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Here are some of the stories we are following this week. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-the-minute news.
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Governor Jared Polis took the remarkable step of vetoing a bill that would restrict public access to public records. Yes, we are shocked too. The intention of this bill was to help erode public transparency of government. Don’t get your hopes up too high, however. Democrats and Republicans are working right now to override his veto, because they don’t like the public having the ability to find out what they are up to.
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How did your representative vote on this bill to increase costs and delay responses to CORA requests? You can find out here. Multiple El Paso County representatives voted in favor of this bill the first time and are likely to side with Democrats to override the governor’s veto.
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Governor Polis is often reported as being libertarian-minded. If you believe that, this summary of his actions as governor will change your mind. He’s the most authoritarian libertarian in history.
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The Democratic majority in the Colorado legislature is working hard to take away your TABOR protections forever. One thing they hate is something that stands in the way of them taking everything from you.
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The bill to provide taxpayer-funded protection for illegal immigrants has passed in the Colorado House and will now go to the Senate, where it will likely pass as well. They represent the population they want, not the population they swore an oath to represent.
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Unelected Colorado bureaucrats are going to raise emission fees 67% on industrial companies in the state. How long before no business can afford to be in Colorado? Who will they plunder then?
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Also in fee news this week, the Colorado legislature wants to add a fee to your auto insurance payments. They actually claim that this fee will lower your insurance premium costs. That’s definitely leftist math.
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Do you like using the Uber rideshare service? Well, if the current bill that proposes regulations on ride-share services passes in the Colorado legislature, you won’t be able to use Uber in Colorado anymore. Uber is stating it will cease operations in Colorado if the legislature chooses to micromanage them.
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Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert is requesting that the federal Department of Transportation pull the plug on all federal funding for Jared Polis’ Front Range Rail boondoggle. Has any government-promoted rail project ever resulted in anything other than politicians stealing taxpayer dollars?
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Governor Jared Polis celebrated Earth Day by putting taxpayers on the hook for meeting some more of his fanciful green energy goals. They never run out of big ideas for your money.
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Revenue-generating speed cameras have been installed in a couple of locations in Wheatridge, Colorado. Will speed cameras be a regular feature of Colorado living in a few years?
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Between 2020 and 2024, the vagrant population in Colorado increased by 90%. When you pay them, they will come. The latest report from the Common Sense Institute shows the reality of the Homeless Industrial Complex in Colorado.
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Denver has renewed its taxpayer-funded lease of a hotel to house vagrants. The taxpayer-funded Homeless Industrial Complex isn’t going away anytime soon, folks.
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A new report indicates the population of homeless people in Colorado Springs has decreased. Do you believe this is the case?
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The Colorado Springs City Council has given preliminary approval for a tiny home village in the city. This development is geared toward the younger population transitioning from living on the street. Initial reports indicate no taxpayer funds would go toward this project.
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One young man suffered terrible injuries in a motorcycle collision. It is being reported that someone, possibly a vagrant, jumped into the road in front of him, initiating the crash. Have you seen street people crossing roads irresponsibly in town?
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Colorado Springs has been busy with a hotel building spree, which is 8 times the national average. Business and leisure bookings are now down 30% in the city. What will be the fallout of this decline?
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Some unused taxpayer funds have been allocated to a homeless shelter in Pueblo. They were struggling, but not anymore, thanks to taxpayers who get to struggle now.
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The build, build, build mentality continues in downtown Colorado Springs, despite a shaky economic outlook for the area.
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The Colorado Springs City Council is restricting public input at City Council meetings. Elimination of remote testimony is one of the new changes to their rules for public participation. Are they tired of hearing from the people they serve?
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One Aurora nonprofit is working to help illegal immigrants discharged from ICE detention centers. They sometimes see illegal immigrants released with ankle bracelets, which are applied by law enforcement for tracking purposes.
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The Pikes Peak Bulletin and Colorado Springs Business Journal are being sold. The current owners and editorial board are not on the same page regarding content, which has prompted this move.
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A highly disputed subsidized housing project in Briargate's Pine Creek neighborhood is seeking $76 million in bonds to assist with the development. What is your guess on how the Colorado Springs City Council will vote on these bonds?
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The Colorado Springs Juneteenth festival will be held at the now largely abandoned Citadel Mall. The festival will take place in one of the parking lots at the mall. Organizers hope this will boost the reputation of the shopping center, which has seen several violent incidents over the past few years.
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The oldest high school in Colorado Springs will be getting an expensive facelift. Nearly $100 million will be used to renovate Palmer High School in downtown Colorado Springs.
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The reclamation effort at the Pike View Quarry could be delayed for 6 months. Lack of precipitation is causing problems at the reclamation site.
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If you would like to help support us in our mission as government watchdogs by becoming a Newsletter Sponsor, we are offering two sponsorships for each weekly newsletter, at the nominal cost of $100 each. Funds raised from these sponsorship opportunities will help us to keep looking out for taxpayers.
Here are some upcoming meetings in the area. We hope you can attend one or more! If there are other public meetings you’d like to see announced here, please drop us a line. We are happy to include them in an upcoming newsletter. These might be government-related, candidate, or elected official meetings. Thanks!
Colorado Springs City Council Meetings
Monday, May 12, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, May 13, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Meetings
Tuesday, April 29, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, May 6, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors
Wednesday, May 21, 1:00 p.m.
Utilities Board of Directors
Blue River Board Room
Plaza of the Rockies, South Tower, 5th Floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Miscellaneous Meetings of Interest
Monday, May 5, 6:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Committee
City Hall
107 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 200
Also, online via Microsoft Teams
Information and Agenda
Tuesday, April 29, 4:30 p.m.
Learning to Live with Wildfire in the Pikes Peak Region
Penrose House Garden Pavillion
1661 Mesa Avenue
Information and Registration
Tuesday, April 29, 5:30 p.m.
Townhall with District 1 Councilman Dave Donelson and the Colorado Springs Public Works Department
Colorado Springs Fire Station 18
6830 Hadler View
Information and Agenda
View the full Colorado Springs City Council meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Board of El Paso County Commissioners meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Colorado Springs Utilities Board meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings. Please also follow CSU on their Facebook Page and on Twitter.
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Since most of the City and County board and commission meetings are not televised or recorded, we are trying to remedy that. We now have a camera and tripod for volunteers to check out for future meetings.
If you have a tip about a story in the Pikes Peak region that you aren’t seeing reported, let us know. We will see what we can find out.
How to Contact City and County Officials:
City Hall
107 N. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 385-5986
Contact City Council
Mayor's Office
30 S Nevada Avenue, Suite 601
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
(719) 385-5900
Contact Mayors Office
County Commissioners
200 South Cascade Avenue, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2202
Phone: (719) 520-7276
https://www.elpasoco.com/contact-us/
Thank you!
Rebecca
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