The New City and County Building in Denver, CO:
Some Interesting Things about John Hickenlooper
Hickenlooper’s connection to the Chinook Fund
Although Hickenlooper makes much of his struggles to launch a business during the recession in 1988, he managed a year earlier to pitch in $2,000 of his oil company severance to co-found the Chinook Fund, a foundation that provides startup grants to community organizations that emphasize social change. He since has given tens of thousands of dollars to Chinook, which in 15 years has doled out more than $1.3 million to groups including:
Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, which has sponsored protesters to tear town Israeli road blocks in the West Bank.
Colorado Hip-Hop Coalition, a group dedicated to “community empowerment for youth through hip-hop culture.”
Gender Identity Center of Colorado, a group supporting “people who cross dress, are transsexual, or are non-traditional in their gender identity.”
Denver Cop Watch, which monitors police brutality in the city and has spoken out against police compiling “spy files” against peaceful protesters.
The Boulder Living Wage Campaign, which wanted that city, its contractors and grant recipients to pay workers a minimum of $12.50 per hour – vastly more than the $5.15 minimum wage required federally. However, he opposed a similar living wage initiative in Denver, where he owned seven restaurants, employed 400 workers and has enjoyed a $125,000 city loan and a $3 million subsidy from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. Taken from a 2003 Denver Post profile written by Susan Greene
He never seems to remember anything that he has done in the past. Case in point: He said he did not know who Van Jones was. If you remember, he was the “green” energy czar who was ousted when it was revealed that he was a communist. “I got to talk to Van Jones, and he is a rock star. He is. Everything you’ve ever heard about Van Jones, he’s bigger and better in life than what you’ve heard.” — John Hickenlooper, May 2009. This quote from when Van Jones was being honored by the Colorado Environmental Coalition last May. Hickenlooper and Van Jones were scheduled participants/speakers at at least five separate events duing the 10 months from August 2008 through May 2009. But when questioned on the Mike Rosen show, Hickenlooper’s claim was something between “I never paid
much attention”, “I thought he was just involved in education”, and “I don’t remember.” Didn’t know his restaurants were hiring illegal aliens until one shot and killed Denver Police Officer Donny Young. Was not aware of the gang intimidations in downtown Denver until a gentleman was harassed downtown and then followed home by these gangs and killed. Do you want a Governor that has amnesia?
Vote YES Denver – Amendments 60 and 61, Proposition 101
Three tax-slashing and government-limiting initiatives on the November ballot would cripple Denver’s finances and restrict the city’s ability to borrow money to make improvements, Denver City Council members say.
The council plans to pass a proclamation tonight urging voters to reject Amendments 60 and 61, along with Proposition 101. Voters statewide will vote on the proposals in November.
Amendment 60 would roll back and limit property taxes. Proposition 101 would slash about $62 million in local taxes from the city’s general fund, more than the city spends annually on parks and recreation.
Amendment 61 would lower Denver’s debt threshold so much that the city would either have to delay or no longer proceed with $121 million worth of projects and infrastructure upgrades already approved by voters, budget officials say.
Voters approved the spending as part of a $550 million bond package in 2007.
I, for one, will vote yes on all three of these Amendments. The government continues to request increases in our taxes and the poor working stiff is the only one that has to foot the bill for all of their reckless spending. Everything continues to go up and our income is not increasing at the same rate. I cannot and will not continue to support the government in the style that they accustomed.
We spend a billion a year to maintain the “undocumented people” here. Quit providing for the “undocumenteds” and we can proceed with the $121 million worth of projects and infrastructure that was part of the 2007 $550 million package that was already approved. The government tells the voters that their taxes will go to one thing and then they borrow from that package to pay for something else and then turn around and ask for more money for the project we already approved. How much have we poured into RTD? That is a bottomless pit of reckless spending.
Until the government can show me that they have stopped wasteful spending and can show me their budget and what is spent where, then I will continue to vote down their request for more money.
