipartisan support, about a 120,000-vote deficit. dress structural deficiencies.” support, including from high-proSupporters of the measure were The mood at the Maven Hotel in file Colorado Democrats like Gov. disappointed. downtown Denver, where about Jared Polis, former Gov. Bill Ritter, “The significant gap in achieve50 supporters for Proposition 119 former Denver Mayor Wellington ment between students from held the official Yes on 119 watch Webb, former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall wealthy families and their lowparty, was hopeful around 7 p.m. and state Sen. Rhonda Fields. income peers has been an unforon election night as attendees Republican former Gov. Bill Owens tunate educational outcome in sipped drinks and nibbled on hors was a supporter, as was GOP state Colorado for years — and tonight’s d’oeuvres while watching early reSen. Bob Gardner, of Colorado sults trickle in. But the mood began results mean it will likely continue Springs. to get worse before it gets better,” to fade after 8 p.m. as the measure “The hours our children spend Curtis Hubbard, a spokesman for looked increasingly unlikely to after school are a critical time, and the Yes on Prop. 119 committee, succeed. Few supporters remained Proposition 119 will allow more said in a statement. “Access to afby 8:30 p.m. fordable, quality after-school educa- kids to benefit from after-school Judy Solano, a Democratic learning activities — from tutoring tion services is not a possibility for former state representative and many families living in Colorado — to music and art,” Polis said in a retired school teacher who helped statement. and we will work with anyone who lead the opposition, said she was But the measure also faced bipar“thrilled that the voters were smart has a better idea on how to tackle tisan opposition. State Sen. Julie the problem.” enough to realize that creating a Gonzales, a Denver Democrat, and Josh Penry, a Republican former huge new bureaucracy to take care Senate Minority Leader Chris Holstate senator and consultant to the of one issue in education… would bert, a Douglas County Republican, have been a very expensive and un- Yes on Prop. 119 campaign, attribco-wrote an opinion in The uted the loss to opposition on both necessary thing to do.” By Ellis piece Arnold Gazette opposing the measure. sides of the aisle, with Democrats “saw through” A She longthinks line ofvoters cars outside the city of Brighton’s rapid testing site at Colorado Also against theCommunity measureMedia was and Republicans both finding elesupporters’ arguments and deRiverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent Colorado Attorney General Phil ments of the measure to dislike. cided “we have to properly fund weeks due to highwe demand. Adams County’s test positivity rate As Denver metro counties continue Weiser, a Democrat who said the to “Base14-day Democrats rallied against our schools before do anything measure “diverts marijuana inch closer to localnew stay-at-home orders thetoschool choiceHealth elements, base else.” was 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, according Tri-County Department. revenue from system appropriate uses, Republicans objected tohigher the taxthan tax Members of Commerce Colorado’s cannabis under Colorado’s of coronavirusBrighton and City’s test positivity rates were both limited state funds from our increase, and in an electorate domi- shifts industry were also celebrating. related restrictions, the state announced 13“Despite percent.being Forty-five people in Brighton andby 29voters in Commerce have public K-12 schools and it lacks ronated over the City age 60, significantly a new level of rules prohibits indoor died frombyCOVID-19 related health issues. Tojust limitweren’t the spread of COVID-19, bust oversight and that accountability.” there enough parents outspent proponents, Colorado dining and personal gatherings Some public education advo-— a and votersthat in the middle to get usand to voters soundly moved rejectedtousing at leaststill 15 counties tighter restrictions prohibits indoor cates sawthat it as a slippery slope toofa the change applies to the majority 50% plus 1,” Penry said. cannabis as a piggy bank for out-ofpersonal gatherings. voucher system and a threat to pub-in Supporters of Proposition 119 state special interest projects,” said Denver metro area and many counties licother education in the state. Any new had said the program would give Peter Marcus, spokesman for Boulregions. tax revenue for education, they kids from lower income families der-based cannabis company TerThe state’s dial,existing which has shouldCOVID-19 go into the a chance toPhoto access tutoring andWard argued, rapin Care Station, which worked by Belen been in effect since September, is the set system rather than a whole new enrichment programs, helping with opponents of the measure on of different levels of restrictions that each those kids catch up academically to its defeat. “We can’t balance the more privileged peers and start to state budget and education on the SEE POT TAX, P3
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return one incumbent to council STAFF REPORT
One Commerce City councilor, Oscar Madera, apparently will return to his seat on the council, according to the Adams County Clerk and Recorder’s website Nov. 3. Madera had 46 percent of the vote (576 votes total) to easily outdistance both his challengers. Lucy Molina had 30 percent (368 votes), and Gene Lefel had 23 percent (284 votes) in the Ward 1 contest. Madera Voters favored Kristi Douglas and former Mayor Sean Ford in an eight-way race for two at-large posts on council. Douglas had 15 percent of the vote (2,044 total votes). Ford had 2,015 votes, which amounted to 15 percent of the vote as well. Richard Thompson was close behind with 1,995 votes, or 14.4 percent. In Ward 3, Rick Davis pulled away from a tight race early in the returns was holding a three countyand is required to followonto based on the percentage point lead severity of a county’s localover virusCassie spread. Ratliff. He had 873 votes (36 percent) Theher dial799 grew out of state’s safer-atto votes (34the percent). Renee home order — the had policy that cameor after Millard Chacon 700 votes, 30 the statewide stay-at-home order this percent of what was cast.
spring and allowed numerous types of
Public facilities businesses to reopen. Voters resoundingly said no to The state recently switched to color a pair of Northern Infrastructure identifiers — levels blue, yellow andquesGeneral Improvement District orangeon rather than numbered tions the Nov. 2 ballot. levels — to Theconfusion. margins Until of defeat bothred avoid Nov. for 17, level questions were greater than meant a stay-at-home order. Now,3-to-2. level Question 6A was a $10 million red — “severe risk” — is the secondproperty tax for public facilities (including public safety, road work,
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