City Council Votes to Crackdown on STR Hosts

By Denverite Reporter Donna Bryson

Denver City Council voted on Monday to fine online platforms if they help unauthorized people rent out their homes to vacationers and other short-term occupants.

Starting next year, the platforms face daily fines of $1,000 every day a home is rented through a listing on a site such as Airbnb or VRBO by a host who does not have a city license. While the law that council approved on Monday does not spell out how platforms should best comply, city officials say a simple step would be to require hosts to enter their city license number before they could upload a listing.

Councilman Kevin Flynn said he has been pushing for such a change since Denver started licensing short-term rental hosts in 2016. Without getting platforms to cooperate, Flynn said, it was inevitable that people would rent their homes without licenses, competing unfairly with hosts who follow the rules. Flynn added in an interview before City Council’s vote that complaints about noisy parties, trash, parking and other problems sometimes associated with short-term rentals have been more common when the hosts are unlicensed. Hosts without licenses face fines of up to $999 per violation under earlier provisions of Denver’s short-term rental laws.

The Denver Excise and Licenses department enforces the city’s short-term rental laws. Excise and Licenses spokesman Eric Escudero said that since Denver’s licensing law went into effect in 2017, officials have been pushing platforms to ban unlicensed hosts from their sites. The city is counting on hosts finding it impossible to stay in business without being able to advertise on platforms and have the platforms facilitate bookings and payments.

“We weren’t able to get platforms to take action,” Escudero said. “We were left with no choice” but to propose imposing fines.

Under the proposal approved Monday, a company that is issued a citation will have 10 days to appeal.

“Following the exhaustion of their right to appeal, if they refuse payment by the due date, they will be subject to additional fees if Denver turns the matter over to a collection agency,” Escudero said.

Denver requires all short-term rental properties to be the primary residence of the owner. Denver is not the only city to have struggled with how to regulate short-term rentals, an industry that is driven by companies that operate internationally. Short-term rentals offer homeowners a chance to earn extra income, but have raised concerns because of the problems they sometimes create for neighbors and the potential they have for reducing a community’s supply of long-term, moderately priced housing.

Flynn sits on the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee that signed off on the proposal to fine platforms and provides policy and other guidance to Excise and Licenses. Sabrina Zunker,  a broker who sits on the committee as a representative of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, said the legislation that could lead to fines for platforms was part of the infrastructure Denver needed to ensure a fair system and the success of short-term rentals here.

“We definitely want good actors in our city,” Zunker said. “Ultimately, we are excited to get this in place and really talk about the future of short-term rentals in Denver.”

Other members of the advisory committee include short-term rental hosts, representatives of tourism and neighborhood groups, and Ayisha Irfan, an Airbnb liaison.

Irfan did not respond to an email from Denverite seeking comment. Neither did a spokesperson for VRBO.

Flynn said he did not expect Airbnb, which lists most short-term rentals available in Denver, to challenge the new rules in court, as the company has done when other cities tried to regulate it. Escudero said he expected Airbnb to comply with Denver’s law.

Last year Airbnb reached a settlement with Boston over regulations there that the platform had opposed. Under the settlement, Airbnb agreed to ask Boston hosts to share city-issued registration numbers with the platform and to take down listings of hosts that do not register with the city.

“Most businesses want to comply with the law,” Escudero said.

Escudero added that 80 percent of hosts in Denver comply with the law, judging by the number of licensed hosts listing rentals on online platforms. Those that don’t are responsible for most of the complaints about short-term rentals that his department receives, Escudero said.

As of last week, 1,985 active short-term rental licenses were registered with Excise and Licenses, Escudero said. He added that the pandemic’s impact on tourism is evident in license data. In March, when COVID-19 was first reported in Denver, the active short-term license tally was more than 2,500. Last year, Denver collected over $10.6 million in lodger’s taxes imposed on short-term rentals.

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For more information about Short Term Rentals, including the FAQs and How to Make a Complaint, visit the City’s Short Term Rentals page on DenverGov.org

The post City Council Votes to Crackdown on STR Hosts appeared first on Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association.

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Fraud is on the rise in Colorado

Here’s a fairly comprehensive Guide from The 5280 on how to avoid scams.  It’s worth the read!

BY LINDSEY B. KING •  5280 NOVEMBER 2020

Table of Contents

• It Can Happen to Anyone
• The Swindler’s Toolbox
• Constant Vigilance
• Know Thyself
• The Best Defense Is a Good Offense
• In Hot Pursuit
• Hiding in Cyberspace

The post Fraud is on the rise in Colorado appeared first on Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association.

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Auditor Report – Sidewalk Repair is Behind Schedule

Denver’s Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Program is decades behind schedule and was not designed for ADA compliance, according to a new audit from Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA.

“Public spaces like sidewalks should be accessible for everyone,” Auditor O’Brien said.

The program does not ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. City officials also severely underestimated how many sidewalks in Denver would need repairs and how much burden would rest with homeowners, according to the audit team’s findings.

Program managers set an initial goal of completing one of the 11 regions each year. However, the first region remains less than 25% complete and city administrators estimate it will take more than 50 years to complete the program.  Download the full report here.

The post Auditor Report – Sidewalk Repair is Behind Schedule appeared first on Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association.

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Statement from Colorado Governor Polis on testing positive for COVID

This evening, Governor Polis and First Gentleman Reis learned that they have tested positive for COVID-19. They are both asymptomatic, feeling well, and will continue to isolate in their home. The Governor will continue to be closely monitored. Gov. Polis will continue to fulfill his duties and responsibilities and continue to work remotely.

Polis:

Earlier this evening, Marlon and I found out that we have both tested positive for COVID-19. We are currently asymptomatic, feeling well, and in good spirits.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, no one is immune from this virus. Now is the time to be more cautious than ever before. There is more of the virus circulating across the country, including in Colorado, now than there even was in the Spring.

