Your Guide to Community, Politics, Ar ts and Culture in Nor th Denver DenverNorthStar.com
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Volume 3, Issue 5
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February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022
Juvenile Justice, Porch Pirates, Catalytic Converters, and More This Legislative Session ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
REPRESENTATIVE ALEX VALDEZ Representative Alex Valdez, who represents House District 5, is tacking a different aspect of crime in one of his sponsored bills. House Bill 22-1030 creates a refundable state income tax credit of up to $75 for residents who have been the victim of theft to install anti-theft devices, or for companies who give them to customers. “At some point there is an industry that will rise up to solve this problem,” Valdez told The Denver North Star. He hopes the credit will spur more local businesses to create boxes that delivery companies can access but lock afterward and similar options that reduce package theft. Valdez, whose district currently includes Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland, and Jefferson Park neighborhoods, said during his committee presentation that he’s well familiar with the problem, at one point having an average of a package a week stolen. Valdez is also sponsoring HB22-1116, which creates a policy review panel for plant-based medicines. Denver may have decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms (hallucinogenic mushrooms sometimes called “magic mushrooms”), but this bill focuses on medical, not recreational uses, specifically for mental health. Valdez hopes it can help address the mental health crisis he sees both locally and nationally, noting that several other states across the country, including more conservative areas, have all introduced similar legislation.
he Dragon Boat Film Festival returns in person this March for a four-day showcase of all Asian and Asian American screenings celebrating resilience in the Asian and AAPI communities. Last year’s theme, “RepresentASIAN,” was chosen in response to anti-Asian sentiments present in the country. Paired with hardships around COVID-19, the Asian and AAPI community voted that “Celebrating Our Resilience” was the best theme to remind Denver that they are still here, and boldly, said Sara Moore, Executive Director of Colorado Dragon Boat. “We are here, we are overcoming [hardships], we are still passionate about our community and who we are as a group,” Moore said. “We’re celebrating that resilience and strength that we have in the community.” Though the festival is going into its seventh year, this is the third year that Denver Film is helping bring it to life. In addition to hosting it at their home base, the Sie FilmCenter, Denver Film leverages the relationships they have in terms of distribution, sales agents and access to titles from all over the world, said Kevin Smith, Denver Film Chief Marketing Officer. Dragon Boat then takes the lead on thematic choice and which countries they want representation from every year. “We really have spent a lot of time trying to find all of the best ways to leverage the operational support that we can bring to Colorado Dragon Boat, and Colorado Dragon Boat has done an amazing job of helping us do a much better job of understanding the community that is there and how we can best support them,” Smith said. “We’re very honored to have [Denver Film] as a partner,” Moore said. “It is just me at the organization currently as an employee, so it’s so nice to have a team to work with.” There are three major categories: features, a short film showcase, and an emerging artists showcase. All full features are curated by Denver Film’s Artistic Director Matthew Campbell, and local submissions are chosen by Colorado Dragon Boat. The short film artists are local filmmakers that are mostly Colorado based, but tend to span out to surrounding states. The category may also include artists who studied in the U.S. but now live in other countries. The emerging artists are students and professors from CU Denver’s College of Arts & Media. When asked what films she’s looking forward to most, Moore responded with, “all of them!” “I think I say that every year, but it’s
See SESSION, Page 14
See FILM, Page 5
DINING
PHOTO BY DAVID SABADOS
This year’s legislative session includes bills on porch piracy prevention, youth criminal justice reform, school lunches, psychedelic mushrooms, and more. By David Sabados
K KIDS & EDUCATION NHS Sports and Activities PAGES 8-9
ELECTED OFFICIAL UPDATE Congresswoman Diana DeGette PAGE 13
POLITICS Board of Adjustment to be Adjusted PAGE 14
POLITICS What Redistricting Could Mean for North Denver PAGE 15
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival Returns in Person
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PAGE 5
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ALWAYS FREE!
By Celeste Benzschawel
Music Lessons and Jazz Performances
Sunnyside Supper Club
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eeping children out of the school to prison pipeline, stopping the black market sales of catalytic converter thefts, and reducing porch package thefts are just a few of the bills legislators are debating at the Capitol this session. With hundreds of bills flowing through the state legislature each year it can be hard to follow what could have an impact on your life, so we wanted to explain a few bills important to the North Denver community and reached out to our local legislators to get their thoughts on the bills they are sponsoring this year. Colorado’s legislature meets for 120 days at the start of each year, and is considered a part-time legislature, with most members maintaining other jobs as well. REPRESENTATIVE SERENA GONZALES-GUTIERREZ Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, who represents House District 4 in the NW corner of the city, highlighted two of her bills in an interview with The Denver North Star. House Bill 22-1131, which has bipartisan sponsorship, removes minors who are 10, 11, and 12 from the juvenile court’s jurisdiction (with the exception of homicide cases). She hopes the bill will keep children who make a mistake from being stuck in the perpetual cycle of the criminal justice system for life. She said that before the 1990s, minor incidents like a child stealing a candy bar were more the purview of the parents, the store, and a community that allowed restorative justice rather than a criminal matter. By removing grade school aged children from the court, it helps put the focus on underlying issues. “Why were they stealing? What's the root cause of that?” Gonzales-Gutierrez, whose nonlegislative career includes nearly 20 years of experience in the juvenile justice and child welfare fields, said she has talked with the families of too many 15 and 16-year-olds who are already stuck in the criminal justice system and can’t get out, so she’s hoping to tackle the problem earlier. Gonzales-Gutierrez is also sponsoring SB22-087, which reimburses local school districts for the cost of providing healthy meals to students, using federal funds the state is hoping to receive. The “Healthy Meals for All Public School Students” bill encour-
ages more local school districts to provide meals for their students. Marc Jacobson, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado, spoke at a press conference in support of the bill. “By providing healthy school meals free for all public school students, we will take away the stigma and embarrassment that has been a regular part of the school meals experience for kids from low income families. No eight-year-old, or kid of any age, should learn stigma from the lunch line.” Many schools have been providing free meals to all students during COVID, and schools realized more students were using the service than expected, also likely due to the economic impact COVID had on families.
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Black-owned Businesses to Support During Black History Month A
s part of Black history month, we wanted to highlight Blackowned businesses in North and West Denver. Here are a few businessCHRISTEN ALDRIGE es to support during this month and beyond.
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7605 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge EDITOR’S NOTE: Last month’s lead story about the Highland Ramblers accidentally cut out information on the other band members. In addition to Andy Carlson on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, the band includes Stacy Liles - upright bass, vocals; Steve Jones - banjo, vocals; J.D. Hortel - dobro, vocals; Scott Robinette - drums, vocals. Our apologies for leaving the others out!
720-248-7327 P.O. Box 11584, Denver CO 80211 DenverNorthStar.com PUBLISHER AND EDITOR: David Sabados ART DIRECTOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Melissa Levad-Feeney AD SALES MANAGER: Jill Carstens BUSINESS MANAGER: Nathalie Jautz-Bickel
SIMPLY PURE Wanda James became the first Black woman to own a cannabis dispensary when she opened Simply Pure in 2014. Visitors are served by the Budoligist, a trademarked name James gave her staff. “Our employees' training is much larger than what is taught in the industry,” James explains. Simply Pure is more than a dispensary, it is also a vehicle for social change. These past eight years, Simply Pure has been a vessel shining a light on the mass incarceration and police brutality of Black and Brown people. The desire to create Simply Pure ignited when James’ brother was sentenced to ten years for possession of marijuana. “I wanted to have a Black face on cannabis,” says James. Through Simply Pure she is breaking the glass ceiling for African American men and women to get into the cannabis business, while also creating representation in the industry. “I have a diverse group of people on my staff. We pride ourselves in representation and want the people working here to represent our mission.” Stop by Simply Pure at 2000 W 32nd Ave or online at simplypure.com.
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/FRITAYHAITIANFOOD
Farah-Jane Jean Pierce, the owner of Fritay Haitian Cuisine Food Truck Visit Beast Fingers at 5280 Broadway, online at beastfingersclimbing.com, or on Instagram at Beastfingers.team.
BEAST FINGERS Beast Fingers is the only Black-owned climbing gym in Colorado and the second Black-owned climbing gym in the nation. Beast Fingers is more than a climbing gym, it is a space that helps youth with mental health and stress relief. In 2015, owner Aman Anderson moved to Colorado for work and used his creativity and design skills to create a rock climbing module for climbers called Beast Fingers. This device grows with the climber and helps them improve their climbing ability. “My job wasn't so thrilled I was creating a product on the side so I quit”. Anderson later got certified as a rocking climbing coach through the USA Climbing Association. He opened the Beast Finger gym in 2019 and has served many kids in the community. “We have a diverse group of kids from kids who are experiencing homelessness, anxiety, and behavioral issues to kids who are not familiar with sport to kids who are big climbing fans. It is also nice to see Black and Brown kids taking up the sport,” Anderson expresses. Beast Fingers gym serves kids from three years old to 18 years of age. For more information on Beast Fingers, check out our writeup in the December 2021 edition of our sister publication The G.E.S. Gazette, still available online.
FRITAY HAITIAN CUISINE Fritay Haitian Cuisine is the only Haitan food truck in Denver. Fritay is owned and operated by Farah-Jane Jean Pierce, a Denver transplant who decided to bring her Haitain heritage, love for cooking, and the desire to own a food truck to the Mile High City. Born and raised in Haiti, Jean Pierce moved to Denver from New York three years ago. “I realized there was a lack of Caribbean food, especially Haitian Food,” Jean-Pierce says. “I always loved to cook, therefore I would make delicious Haitian meals and invite friends over before the pandemic. With the support of my family and friends, I decided to bring this unique cuisine to Denver and I started doing my research about opening my food truck. I can proudly say that today I operate the first Haitian food truck bringing bold and unique flavors to this city.” Her favorite part of her job is seeing customers taste her delicious authentic Haitian meals. “I love seeing my customers enjoying my food. The smile it brings to their face always makes my day and pushes me to keep moving forward.” If you are in the mood of some authentic Haitian flavors, you can catch Fritay Haitain Cuisine at its permanent location at 998 Sheridan Blvd. You can also find them on Facebook or Instagram at fritayhaitianfood or visit their website fritayfood.com
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/BEASTFINGERS @MOMCLIMBS510
NORTHSIDE HOOPS Northside Hoops is a 501(c)(3) youth basketball program serving the Northside and greater Denver Area. Since 2015, Northside Hoops has worked with many student athletes in the area and has raised money to help facilitate their educational and academic growth through mentorship, athletic training, and academic programs. Brianna Hypolite, North High School basketball coach and former allpro basketball player, runs Northside Hoops. “The idea of providing the opportunity for upcoming players to have similar experiences motivates me to continue to program youth basketball.” Northside Hoops is a safe place where student athletes can make their goals and dreams reality. “Our focus with our participants is not only invested in their athletic development but also their academic and social maturation. In addition, we never turn away participants for lack of funds,” Hypolite says.
