Review of Lettered Amendments on the statewide 2024 ballot and voting recommendations

Note: I’m currently analyzing the 2024 Mesa County ballot (pdf) and all the measures on it, and will post as much information as possible on what I find out prior to putting out a consolidated and shorter Voter Guide later on.

Amendment G – Modify Property Tax Exemption to include Veterans with Disabilities

Amendment G, is a constitutional amendment referred to the ballot by the Legislature. It would reduce the property taxes paid by some veteran homeowners by expanding the existing homestead exemption to include veterans who have disabilities that make them unemployable.

Since it’s a constitutional amendment, it needs 55% of the vote to pass.

Amendment G would lower property taxes for some veteran homeowners who have disabilities that make them unemployable

The homestead exemption reduces the amount of property taxes paid by some groups of Coloradans, including seniors 65 years and older who have lived in their homes for over 10 years, veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 100% permanent and total by the federal government and surviving spouses of Armed Forces members who died from a service-related injury or disease.

Under Amendment G, veterans who qualify for the Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) rating as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would also be allowed to take the homestead exemption on their property taxes, too, regardless of their age. Amendment G would thus expand the number of veterans eligible for the homestead exemption by approximately 3,700 people.

It’s estimated this measure would cost the state about $1.8 million in budget year 2025-2026, since the state would reimburse local governments for the amount of property taxes they lose due to Amendment G.

Arguments for: Everyone seems to like it. No lawmaker, either Democrat or Republican, in the state legislature voted against putting this proposal on the ballot, and there has been no organized opposition to it.

Arguments against: It could make it more difficult for local governments to administer property taxes. There don’t seem to be any other arguments against it.

Recommended vote: YES  (needs 55% of the vote to pass)


Amendment H – Judicial Discipline Procedures 

Amendment H is a proposed constitutional amendment that would create an independent board to judge judges on unethical conduct. The new board would be made up of citizens, lawyers, and judges who would conduct judicial misconduct hearings and impose disciplinary actions, and the measure allows more information about the proceedings to be shared earlier with the public.

Currently, an independent judicial commission made up of people appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Governor investigates allegations of misconduct against judges, and information about complaints against judges and investigations of them is not disclosed until late in the process, if at all.

Law and Justice concept. Mallet of the judge, books, scales of justice. Gray stone background, reflections on the floor, place for typography. Courtroom theme.

Amendment H would create an “Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board” separate from the Colorado Supreme Court, to preside over judicial discipline hearings and impose sanctions. The new board would be made up of four district court judges, four attorneys, and four citizens appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Governor. The new board’s decisions would be considered final unless there is proof of a legal or factual error upon appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court.

An important change Amendment H would make is that currently complaints that lead to informal punishments for judges are not disclosed to the general public, and no information about a complaint against a judge becomes public until or unless sanctions are recommended, which occurs much later in the review process. Under Amendment H, the proceedings against a judge will become public as soon as formal charges are filed.

Main argument for: Judicial discipline in Colorado has historically been mostly self-regulated, leading to challenges in oversight and self-protection. This amendment would enhance transparency and public confidence and trust in the courts.

Main argument against: The current system works just fine. Judges know how and when to discipline judges. This amendment transfers this authority to attorneys and citizens, who can’t fully understand judicial ethics and the unique challenges of being a judge. The existing system of checks and balances on the judiciary, like nominations and retention elections, assure only the best people become and remain judges.

Who’s for it:

The Colorado Supreme Court Justices themselves support it, according to a 2022 article in the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Amendment H is supported by the Colorado Democratic Party and the Colorado League of Women Voters.

Who’s against it:

The Judicial Integrity Project  opposes the measure, arguing that that it is too weak and far stronger measures are needed, saying “If Amendment H passes, it will be almost impossible to obtain necessary reforms because legislators will allege they did the job with Amendment H.”

I emailed Chris Forsyth, Esq., Director of the Judicial Integrity Project and asked him about the Amendment. He wrote back:

“The adoption of Amendment H will thwart future reform because legislators will claim they did the job with H. It provides a smidge more transparency and that’s it. It’s not worth a vote. But unfortunately, many people may think just like you are thinking — this is the best we can get. And that’s a really sad thought. [Amendment] H will essentially put the nail in the coffin of more responsible reform for quite a while.”

