Following are five (5) Resolutions properly submitted to the Secretary of The Democratic Party of Denver for discussion and voting by the Denver Democratic Central Committee Wednesday evening, September 12th:
1) Resolution IN SUPPORT OF proposed Constitutional Amendment 64 to legalize possession of marijuana and regulate and tax it like alcohol subject to local controlWhereas, the measure designated as Amendment 64 on the ballot for the General Election of November 6, 2012, would amend the Colorado Constitution by adding a new section to Article XVIII that would make purchase and possession of marijuana by persons 21 years of age and older legal, and; Whereas, the Constitutional amendment would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol, subject to local control, and; Whereas, sale and distribution of marijuana to minors, and driving under the influence of marijuana, would remain illegal, and; Whereas, Article 13-9 of the platform of the Democratic Party of Denver supports the decriminalization of marijuana, allowing its sale, regulation, and taxation similar to alcohol, subject to local control; Now, Therefore be it Resolved that the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver endorse adoption of Amendment 64 at the General Election to be held November 6, 2012, and authorize a recommendation in FAVOR of its passage in all appropriate campaign literature distributed by the Democratic Party of Denver.
2) Resolution IN OPPOSITION TO proposed initiative 46 that would amend the Constitution to grant legal personhood to any undefined stage of human development [pending appeals period]Whereas, a citizens’ initiative petition, designated initiative 46, has been filed with the Secretary of State with what appears to be a sufficient number of signatures, and; Whereas, initiative 46 calls for amending the Colorado Constitution by adding a section to Article II that would define a “person” as a human being at any stage of human development, and; Whereas, designation of a “person” as such without a clear specification of what is meant by “any stage of human development” is legally ambiguous, and; Whereas, the legal ambiguity of such a constitutional provision could be interpreted as prohibition against most forms of birth control and all forms of in vitro fertilization that do not result in implantation, and; Whereas, such a constitutional provision would make any and all forms of abortion, the legality of which is supported by extensive case law and the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, illegal with no exceptions, and; Whereas, the prohibition of all forms of abortion without exception is the avowed objective of the advocates of initiative 46, and; Whereas, Article 5-5 of the county platform of the Democratic Party of Denver affirms support for family planning and full access to reproductive health care, including all forms of contraception; Now, Therefore be it Resolved that the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver oppose initiative 46 if it is approved for submission to the voters at the General Election to be held November 6, 2012, and authorize a recommendation in OPPOSITION to its passage in all appropriate campaign literature distributed by the Democratic Party of Denver.
3) Resolution IN SUPPORT OF City u0026amp; County of Denver Referred Measure 2A to retain taxes collected under current rates without raising those ratesWhereas, Denver City Council has adopted CB12-0566, which refers Measure 2A to the November ballot asking Denver voters for permission to retain all taxes collected under our current rates, without raising those rates now or in the future without a vote of the people, and; Whereas, this measure, commonly known as “de-brucing”, has Denver joining 85% of the cities and counties across Colorado who have voted to free themselves from the state-mandated spending cap formula in TABOR, and; Whereas, mitigating the constraints that TABOR imposes on local governments is advocated in Article 12-8 of the platform of the Democratic Party of Denver, and; Whereas, removing the state-mandated spending cap enables the city to use $68 million dollars in taxes it is already collecting towards eliminating Denver’s budget deficit, and restore the essential city services lost during the recession, and; Whereas, Measure 2A adds 100 new police and fire recruits to the city, and; Whereas, Measure 2A enables Denver to replace 1,000 of its police, fire and Public Works vehicles, and; Whereas, Measure 2A allows Denver to resurface 300 lane-miles of city streets, and; Whereas, Measure 2A allows Denver to restore branch libraries to a full 48-hour week, and; Whereas, Measure 2A provides Denver’s children with access to the city’s swimming pools, rec centers and afterschool programs, ensuring they have a safe, supervised environment for when they’re not in the classroom, and; Whereas, Denver can fully recover from the recession, without raising taxes, without raising fees, by taking the City u0026amp; County out from under the state mandated TABOR limits and allowing Denver to keep and spend the taxes it has already collected, Now, Therefore be it Resolved that the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver endorse adoption of Referred Measure 2A at the General Election to be held November 6, 2012, and authorize a recommendation in FAVOR of its passage in all appropriate campaign literature distributed by the Democratic Party of Denver.