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Hypolite also credits the community's support for the organization’s success. “The community has stepped up to support our mission and the LoHI/Northside area’s financial and social contributions have truly had an impact on the success of our participants.” For more information on Hypolite, check out the story on her role at North High School in the January issue of The Denver North Star, still available online. Find Northside Hoops on Instagram: NorthsidehoopsDEN THE URBAN GROUP Power couple Jeffery McMillian and Terry Carrigan have five businesses under the Urban Group: Urban Protection and Security, Urban Survival Fitness, Urban Wellness, Urban Wine and Chocolate Run, and Urban Conscious Living. The two met in 2010 when Carrigan started working out with McMillan. They teamed up and created the Urban Group which has served as a resource for wellness and security for the community. “We help each other a lot,” Carrigan says about the dynamic between her and McMillan. Jeffrey McMillan oversees Urban Security and Protection, which has done security for Juneteenth, Black Arts Festival, the New Hope Baptist Church, and a few clubs. Urban Survival Fitness is a small group workout program specifically designed to integrate various forms of fitness, including sports-specific, martial arts, and dance techniques, as well as body weight, cardio, and flexibility training. The couple serve as trainers and wellness coaches at the gym and even offer self-defense classes. Inside the Urban Survival Fitness building is Urban Wellness Living, a homeopathic treatment center for those who want a more natural approach at healing. Terry Carrigan got the idea for the wellness center after being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2016. Urban Wellness offers ionic detox foot baths and near infrared (NIR) light therapy. Urban Wine and Chocolate Run benefits Urban Conscious Living, a local nonprofit organization that helps kids in the community afford after-school programs and provide resources that will better their future. The Urban Group is located at 4025 Steele St, or check them out online at urbangroup denver.com. Did we miss your business? Email us at News@DenverNorthStar.com to be included in a future edition of the paper!
The Denver North Star
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Bond Measure May Result in Total Knock Out for Boxing Club at Sloan's Lake Park
QUALITY FISH MARKET SINCE 1974
By Rachel Lorenz
A
nthony Mondragon has wanted to be a part of Quintana Boxing since he was five. “It's been my son's dream to go there because his dad went there,” Amanda Mondragon said of her now nine-year-old son. He’s been boxing with the group for about eight months and is one of 32 kids who regularly heads to a gym located near the intersection of North Sheridan Boulevard and West 17th Avenue to work up a sweat. Quintana Boxing, formerly known as Sloan’s Lake Boxing Club, has introduced the community’s youth to the sport for 33 years. That tradition, however, appears to be coming to an end. Quintana Boxing’s lease with the City and County of Denver for the use of the Gun Club Building in Sloan’s Lake Park expires May 31 and will not be renewed, according to a letter the city sent Mike Quintana on Jan. 10. “Our kids are going to be out on the streets. That's just the bottom line,” said Quintana, owner of the nonprofit.
CHANGE IS ON SLOAN’S LAKE PARK’S PICTURESQUE HORIZON Denver Parks and Recreation has other AITIANFOODplans for the building, which has housed the boxing club since Federico Peña was mayor. Last November, Denver voters approved bond measures to fund the Rebuilding for an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy, or RISE, plan. This allows the local government to borrow $450 million and spend it on 29 projects across the city. Two projects in particular will impact Sloan’s Lake Park and, ultimately, Quintana Boxing, said Scott Gilmore, deputy executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation.
The Denver North Star
The Sloan’s Lake Boat House is slated for a $7 million renovation that will enable it to host community events and public programs, according to the bond project summary. Nearly $16 million more is set aside for two new maintenance facilities for Denver Parks and Recreation. One of those facilities is to be located in the northwest part of the city. Right now, the department has a satellite maintenance office operating out of the Boat House, Gilmore told The Denver North Star. The office needs to vacate that building so the renovations, approved by Denver voters, can begin. Gilmore called the Gun Club Building on the other side of the lake the most logical and fiscally-responsible place for the maintenance office. “I'm not going to spend millions of dollars to build a building for us to go into when we can occupy the building, the Gun Club Building, that Quintana's in right now,” Gilmore said. However, that building may not be quite big enough. Gilmore thinks it will need to be expanded, or perhaps a second building may
need to be added to the site. In addition to the two larger regional maintenance facilities specified in the bond, some of the bond money will probably be used to create this new satellite office at Sloan’s Lake, Gilmore said. The boxing club is not alone in its experience. Colorado Outward Bound’s agreement to use a building in northwest Denver’s Camp Rollendet expired last year. The educational organization has moved out, and the facility will be used as a small maintenance shop, Gilmore said. “(Parks in northwest Denver) deserve the same thing other parks of the city have and that includes a maintenance facility that can handle taking care of, and making sure that, the parks are taken care of at a high level,” Gilmore said.
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END OF AN ERA? Since receiving the letter, Quintana has met with Denver Parks and Recreation and Councilwoman Amanda P. Sandoval about the situation. He's talking with the Sloan's Lake
See BOXING, Page 10
PHOTO BY DAVID SABADOS
Quintana Boxing is hoping to convince the city to let them stay in the building they've been using for 33 years
February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022 | Page 3
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hile housing prices continue to rise, many organizations are working to provide equal housing opportunities for working class families and individuals. The Globeville, Elyria-Swansea Coalition Organizing for Health and Housing Justice, or the GES Coalition, is a group of neighborhood leaders and organizers working to create affordable housing options for those in the North Denver area. Formed in 2015, the grassroots group aims to combat displacement and protect historically marginalized neighborhoods. In 2017, the coalition partnered with the Colorado Community Land Trust (CCLT), a nonprofit organization and affordable housing program that works to provide affordable home ownership. Once under the CCLT, the two organizations partnered with Brothers Redevelopment, a company that builds and manages affordable housing and provides services to low-income homeowners and renters. “The beauty of a community land trust is that they are very flexible to what you need,” said Nola Miguel, director of the GES Coalition. “It helps to provide whatever the market is not providing, and for us that has been affordable housing.” In July 2020, the CCLT partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, another nonprofit housing organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through building and preserving homes, to advocate for fair and just housing. “It’s been a nice growth to be under Habitat because they have a lot more capacity,” Miguel said of the partnership. The CCLT and Habitat believe that by merging they can “decrease the overhead costs and redundancies and focus
more resources on program operations, strategic growth, and deeper impact,” according to the CCLT website (coloradoclt.org). Miguel states that the whole goal is to keep people in the neighborhood and to do it in a way that creates stable housing without the worry of constantly increasing housing costs. With the help of the CCLT, Brothers Redevelopment, and donors, the GES coalition has been able to take the first steps necessary in creating their own land trust, Tierra Colectiva, to build and steward permanently affordable homes. “Brothers has been a big piece of the partnership, part of CCLT is incubating the units but Brothers has been both a fiscal agent and a developer and just an amazing partner all the way around,” Miguel said. “They own and develop the land until the owners sign and close and then the land goes to the trust and home goes to the owner.” Because of land prices nearly doubling between 2012 and 2018 and home prices rising 72%, many people are not able to afford a home in the Denver area. But, through the CCLT, community members within the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea area can apply to buy a home with the appropriate help and guidance. The CCLT and the GES coalition work hand-in-hand with potential buyers, including those with Section 8 vouchers or who may qualify for government assistance, while providing tools and resources throughout the home buying process including referrals to housing and financial counselors through Newsed, Del Norte, and Brothers to ensure credit and financial standing. “For GES specifically the land trust isn’t
just for affordable housing, it’s to build up the vision of a community—as the community changes and as needs change in the community, we want to be flexible to that,” Miguel said. While highways and businesses continue to pop up, minority and low-income neighborhoods are the first to suffer. Like many residents, the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea natives worry about displacement due to gentrification. “Our family was one of the first to be able to [buy a home through the coalition],” said Alma Urbano, co-director of the GES Coalition. “It would probably not be possible for my parents, [to buy a home], because their income was just not that high,” she said. Urbano was able to buy a home with her parents in February 2021 and says the help of the collaborating organizations means that members of the community get the proper help they need in order to buy a home. “With the coalition there are always multiple organizations involved, trying to make sure you get the best deal and you’re not getting taken advantage of [which is important]—especially in communities that are not often informed about buying a home,” she said. “I think that the security and the stability is very important for a lot of people in our community and it’s not often there.” Through the collaborating organizations and the committed neighborhood leaders, homes within the land trust will be sold for affordable prices while a board of directors and property experts help ensure long-term affordability and offer support to new homeowners. For more information, visit coloradoclt.org or gescoalition.com.