 

Recommended vote: It’s a toss up. I was initially going to vote for it until I talked to Christ Forsyth and found out how weak of a measure it is. But if we vote no on Amendment H, are we letting the perfect be the enemy of the good?  Is a tiny bit of progress toward holding judges accountable for bad behavior worth all the trouble of setting up this commission just to get us “a smidge” more transparency? I’ll leave it up to you.


Amendment J:

Amendment J repeals the current definition of marriage in Colorado’s Constitution that says only a union of one man and one woman is a valid or recognized as a marriage in Colorado.

In 2006, Colorado voters approved an amendment to the state constitution saying only the union of one man and one woman is a valid or recognized marriage in Colorado. Amendment J repeals this language, which has been declared unconstitutional by state and federal courts anyway.

Recommended vote: Yes


Amendment K:

County Clerks asked for this amendment, saying as Colorado ballots get longer and longer, they need more time to put the ballots together and proof them to make sure they get them right.

Amendment K would make deadlines one week earlier for citizens to submit signatures for initiative and referendum petitions, and would require judges who intend to file declarations that they intend to seek another term file those forms one week earlier than they currently do.  It would also require that the content of ballot measures be published in local newspapers 30 days earlier than under current law. Currently judges have to file a declaration saying they intend to seek another term at least three months before the general election. Amendment K moves up the deadline for judges to file this form to one week earlier.

The Colorado County Clerks Association asked the legislature to put Amendment K on the ballot, so they can get an additional week to build, review, proof, translate and test hundreds of different ballot types needed for each election. As Colorado’s ballots get longer and more complicated, county clerks need more time to ensure that the ballots voters get are accurate.

Recommended vote: YES

Why we keep hearing about a gang “takeover” in Aurora

Fox News helped spread the lie being promoted by former President Trump and MAGA extremists that Venezuelan gangs were “taking over Colorado”

Message from Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, September 26, 2024:

You’ve probably been hearing nonstop from conservative media and MAGA Republicans, including Donald Trump, that Aurora has been “taken over” by Venezuelan gangs. You might be confused why this information continues to spread even though it has repeatedly¹ been² proven³ false. You might also be wondering what the truth is – the actual ground truth stripped of the politics.

I wouldn’t blame you. This whole thing has been a confusing mess with plenty of misinformation. So let’s look at the facts without the games.

How did we get here?

The short answer is because many Republicans would rather play politics with the border crisis than actually solve it.

Here’s the longer answer on how we got here, with my sources on each claim cited in the footnotes so you know exactly where I’m getting my information. No games, just the facts:

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper

The story actually starts last year in 2023 when the city of Aurora was trying to push an out-of-state landlord to fix up three apartment buildings that had become derelict.

This past July, that absentee landlord, CBZ management, claimed it couldn’t fix the apartments because Venezuelan gangs had taken over.According to an email obtained by the New York Times, a spokesperson for the management company then started calling news stations with this claim under the guise of a “news tip.”

The only problem is that the people actually living in those apartments said they didn’t know anything about a gang takeover.

They had plenty to say, however, about the terrible living conditions and the totally absent landlord, CBZ management.

But that didn’t stop the story from spreading quickly on social media and conservative “news” sources. A viral video showing men with guns in one of the buildings also added fuel to the fire.

But Aurora law enforcement has been clear. Not only are they aware of this gang, Tren de Aragua, but of the 10 gang members they’ve identified, 6 are in custody and have been since before all this went viral. They also say they’ve seen no evidence that any gang has “taken over” any building.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, himself a Republican, has also issued a statement to set the record straight on the situation, outright refuting claims of a “takeover” and asking for people to stop spreading false information.

Caught up in all of this are Venezuelan immigrants themselves. People fleeing a terrible situation in Venezuela, many fleeing gang violence themselves. Now many are reporting a rise in hate directed at them by people who are reading false claims about the gang activity that is being spread for political reasons.¹⁰

232 days ago one of the most conservative senators in the country, Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), negotiated with Democrats and Republicans to write a bill that would address the crisis at our southern border. We didn’t agree with everything in it, but it was a true compromise that would’ve helped fix the problem.