While we isolate and follow the proper protocols, I will continue serving our great state as long as I am able to, and doing everything I can to help protect the health and safety of Coloradans.

I urge all Coloradans to wear a face mask in public, stay at least six feet away from others, and avoid all social interactions with those outside your household. If you are experiencing any symptoms or believe you might have been exposed, get a quick, free and easy test. Visit covid19.colorado.gov/testing to find a testing site near you.

We’re all in this together, Colorado. And though the light may be at the end of the tunnel, we must do everything we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Numerous governors have tested positive in recent weeks for the virus, including Wyoming’s.

 

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For all of NFL, COVID stops practice Monday and Tuesday

The NFL has ordered its teams to shut down all in-person team activities on Monday and Tuesday in a memo from league commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Friday evening.

Get more news at newshub247.com

A memo from the NFL to teams lists concerns about an increasing COVID-19 positivity rate across the country and an understanding that many players and staff members celebrated Thanksgiving with guests from out-of-town. Medical authorities have widely feared a post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 case spike.

The NFL stopped short of having the shutdown apply to games and practices. All games Sunday, the day before the shutdown, will proceed, as will Monday night’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles and Tuesday’s Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

“All activities must be conducted virtually [on Monday and Tuesday], with the exception of essential medical treatment and rehabilitation under the supervision of a team physician or athletic trainer,” Goodell wrote. “Medical staff and players must continue to comply with the rules outlined in the intensive protocol. Further, players and staff should be reminded that gatherings of any sort outside of the facility are prohibited.”

The League appears to be gambling any player or staff member who caught COVID-19 on Thanksgiving won’t become infectious until Monday, unless they’re playing on Monday night or in a game rescheduled from Thanksgiving due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Thanksgiving rescue – hiker retrieved from the base of the Second Flatiron

 On Thursday, November 26, 2020 at approximately 08:39 a.m., the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 16-year-old male from Fredrick, Colorado who had injured his ankle while hiking with friends near the base of the Second Flatiron.

A City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks ranger hiked into the area and located the party of four hikers. Members of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group provided first aid, packaged the patient in a litter and carried him to the Bluebell Shelter where the patient was then transported to the Ranger Cottage and released to his parents. The patient then sought medical care on his own.

The rescue took approximately two and a half hours.

Agencies assisting with this rescue effort included: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.

As global pandemic takes its toll on many, this industry found a way to surprise observers

The world’s coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on parts of the global economy, but the international shipping industry has rebounded in a way that surprises many observers.

In early 2020 when COVID-19 first made its mark on the world, the ocean shipping lanes across the globe quickly felt the impact. One by one, national economies began shutting down. International trade took a huge hit. Global lockdowns in the U.S. and Europe, the biggest markets for Asian imports, led to a steep drop in May in traffic of seaborne containers, according to The Financial Times.

Instead of millions of containers crossing the oceans with everything from expensive automobiles to fresh fruits needed to satisfy the global supply chain, much of the international shipping fleet remained idle and tens of thousands of sailors were out of work.

Not only as the global economy adjusted, but the shipping companies quickly did as well. As more people stayed home, a surge in e-commerce helped increase demand for products. And as that demand increased over the summer when the worst of the first COVID-19 wave had passed, international trade continued a steady climb that helped increase the number of shipping containers crossing the globe.

At the same time, shipping companies took steps to address the new pandemic reality. They pulled some of their fleets out of service, according to The Times. They also focused on serving shorter shipping routes with smaller vessels, a cost-saving move that helps reduce capital and labor expenses.

While shipping activity hasn’t rebounded to 2019 levels, the industry has seen a dramatic improvement since its collapse in the spring.

What’s not clear is how the ongoing pandemic will continue impacting international trade. In the second quarter of 2020, after the initial economic impact of shutdowns across the world led to a sharp 19 percent plunge in global trade from the same period in 2019, uncertainty fueled concerns about economic recovery.

A recovery in the third quarter, however, helped ease some of those fears. Global trade experienced a more modest decrease of 5 percent in the third quarter of 2020 compared with the same period last year, according to the Global Trade Update from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The UNCTD’s early estimates suggest continued improvement through 2020, although still, a frail recovery expected, with a 3 percent drop in global trade compared to the same fourth-quarter period in 2019.

A recent spike in COVID-19 cases across the world could take its toll on the global economy and, by extension, the international shipping industry. But so far, countries in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere have not responded as dramatically as they did in early 2020 by completely shutting down commerce and forcing residents to stay home except in only the most urgent cases.

Despite record-breaking coronavirus activity reported in the U.S. in recent weeks by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, none of the states have implemented shut-down orders as they did early in the pandemic. And President-elect Joe Biden has said he does not envision a complete shut-down order for the country, instead suggesting such orders would only be issued in those regions suffering the greatest spread of the virus.

Although the future impact of COVID-19 remains unclear on the global shipping industry, there is optimism in steps taken by shippers and the lessons learned by policymakers early in the pandemic

Denver Ranks On Best of the World 2021 List

 

In light of the ongoing world shut down in an attempt to curb the devastation being wreaked by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, National Geographic has placed a focus on future journeys. George Stone, the Executive Editor of the magazine, said that while travelling is not possible at the moment, people are still curious about what the world has to offer. 

Stone called now the perfect time for home-bound individuals to find out more about different places in the world and perhaps include their discoveries in future plans. He stated that, just as we reach the end of this year and the start of the next, everyone is anxiously awaiting a return to travel, and Denver should be on your list!

Details of the List

The Best of the World 2021 list was divided into five categories and Denver landed on the Sustainability one. The National Geographic described the Mile High City as a green giant in the American West, pointing out that we are right on track for our goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. This is despite the massive financial impact the pandemic has had. We made the list thanks to aiming for at least 125 miles of new bike lanes by 2023 and our intention to plant solar gardens. 

