Your Guide to Community, Politics, Arts and Culture in North Denver DenverNor thStar.com
|
Volume 1, Issue 9
|
June 15 -July 14, 2020
|
ALWAYS FREE!
Hundreds March Down Tennyson in Protest
By Michael Kiley
ARTS & CULTURE
T
Entertainment Venues PAGE 7
PHOTOS BY DAVID SABADOS
Over 400 people marched down Tennyson Street to protest the death of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality.
North High School Student Organizes Community
DINING Expanded Patios PAGE 8
COMMUNITY Class of 2020 PAGE 12
COMMUNITY Interview with Denver Chief of Police Paul Pazen PAGE 14
COMMUNITY Dreams of Olympic Gold PAGE 15
Meet the State Board of Education Democratic Primary Candidates
G
By David Sabados abi Isom, like most North High School students, has spent the last few months adapting to remote learning. Unlike most other high school freshmen, she also organized a march in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. “I was sitting at home watching protesters make a difference,” Isom said. “I wanted to take it to our neighborhood.” Several estimates put the crowd at over 400 people, including several dozen of Isom’s classmates. The march began in Berkeley Park, continued down Tennyson St, and returned to the park. At one point protesters stretched from 46th avenue down to 38th. Different protests across the state and country have taken different tones in regards to police involvement in marches; Isom said they welcomed members of the Denver Police Department who agreed to join them. Approximately a dozen officers were present, some walking with protesters, some blocking traffic when protesters reached intersections. Sandy Thompson, Gabi Isom’s mother, joined her at the march. “I’m so proud
of our community and our kids,” said Thompson, noting she was grateful for everyone who came and to live in a diverse neighborhood. Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval and DPS School Board Member Brad Laurvick both participated and praised students for organizing the march. “It’s really important to allow our youth to have a voice in a safe environment,” said Sandoval. “For us to gather peacefully with police and community moves us forward.” Speaking at a community meeting several days later, Sandoval said she did receive several complaints from recently reopened businesses on Tennyson St. She worked to move a subsequent march to a neighboring street instead. “I am grateful for the awareness and intention our stu-
he Colorado State Board of Education (SBoE) elections normally draw little media attention, despite its important role in public education in Colorado. Given Denver’s political leanings, the new representative on the SBoE may ostensibly be decided in the June Democratic Primary. The State Board is composed of seven members, one elected from each congressional district, and board members serve without pay for six-year terms. Only Democrats have a primary this year. The Denver North Star will be reaching out to Republican and third party candidates this fall before the November election. The SBoE oversees the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), approves rules that govern public education pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and regulates educator licensing for over 55,000 teachers in Colorado. The SBoE can also approve new charter schools, overriding local district school boards. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed K-12 education in a matter of months. Colorado lawmakers are currently planning for a 2020-2021 budget deficit of $3 billion, or a 10% reduction from the budget that Gov. Jared Polis recommended last November. Denver Public School officials recently predicted the district could lose from $19 million to $61 million in state funding next fall. State rules and regulations, overseen by the Colorado Department of Education, frequently lack provisions for students to be taught remotely. The State Board will have to review and amend these regulations to allow for extended
dents brought to a community need,” said Laurvick. “The space they created for community of all ages to not only march in solidarity, but also to hear the names of black lives memorialized, to hear their names is essential.” Isom hopes she and her classmates can support people of color in the community. “I’m white and I have privilege,” said Isom. “It makes me sick seeing how blacks are treated,” referring not just to the video of George Floyd but the systemic racial problems across the country. Kathy Senft lives a few doors down from Isom’s family and said it was positive to see so many young people participating. “If they’re involved, the world will keep evolving,” she said looking at a group of students nearby. See PRIMARY, Page 4