Headlines — June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022

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Polis Signs “Clean Slate” Bill Into Law

Gov. Jared Polis signed Colorado’s Clean Slate Act into law Monday. The law will make it easier to clear eligible criminal records if a person does not commit other offenses. In Colorado, this can include records for past convictions that are no longer criminal offenses like possession of marijuana.

Three in 10 Coloradans struggle with a conviction record or arrest which can affect their ability to find work or housing. More than 1.3 million Coloradans will be eligible to get their records expunged. Colorado is the seventh state to enact a clean slate law. 

A Federal Judge Dismissed An Electoral Conspiracy Theory Lawsuit Last Week

A federal appeals court in Denver shot down the legal argument that Facebook and Dominion Voting systems, among others, rigged the 2020 presidential election. 

According to Colorado Politics, the 10th Circuit Court found that the eight plaintiffs who brought the suit lacked evidence to prove anyone had “violated the constitutional rights of every registered voter in the United States.’’

Another part of the lawsuit alleged Dominion’s voting machines were rigged to count more votes for President Joe Biden than former president Donald Trump. These claims have never been proven. 

The appeals court’s decision upholds a previous dismissal of the suit made by a federal judge in April 2021. The Associated Press has reported that out of over 25 million votes cast in swing states, authorities found fewer than 500 cases of voter irregularities – far too few to change the outcome of the election. 

Aurora Is ‘At Risk’ As A Lawsuit Looms Over Boulder’s Camping Ban

The City of Aurora’s new camping ban rests on contested legal grounds. The narrow conservative majority of Aurora’s city council passed a camping ban earlier this year. Critics say the measure criminalizes homelessness and is a coercive measure to push unhoused people out of the city. 

Attorneys at the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado filed a lawsuit against the City of Boulder and its chief of police last week over two ordinances. The lawsuit argues the prohibition of sleeping under enclosed shelters or with a blanket violates constitutional rights when people have no other option. 

The ACLU lead attorney on the case argues Boulder has pioneered anti-homelessness measures that other cities like Aurora have adopted.

Court Dismissed Marshall Fire Debris Removal Lawsuit 

On Tuesday, a Boulder County Judge dismissed a lawsuit from the out-of-state debris removal company, Ceres Environmental Services Inc. The suit alleged Boulder of unfairly giving the Marshall Fire debris removal contract to DRC Emergency Services LCC.

Ceres Environmental, a Florida-based company, filed the suit against the county on April 11, 2022. It said that DRC Emergency Services, a Louisiana-based company, was an unqualified contractor without the experience, timeline, or pricing to justify the award.

Ceres said that Boulder County negotiated secretly with DRC services and that DRC misrepresented its work experience with past wildfire cleanups.

The county denied the accusations and pointed to a document rating debris removal contracts. The document rates DRC with 91 over Ceres’ 68 points. 

Boulder County Attorney Ben Pearlman said to 9News, “We’ve learned throughout this process that in the highly competitive environment of private disaster management firms, like Ceres, are focused more on money than on the families affected by disasters.”

Colorado State Agencies Respond to Baby Formula Shortage

The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Attorney General’s Office are working to get parents information about the nationwide shortage of infant formula. 

Earlier this month, President Biden established the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of baby formula. Gov. Jared Polis declared the shortage “a state of emergency” last week. 

Colorado Hospitals received shipments of infant formula over the weekend. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents not to water down formula or feed homemade formula to their children.  

Forestry Reminds Community To Take Care Of Broken Branches On Their Property 

Boulder Parks and Recreation is asking Boulder residents to clean up downed branches and other debris left behind from May’s wet snow storm.  

They advise residents that branches no more than six feet long and three inches in diameter should be deposited next to or into curbside compost bins for pick up. Limbs bigger than 6 feet long can be taken to Western Disposal. 

The city will clean up trees and debris on medians and sidewalks. The BPR has identified at least 230 trees that need work around Boulder. 

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