A customer wearing a Trump “Never Surrender” T-shirt was emboldened to hurl racist insults at employees at 5 Guys hamburger restaurant at 2480 U.S. Highway 6 in Grand Junction on the evening of Election Day, Nov. 5, calling them “beaners” and “f*cking invaders” as they filled his order.
Tag: elections
Crime, Dangerous Republicans, Democracy under threat, Elections, Extremism, Freedom under threat, Human rights, Public health, Republican incompetence, Republicans violating laws, Trump Insanity
Elect a criminal, expect crimes
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There will be no one to blame but American voters for what is going to happen next.
After a decade in politics, we all knew Donald Trump was a criminal.
He was found guilty last May of 34 felony counts of fraud and was slapped with a $355 million fine after he and his company were found guilty of engaging in a decade-long scheme to defraud banks and lenders by falsifying the values of his properties. In writing the verdict in the case, Judge Arthur Engoron wrote “The frauds found here leap off the page and shock the conscience.” In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
Conservatives, Crazy Republicans, Cringeworthy, Democracy under threat, Elections, Embarrassing Republicans, Inept Republicans, Mental health, Trump Insanity, Vile Republicans
Trump mimes giving a blow job to his microphone at rally in Milwaukee, WI
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[Warning: This post about the Republican nominee for U.S. President is unsuitable for children.]
Upset about a problematic microphone at his Friday, Nov. 1 rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Trump went on an extended rant about microphones that included his miming of giving oral sex to another male while standing behind a podium that bore a sign saying “Trump will fix it.” [The BJ part starts at 3:00 into the 4:05 video]
City of Grand Junction, Elections, Local concerns, Mesa County, Mesa County Democratic Party, Mesa County Republican Party, politics
Interactive map shows donors to Harris/Biden and Trump in Mesa County in the 2024 presidential race as of 10/24/24
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This fascinating interactive map from the Washington Post shows a surprising number of people in our area are Harris supporters, and that Mesa County has continued to trend more “blue” politically since 2020.
Elections
Voter Guide for the Mesa County Ballot for the Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 election
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Are you wondering how to vote in the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 General Election? Are you worried about where you’re going to find the time to research all of the candidates and ballot measures, especially on such a long ballot?
Relax.
AnneLandmanBlog has done all the work for you.
Following is a summary of recommended votes for the 2024 Mesa County General Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Children, Education, Elections, Local concerns, School District 51
Mesa County Ballot Issues 4A & 4B: School District 51 Bond issue and Mill Levy Override
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Ballot issue 4A asks if School District 51 can take out a bond (loan) for $190 million with a maximum repayment cost of $410 million and use the money to renovate, make additions to existing school buildings and upgrade classroom technology. Plans include doing high-priority repairs like roof replacements, adding fire sprinklers, upgrading classroom technology, making schools more secure and making it easier for disabled kids o access all school facilities.
Many of the local public schools were built in the 1950s-1960s and need maintenance and upgrades to keep them functional, up-to-date and safe into the future.
The bond measure won’t raise taxes because it replaces an existing bond that will be fully paid off on December 1, 2024.
Ballot Issue 4B authorizes the school district to extend the current mill levy override so the District keep getting a tax already in place that was approved in 2017 and keep the $6.5 million it generates annually to continue paying for additional student instruction days, updated instructional materials, teacher training and priority maintenance to extend the life of its buildings. (A “mill levy override” is a voter-approved increase in property taxes that provides a school district with additional funding.)
Cody Davis, Elections, Local concerns, Mesa County, politics
Follow the money Mesa County: A short dive into Tracer reports for county commissioner race 2024
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Important campaign finance research and analysis of the District 1 Mesa County Commissioner race between challenger Tom Acker and incumbent Cody Davis.
Cody Davis, Conservatives, Economics, Elections, Mesa County, Mesa County Republican Party, politics
Mesa County Ballot Issue 1B: Can the County keep tax revenue above the Tabor limit and use it to fix roads and bridges?
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Mesa County Ballot Issue 1B asks voters if the County can keep almost $11.5 million that’s already been paid in taxes, use it to maintain roads and bridges and raise the TABOR limit in the future so they can keep more tax money. So Ballot issue 1B asks Mesa County voters to let County government avoid complying with the state’s TABOR law.
What’s TABOR?
Tax-and-Spend Republicans?
Colorado’s TABOR (Taxpayer Bill Of Rights) law says state and local government can keep and spend only a specific amount of money based on their prior fiscal year’s revenue, an amount called the TABOR limit. If they collect money above that amount, it must be refunded to the taxpayers. The TABOR limit can only be adjusted according to a “population plus inflation” formula. The intent of the law, which was promoted by Republicans, was to constrain government to keep it from growing, a long-held conservative ideal.
Economics, Elections, Mesa County, Safety
Mesa County Ballot Issue 1A: The proposed 29 Road interchange at I-70
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29 Road at I-70, where the proposed interchange would be built. Right now there is just a bridge over the interstate. (Photo: Google)
Elections, Firearms, Gun violence, Mental health, Public health
Proposition KK: Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax
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Proposition KK would charge a new 6.5% excise tax on the manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition. The tax would be imposed on firearms dealers, manufacturers, and ammunition vendors. The revenue would go to a new fund called the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Cash Fund and would be used to fund criminal victim services programs, mental and behavioral health programs for kids and veterans and school security and safety programs.
A “yes” vote approves the new tax. A “no” vote opposes creation of the new tax.
Prop. KK is expected to generate up to $39 million the first full year it goes into effect.
