BY JACQUI SOMEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Your favorite TV sitcom probably has one — the nosy man peering over their fence or the goofy guy across the hall who turns into a lifelong friend.
ese characters are often exaggerated personalities, but portray a piece of reality. e people who live next door are central characters in our lives, and they have the potential to be co-stars or villains. What does it take to be one of the good ones? Being good or bad at anything is highly subjective, so we asked Denverites what it means to them to be a good neighbor.
“Di erent ages, ethnicities, experiences. Coming together and laughing and sharing. at’s a community for me,” said Ashly Ligouri, a resident of Whittier/Five Points, after describing a recent multigenerational, after-school, garden-picking-turned-water ght experience.
and maintain their spaces within public view.
David Portillo, of the Strengthening Neighborhoods program at e Denver Foundation, said being a good neighbor is about “giving people the opportunity to tell their story.” According to Portillo, asking questions and getting to know people better creates a “neighborliness that allows you to be friendly, but also to explore and count on each other.” He went on to describe his neighbor who helps straighten the trash bins in the alley to ensure they get picked up on time.
One Sloan’s Lake Nextdoor channel respondent said, “Be kind & caring, being both intentional & random. Let them know your [sic] looking out for them and that they can call on you if needed.” Another respondent from the same platform had a di erent opinion: “Mind your own business unless asked for your opinion. Never assume your opinion is law of the land.”
Being a good neighbor might also mean following the rules, whether determined by the city, HOA or community. Good neighbors are likely to keep the noise down, the trash in the right place
While the de nition of a good neighbor is mostly subjective, the bene ts of having a kind neighbor are clear: According to a 2014 study published in the e Journals of Gerontology, people who had little contact and perceived lower support from their neighbors over time showed decreases in their perceived purpose in life, personal growth, autonomy, positive relations and self-acceptance.
But being a good neighbor isn’t just about residents being kind to each other; it can also include taking action to make the community better. ese actions don’t just build stronger neighborhoods, but stronger individuals as well. Research published in the journal Health & Place documented that high levels of collective e cacy, “the link between mutual trust and a shared willingness to intervene for the common good of the neighborhood,” has also been shown to decrease the prevalence of health conditions such as asthma, obesity, risky sexual behavior and premature mortality.
In Denver, small-business owners are also leading the charge to bring communities together to enhance safety, inclusion, and
physical and mental well-being.
Sara Bechen, owner of Je erson Park Pub, described a good neighbor as being “kind to current neighbors and businesses, and welcoming to new ones.”
“Communication is vital in keeping each other informed and watching out for the safety of our community” Bechen continued.
“Being a good neighbor also means being a place where people can come nd community, see themselves represented in the books on our shelves and feel safe in our space,” said Catherine Merritt, manager of Petals & Pages in the Santa Fe Business District.
Strong leaders can help uplift their own neighbors and those from surrounding neighborhoods.
When asked about the grants that Strengthening Neighborhoods provides to Denver communities, Portillo said the foundation looks for “neighbors doing something on their own,” community leaders who are already putting energy and money into a program. When these programs are successful, he said, there’s what he called a “ripple e ect.” When one neighborhood begins to thrive, surrounding leaders take similar actions to bene t their own communities.
BY NATALIE KERR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Colorado generated 1.5 billion tons of surplus food in 2022, while the average American eats roughly 1 ton of food per year.
Most of that excess, 62%, came from residences; the other 25% from restaurants and food retailers. Food sent to a land ll means less for people experiencing chronic hunger and a waste of the resources that grew it in the rst place. And it misses an opportunity to generate soilenriching compost.
e waste is tragic, said Ryan J. Call, campaigns coordinator at Eco-cycle, a Boulder nonpro t. Eco-cycle collaborated with Closed Loop Partners, an investment rm focused on the circular economy, to develop a blueprint for municipalities that compost. e blueprint details best practices for cities like Denver to divert the majority of food waste from land lls.
Currently, curbside composting for single-family homes is expanding to a fourth waste district in Denver, while the city’s O ce of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) is working to meet the goals outlined in the 2022 voter-approved Waste No More ordinance intended to bring composting to apartment complexes, restaurants and grocery stores. e two initiatives aim high, but progress has lagged.
Composted soil saves water, sequesters carbon, is more productive, and reduces land ll waste and methane emissions, Call said. But making composting accessible, a ordable and e ective is a complex strategy of infrastructure, education, regulations and investment for cities.
“Less than 10% of Americans today have access to organic collection,” said Paula Luu, senior project developer for Closed Loop Partners. “We’re at the very beginning of this infrastructure transformation and change, so we felt like the municipal blueprint was a very timely and necessary tool in order to empower time-strapped, resource-strapped municipal leaders to scale infrastructure and collection programs.”
Being neighborly can involve grand gestures or small acts of kindness. This Denver resident’s adorned fence could be considered both.
PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Curbside composting
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is delivering green compost carts and information to residents who opted into the program in District 8, which encompasses Bear Valley, College View-South Platte, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Mar Lee, Marston, Overland and Ruby Hill.
