|
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.
-
The vote to approve or reject the Governor Polis Front Range Passenger Rail train will appear on your ballot as Ballot Measure 7A. This measure attempts to convince voters to pay billions in taxes in perpetuity for the promise of a passenger train sometime in the future. Did you know private companies have found similar passenger rail projects to be financially unworkable? Did you know this CoCo passenger rail would be slow-speed, not high-speed, and is only planned to stop at certain points in our area? Read for yourself the facts we uncovered in our latest original article on the Polis choo-choo train foolishness.
-
This original, in-depth reporting would not be possible without your generosity. We at Springs Taxpayers United thank you for your support, and we are always grateful for any additional support you are able to give.
-
Here are at least 10 reasons the Polis passenger choo-choo train is utter foolishness. Reason number 8 is crystal clear. Passenger rail is obsolete, and has been obsolete long before anyone reading these words was ever born.
-
Colorado is experiencing further budget turmoil due to Medicaid overspending in the state. Now, Coloradans can expect Medicaid cuts to addiction services. Legislators voted to cover peer counseling for addiction services under Medicaid in 2021, but are now taking that away.
-
Colorado legislators celebrated the COVID relief fund windfall by expanding Medicaid to more and more people, including illegal immigrants, in a blatant scheme to buy political support. Now, COVID funding has dried up, and the citizens who genuinely need the help won't get it.
-
More voter guides have been published for the November election. Denver radio personality Mandy Connell published her voter guide. Mike Rosen, a long-time Denver radio personality, also published his voter guide.
-
The Liberty Scorecard voter guide is also available. These folks apply free-market and limited government principles to their selections for the November ballot.
-
Denver Channel 7 has published its voter guide for November. November ballots are scheduled to be mailed on October 2.
-
This short video explains the Amendment 87 bracket creep feature that taxpayers will experience if this amendment passes in November. A progressive income tax is designed to capture more of people’s income as inflation, and thus salaries, increase. And, don’t forget, they want this TABOR-destroying measure in the Colorado Constitution, making it nearly impossible to overturn.
-
If you need another example of bracket creep, let’s look at the “free” school lunches for all program. Originally, they only wanted to tax people making $300k or more per year. In time, with inflation, this $300k per year population will include more and more people. Some who voted for this tax thinking it wouldn’t hurt them will one day be paying the tax, even though their purchasing power has not risen due to inflation.
-
Amendment 82, if it passes this November, would enshrine the right for people to use natural gas for their energy needs into the Colorado Constitution. It’s definitely sad that steps like this must be taken to ward off radical legislative attacks on reliable, affordable energy, but here we are, folks.
-
Boulder can never take enough of other people’s money. To that end, voters will be asked on their November ballot if they would like to tax vacant homes in Boulder. Property rights don’t matter to greedy government bureaucrats.
-
Xcel Energy has tripled its capital spending in just four years. They are also seeing record increases in earnings. Why, then, are Xcel Energy customers experiencing historically large increases in power outages?
-
The Colorado government is once again picking winners and losers by starting a program that helps public school employees buy houses. Why should taxpayers help fund this benefit only for people who work in government schools?
-
Colorado gubernatorial candidates are offering solutions to the affordable housing “crisis.” Leave aside the fact that absolutely every issue is marketed as a crisis these days; should government be involved in the housing industry at all? They involved themselves in solving “homelessness” too. How’s that working out?
-
The federal government has ordered a Craig coal power plant to remain open for another three months. The Trump administration says this plant is needed to deal with ongoing power demands.
-
After the chaotic protest during the Project Taurus public meeting, Colorado Springs City Council discussed a proclamation about civility. Just where does political polarization in our region come from anyway?
-
Another data center is being planned near Harrison High School. Colorado Springs City Council has given administrative approval for this project.
-
Do you think government agencies in Colorado Springs are anti-homeless? Some are suggesting that recent legislation, such as an expanded sit/lie ordinance and hiring security for downtown businesses, is unfair to the vagrants who live on the streets.
-
Chief Randy Royal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department has announced his retirement. He started with CSFD in 1987, and his retirement date marks 40 years with the department. We wish him all the best in his retirement.
-
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has announced that they will discontinue use of Flock cameras over privacy and data sharing concerns. Reports indicate that existing Flock cameras in the county will be immediately removed.
-
Former Colorado House District 14 representative Dan Nordberg has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Colorado Springs. Things are heating up in the race to be mayor of Colorado Springs.
-
Some Denver business leaders are attempting to dissuade people from the idea that Denver is a bum-infested, criminal hellhole awash in filth and used drug needles. We wish them luck on their endeavor.
-
A $280 million East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit line is open for business in Denver. This bus line, which runs in the middle of Colfax, will replace the regular bus lines that have operated in the area.
-
Instead of arresting criminals, Aurora has decided to micromanage how many pawn shops, vape shops, and liquor stores can be concentrated in one location. Some city leaders say these businesses increase crime. In reality, it’s criminals who do not fear consequences that are the real problem.
-
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.
-
You can also support Springs Taxpayers United when you shop. Springs Taxpayers United is now enrolled with the King Soopers Community Rewards Program. You can link your SooperCard to us by logging into your account and designating Springs Taxpayers United (SW470) as the recipient of the community reward for your King Soopers card. Thanks for your support!
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, October 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, October 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, September 13, 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, October 20, 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, October 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
Friday, October 23, 9:00 a.m.
Front Range Passenger Rail Board of Directors Meeting
Online Meeting - Registration Required
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 the Mayor's 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
| 
