Colorado Independent - News you can't find anywhere else

Guantánamo comes to Denver

Bob Spencer — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Amnesty international will bring a life-size re-creation of a maximum security Guantánamo Bay detention cell to Denver during the Democratic National Convention to call attention to "the harsh realities of illegal detention and prolonged isolation." The cell is outfitted with a video camera to record visitors’ messages on the experience.

The replica will be on display Aug. 24-26 at Cuernavaca Park, 20th Street and Little Raven. Hours for the exhibit are 5-8 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. It will then travel to the Denver Coliseum on Wed., Aug. 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. prior to the Rage Against the Machine rap metal show.

Like most things in Denver during the DNC it may be crowded. RSVP to Amnesty International to schedule a detention time.

Obama pours on the Clinton love

Naomi Zeveloff — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Barack Obama has been fielding plenty of criticism these days for letting Bill and Hillary Clinton play a big role in Denver’s upcoming Democratic National Convention. Maureen Dowd, a columnist for The New York Times, expressed her disgust at the Clintons’ major speaking slots at the convention in a column last week.

"Now they’ve made Barry’s convention all about them — their dissatisfaction and revisionism and barely disguised desire to see him fail," she wrote. "Whatever insincere words of support the Clintons muster, their primal scream gets louder: He can’t win! He can’t close the deal! We told you so!"

Dowd notes that Obama’s generous tack differs greatly from Al Gore’s during the 2000 Los Angeles convention, in which the Clintons enjoyed minor roles before being shown the door.

But rather than cut back on his Clinton affection, Obama seems to be ramping things up even more. In a fundraising plea that hit Denver doorsteps on Friday afternoon, Obama referenced Clinton in the sixth paragraph of a four-page-long letter.

"This has been a long campaign. And we’ve traveled this road with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for President," he wrote. "In her 35 years of public service, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has never given up on her fight for the American people. Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters and granddaughters will come of age."

Pueblo’s new health department HQ may sell its name for furniture

Bob Spencer — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:01:00 GMT

According to a report in the Pueblo Chieftain, representatives from the local health department went before the Pueblo County Board of Commissioners Thursday to ask permission to sell naming rights of their new headquarters.

Department officials are confident the building’s construction will come in under budget, but furnishing the space is a different story. They’re hoping to raise $400,000 for furniture and equipment.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Skittles exam room or a Pepsi parking lot, though.

"We’re hoping that individuals will take an interest in the health of the community and sponsor certain rooms," said Sarah Bruestle, the health department’s public information officer.

The Commissioners are still pondering whether or not to let corporations buy in.

The practice of medical facilities selling their naming rights is nothing new. Amednews has been reporting on the trend since early in 2005, but public opinion and pragmatism don’t always walk hand in hand.

Abercrombie and Fitch’s $10 million dollar sponsorship of the Emergency and Trauma center at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH sparked heated protest from a coalition that includes the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, several pediatricians and Parents for Ethical Marketing.

So, assuming no one wants to protest, how much will it cost to have a room named after you in Pueblo’s new medical headquarters?

The Chieftain reported that the Health Department is hoping the main conference room will bring $50,000, and that the three smaller conference rooms will bring $15,000 a piece, but Bruestle believes the numbers could go higher.

"Those amounts were discussed," she said, "but at least one of the commissioners thinks they’re too low."

Not every room in the building is for sale. Commissioner John Cordova said he would like to see naming rights for at least one room reserved for a local luminary who may not have the money to buy their way in.

As of Monday no sponsors have stepped forward and no prices have been set.

Is Huckabee trying to sabotage Mitt Romney?

Jason Kosena — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Don’t get on the wrong side of Mike Huckabee.

He will send Chuck Norris after you or, if you are Mitt Romney, try and sabotage your chances at being vice president.

“I think there are better choices for Sen. McCain that have the approval of value voters,” Huckabee said on Fox News Thursday.

Earlier in the week, he told CBS that many Republicans are "not necessarily comfortable" with Romney because of his changed positions.

The question is why would Huckabee, who has largely been out of the presidential race and the public eye for months, be coming out now?

Well, some people say it’s because he is fighting to keep Romney, who had much support in the early 2008 primaries, out of the 2012 or the 2016 presidential races.

The reasoning, politicos rationalize, is a veep spot on John McCain’s ticket leaves the number 2 in a great position to become the number 1 in future elections.

Huckabee, who spent the better part of the last five weeks of his campaign this year raising personal income through speaking engagements, doesn’t like the sound of Romney being No. 2 or No. 1.

Ex-candidate Chowdhury facing recall – but still got 17 percent of vote

Cara DeGette — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Here’s a post-primary detail to ponder: Even after Democrat Vince Chowdhury choked and slapped his daughter and pleaded guilty to third-degree misdemeanor harassment charges — and after he withdrew from the race — 596 people still voted for him to represent them in the state House of Representatives.