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20mph Now the Speed Limit for Residential Streets By Allen Cowgill
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SPEED KILLS
rivers in Denver will have to slow from the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), said down on neighborhood streets. that the department responsible for Denver Back in December, Denver City Council streets was supportive of the new law. “We voted 11-1 to reduce the speed limit by hope reducing the speed limit on our local 5 mph on residential streets to 20 mph. streets will address resident concerns. We The new law was passed in an effort to also think the initiative could draw attention make streets safer and more livable. to the topic of speed in general—get peoDenver saw 73 traffic deaths in 2021, the ple thinking about it and about driving the most since the city started their Vision speed limit. While we know most fatal and Zero program in 2013, or goal of zero serious injury crashes are happening on our traffic deaths. Eleven of those 73 deaths multi-lane arterial streets as opposed to the occured on North Denver streets. local streets, we think this is a good first step. The new law will only apply to resiAnd we’re looking to follow up with another dential streets mostly lined with homes, IMAGE COURTESY DENVER STREETS PARTNERSHIP planning effort that would analyze speeds on or all of the streets in Denver that are our collectors and arterials.” not striped with lane lines. The new The potential of a fatal or serious injury for Most residential streets do not have speed limit does not apply to neighborpedestrians when hit by a driver goes up significantly with speed. speed limit signs on them, but the new hood collector streets like 32nd Avenue, speed limit applies since it is the new deor arterial streets like Federal Boulevard, which has historically been the most years.” Sandoval noted that with more peo- fault speed limit for Denver. DOTI has plans dangerous and deadly street in North Denver, ple working from home in the last two years to either replace or remove the 2,700-3,500 especially for pedestrians. during the pandemic, her office has fielded an 25 mph signs on residential streets that are The Denver Streets Partnership, a local increasing number of complaints from people already installed throughout Denver. The denonprofit, led the “20 is Plenty” campaign noticing speeding in the neighborhoods. In her partment said they are trying to be thoughtful that helped bring about the new law. Last year, polling as part of her outreach to the communi- about which 25 mph signs to remove, which orange “20 is Plenty” yard signs created by the ty, she noted about 80% of residents supported to replace, and where to put up new signs to group could be seen in front yards around the the lowering of the speed limit. Sandoval noted make travelers coming from other cities aware city. In campaign literature the group cited that “we have overwhelmingly heard the need of the new speed limit while staying within “the faster a car is moving, the less time the to have our side streets have slower speeds.” budget. Kuhn said that DOTI estimates it will driver has to see a pedestrian and slow down She was in favor of this since so many schools take about three to five years to make updates or stop and the higher the injury risk for the and parks are located on neighborhood streets, to all of the signs. Questions have arisen from community pedestrian.” The likelihood of a fatality or se- and lower speeds create a safer environment for vere injury when a pedestrian is struck by a children as well as pedestrians and people on members if simply changing the speed limdriver at 20 mph is only 13%. At vehicle speeds bikes. The one concern she had with the ordi- it will make a difference in regards to safety. of 30 mph, that likelihood of severe injury or nance is she “hopes it doesn’t lead to the unin- Research from the city of Boston, which had a death for the pedestrian goes up to 40%. The tended consequence of having more Black and similar speed limit reduction, did show drivlower speed limit also leads to environmental Brown people stopped and targeted because ers going more slowly, and lower speed limits and air quality benefits, as vehicles have less of speeding. Because data does show that in especially slowed down the drivers that were emissions when traveling at lower speeds. neighborhoods with higher populations of speeding excessively. Northwest Denver’s City Councilwoman minorities that there is higher police contact.” Allen Cowgill is on the Advisory Board to for Council District One, Amanda P. Sando- Sandoval did connect with Denver Police, and val, voted yes on the new law. “Speeding on asked that they “implement this policy across the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, appointed to represent City our streets has been a concern for as long as the board in a fair manner.” I have been working for the city, almost 10 Communications Manager Nancy Kuhn, Council District One.
Page 4 February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022
The Denver North Star
/ / / A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T / / /
North Denver’s Own Jazz Singer, Terri Jo Jenkins
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By Jill Carstens
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erri Jo Jenkins is pretty well known in the North Denver area as a wonderful piano, guitar, flute, and vocal instructor who works out of a studio at Highlands United Methodist Church, but she is so much more! After I heard her on Denver’s jazz station, KUVO, years ago, I gained a whole new respect for this locally famous musical dynamo. Emerging from humble beginnings, Terri Jo grew up in a tiny town in Nebraska where her mom and dad, respectively, performed as a concert pianist and a church choir singer in addition to their day jobs. By the time Terri Jo reached the age of 10, it was clear that she and her two sisters had inherited their parents’ talent, and so was born The Dodson Sisters. Led around to talent competitions by their mom, the three girls’ harmonies, similar to the Andrew Sisters at the time, earned many awards along the way. As an adult, Terri Jo thrived as a folk singer/songwriter and was nominated by Lincoln, Nebraska’s public radio station as “Folk Singer of the Year” four times in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many of her songs have been incorporated into public radio programs. By the mid-2000s, Terri Jo was running her own coffee shop/performance venue in Lincoln when Jeff Jenkins, nationally recognized jazz pianist from Denver, stopped in and chatted with the pretty redhead on his way to a gig. They hit it off and soon Terri Jo found herself moving to Denver and singing with Jeff at venues like Dazzle. Jeff already had quite a following in Denver’s jazz scene and Terri Jo soon became a part of it too, often harmonizing with other female jazz singers in groups like The Quirk-
Film
Continued from Page 1 just absolutely amazing,” Moore said. “Matt has done a wonderful job choosing all the
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Terri Jo Jenkins performing with Jeff Jenkins on piano tett around town. Terri Jo has been active in the North Denver music scene, performing many First Fridays at Tenn Street Coffee and outdoor summer concerts in front of the historic Elitch Theatre. In addition to the youth and adults that she instructs vocally and instrumentally in the Highlands, Terri Jo is also the music director at Epiphany Lutheran in Washington Park. A few years back she founded the Songbird Jazz Fest, (songbirdjazzfest.com), which provides workshops designed for experienced singers, age 16 and over, who wish to further their knowledge in vocal jazz performance. The festival has received great attention and recently became partners with the nonprofit, The Colorado Conservancy for the Jazz Arts. feature films that we’re having. They’re all so good at representing our theme.” If she had to choose, the first one would be “Listen Before You Sing” by Yang Chih-lin, based on the true story of Vox Nativa Taiwanese Foundation choir and an elementary school’s fight to avoid closure as the school’s gym teacher prepares a group of children for a national choir contest with few resources and no musical background. Moore also recommends an Indonesian film called “Yuni” by Kamila Andini, chronicling a determined teenage girl who finds her dreams of attending university under threat following multiple marriage proposals. Yuni must choose between the myth of a final chance at marriage or her dream of future happiness. Smith’s top picks include “The Pursuit of Perfection” by Toshimichi Saito, a documentary on four of Japan’s leading chefs and their culinary approaches, and “Free Chol Soo Lee” by Eugene Yi and Julie Ha, a film that just premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and “chronicles a Korean immigrant’s wrongful conviction of a 1973 San Francisco Chinatown gang murder.” This year, the festival will also include two
have seen Terri Jo in many venues–her thick curly red hair and sparkly dresses often reminding me of a glamorous Ginger from Gilligan’s Island. She has a smooth, clean voice and such a fun demeanor as she performs. It is always a treat to go out and see this local gem. Listen carefully to KUVO and you are sure to hear Terri Jo’s vocals, often accompanied by her husband Jeff’s keyboards throughout the week. Looking ahead, she will be performing a dinner concert for the Women in Jazz series on April 30 (tickets available at giftofjazz.org). She also plays live or on live stream at Dazzle whenever possible. More information on her performances and lessons can be found at www.terrijomusic.com.
Keenan Copple is a neighborhood attorney providing affordable and compassionate Estate Planning Services.
community conversations–Colorado Asian Pacific United will be presenting their project of re-envisioning Chinatown for Denver, and Asian Girl Ignite!, a relatively new organization to Denver, offers a space for Asian American and Pacific Islander girls from middle to high school to bond over their shared stories and experiences. Other special events include a performance by Mudra Dance Studio and a culinary experience following “The Pursuit of Perfection.” Now that the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival is returning in person, Moore is hopeful that the Dragon Boat Festival will return in person to Sloan’s Lake after being canceled last summer. They have dates in July picked out for the event and it will include a lot of rollover from last year, Moore said. “When we have it, it’s going to be the largest it’s been, I feel like,” Moore said. “Everyone’s ready to come and celebrate and have fun.” The Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival runs March 3-6, starting at 6 p.m. on opening night. Tickets are available at denverfilm.org. A full festival lineup is available at cdfilm.org.
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LETTERS FROM MISS JILL
Drawing Pictures isn’t just “Art” I
have written a few times about how important creativity is for children’s development. This time around I am going to demonstrate how early JILL CARSTENS drawing experiences can help young children become thoughtful, critical readers and writers. In preschool, introducing writing tools has always been a big part of my curriculum. Children as young as 18 months can begin the formation of their pincer grasp, which helps them to hold a crayon or marker. This can be encouraged early on through the use of many fine muscle activities in addition to experimenting with writing tools. My preschoolers, beginning in our classroom of ages two and a half to five, would have the opportunity to work with crayons, markers, pens, and pencils, with plenty of paper available. This “Writing Table” was available throughout the day, with children producing anything from scribbles to pretend grocery lists to intricate drawings. Some children would come to me already knowing how to use these writing tools while others might be just discovering them. I will never forget meeting a little boy who was already around four years old and about to enroll in preschool. During a home visit, I asked him to draw me a picture. His parents preempted this activity by ascertaining that “he doesn’t do art.” And, as they predicted, this child picked one blue marker from the box and drew one blue line and said, “here.” Once he spent time in my classroom, after busying himself each day with block play or toy cars with his friends, he would visit the Writing Table. I would often sit there with the children and ask them questions about their drawings. I cannot remember what initially inspired this boy, but suddenly he began drawing very detailed trucks
that represented his father’s business. By the end of the year he spent more time at the Writing Table than at the blocks and his drawings grew to include more and more details, like the driver and some lettering on the truck. Clearly this child, who previously seemed uninterested in “art activities,” actually just needed the right opportunity to discover the power of the picture. Drawing pictures, for young children, is their first pathway towards symbolic communication. In essence, it is their precursor to writing. Exposed to picture books at early ages, young children view a story as pictures.
Research has found that children who engage deeper in this read aloud process and are also encouraged to draw freely are the same students that end up successfully writing their own stories early on and are often ahead on the reading/writing continuum. Knowing all of this, how we go about reading to our children in addition to supporting their drawing development can make a difference in the acquisition of literate abilities. When I read to a group of children, they often ask questions and make comments. Some may view this as interruption, but actually, it is a sign that those children are paying attention to the content of the story. Allowing a pause in a story can elicit what some folks call “book talk” where children might pose a different action in a story or wonder at the behavior of a character (Goldilocks
and the Three Bears is a great one for this!). Research has found that children who engage deeper in this read aloud process and are also encouraged to draw freely are the same students that end up successfully writing their own stories early on and are often ahead on the reading/ writing continuum. Scholar Ann Dyson coined the phrase “symbol weaving” around 1986 to validate children’s use of pictures as an important communicative symbol system in its own right and as an integral part of the development of literate ability. Symbol weaving names the mutually supportive systems of talking, drawing and producing beginning text. As children grow, they begin to connect the idea of the written word in harmony with pictures. When I taught a combined classroom of kindergarten, first, and second graders, drawing a picture to get started with our writing was a common ritual. Encourage the scaffolding of these skills at home by reading quality picture books early on and providing writing tools as soon as one year. This can be messy, so set up an area appropriately, maybe create your own Writing Table space! Toddlers begin their writing experiences very kinesthetically, sometimes banging crayons or markers until they are broken, but that is normal until they mature further. If you would like suggestions for good picture books to read to your child or activities to develop early acquisition of the pincer grasp, feel free to email me at Jill@DenverNorthStar.com. Jill Carstens taught for 30 years and now enjoys writing this column, connecting with North Denver merchants for ad sales for The Denver North Star and organizing neighborhood events supporting the local arts, community and sustainable ideas.