DOTI previously delivered carts to all residents, unless a resident specied they didn’t want one, leading to a high concentration of materials besides food scraps and yard trimmings in compost bins, said Nina Waysdorf, the waste diversion and recycling manager for the city.
“We found a lot of contamination, the audits took a long time, there was a lot of continued education,” Waysdorf said. “After that, we said, ‘OK, we need to pivot a little bit and re-evaluate this.’”
ose in waste districts 2, 4, 5 and 8 can opt into the program at any time after rollout begins. Participation is high, with about 24% total participation across Denver, Waysdorf said.
Education is a priority for DOTI, which is now focused on increasing participation and reducing contamination.
DOTI also partners with Denver Urban Gardens’ Master Composter certi cation program, where participants learn about the biology and chemistry of composting. e program is highlighted in Closed Loop Partners’ and Eco-cycle’s blueprint as a great resource for promoting a cultural shift around compost.
To foster that culture shift, the blueprint encourages consistent education beyond a rollout phase, encouraging people like Master Composters to champion compost and frame compost bins as a step toward producing soil, rather than another trash receptacle.
e slow rollout, which is expected to be complete in 2025, has frustrated some residents who are eager to begin. But DOTI said the pace allows them to make sure composting is done correctly and that people’s questions are answered.
requires apartments, restaurants, grocers and other large waste generators to provide recycling and composting services through private waste haulers, has been in effect since June 1, 2023, CASR has no current means of requiring compliance.
Jacob B., a general manager at Devil’s Food Bakery in Washington Park, heard about the compost requirement through customers interested to know if the bakery is composting.
“A ier dropped o would even su ce, but there has been no real announcement that it was going into e ect,” Jacob said.
Brooke Garcia, who’s on the HOA board for her condo in Capitol Hill, said she had no idea her building needed to comply with Waste No More. She personally contracts Denver Compost Collective to pick up her compost, but she is the only resident in her building doing so.
Building maintenance costs, insurance rates and existing trash collection challenges mean the HOA is not interested in paying for additional compost services to the building. Existing problems feel higher priority than composting, Garcia said, like trash in the alley behind the building from encampments.
“When they nally left, we had to hire multi-thousand-dollar hazmat cleaners, and that was on us, that was not the city doing that,” Garcia said.
Some HOAs are successfully composting, like Martin Percival’s building in Cheesman Park, which has two communal bins for compost collection. Composting at the 31-unit residence began six months ago to comply with the ordinance.
Percival brought Waste No More to his HOA’s attention, and because they tend to be proactive the group was receptive, but Percival said the process was confusing.
“ ere wasn’t a huge amount of information out there,” Percival said. “Luckily, my board, the HOA, were receptive to it, because I don’t know where the o cial stu would be in order to compel the HOA to provide [compost].”
ments that apply to their entire business chain.
“Businesses currently are not composting, and I think for the most part, they’re not aware of the rules, and if they are aware, they’re aware that there is no enforcement and that they haven’t been nalized,” Pace said. “I do anticipate it to pick up at some point when the city actually puts some teeth into the rules.”
In part, CASR’s hesitation on strict enforcement comes from the acknowledgement that it could impact di erent businesses and residences unequally, said Emily Gedeon, director of communications and engagement.
e 2023 Waste No More task force met with stakeholders to assess potential challenges and provide recommendations around equity and nancial support, but CASR is still investigating how to implement Waste No More equitably.
PHOTO BY MERYL PHAIR
“If we can go faster, we will, but this is where we’re at currently,” Waysdorf said.
which
Wompost, a compost hauler in Aurora that can be contracted privately by Denver businesses, noticed little change after Waste No More was enacted, said owner and CEO Carolyn Pace. Most people cite a personal desire to compost as their reason for signing up for services, with only around 10% citing Waste No More and a few citing national require-
GET YOUR SPOOKY ON
BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Whether you’re looking for family fun or something sure to make you scream, Denver is the right place to be this season. Here are some sta picks for a frightfully festive fall.
13th Floor Haunted House
e 13th Floor Haunted House, 3400 E. 52nd Ave. in Denver, has opened for the season on select nights through Nov. 9. For the rst time, this year’s haunted house offers two separate entrances, providing a new experience for its annual guests. is year’s haunts are Crimson Night, Nautical Nightmare and a journey through a secluded forest with Macabre. Remember to check out the additional onsite attractions as well. ere is no minimum age requirement for the 13th Floor, though the event is graphic and meant to scare. It is not recommended for children age 12 and younger. A MonsterFree Hour is o ered on Sundays in October. Ticket prices begin at $19.99 per person, with Fast Pass, Skip the Line, behind-the-scenes tours and VIP ticketing options available. More at 13th oorhauntedhouse.com.
