Tag: Denver

So far in 2019 strikes have broken out in Los Angeles and Oakland in California, Denver in Colorado and in Virginia and West Virginia, notching up notable wins in terms of pay raises and better working conditions. Kappier explained classrooms in Oakland’s school district are too large, her history textbooks are outdated, schools in the district don’t have nurses, adequate staffing of counselors, no librarians, and music and art programs are non-existent at some schools in the district. The issues facing public schools in Oakland are similar to other school districts across America where teachers led a 30-year high in strikes in 2018. A common theme of these walkouts is drastic declines in public funding schools, where many states have not replenished cuts made to public education during the 2008 economic recession. Leachman co-authored a November 2017 report that found 29 states were funding less per student in 2015 than they were in 2008. Last week, teachers in West Virginia went out on strike again for two days to protest a bill being pushed in the state senate that would tie teacher pay raises to funding for charter schools. “The issue last year was mainly over benefits. “At the school I’m at, the students are lucky enough to have one parent. “That translates to a classroom where kids don’t have a lot of prospects, they don’t have a lot of hope and it’s very difficult in terms of teaching them because a lot of their basic needs are not met.” Around 31,000 teachers in Los Angeles started off 2019’s strike wave in the nation’s second largest school district, walking out for seven days before settling on an agreement that included a pay raise, increase of support staff, and a plan to reduce class sizes to mandated caps. So the only reason to allow a strike is to test the strength of the union.

The reactions began as soon as the deal was announced, with a tweet from Gov. While it’s unfortunate that this agreement was not reached prior to the strike, today’s results are a testament to Denver Public Schools and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association’s commitment to working together in the best interest of our children. Denver’s kids are the biggest winners in today’s agreement, and I think everyone is relieved that the strike is over and students and teachers will be back in school working together to build a brighter future for themselves and our community. @ColoradoEA @DenverTeachers #DCTAstrong #RedForEd @AmieBacaOehlert pic.twitter.com/0RLeyaAgi6 — Lily Eskelsen García (@Lily_NEA) February 14, 2019 Colorado Education Association President Amie Baca-Oehlert, head of the state teachers union to which the Denver union belongs, held up Denver teachers as models for the rest of the state. Denver educators didn’t just fight for their students, profession and community. From an official at A+ Colorado: Good news and progress here. #edcolo https://t.co/aPaBvY2k2o — Landon Mascareñaz (@lmascarenaz) February 14, 2019 And from Stand for Children Colorado: We are so happy @DenverTeachers and @DPSNewsNow reached a deal where educators get a raise, equity incentives are protected, and now students and teachers are back to the classroom! The teachers themselves should be proud — they are getting a 10 percent raise. But unfortunately for the union’s credibility, it’s essentially the same raise they were offered before the strike. (The district did not put much more money on the table to reach the deal, but it did agree to changes the union wanted in terms of how educators earn raises.

DENVER — Two years after jumping into a fight with the Trump administration over public lands, the U.S. outdoor industry is turning up the political pressure - though its impact is difficult to measure. "We will always - this is really core to who we are," said Corley Kenna, a spokeswoman for Patagonia, the brashest political fighter among the industry's major players. The Outdoor Industry Association and some big retailers, including Patagonia, Columbia Sportswear, REI and The North Face, have campaigned together and on their own to protect public lands. Some of their forays are unobtrusive get-out-the-vote campaigns, lobbying for national parks funding and email blasts to customers about public lands news. But Patagonia took the unusual step of endorsing U.S. Senate candidates in November's election. Now, show organizers have made climate change and sustainable manufacturing a priority and announced the formation of the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership to lobby for state and federal climate policies. "You do tend to see issue advertising does change public opinion to a much greater extent than candidate advertising," he said. But neither the Outdoor Industry Association nor the big companies have done the kind of polls and surveys that would show that. "I would like to think that we played a part in that because we were motivating our own community to get out and vote," Kenna said. Public lands were an issue in the Nevada election last year, said Dave Damore, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Looking forward to more compromise in government First, I am a proud Coloradan. Third, I am a proud Democrat. While thrilled about the deep blue wave that swept Colorado on Election Day, I remain deeply concerned about the future of my state. Take to heart their visions and goals for Colorado. Consider the benefits of adopting a revenue neutral carbon fee and dividend to the products of oil and gas. Some economists believe the re-distribution of such wealth into households increases buying power, market demand and creates hands-on jobs. Politicians need to find gun fix Re: “Another mass shooting … ,” Nov. 9 news story Twenty-three innocent Americans slaughtered within two weeks. Immigrants are not the threat. Birth-right children are not the threat. For the last couple years, we have heard President Trump use the phrase “a threat to national security” to justify actions taken by the White House.

Mass shooting in California brings gun violence home As a kid I watched Westerns on TV where the “bad man/gunman” would suddenly push open the saloon doors, draw his guns and start shooting. What is this sick obsession so many Americans have with guns? We need a culture change. At the very least we need to ban all automatic weapons. Guns are big business and people are dying. Walt Bonora, We need funding for youth mental health too Denver recently voted to increase a sales tax for mental health initiatives. However, when thinking about the allocation of this funding, I ask that we not forget about Colorado’s youth. Colorado teen suicide rate is almost twice the national average. Let us show that Denver cares about our youth. Voters weren’t fooled by yet another poison-pill measure from Jon Caldara and his dark-money funded Independence Institute.

When the massive Outdoor Retailer market moved to Colorado from Utah last year in a fight over public lands, the die was cast to mold together the business and the politics of getting outside. The ticketed summer show for retailers and vendors opened at the Colorado Convention Center Monday. At the top of the political list: The Boulder-based Outdoor Industry Association released its first congressional scorecard to coincide with the show. The report derived the grades from blending together votes on bills and advocacy positions the trade group supports, including opposition to methane flaring on federal lands, oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and leasing plans by the Bureau of Land Management. This year, because so many bills dealt with public lands, the results might appear skewed to the left, where Democrats have positioned themselves to protect national monuments and limit development. All of Colorado’s Democrats in Washington scored A’s. Republicans scored C’s, except for Rep. Ken Buck of Windsor, one of the most conservative members of Congress, who got a D. Unlike most advocacy groups that issue scorecards, the Outdoor Industry Association maintains that it is, on balance, bipartisan. Read more at Colorado Politics: https://bit.ly/2LLC68f

A caravan of food trucks lined Welton Street in Five Points on Saturday morning, mingling with a long line of easy-up canopies and traditional food stands. However, the annual Juneteenth festival began long before grills were prepped for customers. Attendees, however, also witnessed a heightened political presence. “It’s great to be here celebrating the African-American community,” Kennedy said. “I graduated from Manual High School, so I’m coming home today.” Campaign signs were plentiful, and volunteers asked onlookers to sign petitions and register to vote. This is the first year it’s really been swamped.” Others praised the presence, calling it an important expression of the freedom that Juneteenth celebrates. “Everybody needs to register to vote, and everybody needs to vote!” Welton Street presented a slightly different scene, with more focus on food and merchandise, but campaign volunteers continued to roam the streets in search of signatures. “This is a historic celebration, and I love seeing communities coming together,” said state Rep. Dave Young, a candidate for Colorado treasurer. “For me, Juneteenth is about the community coming together. I love seeing the support for the black community.