An Interview with Catherine Strode

State Representative Pete Lee cites Colorado as the nation’s leader in restorative justice. During his tenure in the legislature, Representative Lee has introduced four bills championing the practice in Colorado’s criminal justice system.  His most recent bill (HB17-1039) passed through the House this week. The bill expands communication issues in the practice of restorative justice. It was originally designed to provide more confidentiality to the process.  However, that portion of the bill was struck. In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Lee says although the bill does expand restorative justice in two areas, it doesn’t go far enough.

[Read more…] about Bill Reaffirms Colorado As Trailblazer In Restorative Justice

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Cars that drive themselves. Autonomous cars that appear on your front doorstep when ordered on a cell phone. Autonomous vehicles equipped for all kinds of riders, including those with companion dogs or those in wheelchairs. That is the vision for transportation in the state being promoted by State Senator Kent Lambert. A bill he is sponsoring (SB17-011) will bring together technical experts and  transportation providers to discuss ways to create an accessible and economically feasible statewide transportation system.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Lambert says such means of transportation can change the economy and can give people with disabilities more employment opportunities.

[Read more…] about Transportation Demo Bill Promotes Future Accessibility

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Over 40,000 warnings for noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have been filed against Arizona businesses in the past two years. All of the warnings were filed by one attorney claiming to represent the state’s community of individuals with disabilities. The Executive Director of The Arc of Arizona, Jon Meyers, says the lawsuits are only benefitting the attorney who is filing them. They are also causing ill will toward the disability community statewide.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, he warns why other states, including Colorado, should be vigilant of this “drive by lawsuit” trend.

[Read more…] about Can ADA ‘Drive by Lawsuits’ Hit Colorado?

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Jordana Ash is the first individual to hold the state’s new position of Director of Early Childhood Mental Health. She has developed the Strategic Plan to promote early childhood mental health across Colorado. Mary Anne Snyder is the Director of the State’s Office of Early Childhood, another relatively new state position. They sat down for an interview with Catherine Strode to discuss how their positions represent Colorado’s movement as a national leader in early childhood support systems.

[Read more…] about Colorado Recognized As Leader In Early Childhood Supports

An Interview with Catherine Strode

The Director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute, Carol Hedges, says despite Colorado’s strong economic activity, the state is facing a budget shortfall in the millions this coming fiscal year.  A recognized expert on the TABOR amendment, she says $257 million of that shortfall is slated for taxpayer rebates. In an interview with Catherine Strode, she proposes a bill being introduced this legislative session as a long term solution to the state’s budget challenges.

[Read more…] about Fiscal Institute Forecasts $440 Million Budget Shortfall

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Lisa Jansen Thompson is a leader in the field of early childhood mental health in Colorado. She has worked on building and enhancing systems for young children over the past 20 years. Currently, she is overseeing the local implementation of Project LAUNCH, a federally funded project focused on children’s overall health and mental health.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, Lisa says the state has made great strides in its efforts to build supportive early childhood systems and in adopting a “two-generation” approach to strengthen the social networks of families and impact early childhood mental health.

[Read more…] about State’s ‘Two Generation’ Approach Supports Early Childhood Mental Health

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Representative Tony Exum will be returning to the Capitol for the 2017 session to represent House District 17, after defeating his Republican opponent in the recent election. He had previously served in the Colorado House from 2013 to 2015.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Exum says he looks forward to being a ‘voice’ for his district this session, and, a ‘voice’ for the working poor.

[Read more…] about Reelected Representative Resumes Fight for The Working Poor

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Bob McGill advocates for Spanish-speaking families of students with disabilities. His work for students with disabilities from immigrant families involves assisting Latino children and their families in the areas of education, health and immigration. In the following interview, Catherine Strode profiles Bob’s work for AdvocacyDenver.  She also discusses with him the potential impact of the election results on the students he serves.

[Read more…] about Election Results Impact Students with Disabilities

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Amendment 72 presents a proposal to raise the price of tobacco products.  A “yes” vote on the Colorado Tobacco Tax Increase will raise the tax on cigarettes by $1.75 per pack. A “no” vote will keep the tax at its current rate of 84 cents per pack. Jodi Radke is the Regional Director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  As one of Amendment 72’s leading proponents, she manages tobacco control policies for ten states.  In an interview with Catherine Strode, Jodi says the primary purpose of Amendment 72 is to reduce use rates across the state, especially among kids, and to use the incoming revenue to benefit tobacco users.

[Read more…] about Amendment 72: The Tobacco Tax Increase Decided Today

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Amendment 69 is on the ballot as a citizens’ initiative to amend the Constitution of Colorado to provide a political subdivision of the state called “ColoradoCare.” The measure was designed to establish a statewide program to provide universal healthcare coverage and finance healthcare services for Colorado residents. State Senator Irene Aguilar (D-32) is one of the Amendment’s original, and, strongest supporters.  In an interview with Catherine Strode, she discusses what she believes is the public’s skepticism about a health care fix, misconceptions about Amendment 69, and her prediction that if it doesn’t pass this November, it will be brought back for ‘Try Number Two.’

[Read more…] about Amendment 69 Battles Health Costs Skepticism