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The Denver North Star
”
/// DINING ///
Storied Sunnyside Spot Regains a Restaurant North Denver history repeats itself at the new Sunnyside Supper Club
r this!). By Bill Menezes who engage fter a pandemic-induced food blackout at nd are also 44th and Eliot Street from the closing of me students r own sto-that location’s previous tenant, Earnest Hall, a he reading/new restaurant is up and running at a corner son coinedwhere local dining establishments have opernd 1986 toated since the 1940s. an import- Sunnyside Supper Club has brought back in its ownfull-service dining from the walk-up “food velopmenthall” style ordering Earnest Hall featured, names thekeeping Italian-American style favorites from ing, draw-years past in addition to more diversified offerings that leverage the expertise of its owner, onnect thethe Mighty Hospitality Group. y with pic- Mighty is known locally and elsewhere in assroom ofColorado for such restaurants as El Jefe and ders, draw-Lucky Pie, as well as quick service places such writing wasas Mighty Burger and Hook and Harvest. Sunnyside’s general manager, Colorado native Jonse skills atathan Laxson, pointed to the location’s history, books ear-where the original restaurant tenant Ernie’s as soon asLounge and Supper Club opened in 1943 in a up an areabuilding that once housed a Dodge dealership. own Writ-The place has undergone many changes over heir writ-the decades as it later became 3 Sons, Ernie’s, lly, some-and then Earnest Hall before reopening as until theySunnyside in mid-December. until they
A
The interior has been updated with new furniture and an airy feel to the seating, while neighbors contributed a nod to Sunnyside’s history with some period photos of family members taken at the original Ernie’s Lounge. Those are displayed next to the bar, next to a color portrait of the original guy himself, Ernie Capillupo. But history only goes so far, and the old Elitch’s Skee-ball machines that the latter day Ernie’s once featured have disappeared into the mists of memory since being taken out in the renovation that became Earnest Hall. In their place eventually will be the Mighty Scoops ice cream bar, serving locally sourced Brix ice cream from Edgewater. The food changes extend to the main menu too, which still features pizza—both thin crust Neapolitan style and square-cut, cheese-tothe-edges Detroit style—and North Denver standbys such as chicken Parmesan, meatball sandwiches, and fried calamari. Newer selections include mussels and fries, steak frites, pork belly macaroni and cheese, the Mighty Burger, and an appetizer lineup with choices such as broccolini and polenta.
ood picture es to develsp, feel free .com.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUNNYSIDE SUPPER CLUB
Sunnyside Supper Club has brought back full-service dining from the walk-up “food hall” style Earnest Hall offered at the location. The expanded salads selections include Sunnyside’s house-made salumi and housemade cheeses: mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta, and stracciatella. Beyond the menu, Laxson is proud to be part of the resurrection of what residents have told him feels like an essential part of the neighborhood. After the lengthy closure due to the two-year renovation of Earnest Hall, and then its closure after the pandemic, many are nervous that the latest establishment will also go away. But while there are no guarantees in the restaurant business, Laxson already has a roadmap for expanding Sunnyside’s operating hours to seven days a week—it’s currently closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays—once he can hire enough staff.
Other possible plans call for live indoor music and special “supper club” style nights—say, a fish fry or fried chicken nights—along with garage door-style windows along the wall of the dining area facing Eliot St. Outdoor dining, last seen there during pandemic-era Earnest Hall, also could return during the summer depending on what permitting allows, Laxson said. Sunnyside’s owners are about to broaden their footprint in North Denver, too. A new Hook and Harvest quick service, walk up location is slated to open, possibly as early as this month, in the former Bakery Four location at 3712 W. 32nd Ave., by Highland Square. Featured items include pad thai, a Greek salad with smoked salmon bowl, and a hummus bowl.
/// COMMUNITY ///
Larry Ambrose, Sloan’s Lake Community Leader, Passes Away By The Denver North Star Staff
L
arry Ambrose, known to many in North and West Denver for his work with the Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood Association, Inter-Neig hborhood Cooperation, and other neighborhood efforts, passed away from cancer at the age of 76. Ambrose, who lived across from Sloan’s
Lake, was a persistent presence on development and park issues in the community. The Denver North Star spoke with Ambrose’s family and close friends, who said they are gathering their and community members’ tributes to Larry, which will appear in next month’s issue.
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JROTC at NHS Brings Extracurricular Success Outside of Athletics
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For more than 40 years, Bienvenidos Food Bank has provided Northwest Denver individuals and families with emergency food in a safe, welcoming place.
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to our generous Denver supporters Serves Saves 180,000 pounds of 10,000 Denver who have helped Bienvenidos Food wholesome food from grocery residents a year. stores – that would havebeen been Bank during COVID-19. We have thrown away. one of 62 out of 106 food agencies in Gives away more than Denver that has been able to stay open 375,000 pounds Provides enough food of food valued nearly during theatpandemic. We see new to make more than $600,000 300,000 meals. families weekly, who have suffered economically and physically this year.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
The color guard is probably the most recognized team of any JROTC program. At NHS, the color guard team opens up athletic events, pep rallies, and non school events around Denver.
T
hough it’s not exactly a “sport” in any true sense of the word, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program at North High School provides another outlet for interested students to shine after class lets out—and in some cases before the first bell rings. “It really comes down to the kids’ dedication to what they’re doing. I think they’re having fun, they’re learning some valuable skills, and they’re competitive across the country at the state level and national level,” Maj. Scott Lynch, head instructor for the program, said. “The Raider team for instance, we have 39 of those kids and they’re here three days a week at 6 o’clock in the morning. They practiced until 7:30 this morning and they ran 3.35 miles and it was down in the high 20s this morning. That’s their commitment level.” Lynch has been with NHS for 10 years, after he retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of active service in 2010, and said the program attracts and grooms some of the best students in the area to enter the world as better citizens. The JROTC program is a class, he said, but there are five other extracurricular options within the program that the 127 JROTC students this semester can choose from if they have that extra competitive grit: drill team, Raiders, marksmanship (rifle team), CyberPatriot, and robotics teams. LOTS OF OPTIONS The drill team splits into three more teams: color guard, regulation and exhibition. The color guard presents the flag’s colors at pep rallies, athletic events, and other events around the city such as Colorado Rockies games; while regulation completes a series of commands in a certain order without breaking bearing. Exhibition completes a creative routine that the team made together. The Raiders team competes in physical competitions, with students pushing themselves to their limits mentally as well. It’s similar to the Army ROTC “Ranger” competitions, but far less dangerous, Lynch said. The marksmanship team is NHS’ rifle team, focusing on precision shooting and gun safety, and the team competes against other Denver Public Schools each week during the season. The CyberPatriot program, created by the Air Force, encourages students to pursue a career in cybersecurity and other STEM professions, while the robotics team—more or less—builds robots, some that can operate autonomously. “We’re not here to recruit (to the military). That’s not our mission. Our mission is to mo-
tivate young people to be better citizens, and that does not include serving,” Lynch said. “Some kids do two teams, some only do one team, it’s really just based on what their interests are, and the time they have, and of course how well their academics are.” NOT A SPORT, BUT A PROGRAM, AND A FAMILY Just because there are teams in the program that compete against other schools, JROTC isn’t a sport, Lynch said. The team doesn’t fall under the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), and Lynch added no athletic background is required or necessary to be successful in JROTC. “You don’t have to be athletic at all. The point of Raiders, for instance, is that they come here and learn how to enjoy and be good at being athletic. So they learn how to run, they learn how to stretch, we stress diet and hydration, and we provide a myriad of activities that they can learn how to do properly and can do on their own,” Lynch said. But that doesn’t mean JROTC students aren’t competitive. In fact, Lynch said it’s quite the contrary. Each team competes against other schools across the city, state and country. The Raiders competed in the Loveland High School Raider Challenge on Oct. 16, sweeping all competition which included seven other schools, some Marine and Air Force programs. This included a 3K cross country run, a rope bridge challenge, agility courses, and more. But the rifle team is maybe the most decorated, he said, (though he doesn’t like to compare the teams) and has been nationally recognized for the last five seasons. The team’s Danika Fitzgerald is the number 1 precision shooter in the Western five-state region, Lynch said. No matter the team within JROTC at North, the accolades seem to follow. “We like to call it a family. There are seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen, and they all support each other in all their classes and through their problems. It’s a much more organized support structure than a normal school (atmosphere) provides,” Lynch said. “Kids here, for the most part, they just want to be here, and so that creates a great community environment of a sense of belonging to something other than what they do outside of the school.” For more info, stats, records, and decorated details of each team, visit the school’s JROTC website at northjrotc.com.
