2003 Denver Mayoral Transition
Mayor-elect Hickenlooper has required all persons serving on his transition committees to sign a confidentiality agreement. This is to ensure open discussion on the committee without revealing sensitive information about potential appointees or criticism of agencies according to the Denver Post [July 16, 2003, "Hickenlooper volunteers had to take secrecy pledge"]. From the article, "(John) Huggins said some volunteers would be less likely to speak freely if they worried that their comments could affect their relationship with a city department. For example, executives in the home-construction business might be reluctant to criticize the city's building department if they worried that permit applications might be delayed as retribution. Another key reason for requiring the oath is to protect personnel decisions, Huggins said. The committees will be selecting finalists for top jobs at city hall, but in some cases those candidates may not have informed their current employers." I'm pretty sure that it's a good decision with respect to personnel but regarding criticism of departments and agencies, hell, we're used to that [July 15, 2003, "City salaries out of whack"].  Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News [July 16, 2003, "Around mayor, mum's the word"].
The Mayor-elect's decision to host a fundraiser for the Colorado Environmental Coalition is the subject of this article from the Rocky Mountain News [July 16, 2003, "Fund-raiser irks developers"]. From the article, "Hickenlooper said he promised the Colorado Environmental Coalition in November he would host Thursday's event at his LoDo loft, which offers a 'special reception' with Hickenlooper for those who contribute $1,000 or more. 'Unlike some politicians, I do try to follow through on my commitments,' Hickenlooper said at the Denver Press Club. 'I'm sure I'll get cured of that eventually."
The Post [July 16, 2003, "Keep Denver green"] is running an editorial defending Mayor-elect Hickenlooper's fundraiser for the Colorado Environmental Coalition tomorrow night. From the opinion piece, "Hickenlooper, while wooing business groups during the campaign, made no secret of his love for the environment and his feelings that being pro-environment and pro-business were not mutually exclusive. His ties to environmental groups may be no laughing matter to a few developers - but we believe he's capable of balancing the interests of Denver's economy and our environment to the benefit of both."
Al Knight writes a dissenting opinion in today's Denver Post [July 16, 2003, "A penchant for wishful thinking"]. Says Knight, "Anyone who was expecting a sharp turn to conservative politics from Denver Mayor-elect John Hickenlooper may now completely relax ... Mayoral staffer Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, who said that Hickenlooper didn't believe developers and environmental groups weren't inherent enemies, went on to say that 'it is only through partnerships that Denver sustainability and liveability will be assured.' That may be so, but don't look for one of those partnerships to be between the coalition and the firms that are in the business of constructing the very projects the coalition inevitably characterizes as environmentally destructive or harmful." Isn't it fun being a part of city government Mr. Hickenlooper?
The Rocky [July 16, 2003, "Mayor has grand plans for city"] is running a brief article about Mayor-elect Hickenlooper's vision for the city as detailed at his first "Breakfast on Deadline" meeting at the Denver Press Club. From the article, "Denver can attract the young people who are writing software and new code for the Internet and structuring complex financial transactions, he said, adding Denver needs the economic boost at a time when it is going through its worst economic crisis ever." Send the developers over the Wastewater Mr. Hickenlooper, I'm looking for a Senior Developer right now. Coyote Gulch knows he would not be considered "young" however.
3:17:28 AM 
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