fastracks
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INSIGHTS | Serving up politics with food’s a tradition
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COLORADO SPRINGS – On a rainy Saturday at the foot of Pikes Peak, hundreds of politically engaged Coloradans gathered for politics slathered in tradition to hear candidates for governor answer questions. We had a Colorado Civic Barbecue on May 19, presented by the El Pomar Foundation’s Forum for Civic Advancement, The Gazette and Colorado Politics.…
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Northwest rail line should get RTD’s share of pot taxes, state Sen. Matt Jones says
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While a Democratic effort to restore marijuana tax money to special districts was underway, Colorado state Sen. Matt Jones was pitching a different idea to fund a commuter rail Tuesday. The Democrat from Louisville would like to see marijuana tax money directed to metro Denver’s Regional Transportation District to keep the special district’s promises to…
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Free MetroRide could ease 16th Street Mall shuttle crowding
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Relief for the always-crowded free 16th Street Mall shuttle service in downtown Denver is a main goal of an upcoming study. The study will focus on another free circulator route that city and Regional Transportation District officials think could be pulling more weight. The two entities are poised to approve an intergovernmental agreement that would…
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Democrat Steve Lebsock says he’ll ‘probably be a no vote’ on transportation tax legislation
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State Rep. Steve Lebsock, D-Thornton, says he’s inclined to vote against the bipartisan transportation funding package introduced last week because residents of Adams County and other north metro areas are “tired of getting (the) short end” on road and transit projects. Citing a long list of slights, Lebsock said in a series of tweets and…
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From ethics stories to ethics code for Flynn
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Kevin Flynn has written about ethics battles on city councils and other local governing bodies, now he’s writing an almost-new code of ethics for the Denver City Council. The former longtime reporter was elected in District 2, the southwestern part of Denver, in 2015. Several months after he took office, Flynn said a task force…
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Hudson: Colorado plays host to those tolling for the future
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Almost any weekday this summer, you could spot Denver conventioneers on 16th Street Mall shuttles by the colorful lanyards adorning their necks. It’s usually easy to discern whether these are visiting dentists, geologists, accountants or lawyers after a quick glance at their badges. But the recent 84th Annual Meeting of the International Bridge, Tunnel and…
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Hudson: It’ll take patient coalition building to realize A Line’s promise
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When pianist Billy Strayhorn wrote “Take the A Train” for Duke Ellington’s orchestra, the final destination he had in mind was Harlem. The tune became the signature opening for Ellington, a reminder of home for thousands of American troops serving overseas during World War II. RTD’s cumbersomely named University of Colorado A Line – it…
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New regional interest group Northwest Chamber Alliance buzzes the Capitol
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Amid the clamor at the Capitol over transportation funding priorities, a new coalition of northern Front Range business interests has formed to help make sure their concerns don’t fall to the wayside. Leaders from the Northwest Chamber Alliance — the new legislative lobby group organized by the communities of Broomfield, Boulder and Longmont along with…
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Hudson: Cal Marsella’s ‘Denver Model’ set to transform economic future
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Cal Marsella, who died March 19, was hired in 1995 as general manager at RTD amid policy chaos at the agency. Jon Caldara, who now heads the Independence Institute, was the RTD Board chair. Voters had recently rejected RTD’s attempt to de-Bruce. Bus operations were adjusting to legislation sponsored by state Sens. Terry Considine and…
