King Soopers strike ends with vow to work on deal
BY TAMARA CHUANG
THE COLORADO SUN
More than 10,000 supermarket workers involved in a two-week labor walkout will return to their jobs at King Soopers stores Feb. 18 after the labor union and the Colorado grocery chain reached an agreement late Monday to stop picketing and get back to work.
ere’s no new contract yet, but the two sides plan to resume negotiations to work out their di erences. ey agreed to a “100-day period of labor peace, ensuring negotiations continue in good faith and without further disruptions,” according to King Soopers o cials.
e strike ended at midnight, two days earlier than the planned twoweek walkout.
“We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that sta ng is a key concern to workers and customers alike,” said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, in an emailed statement. “ is strike was about thousands of everyday grocery store workers, collectively standing together and facing one of the largest corporations in America and saying ENOUGH. Our strike was just the beginning of this e ort and elevated sta ng in grocery stores to a national level with more workers and allies joining together.”
Joe Kelley, president of Krogerowned King Soopers, called workers “the heart of King Soopers” and said the goal is to reach a “fair agreement that honors their hard work while ensuring we continue to provide fresh, a ordable groceries for the families who rely on us.”
Local 7 represented the 77 Denverarea stores that went on a planned two-week strike starting Feb. 6, just before Super Bowl weekend. Two stores in Pueblo joined a day later. Negotiations had stalled after Jan. 16, more than a week after many Denver contracts expired. More stores were expected to join as their contracts expired Feb. 15. But the Colorado Springs stores, which had voted last month to authorize a strike, never participated.
Amid ICE raids occurring in nearby communities and negative narratives against immigrants, Adams City High School students organized a cultural event on Feb. 14 to remind their peers of the support among each other and their community.
A week before on Feb. 5, immigration raids took place at Cedar Run Apartments in Denver and at another apart-
walked out to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
“We’re here to support you. You have built your seat at the table,” said Aliyah Acevedo to her peers inside the school’s gymnasium. Acevedo was one of the students that organized the cultural event at Adams City High School. “Your parents coming alone was such a sacri ce that they built this
and we want you guys to remember that.”
As students walked in, they were greeted by other students holding up handmade posters that featured a hot line number to report ICE activity as well as a number and email to le a complaint on ICE. Behind them was a stand that sold cookies, with proceeds from sales going to the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. CIRC has been working
with Adams 14 to inform sta , students and families of their rights when interacting with an immigration o cer. e event began with students addressing the recent ICE raids and reminding them that they have rights and that when interacting with an ICE o cial, to ask for warrants. ey also emphasized the importance of checking to see that warrants had been signed by a judge.
Adams City High School students, Alejandra (left) and Cynthia (right), hold up a handmade poster with information to report ICE activity or to file a complaint at the school in Commerce City. JACKIE RAMIREZ
Brighton opens new Municipal Service Center
New facility will make an impact, city o cials claim
BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A new public works facility north of Brighton’s downtown will give sta modern facilities to work in, dedicated space to work across departments and could help cut down costs during in ationary times, City Manager Michael Martinez said Feb. 18.
“As you all know, we have rapid in ation challenges so ensuring costs remain manageable while driving a high quality facility was paramount,” Martinez told a crowd of sta and residents at the ribbon cutting for the new Michael Woodru Municipal Service Center. “Our sta worked closely with our partners to create a space that is not only functional and e cient, but is built to meet our needs today and in the future.”
e City broke ground on the center at 503 Madison St. in June 2023. e facility is named after former Public Works Director Michael Woodru , who led design work on the project early on. Woodru retired from the City of Brighton in 2023 after a long career in local government. He passed away in October 2023, following a battle with cancer, but was able to witness the groundbreaking of the center.
His widow Jennifer Woodru and granddaughter Gentry O’Keefe helped cut the ribbon to o cially open the facility. e team from FCI Constructors, the city’s contractors on the project, also presented the family with an American ag that was put up over the project while it was under construction.