4) Resolution OPPOSING Denver Public School Request For $500m Bond (3B)Whereas, the Denver Public School District (DPS) is proposing a public vote in favor of a $500 million bond issue to fund various improvements in the District; public and charter schools. Whereas, the language of the proposal is vague and the community is unclear as to how much of the bond is earmarked towards turning around traditional neighborhood schools into charter schools that will serve fewer children and not necessarily ones from the neighborhood; and Whereas, the bond was put forth without true community input. Of the 74 Community Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC) members, only nine identified themselves as DPS parents. No teachers or Denver Classsroom Teachers Association (DCTA) representatives were selected for the committee; and Whereas, The Denver Democratic Platform states, “We demand an educational system, which is inclusive of our diverse population … Public education is a right and we reject attempts to privatize it;” and Whereas, The Denver Democratic Platform also states at 9.2: “We oppose vouchers and public funding of religious and private schools.” However, DPS is now asking the voters to approve $200 million dollars for new buildings for privately owned charter schools including one FOR-PROFIT charter school, Excel Academy; and Whereas, The Denver Democratic Platform states at 9.8: “We oppose the re-segregation of the Denver public school system being caused by charter schools.” Yet, DPS is asking for money to build a new high school in Stapleton, when just two miles away are 1,000 empty seats at Manual High School. Now, Therefore, Be It Proclaimed that the Denver Democratic Central Committee OPPOSESthe $500 million bond and authorize a recommendation in OPPOSITION to the passage of 3B in all appropriate campaign literature distributed by the Democratic Party of Denver; And Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the DCTA, the Denver Board of Education, and to Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
5) Resolution SUPPORTING Denver Public School Bond and Mill Levy on the November Ballot (3A and 3B)
Whereas, 74 community members on the Community Planning Advisory Committee and a district-wide community survey led the Denver Public Schools Board of Education to refer a mill levy override and bond authorization to the November ballot; Whereas, Denver Democrats support, “an educational system which is inclusive of our diverse population, guarantees funding, encourages community involvement, and educates the whole individual,” as stated in the Denver Democrats Education Platform; Whereas, the Denver Public School bond and mill measures will ensure that DPS is able to fund facility maintenance and upgrades, the expansion of Early Childhood Education and support services and restoration of enrichment programs to better serve Denver’s diverse public school population; Whereas, Denver Democrats support, “funding school meal programs for children living in poverty,” which DPS provides to 74% of their students; Whereas, under state law school districts must allow for charter schools to receive bond funds, which will go toward facility renovations and expansions, technology infrastructure, safety and security and other capital improvement projects. 9% of proposed bond funding will go to expand capacity in district facilities that house charter schools. Whereas, the mill levy override will relieve pressure on the general fund at DPS to allow for a cost of living increase for teachers in the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, which aligns with our belief that all educational professionals should earn a living wage and have the right to organize; Whereas, the mill levy override will restore enrichment programs like arts, music and physical education in schools across the district. Providing a more well-rounded education to students is in line with the Denver Democrats opposition to No Child Left Behind’s policy of “teaching to the test;” Whereas, the mill levy override will allow DPS to extend Early Childhood Education opportunities to 850 additional four year-olds as well as access to full-day kindergarten to all students, while continuing to provide tuition subsidies for families in need, something Denver Democrats support; Whereas, state law requires that charter schools be considered public entities and DPS charter schools, according to the DPS website, “serve student populations that nearly mirror district averages in terms of free/reduced lunch status (74%), ethnic minority percentages (75%), English language learner status (30%), and special education status (11%);” Whereas, Denver Democrats support foreign language instruction beginning in grade school, which DPS offers at select schools across the district; Whereas, Denver Democrats support access to equal education for people with disabilities, which DPS is committed to, ensuring that, “from preschool to age 21, they [students with disabilities] receive the specialized instruction and related services necessary to meet their unique needs and are provided a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.” The bond proposal includes over $30 million dollars of ADA upgrades across the district to enhance access for students with physical disabilities; and Whereas, DPS has a comprehensive anti-bullying policy, which is in synch with the Denver Democrats Education Platform. The bond will help fund increased security measures in schools, which will allow schools to more closely monitor and take action on suspicious or potentially violent behavior; Now Therefore, Be It Proclaimed, that the Denver Democratic Central Committee SUPPORTSthe bond and mill levy and authorizes a recommendation in FAVOR of 3A u0026amp; 3B in all appropriate campaign literature distributed by the Democratic Party of Denver; And Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution is sent to the Denver Public School Board of Education.