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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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Petitions are being circulated in Colorado Springs starting this week. One petition seeks to ban the use of Flock cameras in the city, and another is related to noise issues, which is most likely a response to the Ford Amphitheater issue. These efforts are targeted for the April municipal ballot, and not the upcoming November ballot.
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Colorado Springs City Council has scheduled a meeting for the final hearing on the Project Taurus data center. If you wish to speak, you must email allcouncil@coloradosprings.gov or call 719-385-5480 with your information, and let them know if you support or oppose this project.
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Colorado Springs City Council approved a major rezoning change in Banning Lewis Ranch that will allow the building of around 5,000 single-family homes in the area. Is there enough water to supply this giant development?
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One local couple was followed by a Colorado Springs Police Department drone while driving. They were then pulled over and questioned by police. Apparently, there was a disturbance near where this couple was driving, but they were not involved. Is this an overly aggressive use of police drones?
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Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper traveled to Pueblo last week to talk about housing affordability. This is the same John Hickenlooper who, as Mayor of Denver, promised to end vagrancy in 10 years, so take anything he says with a grain of salt.
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When marijuana was legalized in Colorado, state government set up a regulatory agency to protect consumers. That agency recently failed and allowed a dangerous product to be sold for more than a year, injuring at least one woman.
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A new Facebook page has been created that allows citizens to share information about Jena Griswold, our current Secretary of State and Attorney General candidate.
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Taxpayers pay for social media influencers for two Colorado agencies. A recent CORA request shows that the Denver Regional Council of Government and the Front Range Rail Passenger District are handing taxpayer funds to social media influencers in order to put a positive spin on their respective government efforts. Is this the proper role for your tax dollars?
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One state senator is exploring an effort to limit how much state representatives can pay themselves from taxpayer-funded NGOs. We doubt this will gain traction from any of the legislators currently benefiting from this, or those who hope to benefit in the future.
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Exactly who is funding the candidates running in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District? The answers may surprise you.
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Initiative 195, the effort to enshrine a progressive income tax into the Colorado Constitution and remove the current flat tax defined under TABOR, is now Amendment 87. Though the title has changed, the result is the same. If this passes, it will increase income taxes for all Coloradans dramatically forever.
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The public school walkouts to protest ICE turned violent last week. Most of the evidence of this violence exists on social media and is largely being ignored in major outlets in the state. As a reminder, many school districts are asking taxpayers for more money this November. Do they deserve more money when they pull stunts like this?
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Here is one video documenting the student’s assault on journalists, who were reporting on their activities. We warn you, this video contains foul language, but it does document the day’s violent activities well. Your tax dollars are used to pay for schools, and then radical teachers train students to become violent street activists in support of leftist policy preferences. Also, the students can’t read or do math. Is this an appropriate use of your tax dollars?
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Your Colorado Attorney General is suing again. This time, he wants to keep taxpayer money flowing for gender transition surgeries for minors. Using Medicaid funds for gender reassignment surgeries for minors has been banned by the federal government.
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The Boulder Valley School District is consolidating several schools and closing some schools due to lack of enrollment. Some parents are reeling from the news and are expressing shock.
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Lakewood City Council will put a proposed sales tax increase on the November ballot. This proposed $ 0.05 increase could bring almost $18 million per year into city coffers.
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Manitou Springs is once again trying to raise taxes to make up for lost marijuana tax revenue. Last year, voters turned down an amusement tax of 14%. A 9% amusement tax will be on the ballot this November. Remember in 2019 when Mayor Ken Jaray warned that relying solely on tax revenue from marijuana would be a problem?
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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.
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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 you’d like to see other public meetings 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
Thursday, September 17, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council – Special Meeting for Project Taurus Data Center
Pikes Peak Center
190 S. Cascade
Register to speak by emailing allcouncil@coloradosprings.gov or calling 719-385-5480 with your name, address, and whether you support or oppose the project.
Monday, September 21, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, September 22, 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 15, 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, September 22, 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, September 16, 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, September 25, 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
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