“ is wasn’t just an 18-month-old project. We’ve been discussing the need for it for 15, 20 years,” Martinez said. Councilors approved the $26.1 million contract with FCI Constructors to build the new home for most public works functions. e facility comprises two
BRIEFS
Concert for a Cause at Brighton Armory
e Richard Lambert Foundation will host Denver-based bands Mz. Vendetta and Buck. at 6 p.m. March 1 at the Brighton Armory , 300 Strong St. in Brighton. Tickets are $25 and sponsorships are available online at FlutterbyGives.org.
Brighton o cially opened its new 67,668-square foot Municipal Service Center just north of Brightons’s downtown, near the Tractor Supply store.
buildings totaling 67,668-square-foot of space on 15.5 acres the city owns Northwest of Main and Denver streets, surrounding the Tractor Supply store. e two buildings are surrounded with parking for city plow trucks and other heavy equipment. e buildings contain several bays big enough to do maintenance on most of the city’s eet, separated by departmental o ce space.
needs.”
It provides new accommodations for sta from several departments, including eet, parks and open space, public works and utilities — which were operating out of separate, aging facilities. It also houses a substation for the Brighton Police Department, which provides o cers workspace on the north side of the City.
“Today, we are able to provide our employees with modern amenities, functional work spaces and a facility that expresses the value and dedication that our city has for our employees,” Martinez said. “Many of the buildings our employees worked in were sometimes older than 40-years-old and quite frankly no longer adequate for today’s
e Richard Lambert Foundation runs Brighton’s Family Grief & Healing Center, providing grief support groups and professional counseling with the goal of inspiring hope, facilitating healing and guiding the bereaved in rebuilding a meaningful life intertwined with their grief.
Martinez noted Brighton had about 12,000 residents when some of those buildings rst came into use 40 years ago.
“Fast forward to today and we are right around 50,000 residents, so you can imagine how we’ve grown,” Martinez said. “ But as we’ve grown, our facilities have not grown, so I’m honored to be in front of you in a facility that actually meets the needs of our residents.”
Brighton’s Fleet Department Manager Patrick Rome took over leadership on the project after Woodru retired and he took the ceremony as a chance to thank everyone involved, from City nance, legal, IT, Utilities and Engineering departments to the architects, contractors and
sub-contractors.
“All these little players were part of this whole, big organization of movement,” Rome said. “My task was the keep things moving forward and, through all my allies here internally, I was able to do that. It was monumental.”
Martinez credited Rome, saying he was amazing to watch and noted the project came in under budget.
“ e total cost of this building was right around $32 million, for the whole facility,” Martinez said. “So, a big shout out to everybody who was involved because our taxpayers rely on you to make everything we do responsibly. And this is the epitome of that. We are under budget and we delivered a wonderful facility for our e orts.”
Mz. Vendetta is powerhouse band with four incredibly talented female musicians. Established in late 2022, the band blends the classic rock vibes of the 70s, 80s, and 90s with their own music.
ey’ll be joined by Buck, a Denverbased band that’s bringing a fresh twist to the classic sounds of blues, funk, and rock. With their original compositions, Buck delivers a sound that’s both familiar and innovative.
Sponsorships start at $200, which includes a table, four admissions and
drink tickets. A $500 Gold sponsorship gets two tables with eight admissions and drink tickets and access to a VIP area. A $1,000 Platinum sponsorship gets three tables, 12 admission and tickets, VIP access and early admission for a pizza bu et.
Reunion developer o ers survey
Oakwood Homes, the master developer of Reunion, has launched a community engagement and visioning process titled “What’s Next, Reunion?” to nd out what the community wants for the
future of Reunion.
ose who live, work or play in Reunion are encouraged to visit whatsnextreunion.com online to complete the community survey. Oakwood Homes will gather input and create actionable plans for Reunion that re ect the shared goals of residents, local partners and Commerce City. e survey is the rst step in a long-term plan to provide additional programming and cultural activities to improve quality of life for Reunion residents.
e survey will close Friday, March 7.
Brighton City Manager Michael Martinez greets the crowd gathered to help open Brighton’s new Municipal Service Center on Feb. 18. PHOTOS BY SCOTT TAYLOR
As Cities Deal With Homelessness & Affordability, Look for a Greater Focus on Manufactured Homes
Two weeks ago, this column was about Colorado’s new law requiring jurisdictions to facilitate the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on parcels zoned single-family.
houses in a factory seemed impractical. However, with our patented shipping technology, merging housing with assembly line mass production could be a game changer.”
portant factor is solving our housing shortage.