Boo at the Zoo/Wild Fall
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, formerly known as e Denver Zoo, is bringing back its ever-popular Boo at the Zoo, which takes over the attraction several evenings in October after the popular daytime o ering of Wild Fall. Wild Fall, included with regular admission, provides the opportunity to learn about creatures that inhabit our imaginations, such as beasts of lore like Bigfoot, dragons, sea monsters and more. Roaming costumed characters, creaturecarved pumpkins, festive food and drink and special animal demos enhance the experience. Boo at the Zoo is ticketed separately and takes place from 5-9 p.m. on Oct. 4-5, 1113, 18-20 and 25-27. A sensory-friendly Boo at the Zoo takes place Oct. 31. Boo at the Zoo features mysterious cryptid creatures, seasonal snacks and libations and nine stations serving up wildlife-friendly candy. e zoo is also o ering a 21+ event, Monster Masquerade, on Oct. 24. Purchase tickets early to any of the ticketed events as they are expected to sell out. More at DenverZoo.org.
A build-your-own scarecrow activity is o ered as an add-on experience at the Four Mile Historic Park’s Pumpkin Harvest Festival. COURTESY OF FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK
A child admires carved pumpkins during a previous year’s Wild Fall at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
SPOOKY
Broadway Halloween Parade
e Broadway Halloween Parade got its start a number of years ago as a community parade for the southDenver area. It has now grown into a regional attraction, drawing thousands of spectators each year. is year, the parade takes place at 6 p.m. Oct. 19. e route follows Broadway between Fifth and Alameda avenues. Put on by the Broadway Merchants Association, this family-friendly event features Halloween-themed oats, bands and marchers. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume. Free to attend. More at www. thebroadwayhalloweenparade.com.
Ghosts in the Gardens
Visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens is fun any time of the year, and during the fall, there is no shortage of things to experience there. Ghosts in the Gardens, an annual favorite, invites visitors to stroll through the gardens after dark as storytellers share real sta encounters, security guard accounts and the intriguing history of the place that was formerly known
as “ e Boneyard.” Guests can also go inside the Waring House for an exclusive visit of the Beaux-Arts style mansion. Families with children age 12 and older are welcome — this event is not recommended for younger children. Halloween masks and costumes are not permitted at this event. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. Ghosts in the Gardens is o ered from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, 12-13 and 17-20. Cost is $34 general and $29 for members. If walking through the gardens during the nighttime is not your thing, check out Glow Before Dark, which is included with admission, and takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19-21, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22-27. ese events take place at the York Street Location, 1007 York St., in Denver. More at botanicgardens.org.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Four Mile Historic Park
Four Mile Historic Park is hosting its Pumpkin Harvest Festival again this year, o ering family-friendly activities including a pumpkin patch, gold panning, a marketplace, live music and performances, seasonal food, face painting, a Westernthemed scavenger hunt, prairie games and more. e festival takes
place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12 and 13. Tickets range in cost from $17-$45 (children 3 and younger do not require a ticket). Ticket prices increase on Oct. 7. A build-your-own scarecrow activity is o ered for an additional $25. Four Mile Historic Park is located at 715 S. Forest St. in Denver. More at fourmilepark.org/ pumpkin-harvest-festival.
Tennyson Fall Fest & Pet Parade
e Tennyson Fall Fest & Pet Parade is back this year, taking place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 along Tennyson Street from West 41st to West 44th avenues. ere will be live music, vendors, food trucks, yoga and the highly-anticipated pet parade. is family-friendly event is free to attend. Also, mark Oct. 26 on your calendar for the Tennyson Berkeley Business Association’s Trick or Treat Street. More at www. exploretennyson.com/fall-festival.
Victorian Horrors
Perhaps it’s the thrill of visiting the home of someone long-gone, but the Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., is always a good place to go to get some spooky fun in. And this year is no di erent. Amidst a variety of events
at the museum this season, the annual Victorian Horrors stands out. Acclaimed local actors, stationed throughout the decorated museum, give theatrical readings of terrifying tales written by well-known, but long-gone, authors. Victorian Horrors is o ered this year on Oct. 10-12, 17-19, and 24-26. Admission times are every 15 minutes from 6-9 p.m. An accessibility-friendly and sign language assistance in-person performance takes place at 5 p.m. on Oct. 19. Cost is $30 general admission and $25 Historic Denver members. Age recommendation for this event is 10 and older. More on this and other seasonal events at mollybrown.org.
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Menopause is a natural phase of life that all women must go through. However, it is overwhelmingly stigmatized. Many women feel embarrassed to talk about it and su er in silence, but this shouldn’t be the case. ere are a lot of resources and information to better equip you for this transitional phase of your life.
Menopause has four di erent stages: premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. During premenopause, you will not
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Let’s face it, raising kids is hard. Really hard. And somewhere along the line it became about raising little geniuses who can do algebra by age 5, speak Mandarin uently, play Bach and juggle three sports. Meanwhile, you’re still guring out how to get them to brush their teeth without feeling like an exorcism reenactment every morning.
Some days it feels like we’re all secretly in a competition we didn’t sign up for. You hear it all the time. “My toddler speaks Spanish uently,” “Jake just made the regional soccer team. Again.” And you’re celebrating that your kid made it to school, socks matching, and didn’t scream bloody murder about brushing their hair.
We’re bombarded by messages say-
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strual cycle. is is when a woman begins to notice symptoms and changes in her menstrual cycle.
