March 04, 2019 02:07 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (March 4)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

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For years, a serious conflict has been growing between local governments trying to protect their communities from the harmful effects of oil and gas drilling near homes and schools and the energy industry’s agenda of drilling for every drop of oil and gas everywhere they possibly can. In Colorado, the law just doesn’t do enough to protect the rights of local communities and surface property owners from drilling, which actually trumps local zoning regulations unlike any other industry in our state.

It’s time to level the playing field. Last week, progressives in the Colorado legislature announced an important new bill to give local communities more power to regulate oil and gas drilling within their boundaries. The legislation will also change current law so that the state government is no longer required to “foster” the development of oil and gas over public safety, as well as give mineral rights owners protection from “forced pooling” when they don’t want to drill.

This could be the biggest legislative battle of 2019 in Colorado. Big Oil and Gas has promised millions of dollars to fight back against any attempt to improve protections for surface landowners. Last year, the industry spent over $11 million to pass Amendment 74, a measure that would have bankrupted local governments and given the industry power to drill virtually anywhere. Against their millions, all we’ve got is you.

This week’s top action item: Join us tomorrow at the Colorado Capitol for a rally and to testify in SUPPORT of Senate Bill 19-181, concerning additional public welfare protections regarding the conduct of oil and gas operations. From 11:00am tomorrow and all through the afternoon we need your help to support and testify in favor of this crucial legislation.

Where: West Foyer of the Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax, Denver
When: Tuesday, March 5 at 11:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks for your help with this vital piece of legislation to protect the public. Here are more great ways to take action for the week of March 4:

$15 Minimum Wage – City Council 1st Reading

City council will do a first reading and vote on an ordinance to raise the minimum wage for airport and other city-contracted workers to $15 an hour. Let’s turn out and help Denver workers win a living wage!

Where: Denver City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St, Denver
When: Monday, March 4 at 4:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Medicaid Community Dinner

The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy are providing free Medicaid advocacy trainings for people enrolled in Medicaid (“Medicaid members”) and the people who care for them. The dinner event at Lakewood Library is for members, parents, and caretakers to learn how they can get involved and push for changes that improve the health care program.

Where: Jefferson County Public Library (Lakewood Library), 10200 W 20th Ave, Lakewood
When: Monday, March 4 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

One Colorado Phone Bank

We would love you to join us at a phone bank to help engage our members on important events and our legislative priorities.

Where: One Colorado, 1490 Lafayette St, Ste 304, Denver
When: Tuesday, March 5 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

The Right To Rest

THE RIGHT TO REST is a new feature length documentary about Denver’s homeless rights movement which follows the trajectories of Denver Homeless Out Loud and Colorado Village Collaborative towards the construction of Beloved Community Village, Denver’s first Tiny House Village for people coming from homelessness.

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Denver (Sloans Lake), 4255 W. Colfax Ave., Denver
When: Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Women Powering Change 2019

Register now for the 5th presentation of this powerful event. Women Powering Change 2019, is set for Wednesday, March 6th, 4:00 – 7:30 pm at EXDO Event Center. This inspiring event brings together more than 1,000 community members, leaders, activists, volunteers and philanthropists with more than 100 Colorado-based organizations to showcase what women are doing to catalyze social change locally and globally to create a better world. This will be an expo-style event where you can come meet community leaders and learn what is being done in Colorado, and explore how you can also be a part of it all.

Where: EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St, Denver
When: Wednesday, March 6 at 4:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day

Join the Colorado Reproductive Freedom Coalition and advocate for proactive legislation at our annual Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day on March 7! Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and our partners will be joining forces to fight for reproductive health and rights in Colorado! Meet with your elected officials about bills important to expanding reproductive freedom for all Coloradans and receive training on how to lobby on reproductive rights legislation!

Where: Location upon RSVP
When: Thursday, March 7 at 8:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Student Voice, Student Vote LOBBY DAY

Are you a student in Colorado? Do you want to change REAL change in your school? Do you think 16 and 17-year-olds should be able to vote in school board elections? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join us at the Colorado State Capitol to lobby your legislators on why they should support lowering the voting at to 16-years-old for school board elections across the state.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 East Colfax Avenue, Denver
When: Thursday, March 7 at 8:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Defend Our Constitution Happy Hour with Prof. Super

Wealthy special interest groups are just a few states away from calling a new constitutional convention. With no rules to protect us, all of our constitutional rights and liberties could be up for grabs. Join Colorado Common Cause and Professor David Super from Georgetown Law to discuss how we can protect the civil and human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Together we can stop this attempt by special interests to use a risky untested system to rig the rules against the American people.

Where: Irish Snug, 1201 E Colfax Ave, Denver
When: Thursday, March 7 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Volunteer Orientation w/ ONE Colorado

Want to spend time giving back to the LGBTQ community? Come volunteer at The Center! Last year, more than 550 dedicated people from all walks of life helped The Center fulfill our mission by donating over 18,000 hours of their time. From greeting visitors at the front desk to facilitating support groups to helping us grow Denver PrideFest into the third largest pride celebration in the country, The Center’s volunteers make a real difference in our community.

Where: GLBT Community Center of Colorado, 1301 E Colfax Ave, Denver
When: Thursday, March 7 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Moms Demand Action Colorado Advocacy Day

Join us as we engage with our state elected officials to talk about Gun Sense legislation and laws! We will gather at the First Baptist Church to review the goals for the morning, then at 10:00 we will go across the street to the Capitol to meet with our elected official. We can Moms Demand shirts in most parts of the capitol, but be prepared to cover up if you go to a committee hearing room or the House or Senates floors & galleries.

Where: First Baptist Church of Denver, 1373 Grant St, Denver
When:Friday, March 8 at 9:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Film Around Town: The Quiet Force presented by Mountain Dreamers

The Mountain Dreamers are bringing ‘The Quiet Force’ — a film about the immigrant workforce in Colorado’s ski communities — to Summit County for two screening events in March. The Mountain Dreamers, a Summit County group dedicated to educating and empowering everyone to stand up for immigrants’ rights, is working in partnership with the Breck Film Fest, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), and the I Stand With Immigrants Initiative powered by FWD.us for these events.

Where: Silverthorne Town Pavilion, 400 Blue River Dr, Silverthorne
When: Thursday, March 7 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Where: Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge & Dillon
When: Friday, March 8 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Protégete Latino Advocacy Day Prep Day

Prepare for Latino Advocacy Day. Protégete will offer two sessions with three workshops including: Story of self, Environmental Justice 101, and Government 101 followed by sign creation for the rally occurring on LAD.

Where: Protégete: Nuestro futuro vale la lucha, 1536 Wynkoop St, Denver
When: Sunday, March 10 at 10:00am

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks again for your help making all of these events successful. See you next week!