Colorado Week in Review for September 17, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Progressives Call For Boebert To Protect Southwest Colorado From Matt Gaetz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
CONTACT: Sara Loflin, Executive Director at sara@progressnowcolorado.org

DENVER: Responding to plans by far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert to bring Rep. Matt Gaetz, the outspoken “Christian” member of Congress recently investigated in connection with sex scandals, sex trafficking, illegal drug use, and sex with a minor to southwest Colorado to co-host a Republican fundraiser, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, called on Boebert to leave Gaetz in her native state of Florida for the upcoming La Plata County Lincoln Day Dinner.

“Rep. Lauren Boebert is free to consort with whoever she wants, but Ms. Boebert should leave Mr. Gaetz in Florida,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Sara Loflin. “Colorado Republicans should never forget how Boebert and Gaetz ground the U.S. House to a stop to obstruct the new Republican speaker. If Ms. Boebert is really concerned about stopping human trafficking and sexual misconduct, she should not be bringing an individual to her district who barely escaped prosecution for both. For everyone else, this is a clear reminder that Boebert refuses to listen to the voters of her district while she pursues personal political vendettas over protecting Colorado jobs. This is not ‘draining the swamp’ as she would claim.”

“The voters of southwest Colorado want to hear Boebert’s plan for protecting Colorado jobs, water, and the land that is the lifeblood of the Third Congressional district,” said Loflin. “Bringing Matt Gaetz to Colorado only draws attention to the political infighting in Washington and neglect of the most basic responsibilities of federal lawmakers. Gaetz’s deplorable personal scandals and hypocritical grandstanding make him the worst role model southwest Colorado has seen since…well, Lauren Boebert.”

WHO: Far-right Reps. Lauren Boebert and (tentatively) Matt Gaetz
WHEN: September 23, 2023 at 5:00PM
WHERE: Sky Ute Casino Resort, 14324 Hwy 172 North, Ignacio
WHAT: La Plata County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

###

ProgressNow Colorado’s 20th Anniversary Gala at Casa Bonita

In the twenty years since ProgressNow Colorado was originally organized as the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network, our state has witnessed an historic shift away from the far-right special interests that previously dominated the debate on every issue.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Colorado’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, ProgressNow Colorado is throwing the biggest party in our history with a who’s who of Colorado progressive political leaders and activists at the recently-reopened world famous Casa Bonita restaurant in Lakewood. And you’re invited to join us.

Twenty years ago, a group of leading progressive Coloradans who were tired of our state’s broken conservative politics began laying the foundation for permanent progressive advocacy infrastructure that would remain in action long after the election is over. Dr. Albert Yates’ vision of a progressive communications clearinghouse that aggressively challenges misinformation and demands accountability even in the off years became ProgressNow Colorado, and our success made ProgressNow Colorado a model that has now been implemented in over two dozen states.

Working together with issue-specific advocacy groups and grassroots organizers, PNC has played a central role in telling the story of this political sea change. The ProgressNow Colorado 20th Anniversary Gala will reunite many of the original minds behind our ongoing work and the exceptionally talented staff who made it happen over all these years.

WHAT: ProgressNow Colorado 20th Anniversary Gala
WHEN: Saturday, October 14th, 2023, 6:30-9:30PM
WHERE: Casa Bonita, 6715 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood

Click here to get the details and reserve your spot today! Individual tickets are $250, with VIP sponsorships available. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, reply to this message or email Val Nosler at val@progressnowcolorado.org.

We’re excited to see you on October 14th at The World’s Greatest Restaurant to celebrate 20 years of progress in Colorado.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

Colorado Week in Review for September 10, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for September 3, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for August 27, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Take action for clean air: record a video comment to air quality regulators

In 2021, Colorado law changed to require the state’s industrial sector to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2030.

It’s an important goal and one that we are currently on track to fail to meet.

A new rule being considered by the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) could help us to correct course, but only if it is free from loopholes that will let industrial polluters off the hook.

That’s where you come in. The AQCC wants to hear from you, and to make it easy the commission is now accepting recorded video comments from the public! In just a few moments, you can make a brief video comment with your phone, upload it to the Youtube account you probably already have, and then email a link to that video comment directly to the AQCC for their consideration.

