Denver Herald Dispatch 0504

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May 4, 2017

DENVER Since 1926

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NEW COURSES BREWING: ACC among colleges offering an education in beer P6

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DENVER, COLORADO

A publication of

Transportation funding proposal veers into ditch Senate Republicans reject idea of letting voters decide on sales tax STAFF REPORT

The Revision Food Co-op along Morrison Road. Organizations like BuCu West, La Casita Community House and Revision are aiming to create a town center where community members can gather. Part of that is intentionally covering buildings in street art and vibrant colors. According to BuCu West’s website, they “encourage vibrant colors, local art, music, night lighting and other elements that make Morrison Road an enjoyable place to visit.” PHOTOS BY IAN WARREN

Giving Westwood a boost BY IAN WARREN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Surrounded by changing Denver communities, nonprofit groups are working to change the Westwood neighborhood for the benefit of both existing and future residents. One such group is Business and Culture West Denver, also known as BuCu West, which started in 1987 as a business association. It is working to make Morrison Road a central place for Westwood residents to gather by supporting local businesses that support community development. “At the same time we were rebranding it to BuCu West, Busi-

ness and Culture West Denver, we were also converting the business association into a community development corporation,” said Jose Esparza, executive director of BuCu. “That allowed us more tools, as a nonprofit, as opposed to relying on a paid-member base. Since this is a lower-income neighborhood you can only get so much from your members.” BuCu West is supporting the community in several ways. In the past year, it has partnered with Kitchen Network, a Morrison Road incubator for specialty food products. One food startup that went through SEE WESTWOOD, P5

Jose Esparza is the executive director of BuCu West.

A bill that would have asked Colorado voters to approve a sales tax increase to help fund billions of dollars in transportation projects has been rejected by Republicans in the state Senate. But the Democratic speaker of the House is optimistic the nearly two-month discussion surrounding House Bill 1242 will be good for the state in the long run. The state transportation system faces a $1 billion per year funding shortfall, according to the Colorado Department of Transpor- Duran tation. “While I am disappointed by today’s outcome,” said Crisanta Duran, DDenver, “I am hopeful that House Bill 1242 has started a conversation that must continue if we are going to have a transportation system that keeps us out of traffic jams and helps Colorado businesses generate jobs for our people.” The bill was defeated by a 3-2 vote in a Senate committee on April 25. If it had been approved at the Capitol and then passed by voters in November, it would have raised the state sales tax from 2.9 percent to 3.4 percent from 2018 through 2037. SEE LEGISLATION, P3

THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL

‘Stores we grew up with are dropping one after the other. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but we all know the reasons why.’ Craig Marshall Smith, columnist | Page 4 INSIDE

NEWS: PAGE 2 | VOICES: PAGE 4 | LIFE: PAGE 6 VOLUME 90 | ISSUE 28


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