Transcript Wheat Ridge 4/25/13
Wheat Ridge
April 25, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 44
Civil unions begin May 1 County prepared with new forms By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
ployees share, is “Inspiring with mouthwatering pie coupled with our passionate dedication to community, education and humor.” “What we can do is inspire people,” she said. “Consumers have the power to shop with businesses that support values.” Crouse said she would like to someday see all businesses have their mission statement up front and work for more than just profit. Having fun and humor is another key value of Infinitus Pie, Crouse said. “The best counterbalance is a joke,” she said. “We want to go forth and make a positive difference in lives.” Infinitus Pie supports local organizations and education through two main programs. The third Monday of every month is Pie 10 Day. On Pie 10 Day, Infinitus Pie donates
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a civilunions bill into law March 21 opening up a new option for same-sex couples when it goes into effect on May 1. The bill, passed by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature, is seen by gay marriage supporters as a half step to reversing a 2006 voter-approved state ban on gay marriage. While the new law might represent a major cultural shift, Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson said that for her office, the change should be easily accepted. “I’m currently the president of the (state) Clerks Association. And once we knew it was going to become law, we began work on an implementation plan,” Anderson said. That implementation plan is now in full effect across the state, as each county prepares to accept the new civil union licenses beginning on Wednesday, May 1. Anderson said most of the work involves the creation of new forms, and new computer programing to accommodate the new type of license. She said the form, and the process, will be very similar to the standard marriage form. According to Department Director Susie Swain, one of the few differences between the two licenses will be that while someone under 18 can receive a marriage license with the permission of a parent or guardian, no such provision will be allowed for civil unions. In Colorado, a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage license, self affirm their marriage, or have a common law marriage. “Once this goes into effect, a heterosexual couple could choose to get a civil union instead of a marriage license,” Swain said.
Pizza continues on Page 22
Unions continues on Page 22
Bryce Bamsey, left, and Bren Stewart create custom-made, personal pizzas for customers at Infinitus Pie, 3928 Wadsworth Blvd., in Wheat Ridge. Photo by Sara Van Cleve
Infinitus Pie delivers pizza with a mission Local pizzeria owner hopes to inspire creativity, values through infinite topping possibilities By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com Young entrepreneur Katie Crouse hopes to inspire more than just unique pizza combinations through her pizza chain Infinitus Pie. Crouse, who goes by “Katie Pie” at the restaurant, grew up around pizza and, after operating her own pizza business — Friday Pizza — during her junior year studying at the University of Denver, she opened Infinitus Pie in 2010 in Wheat Ridge. Infinitus Pie, 3928 Wadsworth Blvd., originally opened under the name “My Pie,”
but that name was changed last year. “Sophomore year I thought of making a restaurant that is the ‘Chipotle of pizza,’ so that’s what I did,” Crouse said. Infinitus Pie serves personal eight-inch pizzas with anything and everything available as a topping. Customers choose their crust and sauce and then can pile on the toppings, such as vine-ripened black olives, natural sausage, corn and even eggs. “We’ll do anything people want to try on a pie if we can get the ingredients,” Crouse said. “Imagine it and we’ll put it on a pie.” One of the more interesting and delicious ingredients Crouse said she has tried is crumbled up Goldfish crackers. While serving custom personal pizza pies with fresh ingredients Crouse’s main goal for Infinitus Pie, she has another mission — encouraging customers to support businesses with a larger mission. Crouse’s mission, which all of her em-
Bill broadens damage awards in discrimination cases Republicans oppose plan as possible job-killer By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A bill that would broaden damage awards available to Colorado employees who sue over discrimination in the workplace is making its way through the state Legislature.
But while Democrats are hailing House Bill 1136 as a victory for employee protection, Republicans are blasting the legislation as a job-killing bill that creates a boon for trial lawyers. The bill passed the House on April 19 on a 35-28 vote, following debate that lasted several hours over two voting days. All Republicans voted against the legislation, with Democratic Rep. Mike McLauchlan of Duran-
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go joining them in opposition. The “Job Protection and Civil Rights Employment Act of 2013” particularly would affect small businesses that have workforces of 14 or fewer people. Under the bill, employees at companies of all sizes could collect punitive and compensatory damages in state court, as well as recoup legal fees in civil rights cases. Right now, employees at smallsized businesses are only afforded remedies that allow them to be “made whole” following successful discrimination lawsuits, such as earning back pay, or getting their jobs back. Republicans mocked the bill’s intent, even at one time offering an amendment to re-title the bill the “Trial Lawyer Employment Act of 2013,” arguing that the bill will end up filling the pockets of lawyers who take these kind of cases to court.
Republicans also called the legislation an “anti-jobs bill” that could lead to devastating effects on small businesses that are forced to pay out thousands of dollars in punitive damages. “It’s the difference between being in business and being out of business,” said House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, during an April 17 House floor debate. Republicans also said that the bill is unnecessary, arguing that Colorado discrimination lawsuits are rare and that the legislation just begs for more frivolous lawsuits to end up in court. “Punitive damages are just a way to pile on a situation where there are other remedies in place,” said Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Littleton. But bill co-sponsor Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, said courts always have discretion in these
matters and that employees need greater protection than what current law allows. “It’s not like courts are going to be handing out meal tickets on every single case,” he said. “This isn’t an anti-jobs bill. It’s a preservation of jobs bill.” Democrats amended the bill to cap damages at $25,000 per case for small businesses that have between five and 14 employees, and $10,000 for companies with fewer than five workers. Republican efforts to amend the bill to prevent the legislation from affecting companies with 10 or fewer employees were unsuccessful. The bill now heads to the Senate.
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