In your video comment, here are some important points to drive home:

  • Colorado is doing the right thing by using legislation to hold industrial polluters accountable and requiring them to do their part in reducing emissions.
  • The state has set a goal of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector by 2030. But to meet that goal, we need strong and enforceable rules that will force industry to keep their word and not find ways to skirt the actual work of reducing emissions.
  • If regulators don’t act boldly now, the need for emissions reductions will continue to fall down the food chain to industries and businesses that actually can’t afford to keep up. A strong rule would be a huge win for our health and especially for the health of the kids who live in the disproportionately impacted communities where industry operates.
  • We are asking Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission to pass a strong new rule that would fulfill statutory requirements that the industrial sector reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2030, without loopholes. The AQCC must also clarify how they plan to enforce the rule once it is in place.

Once you’ve recorded your video comment, simply upload it to Youtube or another public video-sharing service and email the link to cdphe.aqcc-comments@state.co.us.

We’re here to help make this new means of public participation a success! If you have any trouble recording or sending your video comment, drop us a line at info@progressnowcolorado.org and we’ll work with you to get your comment properly submitted. We would also love to see your video comments once you’ve submitted them, so feel free to send the link to us as well.

Thanks for doing your part to protect Colorado’s clean air and fight against climate change.

Colorado Week in Review for August 20, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

dYPdKv uDv LXx c

Colorado Week in Review for August 13, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for August 6, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for July 30, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for July 23, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for July 16, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

dYwbFTgBSEuS ImFm NSajgdF

Colorado Week in Review for July 9, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

gtp U C mZfMls

Colorado Week in Review for July 2, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Republicans Against Boebert: Because Colorado can do better

Today, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue grassroots advocacy organization, launched a new outreach campaign: Republicans Against Boebert.

The reason is simple: smart Republicans from Denver to D.C. are running away from Rep. Lauren Boebert.

Sign up to join the Republicans Against Boebert campaign today.

Again and again, Boebert has chosen petty political infighting and self-promotion over the needs of Western and Southern Colorado. Boebert’s attacks on her own Republican leadership have alienated her within the Republican caucus, and irreparably damaged Boebert’s ability to represent her constituents. Boebert’s antics have cost her constituents dearly, from funding for projects in her district Boebert refused to lift a finger for to the loss of influence that comes with being a pariah even with one’s own party.

Join the Republicans Against Boebert campaign by visiting republicansagainstboebert.com.

Colorado doesn’t need a politician who wants only attention for herself to the detriment of the needs of the people she was elected to represent. Colorado needs leadership focused on gets things done for our families, businesses, and communities.

It’s not about left or right, it’s about basic competence for the job–and Lauren Boebert has failed that nonpartisan test. That’s why we are asking Republicans across Boebert’s district to join Republicans Against Boebert, and send a message to the whole country that Western and Southern Colorado can do better.

http://republicansagainstboebert.com

Thank you for setting partisanship aside to demand better than Lauren Boebert: for the good of Colorado, and the whole nation.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

qUKwL T

Colorado Week in Review for June 25, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

L fmL tHf

Colorado Week in Review for June 18, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Colorado Week in Review for June 11, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

X Da M Ff ABVEbn P

Lauren Boebert lied. Demand better.

ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest online progressive advocacy organization, today called on Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CD3) to apologize to her constituents in Colorado’s Third Congressional District for failing to do her job by missing the vote on the debt ceiling bill last week and then lying about her reason for missing the vote.

Enough is enough: join our call for Lauren Boebert to apologize for her dishonesty and incompetence.

There is both a written record and now video of Boebert desperately running up the Capitol steps to cast her vote, and Boebert initially claimed she was “unavoidably detained.” [1] Days later, Boebert changed her story claiming that she missed the vote as a “no show protest”. Boebert even posted a video lying about it. [2]

Lauren Boebert is a failure and owes an apology to the people she’s supposed to serve in Western and Southern Colorado.

Members of Congress have one job: to vote on legislation. Boebert failed her most basic responsibility. And then Boebert lied about missing the vote by claiming days later it was a ‘protest’. It wasn’t.

Join our call for Rep. Boebert to apologize for her dishonesty and failure to accomplish the one job voters sent her to Washington to do. Tell us what you think of Boebert’s job performance in the comments. We will share your concerns with Boebert’s campaign and the press to ensure that she is held accountable.