Chowdhury didn’t win the primary, of course. Camille Ryckman, who raked in endorsements from 18 sitting lawmakers, including Speaker Andrew Romanoff, received 2,930 votes, or 83 percent, in the House District 22 race in Jefferson County.

And now Chowdhury, whose assault on his teenaged daughter was sparked when she didn’t open the garage door fast enough for him when he arrived home one day, is facing a recall. That’s right, even after his fellow members of his currently elected seat on the Jefferson County School Board passed a resolution asking for his resignation, Chowdhury remains on the board overseeing Colorado’s largest school district.

Members of a group organized to recall Chowdhury are planning to attend the Aug. 21 board meeting to rally and demand that he comply with the Jeffco Board of Education’s request to resign.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m., 1829 Denver West, Bldg. #27, Golden.

Telluride considers plan that could hamper homeless voting

Naomi Zeveloff — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:15:00 GMT

While Denver officials are preparing a voter registration registration drive for the city’s homeless during the Democratic National Convention, the city of Telluride, about 360 miles southwest of Denver, may approve a plan that could keep the homeless from voting.

According to The Telluride Daily Planet, the Telluride Town Council has long grappled with voter fraud, suspecting that elections are influenced by vacation property owners who mail in absentee ballots. Now, the Town Council has drafted a plan to redefine who a Telluride resident is, taking into account supplementary information like the address on a person’s car registration.

Homeless individuals would have to provide proof of a physical address, like a homeless shelter. Problem is, Telluride doesn’t have a homeless shelter. One Town Council member, David Oyster, made light of the issue in the Daily Planet article, saying "The local definition of homeless is a snowboarder without a girlfriend."

The Town Council will put the new plan, which would amend the Telluride charter, to voters. Meanwhile, one Denver homeless activist has spoken out against the plan. Randle Loeb, a former homeless man who serves on the boards of several homeless and poverty agencies in Denver, called the proposal "unconstitutional" on the Denver Urban Spectrum’s SpectrumTalk blog, where he regularly contributes.

"The last time that a homeless person was barred from voting was when it was decided that they had no proof of a permanent dwelling," he wrote. "This too proved to be in violation of the Voting Rights Act. A person who is released from prison or jail is entitled to vote and also, anyone who is unable to use an address aside from a place where they receive mail."

Journalists question DNC media overkill

Wendy Norris — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:22:18 GMT

A story this week on the media being stretched thin by back-to-back Olympic Games and national political conventions in Forbes has stirred up the ever-cantankerous press corps who live by the motto: If your mother says she loves you, check it out.

While the news industry faces stark financial pressures resulting in ongoing layoffs, newspaper fire sales and tumbling stock prices, 15,000 journalists with flush expense accounts are expected to report from the dual Democratic and Republican political conventions in the coming weeks. Forbes claims that media outlets are cutting back their staffing at the low-viewer conventions as a budget-cutting move and then contradicts itself:

In 2004, with the U.S. embroiled in two wars, just 15.5 million homes tuned in to the Democratic convention at some point and 16.8 million watched the Republican convention, according to Nielsen Media Research. In 1992, 20 million followed the Republican confab, and 20.5 million watched the Democratic event—the highest viewership of a political convention since 1984. By contrast, American Idol drew audiences of 27 million for an single episode.
This year, USA Today, published by Gannett, is sending 34 journalists to each convention, and Dow Jones will have 23 reporters in both Denver and St. Paul. The L.A. Times plans to have 15 journalists at each event, working in concert with other reporters from its parent company, Tribune Co.
The New York Times Company wouldn’t provide numbers for its convention staffing, but a spokeswoman said the company anticipated sending fewer people. The Washington Post did not respond to requests for comment.

Enter Mark Potts at Recovering Journalist who rips off the last vestiges of the Emperor’s clothes:

... there’s really no (legitimate) excuse for a single news organization to send a large number of journalists to the convention. What stories are they going to get that the AP can’t supply? Hijinks of the local delegates? Inside info about what the candidates hope to do for the economy back home? Local color on Denver and St. Paul? It’s really hard to understand the need for this kind of bulk coverage.
Unless, of course, you understand that the conventions serve as gala social events for journalists, as well. It isn’t just political reporters that go to big events like these–it’s editors, managing editors and publishers who get to go along for the expense-account ride (in expensive style, no doubt). That puffs up those numbers of attendees. It’s a way of showing the flag, of hanging out with old friends, of doing some (much-needed these days) job networking.
But that doesn’t make it right. In fact, at a time when coverage is being cut back and newspapers and broadcasters really need to be devoting more resources to local coverage and other journalism that readers truly care about, this sort of boondoggle is just plain wrong.

The comments on Potts’ post by fellow ink-stained wretches are well with perusing too.