Toward the end of that column I promoted two companies, Verdant Living and Boxabl, which sell ADUs which are factorybuilt and assembled onsite.
This week’s topic was inspired by the following statement contained in an email last week from Boxabl: “Did you know that car factories, like Ford, can output one car per minute? Why hasn’t anyone done that in the housing industry?
“It’s shocking to hear that homelessness in the U.S. reached an all-time high last year. At Boxabl, we’re committed to making a difference. We’re working hard to solve the problems that have stopped factory-built housing from gaining market share.
“Before Boxabl, the concept of building
In earlier columns I have written about modular and manufactured homes by other companies, including my Oct. 12, 2023, column featuring Dvele (Norwegian for “dwell”) whose website (www.Dvele.com) boasts that it has already delivered nearly 300 “modules” of “precision engineered sustainable homes.”
Dvele defines the problem thus: “We’re facing multiple crises in housing, availability and affordability, energy, security, health issues, and a changing weather system. With Dvele, we sit at the intersection with our mass produced, high performance, health centric homes. And they’re improving the future for everyone.”
Dvele claims that by manufacturing homes in a factory and assembling them onsite, they reduce construction time by 80% — an im-
On May 18, 2023, I wrote about another company, Liv-Connected, which specializes in small homes that are “ready to ship and install within 12 weeks. These are small homes, although they offer versions up to 2,500 square feet, including a 2-story model. Homes can be delivered on standard flat-bed trailers and can be installed onsite in as little as a day, once site preparation (foundation, etc.) is complete. Like Boxabl, they also sell a model that is on wheels built to RV standards. Their website is www.Liv-Connected.com
With prices as low as $165,000 for a 500square-foot home, Liv-Connected’s singlefamily Conexus model (pictured at left) has been selected by Hawaii and Texas for disaster response initiatives, according to the website.
I look forward to hearing more about manufactured housing in the future, especially as it relates to homelessness.
U.S. Farmers Are Turning Less Soil
Modern, mechanized tillage had become an ecological disaster, killing all that was alive in the soil while worsening erosion and runoff. But this is all changing, primarily because farmers recognize the economic benefits — less fertilizer and diesel fuel to buy, lower labor costs, higher crop yields and profits — that can come with no-till farming or reduced tillage…
The shift has been gradual, but sweeping over time. In 1973, 82.2 percent of U.S. cropland was managed by conventional tillage, according to the Agriculture Department, and only 2 percent was managed by “no-till” methods, with the remaining 15.8 percent using reduced tillage. Half a century later, only 27 percent of U.S. cropland uses conventional tillage, with 38 percent now using no-till and 35 percent using reduced tillage, according to the USDA’s 2022 agricultural census, released last year. The acreage under conventional tillage dropped by 8 percent between 2017 and 2022 alone.
—Dana
Millbank, Washington Post
Buyers Need and Deserve Professional Representation, But Here’s Why They Shouldn’t Have to Pay for It
It should be clear by now that “not much has changed” regarding sellers compensating the buyer’s broker in most real estate transactions. What has changed is that buyer agents must use other means than the MLS (e.g., calling the listing agent) to find out what compensation is offered for each listing.
First, let me outline the important services that are required in any transaction. Let’s start with all transactions, whether or not the buyer is taking out a mortgage loan.
Although the purchase contract can move some of these expenses to the seller’s side, that is rare, because it will make the purchase offer less attractive, with the buyer losing out:
For All Home Purchases:
Recording the deed with the county
Tax certificate
State document fee
Half of the closing services fee
Appraisal (if ordered)
HOA fees (if applicable, per contract)
Water & sewer adjustments
Additional Costs with a Mortgage:
Mortgage title policy & endorsements
Mortgage closing fee
Recording the deed of trust with county
Tax service (if charged by lender)
First year’s insurance premium
2 to 3 months’ insurance reserve (escrow)
1 to 2 months’ property tax reserve
Loan origination and discount fee
Survey (if required by lender)
Credit report
Interest on loan (based on closing date)
Mortgage insurance (if over 80% LTV)
Flood certificate & insurance if required
How much do these closing costs add up to for the buyer? In the cash scenario, they are not that much, and just over 20% of closings
are for cash nowadays. For closings that involve mortgage financing, however, those costs can really add up. My buyer who closed on a $630,000 purchase two months ago paid $7,144 in closing costs, which computes to 11.3%. If she had to pay my commission that would have been 14.1% The seller’s closing costs on the same transaction came to $2,834, which computes to 4.5% of the purchase price. Paying my commission raised the seller’s cost to 7.3%, still far lower than the 11.3% paid by the buyer without paying me anything for my services representing her.
