Author: Denver Gazette Editorial Board

What part of, “You lost – big!” does the Democratic leadership at Colorado’s Legislature not understand? On Nov. 7 – as in, just last week – Colorado’s electorate pummeled Proposition HH. That was the Legislature’s ballot proposal that faked property-tax “relief” to conceal a big tax hike. Voters saw through it, stood it before a…

A heartfelt “Amen!” to Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila’s powerful condemnation last week of the insidious spread of recreational marijuana in Colorado. In a pastoral letter issued Friday, Aquila adds much-needed momentum – and a renewed sense of urgency – to countering the threat to Colorado’s youth from legal, retail pot. The archbishop’s message to…

Elections have consequences, as President Barack Obama famously reminded us, and that means there are winners and losers. The winners are more in tune with public sentiment, so they get more of a say than the losers over what happens next. Among the losers in last Tuesday’s trouncing of Proposition HH on the statewide ballot…

Proposition HH wasn’t just defeated Tuesday. It was demolished. Even after the state’s center-left political establishment locked arms in support of the ill-fated tax hike – disguised as property-tax relief – it barely captured 40% of the vote on Election Day. There were takeaways aplenty for Colorado’s political leadership, as has been observed repeatedly in…

Voters got it. So, let’s get right to the results; there’s much to celebrate. PROPOSITION HH It probably goes without saying that Coloradans saw through the smoke and mirrors used to pitch the deceptive Proposition HH. The statewide ballot proposal’s resounding defeat when votes were tallied Tuesday was, for one thing, a rebuke to the…

The Democratic Socialists of America not only want Israel to back off of its fight against terrorists – they also want Denver to do the same against common criminals. Hence, an unsuccessful – but eye-opening – assault staged this week on the Denver police budget by a rookie council member who was elected last spring…

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis killed two birds with one stone this week, and both birds had it coming. He put the kibosh on the latest legislative attempt to legalize “safe use” sites – where drug addicts, believe it or not, could get their fix with the blessing of local authorities. In so doing, Polis also…

Your November 2023 ballot is due Tuesday via mail or dropoff. Here’s a recap of the Gazette editorial board’s stands on candidates and ballot questions in Denver and Aurora. Statewide Vote ‘NO’ on Proposition HH. It’s a massive tax hike disguised as property tax relief. That’s why many Coloradans are calling it “bait and shaft.”…

Awe-inspiring landscapes, an enviable climate and a diverse business community. These assets define Colorado. Of the three, businesses face the least certain future. Despite the illusions of idealistic politicians, the state government has negligible control over temperatures, scenery and cultural trends. Conversely, the state has absolute control over the regulatory climate that determines the future…

A Gazette news series this week on Colorado’s homeless offered much more than an overview of one of the biggest challenges frustrating our state’s political leaders, policymakers and rank-and-file residents. The series revealed the makings of a solution. Comparing the approaches to homelessness in Colorado’s three largest cities – Denver, Colorado Springs and Aurora –…