All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1960 • Volume 65, Issue No. 1• January, 2026 [ JANUARY HAPPENINGS ] Stock Show Kicks Off Jan. 8
Denver’s National Western Stock Show kicks off on Jan. 8 with the annual public parade of 30 longhorn cattle through the heart of downtown Denver. Trailing the cattle will be horses, wagons, and marching bands. This year’s National Western parade Grand Marshal is Pete Coors. The parade starts at noon at Union Station and proceeds down 17th Street. The Stock Show runs through Jan. 25 at the National Western Complex, about four miles northwest of Park Hill. The event features dozens of rodeos, livestock judging competitions, dancing horse shows, fiddle competitions, rabbit shows, swing and line dancing, auctions, exhibitions and booths. Specialty rodeos include the “Colorado versus The World” rodeo, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, PBR bull riding, the Pink Pro Rodeo and the MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo. For the full schedule and ticket info check out nationalwestern.com
MLK, Jr. Marade Is Jan. 19
Denver’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19. January Happenings continued on page 4
Cowboys on horseback move a herd of longhorn cattle through the streets of downtown. The January event is part of the traditional kickoff of Denver’s annual National Western Stock Show. File photo by Reid Neureiter
[ RAW POLITICS | ANALYSIS ]
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Perfect Storm Likely To Produce A Raucous Legislative Session In Colorado
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Batten Down The Hatches By Penfield W. Tate III | For the GPHN
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Raw Politics continued on page 5
When Homes In Denver’s ‘Cosmic Community’ Cost $14,950 An Ode To Park Hill Blockworkers And Other Superstars
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The dynamics of the federal and state elections will influence everything that happens at the Colorado Capitol this legislative session. To this point, infighting has been the order of the day. Beginning with the 2025 legislative session, a number of incumbents on both sides of the aisle have stepped down. Their seats are now filled by appointees of vacancy committees — some chosen by as few as 42 voting members.
campaign issues. The real goal is to harm their chances in November. That’s part of the silly season. As if that were not enough, the massive state budget crisis continues. Current estimates are that there will be a budgetary shortfall between $850 million to $1 billion (what’s $250 million between friends?). That means any piece of legislation introduced that has a fiscal note, or a
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Jostling and bare knuckles
Hopes, Predictions & Premonitions For The Year Ahead
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We have been fortunate that the weather has been unIn all, 21 legislators — including 12 representatives and seasonably mild, but it is Colorado, and we know what is nine senators, all but three of whom are Democrats — becoming. gan serving just last session. As of this writing, two vacancies, one due to the November Similarly, a storm is brewing up at the Capitol, Current estimates death of Senator Faith Winter, were expected and we need to prepare for how it will impact be filled by the time the session starts this our lives. indicate a budgetary to month. Expect new legislation that would The Second Regular Session of the Seventyshortfall between change the process for filling legislative vafifth Colorado General Assembly starts on cancies. Jan. 14. It will be an interesting 120 days. $850 million to $1 Infighting between Republicans (conservative First, the new year kicks off the true camversus moderate) and Democrats (progrespaign season for the November midterm elec- billion. (What’s $250 sive versus moderate) – has reached a fever tions — both in Washington and in Colorado. pitch. And the fighting has extended well million between Predictions vary whether Republicans will beyond the Capitol. State Sen. Julie Gonzales maintain a majority in the U.S. House of Repannounced in December she is challenging friends?) resentatives and the Senate. That outcome U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper. News reports may affect how President Trump’s agenda surfaced almost immediately that Hickenfares over the final two years of his term. looper’s campaign staff threatened Gonzales’ campaign More importantly for Coloradans, the November 2026 consultants with losing future work if they continue to election represents a complete change of the guard. We work for her. will be electing a new governor, lieutenant governor, Welcome to the silly season treasurer, attorney general, and secretary of state, as all the incumbents are term limited. In addition, the entire Inside the Capitol, expect to see bills that have no hope Colorado House of Representatives is up for election or of passage, but are introduced to make legislators take reelection, as well as 20 of the 35 members of the Colorado uncomfortable or unpopular positions and votes on Senate.
Seven Months Later, The City Sent A Sign
At The Library: Laugh And Breathe, Laugh And Breathe
UPCOMING GPHC MEETINGS Community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., except for July and December. Meetings are held in person at 2823 Fairfax St. People can also attend via Zoom at greaterparkhill.org/join-us/community-meetings The next meeting is Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m.