From a purely cash standpoint, it should be remembered that the seller is the only one walking away with cash from the transaction. In the above case, not counting the deduction for property taxes and mortgage payoff, the seller netted $591,444.74, or about 94% of the purchase price, even after paying both agents’ compensation.
Buyers’ agents perform a variety of important services, which someone has to pay for, but the seller is the only party coming away with money, and the buyer is already stretched by those other expenses detailed at left.
The services provided by a buyer’s agent are important and significant, but the plaintiffs in the class action suit a year ago asserted that compensating the buyer’s agent should be added to the buyer’s other significant closing costs. The 2024 survey of buyers and sellers by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) asked what services buyers most appreciated from their agents:
Helped them understand the process (61%)
Pointed out unnoticed features/faults with the property (58%)
Negotiated better contract terms (46%)
Provided a list of good service providers, such as inspectors (46%)
Improved buyers’ knowledge of search areas (45%)
Negotiated a better purchase price (33%)
Shortened their home search (23%)
Expanded their search area (21%)
I contend that it is appropriate that sellers compensate the buyer’s agent, and that this is common in other industries besides real estate. Look at Amazon. When you purchase a product through that website, Amazon is your agent for the vendor, which pays Amazon 8% to 45% as a “referral fee.” When you purchase something through an app on your
iPhone, you pay the same price as on the vendor’s website, but Apple keeps 30% of the purchase price as a commission. If Amazon or an app were to charge you a fee on top of the list price… well, it simply wouldn’t work. If you hire an auto broker (as I did in 2012 for a hard-to-find car), the dealership, not you, pays the auto broker a commission. Likewise, virtually every new home builder offers a 3 percent commission, typically, to the agents who represent buyers. To offer less puts them at a competitive disadvantage. Why should it be different in the resale market?
Golden Real Estate lists and sells residential properties across the entire metro area.
SUPPORT
“ is is a safe space to remind you all that we have rights,” Acevedo said.
Students also encouraged their peers to update their emergency contact information and emergency plans in the event that they themselves or their family members face deportation.
After the introduction, Acevedo intro-
duced Grupo Inicial, a band formed by Adams City High School students, to perform a couple of songs for the event. Students were invited to the oor to dance with each other or to simply jam out to the corridos played by the band.
Commerce City mayor Steve Douglas, City Council member Kristi Douglas and the Adams 14 Board of Education were present at the cultural event to show support for students.
“We are in hard times as we all know, with this new administration that has
come in and has a hard e ect on our community and Commerce City,” Steve Douglas said. “As the mayor, I am here for the community and to advocate to make sure everyone is safe.”
Board of Education President Reneé Lovato and board Vice President Janet Estrada both read a poem titled “Why do they hate us so much?” in English and Spanish. “ ey have tried for 500 years to erase our history, our languages, our culture, our identities,” Lovato recited in English. “Our survival, our resilience, and our presence
is, and always will be the revolution.”
Board of Education Director Lucy Molina reminded students that their community cares for them and that right now, more than ever, is the time to stick together.
“Don’t let this separate us,” Molina said to the students. “No matter who we are, Black, Latino, Asian, somos uno (we are one), we are all united.”
Kristi Douglas also voiced her support for the students and their families.
“ is is your city, this is your home and this is where you belong,” she said.
From left to right: Steve Douglas, Lucy Molina, Janet Estrada and Reneé Lovato during the cultural event on Feb. 14, 2025 at Adams City High School.
