Day of Action Teacher Rally in Denver

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Day of Action Teacher Rally in Denver

Educators from all over Colorado are gathering in Denver today, for a “Day of Action” rally against proposed state funding cuts.

The overwhelming number of teacher absences has resulted in numerous school closures today, including all of Boulder Valley Schools, all of Adams 12 Five Star Schools, and all Aspen School District schools. More than one hundred Denver Public Schools are also closed today.

The rally is for teachers and educators to protest the state’s proposed funding cuts to K-12 schools. The Colorado Education Association, which organized the Day of Action, says state lawmakers are considering almost $150 million in cuts to education funding.

District officials in Boulder Valley and Denver have said they support the fight for fully-funded schools, but added that daily operations should continue in the meantime. BVSD employees taking part in the rally must use personal time off.

Schools will hold normal class hours tomorrow. That’s all according to The Denver Post.

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Jeanette Vizguerra Update/ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs, or ICE, is calling immigrant activist Jeanette Vizguerra a “convicted criminal alien” and vowing to expel her from the United States.

Her attorneys have filed an emergency request for a court to rule whether her detention is valid. They have also filed a petition in Denver’s 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging her arrest by ICE.

Applications due for Boulder’s first-ever Community Assembly

Boulder residents have until tomorrow to apply for the city and county’s first-ever Community Assembly. 

10,000 households have already received invitations to apply, via yellow envelopes. They were initially sent out at the end of February.

The Community Assembly will be tasked with exploring the implementation of 15-minute neighborhoods in the Boulder Valley – places where community members can meet most daily needs within a 15-minute walk, roll, or bike ride.

Vivian Castro Wooldridge, who is a planning engagement strategist with the City of Boulder, says the Assembly is a really exciting experiment in planning and local democracy.

Officials will select 48 people for the assembly – all of whom will receive a $1,000 stipend for their commitment and meals on session dates. The program requires participants to meet on seven Saturdays from early May until the end of October.

The Assembly falls under Boulder Valley’s Comprehensive Plan, which includes goals for community engagement.

While some traditional city planners don’t support community assemblies because they think decisions like these should be left to trained professionals, supporters argue that residents’ lived experience qualify as their expertise – and that it is more democratic to give some decision making power back to the people in the community in this way.

You can find out more information about the assembly at bouldercounty.gov.

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Boulder Strong Day of Remembrance

Boulder officials will hold an annual Day of Remembrance Saturday, to mark the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Table Mesa King Soopers, which killed 10 people. The Remembrance ceremony will take place at 2 pm.

The commemorative event at the Museum of Boulder will be open to the public. Members of the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office are scheduled to attend the event, as well as representatives from Clinica Family Health and Wellness.

Last September, Ahmad Alissa was convicted on all counts related to the shooting, including ten counts of first-degree murder. He is currently serving 10 life sentences.

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Denver Ebike Rebates

The popular electric bike rebate will be making a reappearance, with online applications opening for Denver residents next Tuesday, March 25, at 11 a.m. The city’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) runs the e-bike program.

This time around, the City and County of Denver will only offer vouchers to income-qualified residents, and those in need of an adaptive e-bike. However, city officials encourage all Denverites to check out the e-bike tax credits offered by the State of Colorado.

Income-qualified residents can save up to $900 when purchasing an e-bike at participating locations, through a combination of one City and County of Denver rebate voucher and the Colorado e-bike tax credit.

The city said in a press release that e-bikes redeemed through Denver’s program have altogether eliminated nearly 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. 

For additional information, or to apply, head to denvergov.org.

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