Dr. Terry Dunn
experience any menopausal symptoms and your menstrual cycle will function regularly. Your body rst begins the transition with perimenopause. During this period of time, your body will start producing less estrogen and progesterone, hormones that stimulate the men-
Some symptoms include mood changes, changes in libido, depression, di culty concentrating, headaches, night sweats, hot ashes and trouble with sleep. Your period may start to become irregular and often many women notice longer time between periods or longer or shorter cycles.
LIFE BALANCED
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway
ing that in order to be a good parent, we need to have our kids excelling in multiple elds simultaneously. ey should speak at least two languages by age 7, because obviously, their future success depends on it. ey should learn an instrument by the time they can walk, because, who knows, maybe they’re a musical genius waiting to happen! And don’t forget sports, because if they’re not playing three, how will they ever get a college scholarship?
It’s enough to make you wonder if you missed the parenting manual that explains how you’re supposed to make all this happen. Especially when you’re still trying to win the battle of getting them to brush their teeth twice a day. ere’s a special kind of exhaustion that comes from arguing with a 7-year-old. “But I brushed yesterday!” they say, while you’re standing there, toothbrush in hand, wondering if this is really the hill you’re going to die on today.
The insecurity olympics
As parents, we’re often our own worst enemies. We feel the pressures from social media, that overachieving neighbor and even from our own kids. It’s like there’s a constant background track playing in your mind, “Are you doing enough?”
But it’s not just about what we’re doing – it’s about what everyone else’s kids seem to be doing. You’re scrolling through Instagram, and there it is: a photo of someone’s 5-year-old performing a solo at their piano recital, looking like a tiny Mozart, while your child is still guring out how to clap on beat during the birthday song.
It’s easy to feel like you’re failing. If everyone else’s kid is a prodigy, then what does it say about us? About the fact that we’re still trying to gure out how to remember which day is “show and tell” and which is “wear your pajamas to school” day (wink, wink, that’s where TULA can jump in).
But let’s be real: we’re all just doing our best. A lot of those picture-perfect parenting moments are just that, moments.
DUNN
“Chaos in You”
You hold the solution to the madness of this maze. Start with the ‘S’ found center-left, then maze-around to ‘E’ to restore order. See anything along the way?
Most perimenopause symptoms are manageable on their own, but there are medications and other treatments available should you need them. Perimenopause can start at di erent ages. Most women start perimenopause in their 40s and it will usually last around 4 years. Although fertility decreases during perimenopause, it’s important to keep in mind that you can still get pregnant.
Menopause begins when you don’t get your period for 12 consecutive months. Menopause usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier or later. Some women don’t experience any symptoms, but others will notice symptoms similar to perimenopause such as hot ashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep issues, mood changes, decreased libido, weight gain and di culty concentrating. In some cases, these symptoms can last for years after menopause. If needed, a medical professional can help you gure out ways to manage menopause symptoms. ere are a wide range of options available such as
hormonal therapy, nonhormonal medications and lifestyle changes.
Post-menopause is the nal stage of menopause and starts after your last period and continues for the rest of your life. During postmenopause, your body will begin to adjust to lower hormone levels, instead of uctuating as they did in pre and perimenopause. Some menopausal symptoms may continue into post menopause, like vaginal dryness or hot ashes. ankfully, these symptoms can continue to be managed with various treatments.
Menopause is an inevitable and natural process of life. During the month of October, World Menopause Month, we can all strive to ensure that women need not be embarrassed or ashamed about these transitions in their bodies.
Women may encounter many or none of the menopause symptoms listed above, which is completely normal. Whatever your experience is, there are plenty of resources to better help you understand and manage your symptoms. e best advice is to talk frankly with your doctor.
Dr. Terry Dunn is the owner of Foothills Urogynecology, a Denverbased practice specializing in women’s health.
We don’t see the tantrums, the bribes, the late-night Googling of “how to get your kid to love piano.” We’re all just guring it out as we go along, one toothpaste ght at a time.
The real wins (that no one talks about)
In the middle of all this
pressure, we can forget to celebrate the real wins. Like the time your kid actually asked to go to bed (okay, it was one time, but still). Or when they told a funny joke that didn’t involve fart noises. Or when they quietly entertained themselves for a solid 15 minutes while you drank a cup of co ee. ese are the small, quiet victories that don’t make it to Instagram but mean just as much as that piano recital
video. Maybe even more, because they’re real, and they’re yours.
So, if your kid isn’t playing the violin while reciting French poetry on the way to their weekly soccer game, take a deep breath. You’re doing great. If they speak one language, congratulations. If they don’t, that’s ne too.
Parenting is hard – and that’s okay
At the end of the day,
none of us really know what we’re doing. We’re all winging it, day by day, snack by snack. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we screw it up. Sometimes, no matter what we do, our kids are just going to leave the house wearing two di erent shoes.
So, let’s ease up on ourselves. e pressure of parenthood is real, but it doesn’t have to consume us. As long as your kid
knows they’re loved, even when you’re forcing them to brush their hair or put shoes on, that’s what really matters.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a child to chase down with a toothbrush.
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced.com.
COMPOST
e ordinance includes stipulations for businesses and apartments in low-income communities, including a potential one-year exemption from the requirements based on economic hardship, negligible organic waste, self-hauling of materials and space constraints.