Grupo Inicial, a band made up of Adams City High School students, performs as their peers dance at a student-run cultural event on Feb. 14, 2025 in Commerce City.
PHOTOS BY JACKIE RAMIREZ
Commerce City
Fear doesn’t protect us; information does
Latinos Plus founder Jessica Acosta on finding resources
BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COTLN.ORG
Just one month into a new White House administration, immigration policies and uncertainty continue to shape the lives of thousands of families in Colorado. In response to this reality, the nonpro t group Latinos Plus organized the Prepárate y Empodérate event, a critical initiative aimed at informing and protecting the community amid potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and other policies a ecting immigrants.
e group provided a secure environment for immigrants by sharing location details only after registration, which underscored the current climate of fear and caution. e event brought together attorneys, consular representatives and legal experts who provided concrete strategies to help immigrants protect themselves and their families.
One of the most signi cant announcements was Alterna, a nancial platform that allows immigrants to open bank accounts without traditional identi cation, ensuring secure access to economic resources.
e community is mobilizing, but the question remains: What comes next? As uncertainty grows, access to reliable information and protective resources has never been more urgent.
Jessica Acosta, CEO and founder of Latinos Plus, works to connect Latino immigrants with critical resources, legal guidance and nancial tools to help them navigate an increasingly uncertain landscape.
Acosta shares insights on the recent event, the urgent challenges facing immigrants today and the innovative solutions, such as Alterna, helping families gain nancial security despite systemic barriers. is interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Colorado Community Media: First, can you share the meaning behind your organization’s name, Latinos Plus?
Jessica Acosta: e meaning behind our name, Latinos Plus, or Latinos Más, is deeply symbolic. e “plus” sign isn’t just a symbol; it represents addition and multiplication. Our Latino community always adds and multiplies; we never divide or subtract. On the contrary, we unite, build and grow together. is is central to our mission. Latinos Plus was founded clearly to serve Latino migrant communities, particularly those with less support.
Although our mission wasn’t originally focused on immigration, we couldn’t say no when our community called on us for help in this critical area. We saw the need, felt the urgency and knew that together, we could nd solutions. at’s why we decided to expand our mission and organize this event, to share these essential resources with our community.
CCM: We know that attorneys and consular representatives also participated. What were the key points they shared to support migrant families?
Acosta: Let me walk you through what we had as part of the event. We were honored to have Councilwoman Flor Alvidres who spoke about the resources the City of Denver is currently o ering to the immigrant community. She also shared details about existing support programs available at the city level. We also heard from immigration attorney María Monclova, who has extensive experience working with families. She focused on what to do if ICE shows up at your home or workplace. She also provided updates on DACA and explained how to recognize whether a search
warrant is valid or not, something many people in our community may not be aware of.
en we had attorney Refugio Pérez, a specialist in wills and estate planning. He focused on the importance of family planning and how to prepare in case of deportation. He covered the power of attorney documents, how to secure your assets, who will make decisions for you and how to ensure continued access to your children, property and bank accounts if you are forced to leave the country.
Finally, we had representatives from Latin American consulates based in Denver, including Pavel Menéndez Cruz, Consul General of Mexico, Moramay Godoy, Consul General of Guatemala, Jonatahans Ortiz Estrada, Consul of El Salvador and Tamara Toro Rivera, Consul of Honduras.
ey spoke about the services their consulates provide and how they can assist immigrants in critical situations, such as detention or deportation. is was an essential part of the discussion, as many people do not know the full extent of their consular protections.
To close the event, Virginia Maldueño, the CEO of Alterna Sin Fronteras, joined us from California to introduce a secure nancial solution for immigrants.
CCM: In this regard, access to bank accounts without traditional identi cation is a key issue. Can you explain how the Alterna platform works, what it is based on, and what impact you believe it will have on the community as this crisis continues?
Acosta: Absolutely. Let me explain how I rst came across Alterna. In conversations with organizations that have hosted similar events, as well as with community members, I kept asking: What else is needed right now?
One of the recurring issues was how to protect one’s money, given the uncertainty people face. So, I started researching solutions, and through some contacts, I discovered Alterna. At rst, I thought something like this didn’t exist, but I was relieved to nd that it does.