Veteran journalist Michele McLellan at the Knight Digital Media Center weighs in with similar concerns:

I think Potts is onto something in his mention of “bulk coverage.” As newsroom executives struggle to “do more with less,” they must increasingly focus on what they can provide that is unique to their franchise, rather than following the pack. I cannot think of a more “pack” event than a political convention whose speeches are carefully scripted, whose presidential nominee has been long decided, and whose vice presidential nominee likely will have been announced before the delegates convene. Providing coverage that is unique and relevant to a particular audience is key.
I also am frustrated when I thinking about all the stories that thousands of reporters might be covering closer to home as the conventions unfold. With the troubled economy, mortgage foreclosures, health care, the federal budget deficit and rising energy costs, I don’t think it’s possible for journalists to be developing enough stories about the impact of these issues on their communities and the people who live in them. Not to mention creating and linking to resources for people in trouble and holding officials accountable for their share of the problem (or explaining why they have no share).

I couldn’t agree more.

Colbert schools nation on oil shale

Wendy Norris — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:32:00 GMT

Perhaps John McCain shouldn’t have been so quick to scold celebrities.

Following Paris Hilton’s hilarious foray into national energy policy last week, Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert weighs in on the ridiculous "drill here, drill now" mantra featuring a formidable debate with himself on offshore drilling and oil shale.

From the Aug. 14 broadcast of The Colbert Report:

CU officials try to stop student parties before they start

Naomi Zeveloff — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:45:00 GMT

With the first day of classes quickly approaching, administrators at the University of Colorado at Boulder are doing their best to quell the school’s notorious reputation as party central. CU and the city of Boulder recently announced a "walkabout" program to take place Friday night, in which interim city manager Stephanie Grainger, CU-Boulder chancellor G.P. "Bud Peterson" and other university officials and students will roam through off-campus neighborhoods greeting students and neighbors.

The program seeks to remind off-campus students about their duties as good neighbors and citizens; officials will be passing out a "Smart Party Guide" to remind students to keep their ragers in check. But though the "walkabout" night represents a gentle nudge toward student responsibility, CU officials have their work cut out for them.

After a brief hiatus off the Princeton Review’s list of party schools, the state university is back at No. 13 this year and also enjoys a No. 3 ranking for "reefer madness" and a No. 14 ranking for hard liquor consumption.

Protest planned against DNC lockup

Erin Rosa — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:32:44 GMT

Activists with the Recreate 68 coalition are planning a rally today against a newly discovered detention center for mass arrests during the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28.

Demonstrators will be gathering at 3833 Steele St., Denver, one of the many addresses given to a city-owned warehouse that used to be the headquarters of the now-defunct Denver Election Commission. A blog called George in Denver correctly identified the exact location on Wednesday. The city of Denver has since confirmed the fact.

The jail — which includes cages, barbed wire and signs warning of stun-gun use — was discovered by CBS4News earlier this week.

Recreate 68 is planning to show up to protest the jail at 3 p.m. today, describing the lockup as creating “a mini-occupation of Iraq on the streets of Denver during the DNC week,” according to a statement.

About the warehouse:

The building was erected in the 1940s, according to Denver property records, but in 2006, when it was being used by the election commission, a number of problems were found in a city audit, including:

• Lack of proper temperature control.

• Brick-and-wood structure with an open floor plan.

• Access from an underground tunnel not properly secured.

• Security system not visually monitored from an outside location.

• Lack of proper electrical connections.

• Warehouse exterior lighting not functioning.

• Warehouse not in compliance with [Americans with Disabilities Act] requirements.

Voting machines were previously stored at the facility that will be used for

protester detention during the convention. (Photo/City and County of Denver)

At one point the temperatures in the building got so high as to put election equipment at risk, according to the audit:

The warehouse has no permanent cooling system and only one of four heaters works properly. Consequently, the temperature inside the warehouse fluctuates with the temperature outside resulting in the warehouse becoming extremely warm during the summer and cold during the winter.

In response, Sue Cobb with the mayor’s office has said that indoor cooling will be on when those arrested are taken to the facility. “If it was to have been used as storage for that equipment, the air conditioner might not have been on,” Cobb said.

History of property:

Here is a history of the building, according to city documents:

1942-1946 – Site built as U.S. army medical depot.

1951 – Property is transferred to U.S. Air Force and used as accounting and finance center.

1977 – [Federal General Services Administration] conveys the 38th and York property to City and Denver Public School System.

1991 – City returns the site back to the

Federal Government.

November 2006 – The City takes over the property management.

March 2007 – [Denver Office of Economic Development] engages in sale negotiations with Inner City Health Center for front half of the site, and with Colorado & Santa Fe Real Estate Company for the back half.

June 2007 – Colorado & Santa Fe Real Estate backs out of the deal. Negotiations continue.

An illustration of the block surrounding the detention facility. NDI is a

privately-held company and as is Inner-City Development Corporation (ICDC).

Illustration/City and County of Denver.