The Denver Office on Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency told the magazine that investing in clean energy is about helping our communities whilst simultaneously addressing the issue of our carbon footprint. We have received the LEED for Cities Platinum Certification and additionally offer companies sustainability plans free of charge via Certifiably Green Denver. 

There Is a Lot More to Recommend Us

As many can testify, one of the biggest pros of living in Denver is the magnificent view most of the city has access to. No matter which neighbourhood you end up choosing to live in, the metro area is surrounded by 140 miles of sweeping mountain vistas, including 200 visible summits. Whether you are eating your dinner, enjoying outdoor sports, doing work from home, or trying out live games, you will be doing so with spectacular scenery!

This city is also much more affordable to live in than places like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. Plus, there are higher-paying jobs available because so many of the country’s top businesses want to be based here. 

We enjoy an estimated 300 days of sunshine every year and while our summers are hot, they are not humid. This makes them far more comfortable. The sky is bluer, and the stars also shine more brightly than they do anywhere else in the USA because of the elevation and high-desert climate. And some of the best weekend vacation spots are just a few hours away!

Denver is also home to the second-most microbreweries after Portland and has been nicknamed the Napa Valley of Beer, and both our craft culinary and beverage scene is benefiting from the influx of diverse brewers, chefs, and distillers.

more news https://northdenvernews.com

Denver’s Where You Want to Be Post-Pandemic

 

Despite the more-than-understandable panic the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is inducing in most of us, all the signs that Denver is going to thrive, not survive, are right there. As difficult as it may be to comprehend right now, getting a clearer sense of what things are going to look like again soon will definitely help. T

he fact of the matter is that the Colorado Front Range is going to be off the charts in terms of recovering from COVID-19. 

An Exodus from the Coasts

The basics that have fueled growth in this region over the last 10 years will keep attracting business leaders, talent, and youth here at a rate most other states cannot even imagine. 

The mass departure from cities like New York, Oregon, San Francisco, Washington, and West Virginia. For the vast majority, better career opportunities and higher earning potential aren’t outweighing sky-high rentals and safety concerns anymore.

Multi-Scale Livability 

Do you want to live smack-bang in the heart of the pulsing downtown area, opt-out of owning a car, or be able to walk to at least three major sports venues? 

Would you like to take advantage of a heterogeneous food scene and enjoy world-class theatre? 

Or would you prefer to make your way to suburbia, living with the option to catch the train if you feel like any of these entertainments, where you can relax and enjoy gaming online when you don’t feel like going out? 

What about finding the perfect home in the breath taking Rockies, or putting your roots down in a city nationally known for its safety like Erie?

The diverse workforce of the modern-day demands choices when it comes to lifestyle and the Front Range offers every one! Denver has become a multi-faceted, spirited city with a mixed employment base, a network that is both bikeable and walkable, and a very valuable brand made up of active minds and tireless bodies. 

Because this city has kept a high quality of life and a good overall health of our communities at the vanguard of urban planning, we’ve got what the workforce wants!

Young Talent is Drawn to Denver

Although Denver is doing things differently in the current climate, this has had no effect on its desirability to the young creative workforce. This city has consistently been voted as one of the top destinations when it comes to the working demographic aged between 25- and 35-years. They are drawn by the diversity of employment opportunities, entrepreneurial culture, and the outdoors. 

An Intentional Evolution

Denver has made changes purposefully. Leadership groups of the metro area make yearly trips to cities across the United States to find out what our counterparts are doing and what we can learn from them. This includes the best practice in sectors as unalike as arts and diversity, entertainment, cycling and park networks, multimodal transportation, and workforce training and mentorship.

Our long-standing record of first-rate civic leadership in terms of business, government and non-profit leaders have ensured that our region is excellent when it comes to balancing financial prosperity with a good quality of life. 

Ex-Bronco Duke Becomes Denver Firefighter

 

After fulfilling his dream of playing tight end for the Denver Broncos under the bright lights of the Mile High Stadium, Wesley Duke has traded in one helmet for another. His National Football League hard hat has been swapped out for one issued by the Denver Fire Department because Duke is one of the newest, and brightest, members of the latter team. 

Duke played for the Denver Broncos back in 2005 and said that his decision to become a fireman came largely down to the vast similarities between the two occupations. He added that another important component of his career choice was his desire to give something back to the same community that made his brief NFL career possible. 

Saving the Best for Last

Duke revealed that he has had three jobs since he entered the workforce but that this one is by far the best. After he left the world of pro Football, he worked as an over-the-road truck driver, travelling vast distances and being away from home for long periods of time. He got married and had three children over this time, but Duke said the pay wasn’t great and the job didn’t come close to fulfilling his desire to contribute to the community. 

So, with minimal coaxing by Captain of the DFD Greg Pixley, Duke opted to put all his eggs in one basket and pursue a career fighting fires fulltime. To fully meet the DFD application process criteria, however, Duke had to immediately leave his truck-driving job. He revealed that he finished a delivery one night and then made his way home fully committed to pursuing his DFD dream. 

With the full support of his wife, he risked potentially failing to graduate from the Academy to bring his deepest wishes to fruition. A decision that perhaps only those accustomed to the phrase Get Your Game On can understand! Duke explained that he knew he had to quit his job if he wanted to really pursue his new career and that it was a sacrifice he would make all over again.

On the Road to Success

Duke passed the arduous application process with flying colours and was accepted into the Academy. And it was from here, with the full support of his peers, that he graduated with the Denver Fire Academy Class 19-03 in January this year. The former NFL star beamed with joy as his wife pinned on his badge as he took the stage with his children around him. 

In an interview almost a year later, with 911 calls interrupting the process more than once, Duke’s infectious chuckling and cheerful demeanour are still much in evidence. He said that the knowledge that you’re helping people is a very fulfilling one and totally satisfies his desire to serve. 