“We do hear from folks who live in rental properties and other folks around the city that they’re really interested in having access to these services, and so we’re trying to gure out, as a city, a way to meet Denver’s
interest in recycling and composting and waste disposal and ensuring that the implementation lifts all sails,” Gedeon said.
Public interest in composting is what makes Waste No More attractive to businesses, Call said. e ordinance passed with 70% voter approval, meaning roughly 70% of customers would be pleased to know a business is being responsible about its waste.
Ultimately, Waste No More and curbside composting measures are relatively new and need time to gain momentum. But it is worth the bene ts that composting brings to the community and establishing Denver’s status as a leader in zero waste initiatives, Luu said.
BY
Compost, recycling and trash bins lined up in Villa Park on Sept. 5.
PHOTO
NATALIE KERR
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
Paul Kashmann says he’s not trying to shut o the gas pumps in Denver altogether.
In fact, the service-minded Denver City Council member is still driving a gas car himself, and he doesn’t like high prices or long drives to stations any more than the next person.
But he is part of a City Council movement that sees construction of new a ordable housing as more important for Denver right now than an additional place to gas up and grab a bag of chips. Kashmann and some colleagues are bringing a proposed ordinance for a 2024 committee green-light that would build bu ers between proposed new gas stations, mass transit stops and residential housing.
“I have never gotten a call from anyone saying, ‘Hey, councilman, I need to ll up my tank and I can’t nd anywhere to do it,’” said Kashmann, who represents southeast Denver’s District 6. Instead, he gets call after call from citizens who say, “Why are they building another gas station on East Evans?” His colleagues in the south and north stretches of Denver get the same calls.
“Why do we need four, ve, six, eight gas stations on Evans between Colorado and Quebec?” asked Kashmann, a nine-year council member.
e rules currently under draft would bar a new gas station closer than a quarter-mile from existing pumps, a quarter-mile bu er from an existing light rail station, and 300 feet to the nearest residence. Still in play in the negotiations, Kashmann said, is a provision allowing gas pumps combined with a new grocery store if it is serving a “food desert” that lacks healthy food retailers. at exception, he added, must include de nitions of a true food desert, and what constitutes healthy food for a neighborhood — cigarettes and soda alone won’t cut it, he said.
Like any other big city, Denver has lots of zoning ordinances that steer development in ways that are good for the community as a whole, Kash-
mann said.
“ e big need in the city and county of Denver is for housing, and we’re a landlocked city,” Kashmann said. “ e places where gas stations tend to site are along our major transportation corridors, which is exactly where we’re told it’s best to site denser housing.”
e restrictions on new building have been met so far with surprisingly amicable negotiations with the gas station trade leaders. ey have pushed back on some provisions, but say Denver’s approach has been far more cooperative with business interests than gas station zoning in other cities.
“I think it’s going to move forward in a way that we can implement it … without unduly burdening the marketplace,” said Grier Bailey, execu-
of true full-service groceries might be willing to see a new gas station if it also sold produce and healthy foods, he said.
For their part, gas station developers know their market is changing rapidly, with more electric vehicles on the road and gasoline cars growing more e cient. A new station must accommodate not only EV chargers, but also the potential for hydrogen lling pumps or other technologies, Bailey said.
Almost every new gas station is already designed to be certi ed for taking electronic bene ts for healthy foods purchased using bene ts from programs like Women, Infants and Children, Bailey said. “We don’t build six pumps and a garage; we build small grocery stores,” he
Moreover, the industry is used to so-called “setbacks” zoning, which regulates any business where cigarettes and liquor are sold. New alcohol retailers in Colorado, for example, must be a certain distance from existing stores.
“ e council is trying to strike the balance and we appreciate being included in the conversation,” Bailey said. “It’s not uniform support” from the industry, “but it has been collaborative.”
tive director of Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers.
Gas station developers believe there are still parts of Denver that might need new pumps, including the growing housing developments at Green Valley Ranch, and the varied businesses growing up in the Denver International Airport complex, rapidly becoming a city unto itself. Owners also want to make sure they can make renovations to existing stations or comply with environmental regulations demanding replacement of older underground storage tanks without triggering a no-building ordinance, Bailey said.
at’s where Denver’s other zoning desires can come into play, Kashmann said. Communities with only convenience stores instead
Kashmann said drafts of the ordinance may continue to change, with a target for a council committee passage later this year, and a full council vote in early 2025. In the meantime, he said, Denver will still have plenty of gasoline.
“God bless those who are delivering us our petroleum gas, because most of us still need it,” he said. (Full battery-electric and plug-in electric hybrids currently account for about 20% of new vehicle sales in Colorado.)
“I do hope we get to a world someday where we’re not burning up dinosaurs to get around,” said Kashmann, who is in his third and nal allowed term on council. “But it looks like it’s going to be a good long way down the pike.”
