This has been a busy month for Shelby, Occupy Denver’s temporarily absent leader and erstwhile scapegoat for those who’d like the group to have one. The political Border collie celebrated New Year’s in style: On her first trip to Zuccotti Park, Occupy Wall Street’s capitol, Shelby was greeted with a…
The defeat of a bill to legalize civil unions in the last legislative session was a heart-breaker for those in favor of marriage equality. After passing in the Senate, the bill was defeated in a House committee by one vote — with all six of the panel’s Republicans voting against…
The Santa Fe offices of the Colorado Progressive Coalition contain no front desk or really any lobby, just a series of colorful hallways unevenly decorated with Chicano and Native American artwork. The tables are covered with snacks and political literature, and the back wall marks a recent round of staff…
The Center for Responsive Politics has released a personal finance overview for each member of Congress. We did a little number crunching and found some interesting figures regarding Colorado’s congressional members. Collectively, Colorado’s nine-person delegation is worth $166,900,678…
Colorado’s first caucuses were modestly attended affairs that didn’t have a sizable impact on the presidential choices of either major party. But turnout jumped four years ago, especially for the Democratic caucus that boosted Barack Obama. Predictably, Colorado Republican Party chairman Ryan Call is the opposite of an Obama fan…
Tim Tebow’s stock as a quarterback may be falling — ESPN’s Mike and Mike have less confidence in him than any other QB in the playoffs this weekend — but he remains a cultural lightning rod. Note that even The New Yorker’s Ben McGrath is weighing in on him, albeit…
Wilma Webb was one of the first African-American representatives in the Colorado legislature — and she pushed through a measure making Martin Luther King Day a state holiday in 1984, two years before it was recognized nationally. In 1991, her husband, Wellington Webb, became Denver’s first black mayor. But then…
Colorado’s Democratic leaders are worried that last night’s win for Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucus could spell trouble for immigrants in Colorado. “Folks, it takes an alarming event to bring the likes of us together to weigh in on the Republican nomination,” Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio said…
After hearing comments from the public and city council last night, Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam is finalizing an ordinance that will close all city parks to residents from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. daily. Despite debate from Occupy Boulder, city officials backed the bill mirroring Denver’s own park curfew…
A recent Occupy Denver general assembly looked suspiciously different than the group’s typical gatherings. The 21 people who took part facilitated the agenda, proposed their own resolutions, voted on them, passed them, and even communicated with spirit fingers as the meeting went on. The only difference: All of that day’s…
During Tuesday night’s broadcast of the 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors, the cameras frequently swept over the President’s box occupied by Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as honorees Sonny Rollins, Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Meryl Streep and Yo-Yo Ma — and there, just to the president’s right…Colorado governor John…
Occupy Wall Street became an unofficial part of history the moment it spread to all seven continents, but now it’s becoming one for the books. At least six big-name museums and cultural organizations have launched quests to gather evidence, ephemera and relics from the movement for future collections. Should History…
In a way, Joanne Kron’s political problem-solving began in high school. It was there, at the Denver Center For International Studies, that the future executive director of ProgressNow Colorado got her subtle start in activism and advocacy through the combination of Model United Nations and something called World Affairs Challenge…
It’s holiday week in Aspen, and this New Year’s weekend is shaping up as the busiest party binge at the resort in years — a time for Hollywood celebs and other one-percenters to pack the slopes and the clubs, to ogle and to be ogled, and call 911 about Charlie…
In the week since Occupy Denver was evicted on December 21, the Denver Police Department has kept Chief Robert White’s promise to remove any and all structures on a daily basis. Last night, this feat involved nine officers, eight police cars, two Public Works trucks and one arrest when police…
On December 23, Occupy Denver quietly celebrated three months of loud, tense and occasionally fiery statements downtown. In that time span, the local chapter of the national movement has kept busy — and kept Westword busy — with stories that change not just daily, but hourly. If you’ve been following…
After Occupy Boulder pressured the city for weeks to deny its newly proposed park closure rule, Boulder’s City Council Agenda Committee has opened the issue for a public hearing on January 3. If passed, the proposal will enforce a curfew similar to that of Denver, requiring city parks and recreation…
We would present this without comment, but we’re not ready for the repercussions. It has been a busy December for Occupy Denver, whose three-month anniversary is tomorrow: thirteen arrests in Loveland, nine at Civic Center Park, fires, Tebowing, a fake death, homeless heckling and a (failed) attempt at a federal…
Gerardo Noriega, a 21-year-old Smoky Hill High School graduate, now knows he won’t be deported to Mexico in the near future, but his future is still in limbo. As part of the immigration review pilot program currently underway in Denver, Noriega was granted administrative closure on his immigration case last…
Updated, 12:40 p.m. December 22: Michael Clapper, one of nine arrested at Monday’s raid on the Occupy Denver encampment, has officially been charged with four counts of 4th degree arson. Behind the charges are the allegation that Clapper intentionally set fire to an encumbrance and other items in the area,…
Two nights ago, Occupy Denver protester Ben Meyer woke up on the sidewalk of Broadway, put on his shoes and spent the rest of his evening with the Denver Police Department. The next night, he spoke on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Last night, the fire-forged raid on Occupy Denver earned…
Last night’s Occupy Denver eviction is unlikely to be the last one in the near future. In a statement on the subject, Mayor Michael Hancock supported the city’s actions and cited the now commonly repeated concerns of public safety and access. Accompanied by new Police Chief Robert White, Hancock confirmed…