He spoke of the fact that being able to lend assistance to individuals struggling with something as difficult as a fire gives him an incredible amount of joy. He said that although this NFL career obviously earned him far more money, the deep sense of satisfaction firefighting delivers is unmatchable.

The Price of Mismanaging COVID-19

 

As the first wave of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 begins to ebb, many Coloradans have started becoming slack about following the safety measures that have been proven to help slow the spread of this dread disease. 

We have been lulled into thinking that we are safe from contracting or spreading the illness by the consistently low transmission rates being recorded in certain communities. Not to mention a sitting president and vice-president who are at pains to assure us that the possibility of a second wave hitting our hospital system is zero. 

But as the situation stands, there are 1 000+ people in Coloradan hospitals awaiting treatment for severe symptoms and an extra almost 200 waiting on care before receiving their test results.  The direction we’re heading in terms of hospital admissions looks terrible unless drastic changes are inputted. 

This state is experiencing a higher-than-average number of people testing positive for COVID-19. Last month, the seven-day positivity rate average jumped from just over 3% to more than 7% and the goal is to keep this number at less 5%.

What it Looks Like on the Ground

Restaurants will be hit hard, with owners and workers being severely affected by closing all but takeout trade. Students are next in line, with all classes transitioning online, even for the youngest scholars. And families are looking at a Christmas where big gatherings are not just unsafe but actually illegal according to the orders being implemented in 15 Coloradan counties. 

Luckily there’s still the prospect of touching base with one another via Skype and Zoom, staying in contact thanks to online messaging, and playing the most fun games via desktop, smartphone, and tablet when the solitude becomes overwhelming.

It is malfeasance in its purest form that our president and senators have not seen fit to pass another series of emergency aid as we head into winter. Shutting down right before the Christmas season will also have a ruinous effect on our city’s entrepreneurs. Some stand to lose their businesses entirely and there are many hard-working families who face the reality of unemployment. 

What You Can Do

While many of us are unclear as to which Coloradan counties are included in the more drastic changes, restaurants and other smaller businesses are also wondering how they will be affected. Certain ski areas in Summit County are as yet unsure as to whether or not they’ll have to close, retail businesses are limited to 50% capacity, and restaurants have been reduced to 0. 

Dr Lisa Miller, Professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health has said that there are a few basic concepts that explain why viruses come in waves, particularly COVID-19. The biggest one is susceptibility, Miller explains. As long as there are people that are vulnerable to the disease out there, it will continue to spread. The only way to dampen it is to decrease social interaction as far as possible, stay home and find other forms of entertainment, and wear a mask until we have a vaccine that works.

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5 Reasons to Consider a Short-Term Loan

Financial surprises are often negative, and sometimes you will find yourself in a situation where you cannot pay your monthly bills. There’s never an easy answer to the question, ‘what should I do if I don’t have enough money this month?’ When it comes to money, everyone’s struggles are different and so their solutions will be, too. Depending on the situation, short-term loans can be an easy solution. Here are five reasons you should consider one.

 

1: You Have a Surprise Bill

If you are struggling to pay your bills consistently, a short-term loan isn’t for you. If you have been surprised by a bill and you are struggling to pay, however, then a loan could be the answer. It will ensure that you have no late payments, and you can find a loan that suits your needs in terms of timeframe and amount. Everything you need to know about car title loans at Holiday, FL can be found here, and you could even see the money in your account within twenty-four hours.  

2: Something Needs Fixing 

Another payment that is not usually consistent is fixing items. Whether you need to hire a plumber, an electrician, or a mechanic, usually their prices are high and you might not have enough within your budget. A loan will give you the money to get it fixed quickly without interrupting your other payment duties. Your house and your car are essential, so it’s important to get them fixed sooner rather than later. 

3: The Holiday Season 

The holiday season is filled to the brim with joy, but that excitement also comes with a hefty price. From cooking family dinners to buying gifts for everyone you know, your spending can quickly reach heights that make you shudder to check your bank balance. If you need a little extra help in December and you know you can pay it off in January, then a short-term loan can help make your holiday season a little extra magical. 

4: A Particularly Tight Month 

Most people experience a financially tight month at some point or another, and a short-term loan can help see you through it. If it’s a one-off month with extra expenses and not enough money, then a bump in your bank balance is just what you need. As long as you can pay it back on time, then you’re good to go. 

5: You Need Money Fast 

It doesn’t matter the reason, if you need money as quickly as possible, then a short-term loan is one of the easiest ways to do that. Long-term bank loans take a lot of processing whereas a short-term loan will process your application quickly and you’ll see very soon if it is accepted or not. It’s comforting to know that there is a backup plan if you find that you need cash right away. 

Short-term loans aren’t for everyone, but if you are someone who needs quick cash and you know you can pay it back, then it could provide you with the help you need.

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Minimize travel this holiday week, says CDOT

Maximize safeguards to reduce risk from virus; watch for winter weather early in the week 

While nonessential travel is not recommended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Department of Transportation still anticipates increased traffic along some of the state roadways over Thanksgiving weekend.

This Thanksgiving, the state of Colorado is urging people to not not gather with anyone outside of your household (people you don’t live with), to wear a mask when you’re outside of your home and stay 6 feet from others. One out of 49 Coloradans is infected with this deadly virus.

“We all have a duty to keep ourselves and each other safe, whether traveling or staying close to home,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “If you are on the road, stay alert and avoid impaired driving at all costs — unfortunately the holidays can be a dangerous time for accidents. This year, please be extra cautious due to the severe COVID risk that many regions are experiencing right now.  If you do drive, be mindful of the COVID ‘dial level’ where you are traveling, wear a mask, and maintain social distance.”

Expect slick and some snowpacked conditions on roads in the high country and along the Front Range this week, and a challenging Tuesday morning commute for the Denver region

Snow is expected in the mountains and along the foothills beginning Monday night, with two to five inches possible in the Denver metro area, four to eight inches in the foothills and six to ten inches on the I-70 mountain corridor.

