THAT’S THE TICKET
YEAR OF THE ROOSTER
DOWNFALL
A cop’s kindness makes a family’s day
No injuries in collapse of parking garage
LOCAL | PG 6
Yip Foundation rings it in
NEWS | PG 13
S O U T H
FLAIR | PG 15
M E T R O
VOLUME 35 • NUMBER 11 • FEBRUARY 2, 2017
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Waking up the ‘Year of the Rooster’ Japanese taiko drummers put a beat to the New Year celebrations.
A dragon rings in the Year of the Rooster.
Dancing dragons, lions—and a photobombing Buddha
With one of Colorado’s largest Asian populations in Arapahoe County, Colorado’s newest chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association inaugurated its first board of directors on Jan. 26. The swearing-in coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year and the marking of the Year of the Rooster at Denver’s Ritz-Carlton. AREAA is a nationwide nonprofit organization that serves the American-Asian community and is dedicated to sustainable home-ownership opportunities. Photos by Stefan Krusze
Englewood’s mayor and council mend fences After near ouster of Jefferson, officials find common ground
Englewood’s Joe Jefferson will remain mayor, at least for the time being. Last week, City Councilmember Steve Yates said he would withdraw his controversial motion that would have potentially removed Jefferson from the ceremonial leader position. His next opportunity to formally rescind the proposal, which was seconded last month before a partial council walkout, will be Feb. 6. “After some time went by and emotions calmed, Joe and I were able to have a meaningful discussion,” Yates said. “We talked about an action plan on how to resolve the issues that I had. He’s agreed to take some action.” Jefferson was pleased the two could find common ground in the wake of a bitter feud. “It seems cooler heads have prevailed,” the mayor said. “Obviously, I’m committed to work with every councilmember. We are getting some
good stuff done and I’m confident I think if we can do that, a lot of the we’re going to work through this.” issues we’ve been having will go On Jan. 17, in one of the more away,” he said. bizarre city meetings in memory, Jefferson confirms he is open to three councilmembers, including Jefconstructive re-evaluation of meeting protocol. ferson, abruptly walked out as Yates “I’m committed to improving all pushed for an unscheduled—and my contributions to council,” he said. arguably unprecedented—vote on “I’m always going to try to improve the mayor’s future. Yates’s surprise what I’m doing in my job, period.” action near meeting’s end was effecOne bone of contention had been tively blocked when the council lost Jefferson’s plans for Englewood’s its required quorum of five people. first-ever State of the City address. Although there was little discus- Joe Jefferson Some on council, including Yates, sion that night about the specific reasons for Yates’s motion, he later told The Vil- had argued that Jefferson, a district representative, lager that he had previously talked to Jefferson on had been acting too unilaterally in his planning, numerous occasions about what he has considered particularly since Englewood’s mayor is chosen the mayor’s loose or unfocused meeting-leader- by council from among its own ranks. Both Yates and Jefferson now say the council ship style and perceived unilateralism. Yates anticipates further discussions with Jef- is on the same page regarding the planned adferson about improving official government pro- dress and has agreed in principle to hire an outside consultant to organize the event, which is likely cedure. “I think it’ll go alright now that we’re talking to occur later this year. The council will vote on about how to dissect a meeting—what is a ques- the matter next week during the same meeting at tion, what is a comment, what is an attack, what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Frankly, Continued on page 6