The Business Times - Rocky Mountain Voice

Hall: A $250K farewell tour for Grand Junction city council’s ‘feckless foursome’

The Business Times, Approved, Local / April 23, 2025 / Grand Junction City Council, Homelessness, Local economy, Progressive politics, Responsive governance

Oops, they did it again.

That’s right, after being rejected outright in the latest, ill-timed, usually-low-voter-turnout-to-benefit-progressives, springtime elections, our city council once again generously served up another slice of cake while completely ignoring the voice of the people who screamed loudly on April 8, “We don’t want your ideas, follies or leadership anymore!”

I’d say they have deaf ears, but that would imply they are at least attempting to listen to the people.

Hall: A $250K farewell tour for Grand Junction city council’s ‘feckless foursome’ Read More »

Anderson: Education dollars should help all students perform, while lawmakers focus on funding gender ideology

The Business Times, Approved, Commentary, State / April 19, 2025 / 75th Colorado Legislature, Academic achievement, Democrat Lawmakers, Education funding, HB25-1312, Parental Rights

Let’s look at the facts. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2024, only 36 percent of Colorado’s fourth-graders read at a proficient level, and just 42 percent are proficient in math.

These numbers should alarm every parent, educator, policymaker and taxpayer. Beneath the surface of annual graduation celebrations lies a troubling reality: Many students are not prepared for life after high school. Colleges are restructuring their curricula to accommodate lower proficiency levels, and remedial classes are becoming the norm, not the exception.

Anderson: Education dollars should help all students perform, while lawmakers focus on funding gender ideology Read More »

How will marijuana revenue shortfalls affect District 51?

Local, Approved, The Business Times / March 21, 2025 / Grand Junction, Marijuana

Amid reports that the city of Grand Junction’s marijuana revenue fell short of projections by $800,000 and that statewide marijuana revenue has declined by more than 41 percent since its peak in 2020-2021, The Business Times reached out to Melanie Trujillo, chief financial officer of Mesa County Valley School District 51, to understand how the shortfall might affect the district

How will marijuana revenue shortfalls affect District 51? Read More »

This should be the easiest City Council vote you’ve ever cast

Local, Approved, The Business Times / March 19, 2025 / Grand Junction, Grand Junction City Council

As we see it, the coming Grand Junction City Council election on April 8, 2025, provides some simple choices. Although in our fair city two problems tend to arise when it comes to our spring, City Council elections.

This should be the easiest City Council vote you’ve ever cast Read More »

GJ City Council considers impact-fee consequences

Local, Approved, The Business Times / March 16, 2025 / Grand Junction City Council

The Grand Junction City Council convened March 5 to participate in a second reading of proposed impact-fee increases, a topic that has sparked significant debate among council members, city staff and community stakeholders.

GJ City Council considers impact-fee consequences Read More »

Young families left behind in Grand Valley’s housing construction

Approved, Local, The Business Times / December 2, 2024 / Housing

Scarcity of affordable housing emerged as a key reason School District 51’s enrollment declined by 2,049 students in the past 5 years.

Young families left behind in Grand Valley’s housing construction Read More »

How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County

Approved, Local, The Business Times / October 28, 2024 / Elections, Mesa County

Even with several tiers of signature auditing in place, the sheer volume of votes in process leaves Colorado’s system open to fraud and mistakes while putting the onus on individuals.

How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County Read More »