Denver motorists should expect a burst of snow to fall quickly during Tuesday’s morning commute, making for a challenging drive with slushy, snow packed and icy conditions likely. The most severe conditions are expected in the suburbs to the west and south of Denver, the foothills and Palmer Divide, according to the forecast.

If possible, limit travel until the storm moves out later tomorrow.  Motorists should be equipped for winter weather with the appropriate tires.

Motorists heading to ski areas should check road conditions at www.cotrip.org and review weather forecasts before traveling. This applies to motorists traveling on Interstate 70, U.S. 285 and other major roadways.

CDOT winter driving tips downloadable flyer: WinterWise Driving Tips.  Please go to the bottom of the release for information on the chain and traction laws. Construction work suspended over the holiday and typical traffic volumes on the I-70 Mountain Corridor

CDOT construction and maintenance projects will be suspended beginning Wednesday to help minimize traffic impacts. Projects can resume work on Monday, Nov. 30.  The only exception is for emergency operations.

Thanksgiving traffic typically is lower than during other holiday weekends. Vehicle numbers through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels in 2019 was as follows:

	Westbound	Eastbound	Total
Wednesday, Nov. 27	24,880	18,573	43,453
Thursday, Nov. 28	17,423	13,974	31,397
Friday, Nov. 29	7,558	12,044	19,602
Saturday, Nov. 30	14,540	20,329	34,869
Sunday, Dec. 1	20,319	25,615	45,934
Total	84,720	90,535	175,255

 

In addition to checking cotrip.org, drivers can get the latest information on the status of the state’s roadways by calling 511.  Specific information regarding Interstate 70 is available at: www.GoI70.com.

 

For more information on how to have a safer Thanksgiving, please see:  https://covid19.colorado.gov/thanksgiving

CHAIN and TRACTION LAWS

CDOT urges travelers to be aware of chain and traction law codes before heading out on the roadway.

• Code 18/Commercial Chain Law: Commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains. Vehicles without chains can often lose traction, causing traffic delays and sometimes road closures. For the safety of the traveling public, it’s critical to use chains to be in compliance with Colorado’s chain law.

• Code 15/Passenger Traction Law: All motorists are required to either have an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, or (for two-wheel drive vehicles) snow tires or all-weather tires with a mud/snow designation. Tread depth on all tires must be at least 3/16″ regardless of vehicle type. Vehicles that do not meet these criteria must carry chain devices or alternative traction devices such as an AutoSock. The law focuses on passenger vehicles, as commercial vehicles have their own restrictions. It is unlawful to proceed when a state highway is closed or to proceed when a restriction is in effect without the required traction equipment. Violators will be given a citation, which comes with a $100 fine and $32 surcharge. That jumps to a $500 fine with a $156 surcharge if a violation results in the closure of one or more traffic lanes.

• Code 16/Passenger Chain Law: All passenger vehicles need chains, except for 4WD and AWD vehicles with all-weather tires with 3/16 inch tread depth.

get headlines https://thecherrycreeknews.com

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Winter Fun for the Family at Four Mile Historic Park

JOIN FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK FOR A WINTER SPECTACULAR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
A NON-DENOMINATIONAL WAY TO ENJOY FAMILY-FRIENDLY WINTER ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

Join Four Mile Historic Park for December Delights, a winter spectacular featuring an ice rink, winter scavenger hunt, kids craft activities, seasonal snacks and beverages, art installations, and outdoor video games.

The inaugural event will commence December 4, and occur every Friday – Sunday (5:00 – 8:00 pm) during the month of December. General admission ranges from $9 – $14; admission is free for children 6 and under. Hourly time slots are available.

Learn More and Purchase Tickets here!

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News and sweet things from our friends at the JCC & High Point Creamery

It’s almost Hannukah! The Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver) and High Point Creamery have teamed up again to sell the exclusive Hanukkah ice cream flavor called “Bob’s Babka” named after Robert “Bob” E. Loup who is the namesake of the JCC Denver building and was a major donor to the organization. In 2019, the ice cream was named to the Forbes Holiday Gift Guide as one of the best new ice cream flavors. The ice cream is an olive oil ice cream base with homemade babka

Bob’s Babka Ice Cream. Photo credit High Point Creamery

swirled in. Each pint costs $10. Proceeds from the sale of each pint will support the JCC Denver’s programs. The ice cream can be purchased for a limited time through December 9 by visiting www.jccdenver.org/calendar/bobs-babka/. Pints will be available for pick-up beginning December 10 at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center located at 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver.

The JCC Denver is also co-hosting a virtual family Hanukkah celebration, Latkes & Light, with JEWISHColorado and Judaism Your Way. At the event, the community will bless their Hanukkah Menorahs together, sing and dance, do Hanukkah-themed activities, and talk about the importance of tzedakah, a Jewish value focused on the importance of charitable giving. The event will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 13 and will feature educators from Jewish Explorers, Judaism Your Way, Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center and PJ Library.

The JCC Denver has also partnered with Olive & Finch on Hanukkah cookie kits. Each cookie kit includes one dozen sugar cookies, five festive frostings, Hanukkah-themed cookie decorations, and a reusable O&F tote. Each kit costs $45. Mention “JCC Denver” when you order a kit and Olive & Finch will donate 10% back to the JCC Denver. Learn more about the kits and place an order here. Cookie kits are available at both Olive & Finch locations in Cherry Creek and Uptown.

Hanukkah begins on December 10. For more information, visit www.jccdenver.org.

 

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Jacqueline Novogratz: Why We Need a Moral Revolution

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Miami SEO Experts – Another look

Miami SEO Expert recodes websites to make sure they are attractive to search engines crawling the web. We make sure that your company’s website is up to W3C standards and we W3C validate all our client’s websites, assuring the website is error-free and it appears consistent in all web browsers. Our goal is to gain the attention of search engine spiders while increasing traffic to web portals and also increase leads for businesses in Miami or the whole of Florida SEO by providing relevant content and services.