Elections, Environment, Water
Proposition JJ: Should the state be able to retain additional revenues from the sports betting tax?
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Thirsty untended cattle left to fend for themselves on BLM land in winter climb into the Grand Valley Canal and break through the ice to get water. Proposition JJ would let the state keep revenues generated by the sports betting tax over the $29 million cap and put those funds towards water projects state wide. The Colorado Cattlemens Association supports Proposition JJ.
[Propositions placed on the ballot by the legislature that amend state statutes or refer a tax question to the voters are identified by double letters.]
Proposition JJ would let the state keep additional revenue it collects from the sports betting tax above the amount voters approved when they first legalized sports betting in 2019. Proposition DD, approved by voters in 2019, authorized the state to keep up to $29 million/year in taxes generated by sports betting. Proposition JJ will let the state keep revenue the tax generates above the $29 million cap and spend it on water projects throughout the state instead of refunding it to casinos and sports betting operators.
In Colorado, sports betting is taxed at 10%, compared to 36% in Pennsylvania and 52% in New York.
In budget year 2024-2025, the amount collected over the $29 million cap is forecast to be $1.2 million, and in 2025-2026 it is expected to be $2.5 million.
Diversity, Elections, Extremism, politics
Proposition 131: Top-Four Primary and Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
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Proposition 131 changes Colorado’s current primary election voting system into a ranked-choice voting system.
In ranked-choice voting, all candidates running for an office who have met the state’s conditions to run, regardless of their political party, get their names on the ballot, and voters rank the candidates in order of preference. The top four vote-getters then advance to the general election.
This is called an “all-candidate primary.”
Here are two examples of what ranked-choice ballots look like:
Crime, Elections
Proposition 128: The Parole Eligibility Initiative
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Photo: Unsplash
*Some information from Ballotopedia:
Proposition 128 (full text, PDF) would change requirements to be eligible for parole for people convicted of specific violent crimes like second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first or second-degree sexual assault, first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, and aggravated robbery.
Currently in Colorado, a person convicted of certain violent crimes can apply for parole after serving 75% of their sentence, and their sentences can be reduced further by time earned for good behavior.
Under Prop. 128, people who commit crimes like this on or after January 1, 2025, would be required to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole, and earned time for good behavior could not be used to reduce the sentence.
Education, Elections
Prop. 129: Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates & Prop. 130: $350M in one-time Funding for Law Enforcement
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Proposition 129 – Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates
Prop 129 would create a new category of veterinary professional called a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA), analagous to Physicians’s Assistants who work with M.D.s (Photo: Unsplash)
This measure would create a new a class of veterinary medical professional analagous to Physician’s Assistants (PAs) who work with M.D.’s in human health care. It would require a Master’s Degree in veterinary clinical care or the equivalent to become a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) and would require VPAs to register with the state board. It would allow registered VPAs to practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
animal abuse, Animals, Elections, Ethics
Proposition 127: Prohibit bobcat, lynx and mountain lion hunting
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Propositions with three numbers (e.g., Proposition 127, Proposition 128, etc.) are measures amending state statutes.
Proposition 127 is a grassroots citizens initiative that would make it illegal to hunt, shoot at, or trap bobcats, lynx, and mountain lions in Colorado. The only exceptions are for the protection of human life, property and livestock. Violation would be a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a fine and limiting of the violator’s wildlife hunting privileges.
The measure is supported by Cats Aren’t Trophies, and is endorsed by animal welfare societies, wildlife sanctuaries and rescues, Audubon Societies, Wild Earth Guardians and the Sierra Club, among others.
Elections
Lettered Amendments on 2024 Mesa County ballot
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Amendment G – Modify Property Tax Exemption to include Veterans with Disabilities
*Some info taken from the Colorado State Ballot Information Booklet
The lettered measures on the ballot (e.g., Amendment G, Amendment H, etc.) amend the state’s constitution.
Amendment G, a constitutional amendment referred to the ballot by the state legislature, would reduce the property taxes some veteran homeowners pay 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.
The homestead exemption reduces the amount of property taxes paid by some groups of people, like seniors 65 years and older who have lived in their homes for over 10 years, veterans who have service-connected disabilities rated 100% permanent and total by the federal government and the surviving spouses of Armed Forces members who died from service-related injuries or disease.
City of Grand Junction, Economics, Elections, Local concerns, Mesa County, Safety
New group forms to oppose 29 Road/I-70 interchange ballot measure
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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.
City of Grand Junction, Economics, Elections, Local concerns
29 Road interchange debt service would “decimate” city capital: Grand Junction City Finance Director
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A vision of the proposed 29 Road interchange on I-70, with roundabouts (Illustration by FHUeng)
Photo: City of Grand Junction
7/25/24 @ 3:39 p.m. – Note: an earlier version of this blog attributed the quotes criticizing the finance director’s use of the word “decimate” to Engineering and Transportation Director Trent Prall. I’ve been informed that was incorrect. They were actually said by City Councilman Cody Kennedy. I have corrected the blog.
In a Grand Junction City Council workshop discussion July 15 about the proposed 29 Road interchange on I-70, City Finance Director Jennifer Tomaszewski, a Certified Public Accountant, told Council members that given the amount of revenue the City takes in from sales taxes, and the City’s current expenses and financial obligations, including its existing transportation debt and maintenance of parks and facilities, the proposed $2.5 million/year in debt service over 30 years that the City would take on to build the project would “decimate our city capital, basically.” [Tomaszewski made this statement is at 1:12:46 in the above-linked video.]