The Denver North Star
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NHS Lacrosse Making a Name For Itself in Growing Sport
AT LOW E L L
By John Renfrow
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hen Moira Mahoney was growing up nition that they so deserve,” Mahoney said. in Philadelphia, she said lacrosse was a “I think that’s probably really motivating for relatively exclusive sport dominated mostly by new players.” people who looked like her. Accessibility was The boys’ team at NHS, which was formed low for a wide range of people, and traditional- by Head Coach Scott Forney in 2013, is about ly, those who controlled the sport liked to keep to begin its eighth season. Forney said Colorado is very much a lacrosse state, with Universiit that way. But at North High School, where Mahoney ty of Denver being the only college west of the is now the coach of the girls’ lacrosse program, Mississippi to win an NCAA championship. the sport has seen a big shift in who is able, The Denver Outlaws and Colorado Mamand welcome, to pick up a stick and play. Ma- moth have consistently drawn the highest athoney has been at NHS for five years, the last tendance in professional lacrosse, he said, and year as the head coach. She’s heartwarmed by in the last 15 years, the number of high schools the change, and is a big proponent of spread- with lacrosse programs has gone from the low ing the sport to a more diverse pool of women 30s to more than 70. Despite this, he called the in particular. north Denver neighborhood somewhat of a “I feel super honored to coach lacrosse be- “black hole” for lacrosse. cause I think the history of lacrosse is really “Until recently, it was rare to have a student cool, the indegenous roots,” Mahoney said. athlete from North that was familiar with the “Growing up on the game before joining east coast playing the high school team,” “I think they recognize that lacrosse, it was prehe said. “Despite that, dominantly a very just by being welcoming, kind we have been able to white sport for peocompete at the varsity and inclusive to other players, level, producing qualple with money and ity players that have privilege. We have we can really build this garnered CHSAA such a large indigeprogram up. And I think that’s awards and have gone nous population at North, so I just feel on to compete at the really cool,” Mahoney said. super honored to be college level.” able to share lessons The team finished with players that have been playing, but also at .500 last season, like the girls, with a record brand new players. Our team is super diverse.” of 7-7. Eleven players received conference honThere are girls that have been playing for ors, as well as players earning All-State for the years, and girls that have never picked up first time. a stick before, which is really exciting for Senior Gabe Adams received 2nd Team Mahoney, a lacrosse lifer since she was six All-State at the attack position, and senior years old. Nico Kazenske received All State honorable The first two qualities she mentions of her mention at the defensive midfield position. team are kindness and inclusivity. The latter now plays NCAA DIII at Whittier “I think they recognize that just by being College and the former was introduced to lawelcoming, kind and inclusive to other play- crosse in his sophomore year of high school. ers, we can really build this program up. And I Lacrosse is a difficult sport, both coaches think that’s really cool,” Mahoney said. said. It takes a smooth combination of fiAnd it is growing. In Mahoney’s first year, nesse, toughness, skill and savvy to play at a the team only had four subs on the bench. high level. Now, the team is much more full, and Ma“There’s no shortcuts, no magic wands or honey hopes to soon have a varsity team, a ju- wishes, just a boy (or girl) and his (or her) nior varsity team, and potentially a freshmen drive to succeed. I’ve seen athletes make team. In the 2018-19 season, the team went amazing progressional strides in short pe2-10. In 2019-20, the team didn’t get to play due riods of time. It’s all about how much they to COVID-19. Last season, the team went 5-5, want it. There’s a place for everybody on the lacrosse field, so long as they can use their and had several players recognized: • Reese Ripley (9th grade) - All-State honor- stick,” Forney said. “These students take a lot able mention & 1st team all-conference of pride in where they come from. Wearing • Rachel Zizmor (11th grade) - 2nd Team that North lacrosse jersey with their friends all-conference and competing on that field is everything • Mia Lindstrom (9th grade), Josie Wilson (9th to them.” Both Mahoney and Forney acknowledged grade), and Mylee Martinez (12th grade) were their assistant coaches, adding they wouldn’t honorable mentions “Women’s sports are becoming more pop- be nearly as successful without them. Allie ular, which I love to see. Visibility is huge. Stahmer for the girls’ team was a volunteer Growing up, I didn’t really watch profession- coach last year, and will continue coaching al female athletes play. But now … it’s really this season. Kevin Bertrand for the boys’ team just powerful being able to see strong female was honored as the 2021 Assistant Coach of athletes be successful and getting that recog- the Year in the Denver Prep Conference.
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The NHS girls' lacrosse team is growing, and quickly. Head Coach Moira Mahoney has led the effort to diversify the sport and her team to make lacrosse more available and welcoming.
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Grace in the Time of COVID T
esting positive for COVID in December wasn’t surprising, even though my whole family is vaccinated and boosted. Folks were having conversations like, ERIKA TAYLOR “well, this is the strain we’re all going to get— at least this one is mild for most vaccinated people.” A week after flying home, our college kid felt sick, tested positive and five days later he was almost fully recovered. So when I felt a tickle in my throat and got my positive test result, we were crushed at canceling our extended family Christmas, but we weren’t worried. We have a comfortable guest room where I could quarantine so I made myself a Netflix watch list and settled in. And then came the first curveball. My symptoms were not mild. My throat felt like swallowing razor blades, my head was in a vice no matter how much Tylenol I took. Fever, short breath, inability to focus even to read a few pages, and exhaustion so intense I slept the better part of most days. And then the cough came. The doctors gave me steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, cough suppressants, and antihistamines. Over the course of the next two weeks, many of the symptoms started to resolve. But that cough! As I write this, I am 40 days past first testing positive. This article is the first work I have been able to accomplish in that time. The cough, headache and exhaustion drive my schedule. As challenging as those symptoms are, the hardest to stomach are the guilt and the shame. Guilt driven by knowing how much worse this could be. Imagining what so many families would give to have their lost loved one alive and figuring out how to navigate these same symptoms that I am complaining about. Guilt that I am so frustrated by loss of function when I can’t imagine how it would be to have to come back from weeks in an ICU bed. And shame. This one really surprised me. When I finally said it out loud, I heard “same” from almost everyone I told. How could this have happened—to me? Me, who takes care of myself, and who did all the things to keep myself and those around me safe? Of course, if a friend said this I would assure them that their shame is unwarranted. That they did do everything they could, and that sometimes we just have to sit with the randomness that is this life. At the beginning of this pandemic, the wellness world seized on the idea that the virus was more likely to cause catastrophic illness if its host was already infirm. And, as any industry is wont to do, quickly began to offer itself as the
Boxing
Continued from Page 3 Citizens' Group for support. He may stage a demonstration. “It's gonna break my heart when we have to leave, but I'm not leaving quietly,” Quintana said. His niece, Rayna Quintana, started a petition on change.org. That’s not too surprising considering boxing is a family affair for the Quintanas. Mike Quintana is the third generation of his family to lead the club. “We're like a landmark, you know,” Quintana said. “You don't mess—to my understanding—you don't mess with landmarks. You don't mess with history.” FEW OPTIONS Born and raised in Denver, Sandoval knows of the Quintanas’ work with youth and with people that need second chances. They’ve changed lives, she said. Sandoval had hoped Denver Parks and Recreation could find another facility for the club to move into. But most city facilities in northwest Denver are occupied. In fact, she said the city is leasing space in the Denver Post building because the city lacks places for
Page 10 February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022
prophylactic. Now—I am not here to tell you that hydration, rest, eating well, exercising and tending to your finances and relationships, the things we do to maintain our overall wellness, aren’t contributors to positive health outcomes of all kinds. They are. But here’s the thing. Even if we do all those things; we still might get sick. Did the fact that I am generally very healthy, get plenty of exercise, eat well, get good sleep and stay hydrated keep me from being sicker? Is my habit of listing 5 things I’m grateful for first thing after I open my eyes in the morning mitigating these feelings of hopelessness? The answer to those questions is, resoundingly, “yes.” Every single doctor that I have spoken to through this has confirmed this. As frustrated as I am with the slow pace of my recovery, I know that the things that had me well before this are the things that will get me well again. Over years of trial and error, I’ve built my personal practice in a way that the things I am longing to get back to doing are the very things that will keep me well. And if you haven’t already, you can too! It starts with nakedly assessing where your health is and owning the things you do that contribute to that. Nearly every one of us can quit smoking or take up a breath practice and we will reap the benefits when we do. And at the very same time, a virus can find us and send us to bed for weeks and ravage our health. This is the hard part for me. Letting go of the intense desire for control. There is not one darn thing I can do to change the fact I got sick. But,I can drink water, spend a few moments each day focused on my breath, move my body in ways that feel good, spend time outside with people I enjoy, eat well, and get the rest I know my body craves. I will be grateful for the good care I am getting and I will give myself grace in those moments when gratitude is hard to find. I will resist comparing my recovery to others and I will allow myself to mourn the things I am missing at the very same time I celebrate the things I have. Because at the end of the day, that is who I am. Even when I’m sick. I would love to hear your stories about experiencing illness and injury:what did you do to recover, or if you haven’t recovered, how do you see your path forward? Sharing these stories is the best way to give ourselves and each other the grace we all need to heal. Erika Taylor is a community wellness instigator at Taylored Fitness. Taylored Fitness believes that everyone can discover small changes in order to make themselves and their communities more vibrant. Visit facebook.com/erika. taylor.303 or email erika@tayloredfitness.com.
its own employees. “It's disappointing anytime that we can't find a win-win situation,” she said. Although City Council votes to approve or deny leases and lease extensions, she said council cannot initiate an extension. In Quintana’s case, that would have to be done by Denver Parks and Recreation, according to the councilwoman. His department is trying to be as supportive as possible, Gilmore said, but in the end, it’s not their responsibility to make sure all nonprofits have a home. Even though it would be a hassle, Amanda Mondragon said they’d follow Quintana Boxing to a new location. So would Renee Rivera, whose 14-year-old grandson Adrian Lopez has been boxing at the gym since he was eight. But Quintana’s not confident he’ll be able to find a place the club can afford, considering that the boxing club was not paying any rent to use the Sloan’s Lake space. One spot he looked into wanted $6,000 a month, another wanted $8,000. Neither were in Denver. Quintana said that anyone wanting to donate money to help the team out could contact him via email at quintanaboxing@yahoo.com. “It's just sad and unfortunate,” Rivera said. “We'll see what happens.”
The Denver North Star
/// COMMUNITY ///
THE GRAY ZONE: STORIES CONNECTED TO NORTH DENVER’S OLDER ADULTS
VIDState Lawmakers See Dozens of Bills to Support and Leverage Colorado’s Growing 65+ Population T he Colorado General Assembly is about a quarter of the way through its session that will end May 11. And of nearly 300 bills under consideration so far, the Colorado CenKATHRYN WHITE ter for Aging (CCA) is following 46. In last month’s Gray Zone, we shared what AARP Colorado, CCA and the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter are hoping to see unfold this session. Now we’ve also reached out to North Denver’s Senator Julie Gonzales, House Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Alex Valdez, and the Governor’s Senior Policy Advisor on Aging, Jarett Hughes. But first, a roundup of seven bills The Gray Zone is following for readers this month: MODERNIZATION OF THE OLDER COLORADANS' ACT HB22-1035 adds state infrastructure geared toward implementing the 2020 Strategic Action Plan on Aging. The changes stem from work by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging (SAPGA) that was formed as a result of 2015 legislation. Among other things, the bill reorganizes and expands (from 17 to 19) the state’s commission on aging and it connects strategic goals on aging to specific staff and committees of the state. HB22-1035 passed (with amendments) out of the Committee for Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services, where North Denver’s House Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez serves. CCA strongly supports this bill. HEALTH-CARE PRECEPTORS TAX CREDIT HB22-1005 expands a tax credit program for health-care preceptors working in rural and frontier areas of the state. It has been amended and approved by the House Committee on Health & Insurance. CCA supports this bill. ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY CUSTOMER PROTECTIONS HB22-1018 provides greater consumer protections connected to a customer’s ability to pay their utility bill, including restric-
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tions forbidding an electric or gas utility from shutting off service on a weekend or a state or federal holiday. HB22-1018 was introduced in the House and assigned to the Energy & Environment Committee, where North Denver’s House Representative Alex Valdez serves. CCA supports this bill.