As such, the SEO experts at Miami SEO Expert will provide you with ranking data for each keyword your website currently ranks for, the amount of search traffic those keywords have each month, and a number of recommendations on how each keyword can be modified, improved, or replaced with a better keyword in order to maximize the amount of value each keyword brings to your website’s overall performance.

Link building is an important aspect of SEO, because external links that lead back to your website validate the quality and caliber of your site’s content in the eyes of search engines like Google. However, our Miami SEO experts don’t just focus on building one type of link. We focus on a complete link building strategy that encompasses every type of link used in an SEO campaign including:

Internal Links : Internal links are links that connect one page on your website to another page within your website. Outbound Links : Outbound links are incorporated into each page of your website, and they link to other high quality well-established websites. This type of link is commonly used to give the user access to a source’s website if you are citing a statistic or fact, but can also be used to further elaborate on the information contained within the content of a web page.

“Consistent communication and results are key for client satisfaction. Not every month can be a strong month that’s just the nature of SEO. But we make sure to always keep our clients updated on deliverables and demonstrate our value through long-term website visibility and growth.” Interested in being considered as an SEOblog “Featured SEO Expert”? Reach out to our team at [email protected]! We’d love to hear from you and give you a high-traffic platform to share your SEO agency’s story and insights.

Find An SEO Agency We’re excited to have talked to Miami SEO expert Ben Zero from Novel Cognition for the next installment of our Featured SEO Expert Series! Novel Cognition is one of SEOblog’s Top SEO agencies in Miami. He has spent the last 14 years delivering results to some of the most iconic brands in the world, leveraging the latest tools and strategies in SEO, SEM, content, social and digital ads.

Who is the best SEO in the world? Obviously, the Miami SEO expert.

Why Hire an SEO expert?

SEO experts get this question all the time from business owners who need more traffic and long-term stability for their company to succeed. Once a website has built up enough trust, authority, and strong links to reach Page 1 in Google, the number of visitors and sales massively increases! But how long does that process take? The answer is, “It depends.” There are specific factors that help a website gain ranking more quickly.

Pro-mask or anti-mask? Your moral beliefs probably predict your stance

Moral combat: Do you wear a face mask to show you care about others? Or do you refuse because you believe they defy human nature?
Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Eugene Y. Chan, Purdue University

Governments around the world have recommended or mandated various behaviors to slow the spread of COVID-19. These include staying at home, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.

Yet individuals continue to flout these recommendations and ignore explicit rules about wearing face masks. In the U.S., U.K. and Australia, crowds have gathered closely together to protest against lockdowns.

All this poses the question: Why are people not following the rules that protect not only their own health but the health of their community and nation? And how can policymakers and public health officials design better messages to encourage uptake?

How morals guide our decisions

In my latest research, I studied how people perceive the three main recommended behaviors as either “right” or “wrong.” I grounded my research on Moral Foundations Theory, which states that people judge the “rightness” or “wrongness” of behaviors along five different moral concerns or “foundations.”

The first is whether an action shows you care; the second is whether an action upholds standards of equality; the third is whether it shows loyalty to the group; the fourth is whether it shows deference to authority; and the last is whether it conforms to impulses and the natural way of doing things.

Some foundations are relevant to certain behaviors; others, not so much. For example, parents who are “anti-vaxxers” hold this view because they see vaccines as harming a child’s natural immunological defenses. Although that is not true, vaccines still challenge their perception of what’s natural. Likewise, when it comes to charitable giving, people donate because they see it as showing they care – not because they see it as “natural” to do so.

One benefit of exploring which moral foundation is relevant to a certain behavior is that it offers a better understanding of how to encourage or discourage that behavior.

For example, policymakers now understand that to encourage vaccinations for children, messages aimed at hesitant parents need to help them see how vaccinations can actually boost a child’s natural defenses. But telling these parents that “it shows you care for your child” has little effect, because the “caring” foundation is less relevant.

Morality and COVID-19

I surveyed 1,033 Americans during the last week in April 2020, asking them how relevant each moral foundation is to staying at home, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.

I found that Americans, on the whole, associated all three behaviors with the “caring” and “equality” foundations. Indeed, staying at home when you don’t need to go out shows you care about others – I call this the caring foundation. But staying at home helps flatten the curve only if everyone does it – the equality foundation. The same can be said for wearing face masks and social distancing.

But I also found important age differences in two other moral foundations.

Younger adults felt that staying at home and wearing face masks go against their nature – what I call the nature foundation. It would make sense. Younger adults are more likely to crave social interactions, and so staying at home goes against what they perceive to be natural human behavior.

Meanwhile, wearing face masks not only is uncomfortable but hides one’s face, which also goes against beliefs about how human beings are supposed to socialize.

Older adults, on the other hand, felt that all three behaviors show a greater value placed on communal goals and public health over personal comfort.

Interestingly, the authority foundation didn’t relate to any of the three behaviors, regardless of age.

Policy implications

By understanding which moral foundations are relevant, social marketers, public health officials and policymakers can design more effective appeals to get people to stay at home, wear face masks and stay 6 feet apart.

For example, because Americans see the actions as showing they care, emphasizing how those behaviors show caring will likely increase compliance.

To target younger adults, who see staying at home and wearing face masks as going against the social nature of human beings, messages should suggest how these actions can actually facilitate socialization.

For example: “Wearing a mask lets you stay in touch, safely.” Common slogans such as “Staying Apart, Together,” while whimsical and a play on words, are unlikely to increase younger adults’ uptake, since the “communal” foundation is a less relevant concern for them. Those slogans may be more effective for older adults.

If governments and public health officials really want to promote staying at home, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing, they can’t just say “it’s moral to do so.” They might want to learn to appeal to the relevant moral convictions of the population they are targeting.

