Coyote Gulch

Friday, February 20, 2004

Denver November 2004 Election
Several Hispanic leaders have endorsed Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell in his reelection bid, according to the Denver Post [February 20, 2004, "State Hispanic leaders rally for senator"]. From the article, "More than 100 Hispanic leaders from around the state threw their support behind U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell on Thursday, vowing to help him win re-election in November. Standing in front of the Cesar Chavez building on Speer Boulevard in Denver, Campbell, R-Ignacio, told members of his Viva Campbell Coalition that he would represent them in Washington."
Denver voters may or may not be voting for an increase in the RTD sales tax this fall, according to the Denver Post [February 20, 2004, "FasTracks could get a brake"]. The Colorado Department of Transportation is worried about the effects of the FasTracks plan on state highways. From the article, "Doug Aden, who represents Grand Junction and other Western Slope communities on the commission, said the state is considering the addition of highway toll lanes that could impact at least two proposed FasTracks lines. The lanes would be along the I-225 corridor and the portion of Sixth Avenue west of Simms Street where RTD wants to run its west-corridor line to Golden. If the state needs land for toll lanes or new interchanges, it might not have the land available for RTD's rail lines in some areas, commissioners said. 'I do not want RTD to assume that you will get CDOT right of way for no cost,' Aden said. That could leave RTD scrambling to buy different stretches of land for rail, which might be much more expensive or cause conflicts with local communities. State transportation leaders and Gov. Bill Owens have been cool to RTD's transit expansion plan all along. Thursday's meeting between state commissioners and RTD directors was billed as an initial attempt to make peace, but it ended up raising threats to RTD's proposed FasTracks timetable. 'This whole thing of tolling is coming out of left field,' said RTD director Mary Blue. 'Many local governments do not want tolling.' The two sides agreed to have staffers from RTD and the state Transportation Department work on an outline for a possible deal to resolve the conflict. The dispute over control of the corridors could pose problems in several areas." Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News [February 20, 2004, "CDOT, RTD work through dispute"].
6:40:10 AM

Colorado Water
Aurora is close to inking a deal to use more Arkansas river water, according to the Rocky Mountain News [February 20, 2004, "Aurora close to water deal"]. From the article, "If completed, the deal for up to 12,600 acre feet of water would cost the city $5.5 million and would be the largest temporary water supply agreement ever reached in Colorado...A bill was passed last year that allows the state to approve temporary changes of water rights. Prior to that, such a deal would have meant a permanent change from agricultural to municipal use, a lengthy and complicated process. The State Water Engineer has approved the plan, which calls for about 150 farmers with High Line Canal water rights to keep about 8,400 acres out of crop production this year. The water would get into the Aurora water storage system through a series of exchanges with other users in the Arkansas River basin. Tauer said the lease will help the city's reservoirs recover from the drought. Right now the Aurora system is at only about 45 percent of capacity and that is expected to drop to 40 percent by the end of April. Several challenges remain to complete the deal. First, the city is facing a March 1 deadline set by the State Water Engineer to wrap things up. Before then, Aurora must reach an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the Pueblo Reservoir, for storage rights. City officials are also negotiating with the Colorado Well Protective and Development Association to augment agricultural and municipal water users downstream if runoff is below normal."
6:22:22 AM

2004 Presidential Election
Gay marriage has become an issue in this year's presidential election. There will be a ally at the state capitol today in favor of a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, according to the Rocky Mountain News [February 20, 2004, "Opponents of gay marriage plan rally"]. From the article, "Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput and Colorado Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave will speak against same-sex marriage today at a state Capitol rally. Social conservatives have scheduled the 'Stand Up for Marriage' rally on the west steps of the Statehouse at 11:15 a.m."
Update: Josh Marshall thinks that Ralph Nader is the pied piper of political oblivion. Ouch.
6:15:59 AM

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