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
Cars whiz by two gas stations at Alameda and Downing during rush hour on July 16. PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
BY MERYL PHAIR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
This year’s election cycle includes seven up-for-grabs seats on the fteen-member Regional Transportation Department (RTD) board, with three candidates in central Denver running for the title of RTD Director of District A. Elected directors will have their work cut out for them between allocating a $1 billion-plus annual budget and working to revamp the public transportation service that has seen steadily declining ridership numbers in recent years – about 46 percent from 2019 to 2022.
In the central metro area, the elected RTD Director will be focusing on producing a safe and reliable service with the unique challenge of increasing ridership in a district where most residents own cars.
“RTD needs to o er a compelling alternative,” said Chris Nicholson, one of three District A candidates. “It is important to deliver a quality of service that people who have options will want to use. In doing so, you improve the quality of service for everyone else.”
Highly active in the central Denver community, Nicholson has built a career in public policy, technology and politics. He also said he’s the only full-time transit rider of any RTD candidate in this year’s election cycle, taking over 200 rides in just the last six months. As part of his plan, Nicholson has advocated for the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on East Colfax Avenue, a project that could bring an easily accessible service to those living in Capitol Hill and Washington Park neighborhoods.
Another candidate in central Denver, Bob Dinegar said that bus or light-rail trips can often take more than twice as long as driving, another factor pushing would-be RTD riders to cars.
“I’d push to establish safety, transparency and frequent reliable service,” Dinegar said. “RTD has a small army of brand ambassadors – the bus drivers and light-rail operators whose service is the product that RTD o ers. If they feel
cared about, content and safe, riders will sense that, and trust can begin to return.”
A former RTD bus driver, Dinegar said he began to listen in on the RTD Board’s remote monthly meetings when COVID-19 hit. Serving on several nonpro t boards along with organizing previous RTD Board candidate forums, it wasn’t long until Dinegar began campaigning to “ x this mess!”
Dinegar advocates for improving efciencies in services, cutting long bus routes in half and examining xed routes where 40-passenger buses rarely carry more than eight riders, along with considering more frequent service, particularly on weekends.
A self-described “underdog,” the central Denver candidate had raised $405 for his campaign as of Sept. 22, while his competitors had racked up contributions in the thousands, Nicholson at $19,967 and Kiel Brunner at $21,505.
“One of the reasons I chose to run is that I don’t believe socioeconomic status should be a barrier to representing the riders, would-be riders and taxpayers on RTD’s Board,” Dinegar said.
e third candidate for District A, Brunner has also emphasized the need for making public transit a comfortable experience for all riders, making it the best choice for transportation in the Denver metro area.
Brunner works in data science and cyber security at Deloitte, having previously worked with numerous transit, equity and environmental organizations. After working for Governor Jared Polis’ rst campaign for Congress, Brunner has leaped into the world of politics, serving several Democratic campaigns. His wife Danielle Oliveto currently works as Polis’ deputy chief of sta .
“I am running for RTD to work with everyone on the shared goals of providing rapid, frequent and reliable service, with a comfortable experience, so we gain ridership, reduce tra c and meet our climate goals,” Brunner said.
Transportation’s impact on climate is
Bob Dinegar, a former RTD bus driver, is in the running for RTD director this election cycle. COURTESY OF BOB DINEGAR
Chris Nicholson is one of the three candidates for RTD director in Denver’s District A. COURTESY OF CHRIS NICHOLSON
Kiel Brunner has also put his hat in the ring for the open RTD director seat in District A. COURTESY OF KIEL BRUNNER
signi cant as the state works to reduce nearly half of its transportationrelated emissions by 2030. An essential aspect of Brunner’s campaign and close to his heart as the father of a young child, the candidate said improving the city’s transit services will also address air quality concerns and improve overall health.
All candidates have stressed the importance of improving safety on the RTD, a major deterrent to current ridership numbers. Dinegar grew up in New York City, where public transit was an e ective and consistent part of his daily commute. An advocate for proactive community-based police
work, he emphasized more people riding plays a role as fewer riders can make passengers feel more vulnerable.
Brunner has also stated that “busier is safer.” “Non-violent problems should use civilian emergency teams, like Denver’s STAR program, and law enforcement should protect our community by de-escalating violence,” he said.
In addition to penning in their choice for District A director this fall, Denver residents will be asked to vote on ballot question 7A in November, determining whether the RTD will maintain revenue rather than return it to taxpayers. All candidates for District A have voiced strong support for the measure as a no-brainer for boosting the public transit authority’s annual budget.
Ahead of the election, Nicholson in collaboration with several board candidates co-published a “Commitment to Riders” document proposing ways to improve service quality, safety and reliability. Suggestions in the document include increasing fare enforcement, improving working conditions for transit employees, adding accessibility features for riders, optimizing bus routes and tap-to-pay fare collection.
“ ese are not just casual problems,” said Nicholson about the items the document outlines, stating the initiative sets a new era of leadership for the transit board. “ ese are causing us to signi cantly lose ridership that may or may not be easy to get back. We need to come in with a joint understanding
of problems we need to solve and solutions we can address.”
Dinegar said he was not asked to participate nor was Brunner.
“However well-intended the document may have been, it’s a missed opportunity to demonstrate inclusivity and true collaboration,” Dinegar said.