Eugene Y. Chan, Associate Professor, Purdue University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Denver Personal Injury Attorney – Estimated 485 Road Fatalities During Thanksgiving Holiday Period

It could be deadliest Thanksgiving since 2008 – but defensive driving can save lives

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disturbing traffic safety trends this year, and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period may not be an exception. The National Safety Council estimates that as many as 485 people may be killed on the roads during the four-day Thanksgiving Holiday period and another 55,300 may be seriously injured in crashes. The estimate is the highest the Council has issued for the Thanksgiving holiday period since 2008. If it holds, it would be the highest number of fatalities the U.S. has experienced for a Thanksgiving holiday period in just as long.

NSC monthly analysis has shown that the roads have become deadlier despite less traffic. While the number of fatalities dropped dramatically in the spring, the U.S. experienced a significant rise in the death rate – a statistic that shows how safe the roads are at any given time. In the first six months of 2020, the death rate was 20% higher than during the same period in 2019, despite a 17% drop in miles driven between January and June. Overall, motor vehicle fatalities are up an estimated 5% through September, with approximately 30,390 people killed since January.  

Denver Personal Injury attorney Brad Freedberg says the holidays can be a nightmare for families victimized by drunk and distracted drivers. “When we see wrongful death cases this time a year, the emotional trauma is severe. Every Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas season, the memories come flooding back.

This particular year’s Thanksgiving holiday period estimate is subject to enhanced volatility, with a wider statistical confidence interval than usual, because of trends in 2020.

“We’ve noted several times this year that open roads should not be an open invitation for reckless driving,” said Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “We urge drivers to remain vigilant about their own safety if they decide to travel. If every driver would slow down, buckle up, drive sober and pay attention, we could have a holiday of zero fatalities, which is the only acceptable number.”

Alcohol often is a major factor in fatal crashes during holiday weekends, including Thanksgiving. In 2018 – the most recent year for data – 31% of fatal crashes during the holiday period involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

Learn More with these videos: https://link.ws/denverpersonalinjuryvids

Tips for safer Thanksgiving travel include:

• Practice defensive driving. Buckle up, designate a sober driver or arrange alternative transportation, get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue, and drive attentively, avoiding distractions.
• Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from cannabis, opioids and other substances
• Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits with tips from DriveitHOME.org
• Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them – resources are available at MyCarDoesWhat.org
• Fix recalls immediately, and find out if your vehicle is impacted by using ChecktoProtect.org
• Get involved in the Road to Zero Coalition, a group of more than 1,500 organizations across the country focused on eliminating roadway deaths by 2050. Visit nsc.org/roadtozero to join.

Success Of Queen’s Gambit Driving Binge.place

The incredible success of the Queen’s Gambit, Netflix’s newest cult hit is shaking things up in odd places.

The new website binge.place is experiencing phenomenal traffic, as it has become a hub for all thing’s Queen Gambit.

The Queen’s Gambit, adapted from the 1983 novel by Walter Trevis, follows Elizabeth Harmon over the course of her development as a chess prodigy, says the Atlantic

Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who is the heroine of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit , was able to cultivate her skills only after an early mentor identified her talent, opening opportunities for better training and competition. (theatlantic.com)

Set in the 1960s, “The Queen’s Gambit” follows the story of fictional child prodigy Beth Harmon, who rises to become a grandmaster in the male-dominated world of chess Garry Kasparov, a former chess world champion and widely considered one of the sport’s greatest players, acted as a consultant on the show to ensure authenticity.

The nearly endless facets of the show’s intense character development is fueling web traffic and advertiser demand at the new website, binge.place. Gwen Sherrod, who is handling the site’s commerical development, says “advertiser and social media interest are off the charts.”

Kasparov says the success of “The Queen’s Gambit” will only further boost the game’s global appeal. “I think chess is on the rise now in America and around the world,” Kasparov told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. “But I think this series will do a great job promoting it further and I expect now a boom, because it helps to refute the image of the game of chess as something that could turn you into a nerd — or just to make you crazy. “To the contrary, we can see that chess helps Beth Harmon to overcome her weakness and her addiction. (madison.com)

Even the departed are getting mentions. Amid the Netflix series’ success as it centers around Heath Ledger ‘s plan to direct Shiach’s film adaptation before his death. “Everyone knows Heath was a user of prescription drugs; and that he had addiction issues when he was a young man,” Shiach said at the time (via MovieMaker ), noting that Ledger’s personal struggles attracted the actor to “Queen’s Gambit” protagonist Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy with a similar addiction. “The movie business lost a real talent. (yahoo.com)

The 60s period piece follows the life story of Beth Harmon after she is orphaned at 8 years old following the death of her mother. She witnesses the custodian play chess and becomes bewitched with the game, silently befriending him as he shows her the ropes. She is gifted and quickly surpasses the skills of the custodian. This is also where Beth’s substance abuse problems begin, as she quickly becomes addicted to the tranquilizers given to all the girls at the orphanage. She becomes adopted at 15 and truly begins her quest to become a chess grandmaster.

To address the elephant in the room, The Queen’s Gambit is not boring. Chess will never be exciting for the layperson to sit down and watch, and the miniseries knows this. It isn’t important for the audience to know the ins and outs of chess strategy. They can tell if a play is good or bad by how the characters react, how Beth thinks of her strategies and other players’ through her ramblings, and just how good Beth is through the way others describe her offense. Not only that, but chess means something to Beth beyond proving herself the best, and how the game operates represents something in her own life. And so chess is not a detriment to watchability, but becomes another tool in understanding the characters. The time period is almost a character in and of itself. The settings, costuming, and style of the time are so inherent to the aesthetic of the show. Not only that, but the attitudes of the period, rigid conservatism and the societal byproducts of the cold war also come into play. Instead of treating the 60s as a blanket aesthetic, the show differentiates the different kinds of styles popular at the time in the different characters that don them. This enhances all the other qualities within the show and enhances its personality. (discussingfilm.net)

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Denver County Adopts Level Red Public Health Restrictions

Please read this notice from our District 5 Council Office regarding the latest Denver County public health restrictions in response to the COVID pandemic.