HOME OWNERS' REASONABLE ACCESS TO COMMON AREAS HB22-1040 establishes the right of unit owners in “common interest communities” to have reasonable access to common elements of those communities. It includes a requirement that an association provide, in writing and through posted signage, an explanation for the closure and an estimated end date. HB22-1040 passed (with amendments) out of the House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor. CCA supports this bill. MOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT HB22-1051 extends the period of the tax credit through 2034 (adding 10 years) and increases the annual aggregate cap for those additional years to $15M. HB22-1051 has been introduced in the House and assigned to the House Transportation & Local Government committee. CCA supports this bill. DEMENTIA TRAINING REQUIREMENTS COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY AND FINANCING RULES SB22-079 will require state departments to develop rules requiring nursing care facilities, assisted living residences, and adult day care facilities to provide dementia training for staff who provide direct-care services to clients and residents of the facilities. It has been introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Health & Human Services Committee. The Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter was instrumental in developing the framework for this bill. HEALTH FACILITY VISITATION DURING PANDEMIC SB22-053 responds to limitations on visi-
Tennyson Street
tation that were implemented by health care facilities during the pandemic. SB22-053 has been introduced in the Senate and assigned to the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee, which is chaired by North Denver Senator Julie Gonzales. CCA is neutral on this bill. A spokesperson for the Governor’s office expressed support for HB22-1035, Modernization of the Older Coloradans’ Act, "Colorado has one of the fastest growing populations of adults aged 60+ in the country. Our growing aging population will create unique opportunities and challenges across a variety of sectors including workforce, housing, health care, education, transportation and mobility, social services, built design, and technology. Updating our Older Coloradans’ Act is a fundamental step in the right direction.” House Representative Alex Valdez said he agrees that Colorado needs to be better equipped to support and leverage its growing 65+ population. Regarding SB22-079 (dementia training for direct care providers), he believes it’s important to support health care worker competency in as many areas as possible. As Chair of the House Energy & Environment Committee, he thinks of his grandparents, and others on fixed incomes, whenever a bill connected to utility costs crosses his desk.
GETTING INVOLVED CCA makes their Bill Report, built on the nonpartisan Colorado Capitol Watch platform, available online. They also encourage people to get involved by becoming a member and helping to shape positions on bills. The 46 bills CCA is tracking this session can be sorted by columns including the CCA position (support, monitor, neutral, oppose), the bill’s status and next hearing date. Included with each bill on the CCA Bill Report is a link to view how registered lobbyists are lining up (amending, monitoring, opposing or supporting). You’ll see a wide range of cities, consultants, associations, and advocacy groups represented here. For example, in the case of HB22-1018 (consumer protections with utility companies) you will see that groups like AARP and Colorado Cross
Disability Coalition are currently in support, while Excel Energy and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce stand opposed. To get involved with CCA at the Capitol or by Zoom, visit coloradocenterforaging.org. And visit these websites to dig further in: • CCA Bill Tracker: coloradocenterforaging.org/legislative-resources/cca-2022bill-tracker • Watch the General Assembly (including committees) LIVE: leg.colorado.gov/ watch-listen One final note: Thank you to the Governor’s office on aging and Rep. Alex Valdez for taking the time to talk about legislation impacting 65+ Coloradans. We hope Senator Julie Gonzales and Rep. Serena Gonazles-Gutierrez are able to share their thoughts in a future edition of The Gray Zone. Kathryn has lived in North Denver since around the time the Mount Carmel High School building was razed and its lot at 3600 Zuni became Anna Marie Sandoval Elementary. She’s raised two children in the neighborhood, worked at several nonprofits, and volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter. Do you have story ideas for The Gray Zone? Email Kathryn@DenverNorth Star.com. North Denver in the Colorado General Assembly State Senate District 34 Senator Julie Gonzales julie.gonzales.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4862 State House District 4 Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez serena.gonzales-gutierrez.house@ state.co.us 303-866-2954 State House District 5 Representative Alex Valdez alex.valdez.house@state.co.us 303-866-2925
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/ / / A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T / / /
/// COMMUNITY ///
CHECKING OUT
SHAPING OUR FUTURE BY REMEMBERING OUR PAST
Checking Out: High House
I
n the not-so-distant future, Caro and her brother Pauly live in England with their increasingly on-the-road parents–Francesca, a wellHANNAH EVANS known climate scientist determined to get the word out about impending disaster, and their father, a college professor who joins her. As more extreme weather takes shape throughout the world, Caro serves as Pauly’s main caretaker as islands disappear into the ocean and shores are destroyed. Caro’s father calls one day and tells her to take Pauly to their summer home immediately– the two set off for Suffolk to a house on a hill that they haven’t been to in years, only to discover a sustainable bunker they didn’t know about and a young caretaker and her aging grandfather with great knowledge about the land. As the modern world crumbles around them, the four inhabitants rely on a barn full of supplies and the food they can grow in Jessie Greengrass’ new novel, “The High House” (2021, Scribner). Told through the switching perspectives of Caro, Pauly, and Sally, the caretaker, “The High House” explores the nuances of small interactions from each person’s perspectives, as well as the vastly different responses to the grief surrounding such a significant and almost unfathomable event as modern infrastructure’s total collapse. Caro feels at a loss, lying in bed for days, while Sally keeps herself constantly busy with any task at hand. Pauly is only a few years old when he arrives at the
High House and remembers little of the world outside, occupying himself with his fascination with birds and the nature that surrounds them. Through the hardships of forging on without supplies or connections to the outside, caring for Pauly as he grows up becomes a focal point and a source of joy for the rest of the household. As Caro observes, “there is a kind of organic mercy, grown deep inside us, that makes it so much easier to care about small, close things, else how could we live?” While labeled as science fiction (and also referred to as part of the growing subgenre of “cli-fi,” or climate fiction), the most striking parts of “The High House” are the small things–Pauly’s love for a pair of egrets and his ability to name all of the birds around him; the grandfather’s care and attention to his surroundings, tenderly sketching a picture of a badger he leaves food for and referring to him as a “fine young chap;” the variety of toys and games Francesca collected and left among the supplies for Pauly as he grew up. During mind-numbingly uncertain times, it can feel so futile to continue long-worn routines or to cling to small observations–but “The High House” reminds us that those small things can sometimes mean everything. Check out “The High House” at your closest Denver Public Library location or as an ebook or eaudiobook through denverlibrary.com. Hannah Evans is the senior librarian at the Smiley Branch of the Denver Public Library.
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Page 12 February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022
Transfiguration Church in Globeville: An Oral History
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orth and West Denver are blessed with many historic churches and synagogues which help build strong and vigorous communities, DENNIS GALLAGHER knitting together an important fabric that makes neighborhood stories memorable and worthy of remembering. Today, we call these stories diversity. It's my story too. I first visited Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Church in Globeville in high school when my friend Ivan Ambrose invited me. Ivan also invited me to take a course in Slovenian taught by Fr. Leopold Mihalich, pastor of Holy Rosary Slovenian Catholic Church on West 47th Avenue and Sherman Street. Fr. Mihalich, from Mostar in the old Yugoslavia, literally walked and bicycled out of Europe to get away from the Nazis. He finally got to America and was assigned to be pastor of Holy Rosary. Ivan and I met when we worked as stage hands at the historic and still solid-as-a-rock Colosseum, a great first job, but that's another story. Fr. Mihalich always commented on how happy he was to see a non-Slavic name on his Slovenian class roster. I thought "Gallagher" fit in just fine in a spirit of early ecumenical diversity and transparency. Studying Slovenian got me interested in Slavic languages, so when I started attending Regis, I signed up first for Latin and Greek, my minors, and then a Russian class. And when Ivan invited me to the post Roman midnight Russian Easter at Transfiguration, the Easter celebrated by the Orthodox Christians, I jumped at the chance. In those days much of the service was in Slavonic and Russian, and the chanting celebratory and uplifting. Today, services are all in English. The congregants processioned around the church three times with candles marking the time Jesus spent in the tomb before rising. In pre-Covid days, after services the church members would retire to the church hall for a sumptuous roasted lamb dinner. It was memorable, and from that day on I was hooked on the Eastern Church and its liturgy. Transfiguration Church’s start was not without controversy and contention. You see, dear reader, it was originally a Greek Catholic Uniate church, under Roman jurisdiction but following all the rules of Orthodox churches, under a patriarch appointed by the Pope. The Uniates were protected from persecution in Poland because these Christians were under Rome and had the Pope's approval and protection. So when Fr. Nicholas Saragelli, from Carpathia, shows up to be the pastor of Transfiguration, the Roman Bishop Nicholas C. Matz had an episcopal tantrum. Fr. Saragelli had a wife and kids, as is allowed in the Eastern rites. It was rumored Matz did not like the Slavs any more than he liked the Irish priests in his diocese and was quoted as saying, "no priest in my diocese will have a wife and children." He ex-
communicated the Eastern rite Greek Catholic priest, Fr. Saragelli. Let me remind you, there are 23 rites in the Roman church and only one,DIANA DEGE the Latin Rite which is also the biggest, does not allow for a married clergy. Bishop Matz told the parishioners of Transfiguration they can just switch to the Latin rite and abandon their Slavonic rite. The people had a big meeting and sent a telegram to Russian Orthodox Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco asking they receive the parish into the Orthodox faith. Some time later, Archbishop Tikhon came to Denver and received the church into Orthodoxy. At the opening ceremony, Archbishop Tikhon thanked Bishop Matz "for giving Colorado its only Orthodox Church." Remember, this is in the early 1900s here in Denver. Tikhon built the altar which is now enclosed in the altar table behind the inspiring iconostasis, the icon wall in front of the altar. Can you imagine, an archbishop actually using a saw and hammer and wooden pegs to literally build an altar table? I can't recall it. Tikhon was called back to Moscow to become the Patriarch of Moscow during the communist revolution and was eventually martyred. He is now a saint. When Tikhon told Tsar Nicholas II, the last of the Romanov tsars, about Transfiguration becoming Orthodox, Nicholas sent three specially cast Russian bells which still welcome church celebrations today. Tamara Lagaloff of Paris and Theodore Jurevich did the mystical wall and ceiling icons for the church. The church has its own iconographer, Rafael, who paints in acrylics. After the Russian Revolution, the Soviet communist government did everything they could to disrupt the Orthodox churches across the United States. They tried to sell off churches and icons to fund their atheistic government programs. They sent over fake priests to disrupt the churches. It took years for Transfiguration to recover. But now, under the expert leadership of Fr. David Thatcher and his wife, Transfiguration welcomes anyone interested in attending their services at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays. The church and its members are very welcoming. The church is still located at East 47th Avenue and Logan Street in Globeville. Please wear a mask. You might also want to call as a courtesy to let them know you are coming. I wish to thank Fr. Joseph Hirsch and Fr. James Worth, two former Transfiguration pastors, for the wonderful oral histories of the parish they so kindly shared with me. This is a painful but joyous history and we should talk about it, not brush it under the proverbial rug. Any questions? Email me at dgallag954@ aol.com. The Honorable Dennis Gallagher is a former city auditor, city councilman, state senator and state representative. He shares thoughts and stories from North Denver’s past and future in his monthly column in The Denver North Star.