Importantly, it also had work authorizations for new arrivals, exactly what cities like Denver have been asking the federal government to do to ease the burden.¹¹

Republicans embraced the bill, and for a moment it looked like Congress was actually going to act.

But Donald Trump decided he’d rather campaign on the crisis than have it solved.

So he demanded Republicans oppose it. Don’t take my word for it, he’s bragged about killing the bill himself.¹²

And just like that, the bill failed.¹³

But guess what? That hasn’t stopped Trump or MAGA Republicans¹⁴ from making up stories about Aurora to campaign on immigration.

Which brings us right back to the short answer for how we got here: Republicans are making up stories about Aurora, our communities, and our state because the truth is that they decided politics is more important than solutions.



References:

1. https://denverite.com/2024/09/05/venezuelan-gang-aurora-colorado-quick-explainer/

2. https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/aurora/what-is-tren-de-aragua-the-gangs-history-from-venezuelas-prisons-to-us-soil

3. https://coloradosun.com/2024/09/06/venezuelan-gangs-aurora/

4. https://denverite.com/2024/09/04/venezuelan-gang-aurora-colorado-factcheck/

5. a href=”https://substack.com/redirect/04e0135a-0176-458e-8b20-fdd34bc3e355?j=eyJ1IjoiZmEwbXcifQ.RoAsx4j887_0ktm2W3fqA0cMczcDQwI9fLVTYBXwnfY” rel=””>https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/18/aurora-venezuelan-gangs-cbz-management-apartment-owners/

6. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/us/politics/trump-aurora-colorado-immigration.html

7. https://denverite.com/2024/09/04/venezuelan-gang-aurora-colorado-factcheck/

8. https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/04/venezuelan-gang-colorado-aurora-tren-de-aragua/

9. https://www.auroragov.org/news/whats_new/mayor__council_member_address_gang_concerns

10. https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/immigrant-families-in-colorado-really-harmed-by-national-attention-on-tren-de-aragua-activists-say

11. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4459229-denver-mayor-blames-republicans-for-devastating-impact-on-city-after-border-deal-collapse/

12. https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/01/27/donald-trump-border-bill-boast-beto-orourke-acostanr-vpx.cnn

13. https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-a39e188fa2c6a563203d2c69eaabdc6d

14. https://kdvr.com/news/local/boebert-leads-roundtable-discussion-on-aurora-venezuelan-gang-activity/

New group forms to oppose 29 Road/I-70 interchange ballot measure

29 Road just north of Patterson, as it currently looks. Residents along 29 Road could find themselves living on a busy route to and from I-70 if Ballot Issue 1A passes. If it passes, the measure would approve the City and County taking on $80 million in debt, with a repayment cost of least $173,438,202, to fund the design and construction of a new I-70 interchange at 29 Road.

Concerned citizens of Mesa County announced September 23 that they have formed a local group called “No on 29 Road Debt” to educate the public about the financial, transportation safety and road design problems with the 29 Road Interchange proposal and oppose the upcoming ballot issue, which will be Issue 1A on the ballot. Grand Junction City Councilor Dennis Simpson is an organizer of the group. Simpson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). John Traylor is a spokesperson for the group.

Measure 1A as it appears on the November ballot. Note the full repayment cost for the measure is estimated at $173,438.202. The federal government has so far not pledged any funds to help with the project.

No on 29 Road Debt is a non-partisan community organization dedicated to promoting transparency, safety, and financially responsible transportation plans in Mesa County. The group’s mission is to empower citizens with the knowledge they need this November to make a decision on this proposal. As the ballot issue approaches, No on 29 Road Debt will provide clear, factual information to help voters make an informed decision.

Kia and Hyundai owners: you could be eligible for thousands in reimbursement in theft case settlement

Eligible Kia models and years

Owners of certain models and years of Kia and Hyundai vehicles who suffered theft or attempted theft of their vehicles can get up to $3,375 in expenses, or 33% of the damages to their vehicle and other costs they incurred due to a “qualifying theft” or “qualifying theft attempt.”

