All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1961 • Volume 57, Issue No. 10 • October 2018
Traffic Jam Ahead
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
By Cara DeGette Editor, GPHN
• Denver Tax Questions . . . . p.8 • Where and How To Vote. . . p.8 • Oil & Gas Setbacks. . . . . . . p.9 • Payday Loan Caps. . . . . . . p.10
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More Inside
Building Sandwiches And Good Will At Cure d’Ars
Scenes From The Park Hill Home Tour
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dustrial hemp have the same definition as in federal law. Amendment Y: Congressional redistricting – This would create an Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission that would consist of an equal number of members from each of the state’s two largest political parties and unaffiliated voters, to amend and approve congressional district maps drawn by nonpartisan legislative staff, establishing a new process for congressional redistricting. Amendment Z: Legislative redistricting – This would replace the Colorado Reapportionment Commission with the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission, consisting of an equal number of members from each of the state’s two largest political parties and unaffiliated
Car-CyclistPedestrian Traffic Complaints Piling Up
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For the first time in eight years, Colorado’s governor will not be a resident of Park Hill. With Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper term limited from running again, Democrat Jared Polis and Republican Walker Stapleton, along with Libertarian Scott Helker and Unity Party candidate Bill Hammons, are vying to become the state’s 43rd governor. While much of the focus has been on the gubernatorial race – with Polis and Stapleton as the main contenders – there are plenty of other candidates on the statewide ballot, including those running for Colorado Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. There are no contested state legislative races happening this year in Park Hill. However, the race for Regional Transportation District board District B has heated up, with Shontel Lewis, Chris Martinez and JoyAnn Ruscha vying to represent Park Hill and northeast Denver setting policy for public transit. A whopping 13 initiatives and amendments to the constitution are on the Colorado ballot this year – that’s more than any other in the country. And, Denver voters will weigh in on several additional issues,
including a Parks and Recreation tax and a proposal to raise money to bolster mental health services. The following is a brief rundown of Colorado’s ballot proposals. For full text, and official arguments for and against each measure, check out the Blue Book, which is mailed to every voter in Colorado (Note: You can tell it is the Blue Book when it arrives in the mail because it is colored blue). The Blue Book is also available online at leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/ initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book. It includes an analysis of the fiscal impact, if any, on taxpayers. In brief, here are the amendments and initiatives that Colorado voters will decide on this year. Amendment V: Would lower the age requirement for members of the Colorado State Legislature from age 25 to 21. Amendment W: Election Ballot Format for Judicial Retention Elections – This would change the ballot format for judicial retention elections to remove the requirement that a retention question be asked for each justice and judge. Amendment X: Industrial hemp definition – This would remove the definition of “industrial hemp” from the Colorado Constitution and instead require that in-
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Ballots Are Loaded For The Nov. 6 Election. Colorado Voters Should Proceed With Care.
New Year, New Season For East Angels
Movies On Demand, Thanks To The Library
UPCOMING GPHC MEETINGS Thursday, Oct. 4. at the Park Hill Golf Club, 4141 E. 35th Ave, and Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2823 Fairfax St. Both begin at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
EDUCATION UPDATE | Lynn Kalinauskas
DPS At A Crossroads The Search For The Next Superintendent Gets Heated
GET READY FOR THE GHOULS Over the years some parts of Park Hill have become notorious among Halloween connoisseurs for being primo spots to don some serious costume and score some major poundage of Reese’s, Almond Joys, Butterfingers, Twix and, of course, the ubiquitous Candy Corn. Some homeowners reported dispensing 800 pieces to that many trick-or-treaters last year, before running out of candy by 7:30 p.m. What’s the plan for Oct. 31 this year? Watch out for ghouls and fairies on neighborhood streets, enjoy the parade of nocturnal wanderers, and buy more candy. Photo from Halloween 2017 by Reid Neureiter
On July 17, Denver Public Schools Su2017 that number increased by only 2 perperintendent Tom Boasberg announced his cent. At this rate, an 80 percent goal seems resignation after having served for 10 years. unachievable. Since then the school board has launched In addition, the rating system itself (the what it has termed the Super Search SPF) has come under fire. In Defor the man or woman who will cember 2017, leaders from the Natake over the job of directing nearly tional Association for the Advance12,000 employees, a billion dollar ment of Colored People (NAACP), budget, 207 schools and more than along with the Urban League of 92,000 students. Metro Denver, Padres & Jóvenes Boasberg’s resignation finds the Unidos and other organizations, district at a crossroads: Should DPS co-signed a letter calling on DPS to continue the reforms implemented re-evaluate and correct this frameLYNN by Boasberg and before him, Miwork. chael Bennet (who is now one of KALINAUSKAS Mary Sam, a retired DPS teacher, Colorado’s two U.S. senators)? education activist and resident of Or should the district move in another the Far Northeast area of Denver, has been direction? Should the elected board that saying for years that the SPF, which relies oversees the district insist the new superinheavily on growth, rates schools in her tendent work to transform DPS to respond neighborhood as “green” or “blue,” when to the growing and vocal demands from proficiency in those schools is alarmingly many – especially communities of color low. who have witnessed their schools closed, For example, in the 2017 state tests for co-located, dislocated, and often-times 8th grade English, STRIVE PREP Montbello had 22 percent of its students meet or taken over by the charter industry? exceed expectations. STRIVE PREP Green Goals versus reality: By the numbers Valley Ranch had 24 percent. By comparison, McAuliffe here in Park Hill had 82 perThe school district’s Denver Plan 2020 cent meet or exceed expectations. Yet all includes these goals in its current strategic three schools were rated “green” on the SPF blueprint: scale, which rates schools on a spectrum of • By 2020, 80 percent of DPS students will colors from blue (best), green, to yellow, to attend a high-performing school, meaorange and red (worst). sured by region using the district’s school Similarly, the elementary school DCIS performance framework (SPF). Ford, also in the Far Northeast, scored 33 • By 2020, 80 percent of DPS third-graders percent for its 3rd grade English test. By will be at or above grade level in reading comparison, Park Hill Elementary scored and writing. 71 percent. Yet both schools were rated In 2014 when the Denver Plan 2020 was adopted, 58 percent of the district’s schools continued on page 6 were rated high performing or excellent. By