Want to see retail marijuana back in Grand Junction? Well, so do a lot of other people. The nonprofit group GJCAN (for “Cannabis Access Now”) is circulating an official petition to get retail marijuana back in the City of Grand Junction.…
Category: Economics
G. J. Chamber “Hasn’t Even Considered” Marijuana as a Way to Boost the Local Economy
Diane Schwenke, the CEO of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, said at a meeting at Main Street Bagels this morning that the chamber’s board hasn’t even discussed or considered the possibility of bringing retail marijuana commerce to Grand Junction as a way…
What’s Really Going On Inside Mesa County Government? Here’s a Hint: It’s Pretty Bad.
The following is a guest column from the August 28, 2016 issue of the Daily Sentinel that many people may have overlooked. The author is the operations manager for the elections division of Mesa County. She describes how the County treats its…
Hundreds of Business Owners Go Public with Support for Amendment 70, the Minimum Wage Increase
Business owners across the state are lining up to support Amendment 70, which would raise Colorado’s minimum wage to $12.00 and hour by 2020. Many of these owners voluntarily raised their own employees’ wages and are telling the public about the impacts it has had…
Grand Junction Chamber Drops its Longstanding Support for Scott Tipton
In a subtle but stunning rebuke, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has quietly declined to endorse Scott Tipton (R) in his bid this year to win re-election as Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District’s House Representative. In its 2016 Voter Guide (PDF), the chamber…
Why We Need to Question the Chamber’s “Experts”
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is working hard to defeat Amendment 70, which would raise Colorado’s minimum wage to $12 and hour by 2020. Part of its opposition involves chamber president Diane Schwenke running TV ads against the measure in…
Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Busting the G.J. Chamber’s Minimum Wage Myths
Colorado’s Amendment 70, if it passes this November, will gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $12.00 an hour by 2020. Some people wonder, if we pay people a higher minimum wage, where will the money come from? The money comes from…
G.J. Chamber Runs TV Ads Opposing Increase in Colorado’s Minimum Wage
Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce President Diane Schwenke has been appearing on TV in ads opposing Amendment 70, which would increase in Colorado’s minimum wage to $12 and hour by 2020. The western slope has among the lowest per capita income in…
The New Graff Dairy: A Shining New Addition to Town
Graff Dairy, a longtime fixture in town at 581 29 Road, has gotten a complete makeover and is now a fantastic place to stop to get your espresso and ice cream fix. Graff Dairy 2.0 is clean, spacious and bright, with…
Western Slope Workers’ Public Enemy #1: The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
On August 1, 2016 the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce announced its opposition to a ballot initiative to raise Colorado’s minimum wage to $12/hour. The main reason the chamber gives for opposing the higher wage is a claim by Economics International Corporation —…
WCAF to Award $4,325 to Student Who Exposed Christian Proselytizing in Delta Public Schools
On Monday, August 15, 2016 Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers (WCAF) will award a $4,325 college scholarship to Cidney Fisk, the newly-graduated Delta High School student who exposed the pervasive Christian proselytizing in Delta County’s public schools. WCAF will hand over…
Organized Effort to Undermine Mulder for Commissioner’s Campaign?
The race for Mesa County Commissioner in District 1 is heating up, and someone in Happy Valley is playing dirty. Some unknown person has been stealing County Commissioner District 1 candidate Mel Mulder’s hand-made campaign signs. Mel, his wife, Vera, their friends and high…
Looking to Spend Your Cash on Legal Weed? Don’t Stop in G.J.!
Travelers on I-70 coming into Colorado and looking to spend their cash on legal marijuana see this billboard at the entrance to Grand Junction, urging them to bypass our town and go spend their money in Parachute instead. And rightly so.
Why Western Slope Republicans are Useless Anachronisms
Western slope Republicans constantly point to a “war on coal” or a “war” on drilling and fracking as the cause of massive job loss. They scapegoat western slope residents who are concerned about degradation of the environment and global climate change, while clinging to…
New Group Offers Businesses a Less Costly Networking Alternative
Local business owners no longer have to pay the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s high membership fees if all they really want is a convenient and inexpensive way to network regularly with other businesses. Network Now is a new Grand Junction business networking group…
G.J. Chamber Opposes Patient Choice in Pharmacies
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce in their Monday, April 11 ad in the Daily Sentinel, announced that it OPPOSES Colorado House Bill HB 16-1361, the “Patient Choice in Pharmacy” bill, which would prohibit health insurance companies from restricting subscribers’…
Mesa County Democrats Give the Nod to Retail Recreational Weed
The Mesa County Democratic Party became the party of “Yes” today when it came to allowing recreational marijuana commerce in Mesa County. At their assembly at Central High School auditorium, Democratic Party delegates voted by an overwhelming majority to amend the party’s platform to…
Mulder and Edwards Announce Candidacies for Mesa County Commissioner in Districts 1 and 3
Two intelligent, hard-working and civic-minded citizens, Mel Mulder and Dave Edwards, today announced they are entering the 2016 race for County Commissioner to replace incumbents in District 1 and District 3, respectively. Mulder is challenging District 1 incumbent John Justman and Edwards intends…