Endorsements for the candidates have been rolling in with Nicholson backed by RTD Transit Workers union ATU Local 1001, some current members of the RTD Board, Denver City Council and the state legislature, along with the support of Denver’s mayor.
“I think it’s critical that people feel like they have a person they can talk to and someone who will use the ofce to x things, small or large,” Nicholson said. “ e trust gap is massive right now, and the way you x that is by showing up and being there for people.”
RTD District A candidates can be reached at:
Kiel Brunner kielforeverymile@gmail.com
Bob Dinegar 720-899-6252
bob@rtdbob.com
Chris Nicholson 303-335-9728
chris@chrisforRTD.com
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
An attempt to rezone a 31-acre property at 3821-3897 Steele St. and 3800-3840 York St. in Denver has, after much discussion at the city’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (LUTI), moved on for consideration by Denver City Council.
At stake is the future of a proposed LGBTQ+-a rming, a ordable, senior-housing development and a new, mixed-use zoning des-
ignation for York Street Yards. e rezoning, if approved, paves the way for a land swap between York Street Yards and Fred Glick, an adjacent resident and property owner, to free up space for an approximately 75-unit housing development on the northeastern-most portion of what is now York Street Yards.
At its Aug. 27 and Sept. 10 meetings, LUTI members discussed at length the drawbacks of the rezoning, with City Council President Amanda Sandoval citing concerns that approving an I-MX-5 rezoning – which opens
the entire York Street Yards property to future residential development, despite no plans by current owners to pursue it – could short-circuit City Council’s long-term equity goals of mitigating displacement and gentrication.
e proposed housing project has received overwhelming community support, with 76 of 78 letters sent to the city endorsing the proposal.
Glick, who serves as vice-chair of the Denver Planning Board but recused himself from decision-making when the rezoning was before that entity in May, expressed surprise at the repeated delays and the issues being debated during LUTI discussions. He clari ed that the proposed rezoning involves a small area, about 23,000 square feet, transitioning from a planned unit development (PUD) to an industrial mixed-use zone (I-MX-5). is change aims to align the property with current zoning codes, particularly addressing outdated parking requirements under the old system, which Glick said are largely ine cient.
“Under the old zoning, the parking calculations are cumbersome and outdated. Each tenant’s needs are computed di erently, making it difcult to manage parking e ectively,” he said. e rezoning proposal aims to integrate the property into the current zoning code, which could alleviate some administrative issues and
enhance overall functionality.
But Sandoval and Council Member At-Large Sarah Parady took a longterm view on the proposal, probing with city planners on why other zoning options weren’t considered and what types of conditions would trigger opportunities for the community and the city to in uence future plans for the 31-acre site.
e LGBTQ+ senior housing proposal was developed in collaboration with Penrose Properties, which has built similar properties in other states, and e Center on Colfax, the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Rocky Mountain region. Supporters assert the housing proposal addresses a critical need within the community.
“Assuming the zoning change is secured and the land is all set, we are planning to work with the developer to create a satellite location for the services we o er here at e Center on Colfax, speci cally for older adults,” said Rex Fuller, CEO. Fuller highlighted that the initiative is part of e Center’s West of 50 program, which addresses the unique needs of LGBTQ+ seniors in Denver. A recent community needs assessment, conducted in collaboration with the Denver LGBT Commission, identi ed housing and nancial security, safety and mental health as top concerns.
“How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water,” by Angie Cruz, has an interesting title with an equally interesting premise and design. Our protagonist, Cara Romero, has lost her job and has been given 12 sessions with a job counselor at the Senior Workforce Center in New York City. During each session, Cara shares her unique vision of the world with the counselor.
Cara travels to New York after eeing an abusive marriage in the Dominican Republic. As she leaves the D.R., she has a young son, Fernando. She also has no money and no family support. She ends up in Washington Heights, also called Little Dominican Republic, and nds a literal and spiritual home in a rent-controlled building with other Dominicans who are looking for a better life in America. Despite her own struggles, Cara provides support so her brother and sister can join her in America.
As the story takes place, Cara is in her 50’s, unemployed, and supporting the community by caring for multiple people in her building. As she learns during the job counseling sessions, she doesn’t have time for a “real” job because of her many commitments to others. However, gentri cation has come to Cara’s building, and the Dominican residents with rent controlled apartments are being forced out by a greedy landlord. is puts nancial and emotional pressure on Cara and the other Dominican residents.
Cruz uses Cara’s story to explore themes of generational trauma, the e ects of poverty and nancial inequality, language barriers, emotional and physical violence, gender oppression and oppression of LGBTQ individuals and communities. Cara
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is a complex character with many challenging qualities. Her son left her home years ago and doesn’t speak to her. Her sister Ángela refuses to let Cara take care of her children after Cara loses her temper with Ángela’s son. At the same time, Cara is kind and supportive to those who need her. She is able to re ect on and change her behavior, while honoring her own time and place in the world. She tells the job counselor a story about a grandmother whale, saying “It is not a surprise that it is the grandmother who makes sure every whale in the family eats. at they prove their value after la menopausia … not having to make babies makes them focus on taking care of the community. Which tells me that women of a certain age are more valuable to the community.”