After videos spread on TikTok showing how easy it was to steal specific models and years of Kia and Hyundai vehicles as a result of their being built without important anti-theft devices called “engine immobilizers,” thefts of Kias and Hyundais exploded, causing damage to thousands of people’s Kias and Hyundais and heaping financial woes upon the owners, like increased insurance premiums and deductibles, costs to repair broken glass and other damage done to the vehicles, costs of adding after-market anti-theft devices, towing and transportation costs, lost work time and income, additional child care and other expenses.

Photos indicate community support for 29 Rd. interchange vs. saving the Orchard Mesa Pool

Crowd that turned out at a mid-September, 2024 kickoff at Edgewater Brewery for the “Finish the Loop” campaign to build the proposed 29 Road interchange on I-70. The project would cost in excess of $80 million. (Screenshot: KREX-TV/YouTube)

 

Crowd that turned out at a February, 2024 rally at Eagle Rim Park to save the Orchard Mesa Pool. The indoor public pool provides a year-round opportunity for kids to learn to swim and enjoy water recreation safely out of the river, helping to keep local kids from drowning. Saving the pool would cost fraction of the 29 Road interchange. (Photo: Marianne Taigmann/Facebook). 

State opens case into alleged forgery at Red Rock Hyundai

Subpoena related to a 2022 transaction at Red Rock Hyundai in which allegedly forged signatures were discovered by a credit union on purchase documents for a used 2020 GMC Sierra truck. Mr. Acevedo, the customer who tried to buy the vehicle, was the victim in the case.

The Colorado Attorney General and Auto Industry Division are subpoenaing documents related the alleged forgery of signatures discovered during a customer’s attempt to purchase a used truck at Red Rock Hyundai in 2022. 

Jesus Acevedo, the victim of the alleged 2022 forgeries in the case, received a subpoena dated 8/29/2024 in the state’s case.

In January, 2022 Mr. Acevedo attempted to buy a 2020 GMC Sierra pickup from Red Rock Hyundai. He was never shown any of the documents from his purchase while he was at the Hyundai dealership. He saw them for the first time at the Sooper Credit Union, where he went to arrange financing. A loan officer printed out the documents from the sale and saw four signatures that didn’t look like Mr. Acevedo’s signature. He showed the signatures to Mr. Acevedo, who affirmed they were not his. One of the questionable signatures was on an agreement to buy a $10,000 extended warranty that Mr. Acevedo wasn’t told about and did not approve.

How to find out what’s causing the smoke in the air on hazy Grand Valley days

Sample of the Air Now Fire and Smoke Map showing regional air quality. The map is continuously updated and is provided by the EPA and U.S. Forest Service

What caused the dense haze in the Grand Valley air a couple of days ago that obstructed scenic views of the Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument?

Now you can easily find out.

Trump admits he lost the 2020 election, causing supporters to turn on him

Mesa County’s die-hard, Trump-loving Republicans probably won’t want to hear this, but Donald Trump admitted in a September 3, 2024 interview with Lex Fridman that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden “by a whisker.” The full interview of Trump is 1 hour and 4 minutes long. The admission that he lost the 2020 election starts at 10:41 in the interview.

And this is not the only time Trump has admitted this, either.

During a visit to the southern border in Arizona last August, he acknowledged that he lost the election, saying he “came up a little short.”

Trump’s admissions come after years in which he relentlessly lied to his supporters by claiming he was robbed of victory in the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud, a claim that he’s never proven. Despite this, millions of Americans believed him.

SNAP participants: New program adds $60/month to SNAP benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables

Updated with additional information on 9/2/24 @ 9:57 a.m.-

Thanks to a grant from the Biden administration’s U.S. Department of Agriculture, Colorado’s Department of Human Services started a new program August 1, 2024 to boost healthy eating called the Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus. The program gives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants a 100% reimbursement for any qualifying purchase of fruits and vegetables credited directly back to their EBT card at the time of purchase. The bonus provides for up to $20 per transaction and a maximum of $60 per month. Notice that only fruits and vegetables qualify for the SNAP Produce Bonus reimbursement, but the reimbursed funds that get credited back to your EBT account can be used to buy any SNAP eligible items.