Alterna was created in California, and it o ers a digital bank account and a prepaid Mastercard, a combination that brings multiple bene ts. It allows people to send money to Latin America, receive direct deposits from employers, make online purchases and pay bills from home.
Most importantly, it was speci cally designed for our immigrant community, meaning: no credit check is required, no Social Security number is needed and no ITIN number is necessary. is ensures con dentiality and nancial security.
Another key advantage is the ability to send remittances and manage everything from your phone, safely and conveniently.
Historically, our community has su erednancial abuse when cashing checks at money exchange houses, where high fees are common. Many immigrants have also been victims of theft when carrying large amounts of cash. is platform o ers a safer and more a ordable alternative.
Opening an account is simple. You only need a photo ID from your country of origin and proof of address. at’s it!
One of the most important aspects of this platform is that you can continue to access your money even if you leave the country, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Many people may already have other bank accounts, but what happens if they are deported or unable to return? ey lose access to their funds.
Let me share another reason I trust this platform: José Hernández, the astronaut, is Alterna’s spokesperson. His endorsement reassured me that this is a credible and reliable solution for immigrants. at’s why we decided to partner with Alterna and bring this resource to Colorado. eir team even traveled from California to attend our event and share details about how the platform works.
We are also launching a campaign to help people open their accounts, and the rst users to sign up through Latinos Plus will be entered into a $500 ra e.
To sign up, people can visit our Facebook page (Latinos Plus) and scan the QR code. Go to LatinosPlus.org and Download the app “Alterna Sin Fronteras” from the App Store or Google Play. To enter the $500 ra e, users must enter the code NFPDY when signing up.
CCM: What message would you like to leave with our readers today?
Acosta: I want to thank our community for trusting us to bring them this information. is is just the beginning for our organization. We will continue ghting for a stronger, better-informed and safer community. We are already working on new initiatives and collaborating with community leaders to identify what more can be done and how we can provide more signi cant support.
I encourage everyone to follow us on social media — Facebook and Instagram — at Latinos Plus or LatinosPlus.org.
We also have a WhatsApp group where we share real-time updates and resources. You can nd the link to join on our Facebook page. Staying informed is key, and we are here to help.
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From left to right: immigration attorney María Monclova; wills and estate attorney Refugio Pérez; Tamara Toro Rivera, consul of Honduras; Denver City Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez; Pavel Menéndez, consul of Mexico; Moramay Godoy, consul of Guatemala; and Jonatahans Ortíz Estrada, consul of El Salvador.
COURTESY JESSICA ACOSTA
ACLU hosts Westminster rally against ‘overreach’
Rally targets federal funding policies, DOGE
BY VICTORIA CALTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
As President’s Day rallies across the country called out President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging executive orders, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado met at Westminster’s College Hill Public Library on Feb. 17 to urge residents to speak up.
“Really what we are seeing, here, is local people-power,” said Ellen Flenniken, deputy director of policy, government a airs and advocacy at the ACLU. “As our communities are under attack, as our neighbors are under attack…we do have the power to protect our communities from what we’ve been seeing, these abuses of power from the federal government.”
e ACLU hosted the Presidents Day People Power Action event on Feb. 17 to encourage Westminster residents to take action against house bill 32, which targets sanctuary jurisdictions who nancially support illegal immigration, and the Department of Government E ciency’s (DOGE) attempts to access citizen’s private data and tax information.
e ACLU rallied support against H.R. 32., labelling the house bill the “Defund Our Communities Act”. Supporters call it the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.”
e H.R. 32 bill seeks to end all federal funding provided to sanctuary jurisdictions for food, shelter, healthcare services,
legal services, and transportation for “illegal” immigrants. e bill de nes sanctuary jurisdictions as any state that refuses to provide any information on citizenship as well as lawful or unlawful immigration status to the federal government. House bill 32 targets sanctuary jurisdictions that do not comply with the Department of Homeland Security’s request to detain an individual or notify the DHS of an individual’s release from custody.
ACLU members encouraged Westminster residents to call their representatives, including Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, urging them to vote no on H.R. 32.
“Rep. Gabe Evans won with a very narrow margin, and it’s important that he hears from his constituents and his community and he feels the pressure,” Flenniken said.
