Headlines — April 25, 2022

Headlines April 25, 2022

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Boulder Man Dies After Self Immolation On Supreme Court Steps

A climate activist from Boulder has died after setting himself on fire Friday evening outside of The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. 50-year-old Wynn Bruce died from his injuries Saturday morning. 

Bruce was a Buddhist climate activist linked to Boulder’s Shambhala Center. At least one of his friends has suggested his death was not so much a suicide as it was a self-immolation to call attention to political inaction on climate change.

Bruce timed his death to occur on Earth Day. He left a cryptic comment referring to a fire on April 22 on his Facebook page, but no known message to clarify his reasons for setting himself on fire.

National Forest Along The Northern Front Range Enter Fire Restrictions 

Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest have enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions in the Clear Creek, Boulder and Canyon Lake ranger districts. 

In a Friday afternoon press release, the Forest Service cited dry and warm weather, and recent wildfires as the cause behind the restrictions. 

Stage 1 fire restrictions disallows fire outside of metal or concrete fire pits, smoking, using explosives and more. Violation of these restrictions could cause a fine of $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, and imprisonment. 

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle instated similar restrictions late last week.

House Bill Cuts Rent Stabilization In Mobile Home Parks

Creators of the mobile homes park bill, HB-1287, have removed language to ensure rent stabilization after Gov. Jared Polis threatened to veto the bill. 

Sponsors of the bill say language to limit rent increases to 3 percentage points over the course of a year or a number that exceeds inflation rates was at the heart of the bill and would have protected vulnerable residents as rent spikes in Colorado. Opponents argued that the language could have been the first in a greater movement toward rent control. 

Colorado House Advances Bill That Tightens Penalties For Fentanyl

The Colorado House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would create harsher penalties for the possession and distribution of fentanyl.

House Bill 22-1326, would increase the criminal penalties for possessing more than 1 gram of fentanyl, up from a misdemeanor for four grams. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid linked to record-high increases in fatal overdoses. 

 Opposition to the bill has mostly come from lawmakers who have raised concerns about using incarceration to address a public health problem. Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser favored a zero-tolerance stance because of fentanyl’s strength and presence in other controlled substances. 

Anecdotal evidence shows many fatal overdoses involving fentanyl came as the result of drug supply contamination.

Critics of HB-326, including Representatives Leslie Herod, Jennifer Bacon, and Mike Weissman, said tighter laws could lead to increased felony drug prosecutions, including for people unknowingly in possession of fentanyl. Harm reduction advocates say the harsher penalties would also criminalize people with drug dependencies while doing nothing to address the root issue.

 The bill is now awaiting a final vote in the house. 

Starbucks In Superior Votes To Join Starbucks Workers United Union

A Starbucks location in Superior has become the first in Colorado to successfully unionize. Workers at the Starbucks off Coalton and Rock Creek Parkway received the news Friday afternoon. The unionization effort at Starbucks locations nationwide has gathered momentum rapidly over the past few months, with workers around thirty locations having voted to unionize. 

Workers at another five Starbucks locations in Colorado are organizing for union representation.

Water Main Break In Denver

A water main break flooded eight blocks in northwest Denver Saturday morning, partially submerging cars and approaching front doors.

Denver Water’s spokesperson, Travis Thompson, told The Denver Post it took several hours to stop the flood because they had to shut off dozens of valves in the area. 

The water receded Sunday afternoon, but two blocks remained without water service. No boil advisories were put in place in the area. 

Denver Water also sent crews to speak with residents about damages and to pump water out of homes. Residents can file claims directly with Denver Water or work with their homeowner’s insurance. 

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