Women of a certain age will certainly relate to Cara’s story, but I think it is a more universal one of struggle and growth, battling demons internal and external, and ultimately of forgiveness, love and hope.
Celebrate Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month at Denver Public Library. Singer Elisa Garcia will be at the Virginia Village Branch on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. to take you on a musical journey with songs from South and Central America.
Janet is a librarian at Virginia Village Branch Library. She loves walking, hiking and being in nature. She also likes reading, thinking and talking about books.
Janet Quinn
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PROPOSAL
“For LGBTQ+ seniors, nding affordable housing is compounded by concerns about security and safety within their own homes,” Fuller said. “Many individuals worry not only about the high cost of living in Denver, but also about the possibility of feeling insecure or unwelcome in traditional senior housing environments.”
e need for LGBTQ+-a rming housing is backed up by data from a 2018 AARP study, Fuller said, which revealed signi cant concerns among LGBTQ+ seniors about living openly in senior housing environments, including safety concerns and fears of discrimination in their care.
e study revealed that over half of LGBTQ+ seniors feared being unable to live openly in a senior housing setting, with a signi cant percentage worried about facing harassment or
being denied services altogether.
“ e extension of our services to this new housing project would be a way to address some of those fears and create a safe and welcoming atmosphere,” he said.
For Glick’s part, broader social issues such as gentri cation and community impact are signi cant components of the project. He stressed the importance of balancing development with preserving the existing community and ensuring residents have access to essential services, like healthcare clinics and grocery stores.
“Gentri cation is a complex issue with both positive and negative effects. Our goal is to ensure that development doesn’t displace vulnerable residents and that essential services remain accessible to them,” he said.
If the rezoning does not proceed, Glick said the project will be looking at signi cant challenges. Relocating the project would mean loss of current momentum and compromises around the types of amenities a small-
er property could accommodate.
“If this rezoning does not go through, I think we all have some questions to ask,” Glick said. “ is project has progressed to a point with the new space that makes it hard to go back.”
Community support for the proposal remains strong, with local neighborhood steering committees, numerous nonpro t organizations and individuals alike expressing frustration over the delays. Glick made the point that despite City Council acknowledging the need for more affordable housing, they are “obstructing a ordable housing e orts like this one.”
e project is also a personal one for Glick, who grew up with many LGBTQ+ friends he met during his time in the theater and managing modern dance companies, some of whom he said could bene t from such a project.
“People coming out of the arts don’t retire with great retirement packages, generally speaking, and many of
Rex Fuller CEO, The CEO of Colfax
them live in a ordable housing,” he said. “ ere’s a lot of LGBTQ+ people in the arts. For me, it really resonated thinking that a lot of the people I call friends and mentors are about to face these housing challenges that we can help mitigate with this project.”
A public comment period at City Council is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 14.
Denver Public Schools
4 Problems With School Debt
Denver voters will be asked to approve $975 million in new debt for DPS. We all agree that our public schools need more money. Our schools need to be fully funded, our schools deserve better. School debt, however, is not the answer.
1) School debt costs way too much money in interest, fees, and other costs. If we approve this new debt, the payback on this $975 million would be approximately $2.2 billion dollars – more than a billion dollars given to Chase bank and/or all other banks.
Paying $2.2 billion to borrow $975 million reduces our schools’ revenue to 44 cents per dollar as we give 56% of our schools’ revenue to the banks. Money from our schools and the children – to the banks. Basic math.
2) Debt drains the school budget, leaving the school with less money over time – much less. Every dollar given to the banks is the same thing as taking that money and throwing it into a trash can. Zero actual service comes from every dollar of debt service.
More debt is not a caring position. We will buy, per tax dollar, twice as much critical maintenance and twice as much A/C for our schools if we do it without
debt. Debt service is a terrible reduction of actual service.
Debt is NOT good for the schools’ budget. It’s imperative that we say NO to more debt. School debt is a counterproductive waste of money. The schools need more revenue, not more debt
3) We need to cut-off the banks or we will all run out of money. We need to stop our addiction to debt. We are in a vortex of debt that is ruining the public budgets.
More debt equals more austerity – even though many people are fooled to think the opposite of this. Bonds pay for nothing – every single dollar needs to be repaid from actual revenue – plus enormous amounts of interest, fees, and other expenses.
If you think that it’s a good idea for our schools to have much less budget as the banks take 56% of the revenue, then vote for more debt.
4) Mayor Mike Johnston, if you want to have better schools, we need to find more revenue, not more debt. Carrie Olson, do the hard work, we need to nd more revenue – rather than the foolish path of more debt. School debt reduces revenue by half and then some, this is a terrible waste of money.
The children in school today will payback this debt when they get out of school and begin to pay taxes. DPS debt is like college debt, but for K-12 children. Let’s call it what it is, Child debt.
The next generation deserves a better world than a world full of debt to be repaid. Debt cheats the next generation.
All numbers are estimates only as DPS has yet to nalize the deal with the Wall-street banks. We publish our amortization schedule for this debt on our website. CitizensforNOnewdebt.org
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