DOGE concerns
ACLU members also shared concerns about DOGE’s growing access to personal data and information from federal organizations; such as the IRS, the federal Integrated Data Retrieval System and the Department of Treasury. ey urged residents to demand Congress protect citizens’ private data.
“Our data is protected by laws that can limit who can access our data and how they can access it,” said Julian Camera, lead organizer at the ACLU of Colorado. “DOGE is forcing its way into the government’s most protected systems without considering the long standing privacy safeguards mandated by Congress.”
Phyllis Dessie Berger, passed away peacefully of natural causes on February 5, 2025, at the age of 95 at home in Brighton, Colorado. Born on August 5, 1929, in Wel eet, Nebraska, Phyllis was a woman whose life was marked by her enduring creativity and her zest for life. She was a loving mother and grandmother and cherished time with her family.
projects she created. Sewing and crafting were not just hobbies for her; they were a way to express her creative soul and to spread warmth and joy to those around her. Dancing was another of Phyllis’s passions, a love that gave her many happy hours in her youth and middle years.
After graduating from high school with a teaching certi cate, Phyllis embarked on a diverse career path. She was not only a small business owner but also held various jobs throughout her lifetime, each re ecting her versatility and her willingness to embrace new challenges.
Phyllis’s interests were as colorful and varied as the
ose who knew Phyllis would describe her as loving and generous. She had an open heart and an open door, always ready to welcome friends with a warm embrace and a kind word. Phyllis’s legacy is one of love and laughter. Her journey on earth may have come to a gentle close, but the impressions she left on the hearts of her siblings, friends, children and grandchildren will continue to resonate.
Tonya Dillon, an organizer for a Colorado Red, Wine & Blue chapter, was surprised by the Trump administration’s ability to elevate Elon Musk and DOGE employees to bureaucratic positions within the federal government.
President Donald Trump rebranded the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service through an executive order on Jan. 20. e Trump administration later claried Musk is not a federal employee, but a “special government employee,” which does not require Congress’ approval to
work for DOGE, according to CBS News. All executive nominations must be approved by the U.S. Senate, including cabinet nominations, ACLU members said. e creation of a new bureaucratic o ce under the Trump administration and the addition of DOGE employees in other federal departments without Senate approval has brought many lawsuits against DOGE and the Trump administration.
“ e Constitution needs to be defended…and the rights of its citizens need to be defended,” Dillon said.
Phyllis D. Berger August 05, 1929 - February 05, 2025
Residents talk after a ACLU rally at Westminster’s College Hill LIbrary on Presidents Day. The rally urged residents to voice displeasure with pending legislation targeting Sanctuary Cities and releasing personal data to DOGE.
VICTORIA CALTON
Julissa Soto is the newest who in Marquis Who’s Who
BY JACKIE RAMIREZ
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Health justice advocate and commissioner of Health Equity for Colorado’s health department, Julissa Soto, was inducted as a Marquis Who’s Who member on Feb. 14, something she said is not just a title, but a testament to the “unwavering dedication to challenging the status quo and creating transformative change for those who need it most.”
e honor of Soto, the CEO and founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, highlights accomplished individuals and innovators in politics, business, medicine, law, education, entertainment and religion. e process to get inducted as a member is rigorous and relies on reference value as well as taking into consideration the inductee’s position, accomplishments and prominence in their eld.
“For over three decades, Julissa Soto has been a steadfast champion of social justice and an unwavering advocate for the health and well-being of Latino immigrant communities, not only in Colorado but also on national, international
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The e ects of taking away DEI
e recent removal of DEI has sparked the attention of many and is a problem that should not be overlooked. It’s an act of discrimination and several people’s jobs and businesses will be at stake.
ere are many bene ts that come with DEI. Representation in the workforce bene ts both the employee and the business. Statistics have shown that with DEI, employee engagement has gone up 45% and a reduction with a turnover risk. Diversity leads to a more stable working environment and may encourage others to work there.
and global platforms,” Marquis Who’s Who wrote in a press release from Feb. 14.