Thank you for demanding better from our elected officials.

Colorado Week in Review for June 4, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

Denver Runoff Election Candidate Questionnaire

If you’re one of the majority of Denver voters who hasn’t returned your ballot yet for next Tuesday’s runoff election, or know someone in the same situation, we’re here to help! Just in time to give you the information you need to make an informed decision, here is our in-depth candidate questionnaire for the Denver mayoral race as well as the three contested city council races.

For information about where to return your completed ballot, or even register and vote right up until Election Day, visit the Denver Elections Division. All ballots must be received by the clerk by Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00pm in order to be counted. If you’re voting in person, you just need to be in line to vote by 7:00pm.

Your vote could make the difference! Learn about the candidates and get those ballots returned.

Colorado Week in Review for May 21, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy

SmLRXcBkeXLxSxlwTqrtCypTq

2023 Legislation wrap-up and more ways to fight for progress this week (May 15)

So far, 2023 has been a big year for PNC.

At the beginning of our 20th year fighting for progressive values in Colorado, for the first time ProgressNow Colorado took a front-line approach to the legislative session with a full-time Legislative Director inside the building helping to shape policy. We worked directly to pass legislation that regular people will see and feel in their daily lives. Colorado made historic progress in protecting abortion rights, gun safety, and education funding. We also supported bills on eviction prevention for Colorado’s most vulnerable tenants, expanding alternative sentencing options for pregnant people, and finding a pathway to end the debt cycle of prison phone calls. And we were part of the coalition that will be back to fight next year on the issues where a long-term education effort will be necessary to effect the change we need.

I could go on and on, but take a moment now to watch our wrap-up of the 2023 legislative session.

Not everyone got what they wanted from this year’s legislative session, and we know from history that some of the most important legislative accomplishments take years to pass. Progressives are the “big tent” coalition in Colorado now. It’s up to us to build on this year’s successes and learn from campaigns that weren’t successful–this time.

With your continued help and support, the work will continue until we’ve made good on the promises made to voters on affordable housing, environmental justice, and safe, equitable workplaces for everyone. The task is as great as ever, but so is our resolve.

Thank you again for everything you do, and here are a few more ways to get involved for the week of May 15, 2023:


Bell Policy Center End of Legislative Session Celebration

Join the Bell Policy Center for an evening of celebration as the 2023 legislative session comes to an end. We will have a recap chat with some special guests while we eat, drink and be merry.

When: Monday, May 15 at 4:30pm
Where: Raices Brewing Company, 2060 W Colfax Ave, Denver

Click here to RSVP.


Legacies of Colonialism, Possibilities for Democracy: Colorado’s Public Lands

Join state historian Jared Orsi as he gives the State Historian’s Address and explores the legacies of colonialism and possibilities for democracy on Colorado’s public lands. The roots of Colorado’s public lands sink deeply into the territorial seizure and racial exclusion of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century America, and this legacy has persisted since. However, given land management agencies’ impulses toward many uses and broad access, public lands can also be an engine of inclusion and connection in our divided world.

When: Wednesday, May 17 at 1:00pm
Where: History Colorado, 1200 N. Broadway, Denver

Click here to RSVP.


In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum

You are invited to join New Era Colorado, COLOR Latina, One Colorado and Cobalt for a special mayoral forum, inspired by the YouTube phenomenon, Hot Ones! We will be serving Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston wings that increase in heat (thanks to @FotmDenver!), as we ask them spicy questions on the issues that impact our communities most.

When: Monday, May 22 at 6:00pm
Where: Town Hall Collaborative, 525 N Santa Fe St., Denver

Click here to RSVP.


Save the date: Community Celebration: Licenses for All

Join the I Drive Coalition to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Drivers Licenses for All! Join us for a community celebration from 5:30-9:30pm. During a short program we will celebrate the community’s struggle for drivers licenses, recognize our legislative champions, and honor the groups and agencies who have been central to the success of the program. Dinner and dancing will follow!

When: Friday, June 2 at 6:00pm
Where: St. Cajetans, Auraria Campus, Denver

Click here to RSVP.


Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director

rQUB kMh DTW PD mG

Colorado Week in Review for May 14, 2023

awesome + uniting

awesome + controversy

awful + uniting

awful + controversy