 

 

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Denver One Water Plan – Learn About the Plan & Take the Survey

The goal of developing a citywide water strategy was identified in the Comprehensive Plan 2040 and the three-year Denveright outreach and planning effort.

Water resources are historically managed in silos. One agency provides drinking water, another manages stormwater, another treats wastewater and so on.

The reality is it is all connected – it is all One Water. By taking a holistic and collaborative approach, we can manage this precious resource in a more integrated, sustainable and inclusive way. That is why the City and County of Denver, Denver Water, Mile High Flood District, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, the Greenway Foundation and the Colorado Water Conservation Board have come together to create Denver’s first One Water Plan.

These agencies are working together to promote healthy watersheds in an equitable, economically and environmentally beneficial manner. While each agency will continue to complete its core responsibilities, a deeper level of integration in water management will benefit the community and the environment alike.

It is imperative that this collaborative effort is informed by the perspectives and insights of you – the members of our community. We are therefore asking you to complete and share this short survey to help ensure the Denver One Water program meets the goals and needs of our community. 

TAKE THE DENVER ONE WATER SURVEY: 
www.surveymonkey.com/r/OneWater

Water is a fundamental human need and it will take all of us to prioritize a secure water future for the next generation. Please share this survey with your friends, neighbors and colleagues – it will remain open until early 2021. Learn more at: www.DenverGov.org/OneWater.

The Denver One Water project partners thank you in advance for your involvement!

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The Future of Work | Meaningful Integration or Jobless Future?

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Richard Kozul-Wright and Orsola Costantini Discusses UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report 2020

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Honey is number one, say Americans

The sweetener made by Mother Nature claims the number one spot among Americans as their most preferred sweetener. The ranking, revealed in the National Honey Board Consumer Attitudes & Usage Study 2020, asked consumers to choose their favorite from among several common sweeteners, including white sugar, brown sugar, several non-calorie sweeteners, raw sugar, monk fruit, and maple syrup. Honey came out on top for the first time.

According to consumers, honey rates above other sweeteners in attributes like ‘natural,’ ‘unprocessed,’ ‘good for the environment,’ ‘organic,’ ‘good source of antioxidants,’ and ‘flavorful.’

Honey volume in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1986, from 339 million pounds to 603 million pounds in 2020, according to data from the USDA/ERS. The data also show honey per capita consumption has grown from 1.79 pounds per person in 2015 to 1.83 pounds per person in 2020.

“Honey popularity continues to rise as consumers make conscientious decisions about food,” said Margaret Lombard, chief executive officer of the National Honey Board. “Honey fits perfectly with consumers’ desire to know where their food comes from and their preference for foods that are unprocessed. Consumers know that honey is made by bees from the nectar of flowers — you can’t get closer to nature than that.”

The tracking study, fielded in June 2020, comprised an online quantitative survey of 2000 people identified as the primary shopper in their household. The survey is balanced to age and ethnicity as reflected in the Census.

more news https://northdenvernews.com

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On Twitter, bots spread conspiracy theories and QAnon talking points

Are you being deceived by a robot?
Alina Kvaratskhelia/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Emilio Ferrara, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Americans who seek political insight and information on Twitter should know how much of what they are seeing is the result of automated propaganda campaigns.

Nearly four years after my collaborators and I revealed how automated Twitter accounts were distorting online election discussions in 2016, the situation appears to be no better. That’s despite the efforts of policymakers, technology companies and even the public to root out disinformation campaigns on social media.

In our latest study, we collected 240 million election-related tweets mentioning presidential candidates and election-related keywords, posted between June 20 and Sept. 9, 2020. We looked for activity from automated (or bot) accounts, and the spread of distorted or conspiracy theory narratives.

We learned that on Twitter, many conspiracy theories, including QAnon, may not be quite as popular among real people as media reports indicate. But automation can significantly increase the distribution of these ideas, inflating their power by reaching unsuspecting users who may be drawn in not by posts from their fellow humans, but from bots programmed to spread the word.

Bots amplify conspiracy theories

Typically, bots are created by people or groups who want to amplify certain ideas or points of view. We found that bots are roughly equally active in online discussions of both right-wing and left-wing perspectives, making up about 5% of the Twitter accounts active in those threads.

Bots appear to thrive in political groups discussing conspiracy theories, making up nearly 13% of the accounts tweeting or retweeting posts with conspiracy theory-related hashtags and keywords.

Then we looked more closely at three major categories of conspiracies. One was a category of alleged scandals described using the suffix “-gate,” such as “Pizzagate” and “Obamagate.” The second was COVID-19-related political conspiracies, such as biased claims that the virus was deliberately spread by China or that it could be spread via products imported from China. The third was the QAnon movement, which has been called a “collective delusion” and a “virtual cult.”

These three categories overlap: Accounts tweeting about material in one of them were likely to also tweet about material in at least one of the others.

The link to right-wing media

We found that the accounts that are prone to share conspiratorial narratives are significantly more likely than nonconspirator accounts to tweet links to, or retweet posts from, right-leaning media such as One America News Network, Infowars and Breitbart.

Bots play an important role as well: More than 20% of the accounts sharing content from those hyperpartisan platforms are bots. And most of those accounts also distribute conspiracy-related content.

Twitter has recently tried to limit the spread of QAnon and other conspiracy theories on its site. But that may not be enough to stem the tide. To contribute to the global effort against social media manipulation, we have publicly released the dataset used in our work to assist future studies.

Emilio Ferrara, Associate Professor of Computer Science; USC Viterbi School of Engineering; Associate Professor of Communication, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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