/// NEWS SHORTS ///
New Car Share Program Lands in North Denver By Allen Cowgill
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enver residents have a new option to get to rent the small SUVs start at about 49 cents around with the arrival of Free2Move per minute for short rentals or $69 per day. The car share. cars can be opened via the company’s smart After the departure of Car2Go in phone app, and the rental can late 2019, North Denver has been be ended anywhere within without a large-scale their designated area in free floating car Denver and parked on the share program. street. Their rental area Free2Move plans is bordered by Sheridan to have around Boulevard on the west and PHOTO BY ALLEN COWGILL 160 Jeeps in Denver, 41st Avenue on the north. The and 38 of them were located throughout company, based in Europe, manages about North Denver on a recent night in early Feb- 450,000 vehicles worldwide. More details are ruary. Residents can rent the brand new Jeep on their website at free2move.com/en-US/freeRenegades by the minute, hour, or day. Costs floating-car-sharing.
The Denver North Star
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/// NEWS SHORTS ///
Update From Congresswoman Diana DeGette Sunnyside
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fter months of various stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the world’s economies are DIANA DEGETTE starting to ramp back up. Factories and businesses – both across the country and around the globe – are coming back online as more and more people are starting to travel once again. As manufacturing activity across the country continues to rise so, too, does the amount of pollution some of these facilities create. For communities like Globeville and Elyria-Swansea, this increased activity poses a direct threat not only to our environment, but to the health and well-being of the nearly 11,000 residents who live there. For years, the individuals and families living in these two north Denver communities have been suffering from unusually high levels of pollution. Located between two major interstates, adjacent to a busy railyard, and surrounded by some of the area’s largest industrial facilities, these two predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods are often the most affected when our environmental laws are skirted or broken. And, sadly, they’re not alone. In nearly every state across the country, there are low-income or predominantly minority communities suffering from unacceptably high levels of pollution – and every single one of them deserves our immediate help. Data shows that when our nation’s environmental laws are not properly followed or enforced, it is the poorest among us who suffer the most. In, or around, many of these communities, there are facilities – like Suncor’s
oil refinery located near Globeville and Elyria-Swansea – that have been cited hundreds of times over the years for violating our environmental laws, but have never once had their permits revoked as a result. Ensuring these facilities are doing everything they can to protect the residents who live nearby should be a top priority for all levels of government – but doing so, alone, will not fully alleviate the harm that’s being caused to so many communities here in the U.S.
“Environmental justice” should be more than just a catchphrase, it should be our collective mission. For communities like Globeville and Elyria-Swansea, the cumulative effect of having so many sources of pollution all around them – even if every one of them was operating within its legal limits – would likely still have a detrimental effect on the health of the residents who live there. That’s why, we must go further. In an effort to better to protect the communities that have been forced to bear the brunt of this crisis for far too long, I have introduced legislation that would not only crack down on facilities that are frequently violating our nation’s environmental laws, but would also require EPA to consider how multiple sources of pollution are impacting a community. If approved, my legislation would require EPA to identify 100 low-income or predominantly minority communities across the country that are currently suffering from
high levels of pollution and work directly with local officials to clean them up. It would also require the agency to identify the facilities in and around these communities that are consistently violating our nation’s environmental laws and put a stop to it. And, it would – for the first time – require EPA to address the cumulative effect that multiple sources of pollution can have on a community; and develop new standards to keep residents safe. While current law requires regulators to evaluate how the emissions from a single facility could impact the health of those living nearby, it does not require them to take into account how multiple sources of pollution, all operating at the same time, could impact the health of residents there. My legislation would change that. While we were able to get this important legislation voted on and approved by the House in 2020, it was never called up by the Senate for a vote. Now, with factories and facilities across the country once again coming back online, the need to get this legislation to the president’s desk has reached a new level of urgency. Every family in this country – no matter where they live, where they’re from, or how much money they make – deserves clear air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a safe environment to call home. No community should be forced to suffer from the amount of pollution that Globeville and Elyria-Swansea are currently surrounded by. “Environmental justice” should be more than just a catchphrase, it should be our collective mission. And we should all be working together to make it a reality for every single community in this country.
Conservation Overlay Moving Forward By David Sabados
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PHOTO BY DAVID SABADOS
proposal to restrict certain home forms is moving to the next phase of consideration. The Sunnyside Conservation Overlay was created by members of the Sunnyside United Neighbors registered neighborhood organization (RNO) and is being sponsored by Councilwoman Amanda P. Sandoval. The proposal includes multiple elements, such as requiring covered porches, brick or brick-like materials, and restricting the maximum height and square footage of homes. The overlay would potentially ban “wedding cake” style single family homes and duplexes that have become increasingly common across North Denver. Sandoval’s office has sent the proposal to the Community Planning and Development department for the city, which will review it and give time for more community input before City Council would potentially vote on the overlay. For more details on the overlay, check out the full article in the July 2021 edition of The Denver North Star, still available online.
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/// POLITICS ///
City Council Moves to Bring Zoning Department’s Board of Adjustment into Modern Era By Kathryn White
I
t’s been a year since Shawn and Ben Johnson walked away from their experience with Denver’s Board of Adjustment for Zoning Appeals (BOA) feeling confused and angered. Their attempts to obtain a variance for an additional 94 square feet to build a wheelchair-lift accessible accessory dwelling unit (ADU) felt to them like grasping for straws. Long before the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Denver’s BOA was born. The entity was created by the city charter in the early 1920s when Denver’s zoning code was a mere 15 pages long. The BOA was part of a zoning framework triggered by the federal government’s passage of the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act in 1924. The early 20th century was an era when zoning codes were emerging across the country and used for purposes well beyond your standard setbacks and height restrictions. During this time, for example, zoning codes were a powerful factor entrenching racial housing segregation and in confining immigrant populations to specific areas of a city (and out of others). Today, Denver’s zoning code is closer to 1,500 pages long. And the city is now guided by housing and land use frameworks, such as Blueprint Denver, that were created with social equity outcomes in mind. But the structure and duties laid out for the BOA in the city charter have not kept up with the times. They remained entirely unchanged until 1956, when the BOA’s responsibilities were narrowed to three basic functions: 1) to provide an administrative review that, if successful, reverses a decision where the Zoning Administrator has "erred;” 2) to grant variances for deviations from zoning code when a hardship has been established; and 3) to stay or delay a zoning enforcement action. And Kniech pointed out in an interview with The Denver North Star, that redlining was still commonplace in Denver in 1956. In the 1980s, there was one more change: The mayor took over, from City Council, the
SESSION
Continued from Page 1 TWO BILLS FOCUSED ON STOPPING CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS Catalytic converter thefts are one of the other most prevalent property crime issues in the city, especially in North Denver. Converters aren’t valuable themselves, but contain
role of appointing the BOA’s five members and two alternates. It was this chasm between the city’s values of today and the BOA’s outdated functioning that drew The Denver North Star’s coverage in May and July 2021. Sunnyside couple Shawn and Ben Johnson had been denied a zoning variance— after two hearings, an updated design and an appeal—as they sought to build a wheelchair accessible second floor ADU for Shawn’s mom Catherine Johnson. In last year’s follow-up reporting, we shared about the Community Planning and Development department’s efforts to correct the BOA mishandling of Ms. Johnson’s disability by granting them an alternate pathway for obtaining a variance. And we highlighted other concerning aspects of the case: the board’s racially homogenous composition, the Johnsons’ experience with bias, the city’s thin options for accountability of BOA members, and a process that did not appear to be consistent from case to case. This month, there’s a proposal before City Council to bring the BOA into the modern area. District 1 Councilmember Amanda P. Sandoval and Councilmember At-Large Robin Kniech presented their two-phase proposal to Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 18, and their Phase 1, in the form of Council Bill 22-0093, will be heard by the entire City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Both Sandoval and Kniech have been hearing from constituents with concerns about the BOA for a while. And while Sandoval is very familiar with Shawn and Ben Johnson’s case, she emphasized that Council Bill 22-0093 is not a response to any one BOA case. Before formulating their proposal, the two council members enlisted the support of Denver’s Zoning Administration staff in order to understand best practices across the country. The staff combed through modernization efforts—from Austin to Boston, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, Miami and New York— to uncover the details of updated practices. make thefts less profitable in part by regulating the used converter market, requiring the devices to be registered, and requiring salvagers and recyclers to keep records of who sold them converters, which makes it hard to sell stolen devices. Converters’ major components would also be added to Colorado’s “chop shop” statute, and adds materials to the commodity theft task force, allowing more focus on converter thefts. Rep. Valdez called it “a great strategy”
PHOTO BY DAVID SABADOS
Rep. Alex Valdez said he ordered his pirate hat and eye patch online and was thankful they weren’t stolen before he could wear them to the committee meeting. rare materials like rhodium. Converter thefts skyrocketed from 14 reported thefts across the city in 2019 to 2,671 in 2021 according to the Denver Police Department, with an average of 4 stolen per day in early January of this year. Adams County legislator Rep. Adrienne Benevidez is one of the sponsors of both SB22-009 and HB22-1217, which seek to
and said he looks forward to supporting the bill if it reaches the floor for a full vote. For more information on legislation impacting 65+ residents, check on this month's Gray Zone on page 11. Note: Check back next month for our next legislative update featuring Senator Julie Gonzales
Page 14 February 15, 2022-March 14, 2022
They found trends toward more professional and staff involvement in decisions (versus citizen volunteer boards) and trends toward moving functional details for entities like the BOA out of city charters and into “code,” so that changes can happen when needed to support a city’s plans and goals. PHASE 1 Council Bill 22-0093 leans on the powers City Council has been granted through the charter to “re-establish” the BOA structure, adding requirements for qualifications and training as well as shifting to a shared authority for appointments. The Mayor would retain two of five appointments. City Council would gain two, and the fifth would be jointly appointed. Kniech highlighted an equity-informed city council recruitment apparatus that has been created to draw candidates from a broadened pool across all council districts and a variety of experiences in our city. If passed, the BOA’s composition would, by June 2022, need to include at least one member from each of the following professions: architect; urban planning, construction, engineering or development; and attorney. Remaining members “should have a demonstrated interest in land use/zoning.” The proposal also requires training for every board member in the areas of zoning code; legal procedure; adopted plans; diversity, equity, inclusion; ADA; civil rights; and fair housing. PHASE 2 The City of Denver operates, generally, through the two frameworks of a city charter and a municipal code (ordinances). A vote of the people is required to change the city charter. And because some details regarding the BOA’s operation are detailed in the city charter, Phase 2 of the plan to modernize the BOA entails moving those details, as is, from the charter to the code before it can embark on further plans to update the BOA’s duties, criteria, standards and process. Sandoval and Kniech antic-
Wh Me Rep
ipate City Council referring this second phase to Denver voters on the Spring 2023 ballot.