Back in 2021 Gov. Jared Polis declared Sept. 20, 2021, as Julissa Soto Day. is recognition came after she led “transformative changes” in helping secure Medicaid access for undocumented children and pregnant women in Colorado.
Last summer, Soto helped organize a “Feria de Salud” in Commerce City where more than 400 people attended to obtain essential health services and resources. is month, Soto will help organize another community health fair at e Cool Event Center on Feb. 22, where attendees can obtain more information on services and providers for people with disabilities, health insurance for children and pregnant people regardless of immigration status, receive a medical checkup and vaccines.
“As a lifelong advocate for health equity and Latino immigrant communities, this recognition fuels my passion for ensuring that underserved populations have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve,” Soto wrote in an email about the induction.
is removal discriminates against many and bias will start to play in the hiring process. Managers will start to fa-
vor one candidate over the other even with the same amount of skills. Both businesses and people a ected by the removal of DEI would miss out on unknown opportunities.
Well known companies have recently gotten rid of DEI or are planning to get rid of it will be a ected negatively sooner or later. ese companies are Amazon, Mcdonalds, Target, Walmart, Google, and way more. People have begun to boycott and reputation is key to having a well running business.
Instead of progressing as a modern society, we are going backwards in time. In order to strive for change, everyone should get the same amount of equality.
So a Cervantes Quezada, Commerce City
LEAP
Commissioner of Health for Colorado Julissa Soto says being undocumented was a huge challenge in accessing the health system. I promised myself that if I had the power to change things, I would change them a little for our community. FILE PHOTO
e contentious dispute had both sides ling unfair labor practice claims against one another. Kroger-owned King Soopers also led for a temporary restraining order to limit picketing at stores and led a federal lawsuit against the union for forcing it to bargain with out-of-state labor unions instead of the workers themselves. A judge on Friday granted the retraining order but not completely. e judge just told union workers to not block delivery trucks or impede pedestrian tra c to stores.
For employees, the issue was partly about money but also about sta ng. Union workers said sta ng shortages often resulted in long checkout lines for customers, and unstocked shelves or mispriced products that overwhelmed workers juggling customer service duties.
But the threat of striking workers losing their health care coverage because they hadn’t worked enough hours during the week is probably what brought the union back to the table. King Soopers mentioned this on Monday.
“Securing this agreement was about restoring certainty, not just for our business, but for the people who make it possible. It also ensures that eligible associates who were unable to meet hourly requirements
due to the work stoppage will continue to receive their industry-leading, a ordable health care coverage, fully funded by the company to maintain continuity,” Kelley said.
A ected King Soopers stores and their pharmacies will return to normal business operating hours ursday.
Kim Cordova, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 7, ready to picket on Feb. 6, 2025, the rst day of the King Soopers worker strike. (Tamara Chuang, e Colorado Sun) e return-to-work agreement also stipulated that King Soopers’ “Last, Best, and Final o er” from Jan 16 won’t be its last, according to the union.
King Soopers o ered raises to boost store clerks’ hourly wage by $4.50 over four years, with top clerks earning above $27 an hour by 2028. Adding in health care and pension bene ts, that would be $29.48 an hour. e current wage is $22.68, the company said.
Not all King Soopers are unionized, including locations in Brighton, Castle Rock, Erie, Firestone and two stores in ornton. Union stores outside of Denver remained open in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland and four stores in the Grand Junction area. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ
1. TELEVISION: e show “Happy Days” is a spino of which older sitcom?
2. LITERATURE: Which author created the character Hercule Poirot?
3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Where is Barack Obama’s presidential library located?
4. GEOGRAPHY: What river forms part of the border between the United States and Mexico?
5. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system has the strongest gravitational eld?
6. U.S. STATES: Which four states intersect at the Four Corners monument?
7. SCIENCE: What is anemophily?
8. MOVIES: How much does an Oscar award trophy weigh?
9. WEATHER: What is a haboob?
10. MEASUREMENTS: How many millimeters are in a meter?
TrIVIa
Answers
1. “Love, American Style.”
2. Agatha Christie.
3. Chicago, Illinois.
4. e Rio Grande.
5. Jupiter.
6. Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
7. Pollination by the wind.
8. 8.5 pounds.
9. An intense dust storm.
10. 1,000.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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