CHANGES THAT HIT HOME The Johnsons are glad to see City Council taking action. They can picture a day when BOA members are trained and required to meet additional qualifications, a day when the experience for other families will be less heartbreaking. They wonder if the emphasis on including professionals in the construction industry (i.e., requiring the board to include an architect) could perpetuate risks around self-dealing and conflicts of interest. And so, they’ll continue to stay involved. Their project is back on track, though they haven’t yet broke ground. The lost year brought changes to the construction industry: rising costs, materials shortages and other delays. Alongside restarting the project, there’s been a formal HUD investigation into the BOA’s handling of their case. Findings will be released this spring. Once built, though, Ben says, “the ADU will become a sort of monument to our family’s drive and determination.” It won’t replace the year when Shawn’s mom couldn’t live nearby and be provided a safe home to meet her special medical needs. Despite the delay, Catherine Johnson’s excitement about Colorado has remained strong. She’s talking about favorite meals she’ll cook for Shawn and Ben when she’s here and highlights of Colorado she can’t wait to see, like the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Denverites who would like to provide input on Phase 1 of Sandoval and Kniech’s proposal (Council Bill 22-0093) can sign up to participate in a required public comment session taking place Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. You can sign up as early as the Friday beforehand by visiting denvergov.org/citycouncil and selecting “Public Input.” A discussion and final vote could happen as early as that same evening.
Every legislator can introduce at least five bills in their chamber each session in addition to sponsoring bills from the other chamber. Not all bills have been introduced yet this session. HOW TO READ A BILL: HB means the bill was first introduced in the House SB means the bill was first introduced in the Senate 22 means it’s part of the 2022 legislative session The last numbers are unique each year to identify the bill BILLS YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE SPONSORING SO FAR: Representative Serena GonzalesGutierrez HB22-1003: Creates a two year pilot grant program to fund projects aimed at reducing juvenile crime HB22-1131: Changes the minimum age of a juvenile who is subject to the juvenile court’s jurisdiction from 10 to 13, except in homicide cases HB22-1067: Clarifies the amount of time a defendant can be held in jail before a hearing in municipal court SB22-023: Prohibits law enforcement officers from using deception to obtain a statement or admission from a juvenile SB22-087: Reimburses local school districts for the cost of providing healthy meals to students using federal funds SB22-095 Requires the department of public safety to provide more detailed reporting of missing persons information Representative Alex Valdez HB22-1030: Income Tax Credit for Package Anti-theft devices
HB22-1114: Authorizes a Transportation Network Company to Provide nonmedical transportation services to person who are enrolled in certain medicaid waiver programs HB22-1116: Creation of a policy review panel to study plant-based medicines for mental health Senator Julie Gonzales SB22-023: Prohibits law enforcement officers from using deception to obtain a statement or admission from a juvenile SB22-094: Grants property and casualty insurance claimants a reimbursement for costs of an successful appeal SB22-103: Allows defendants who were not effectively advised of the immigration consequences of a guilty plea to petition the court for an order vacating the plea HB22-1003: Creates a two year pilot grant program to fund projects aimed at reducing juvenile crime HB22-1060: Creates contribution limits for school board candidates of $2,500 for individuals and $25,000 for small donor committees HB22-1112: Extends the time requirements for reporting on-the-job injuries HB22-1131: Changes the minimum age of a juvenile who is subject to the juvenile court’s jurisdiction from 10 to 13, except in homicide cases
The Denver North Star
/// POLITICS ///
What Redistricting Could Mean for North Denver’s Representation By David Sabados
E
very ten years, the U.S. government con- the West Colfax community into District ducts the census, updating information 3 (currently it’s split between the two dison how many people live in the country, tricts). It also shifts the area near Commons and locally how many people live in each Park into District 1, but not Union Station. city and town, and each neighborhood and Sandoval said part of her goal was keepbuilding. Using that data, the federal, state, ing what’s been historically called Denver’s and local governments create new political Northside intact. In contrast, plan A, sponsored by District 9 districts, balancing the number of people in each to account for growth and shrinkage in Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, shifts Chafdifferent areas. fee Park and part of Sunnyside into District 9, After voters passed Amendments Y and Z where they would join the Globeville, Elyria, in 2018, boundaries for the congressional and and Swansea communities along with Whitlegislative offices are now drawn by an inde- tier, Cole, and others near City Park. It would pendent commission. While little changed also move all of West Colfax into District 3. at the federal level for Denver, the state and Plan F, submitted by District 4 Councillocal lines did shift, but because state legis- woman Amanda Sawyer, would also shift the lative lines don’t cross county lines unless Chaffee Park neighborhood into District 9, necessary, changes to the northwest corner but not Sunnyside. It would also move all of of the city were slight. Some Chaffee Park, West Colfax into District 3. Sunnyside, and Highland residents who were Both A and F would involve District in House District 4 (currently represented by 1 picking up more of the area around Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez) are now in Union Station. Map B, submitted by District 3 CouncilHouse District 5 (currently represented by Rep. Alex Valdez). Jefferson Park is shifting woman Jamie Torres, would shift all of the from District 5 to 4. While Senate District 34 area West of Federal and North of Colfax to (currently represented by Sen. Julie Gonza- District 1. les) also shifted to no longer include parts of Map C, submitted by District 2 Coundowntown Denver, there is no change to the cilman Kevin Flynn, would shift the West Colfax and Jefferson Park communities into senate district lines in Northwest Denver. At the city level, redistricting is underway, District 3. and could include more substantive changes, Council passed a resolution with guiding or very few depending on how the process principles for the process, including ensuring turns out. The city redistricting is also at the as even of a population distribution as possiphase where officials are seeking communi- ble, respect for communities of interest, and ty input. Unlike the the like. One point state’s new indepenwas slightly more “It's not about who gets dent commission controversial though: process, the Denver the decision to take the zoo or who gets the City Council draws current council stadium…it's about people new district lines, members' home addresses into account and District 1 Counbeing represented.” cilwoman Amanda so they would not be P. Sandoval is chairdrawn into the same ing the committee overseeing the process. districts if they run for reelection. That differs Councilmembers and the community sub- from the state process, which does not have a mitted maps, and councilmembers were able similar protection, which means two sitting to sponsor maps for official consideration legislators could end up in the same district if (their own or those created by community they run again. Councilwoman CdeBaca was members). “It's an honor to be the chair,” said critical of its inclusion and told The Denver Sandoval, noting that she believes she is the North Star that it “made me really uncomfirst woman councilmember to chair a redis- fortable.” She said that because of that protectricting process in Denver. tion some districts might have to deprioritize Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez’s other aspects when drawing the lines. Sanoffice was responsible for creating new pre- doval acknowledged that the point was more cincts—the smallest political boundary, which contentious, but said it was included because are generally smaller than a neighborhood. the majority of council members supported “I’m so proud of our team,” Lopez said in an in- it. CdeBaca’s map does not take members’ terview, noting that his office completed their current addresses into consideration, in line role two months early to give the council more with her philosophy. It does place two curtime. Beyond that, his office isn’t involved with rent members in the same district if they run map creation, but as a former council member for reelection. At the first virtual public meeting on Feb. he shared some insight and recommendations. “We can't be attached to the lines as is,” he said. 2, the six sponsored maps were presented, “It's not about who gets the zoo or who gets the which led several community members to stadium…it's about people being represented.” express frustration that no maps authored by He said council members should be open to community members were included in the lines changing and praised Councilwoman formal discussion. Several council members Sandoval’s efforts, saying she’s making the responded that they reviewed all the commuprocess more open and transparent than it has nity maps when creating their own. The meeting had 74 attendees at its peak according to been previously. One of those changes this time around was the city, with roughly a third of those being the public’s ability to access web-based map- city staff members and elected officials, based ping software at home, Sandoval explained. on the government emails of registrants. Previously, community members had to use The city also scheduled meetings for Feb. one of two designated computers at the City 9, 12, and 15. If you’re interested in attending and County building, limiting access. There one of the final two meetings, the informaare also more community meetings than in tion is below. Council is anticipating a final previous processes, and council hired a third vote on March 29. You can view all council and community party facilitator to run the community meetings rather than run them themselves. created maps, as well as more information, Council members have sponsored a total of online at denvergov.org/redistricting. six maps, some of which could seriously alter Redistricting community meetings: North Denver’s representation, while others • Feb. 16, 5:30-7 p.m. keep lines relatively the same. Lake Middle School, 1820 Lowell Blvd. Plan E, sponsored by Sandoval, keeps Dis- • Feb 23, 5:30-7 p.m. trict 1 mostly intact, shifting the entirety of Manual High School, 1700 E. 28th Ave.
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