Public Trust

COvid Chronicles May 24–31, 2020: When ‘peaceful protests’ overruled pandemic policy—and unleashed chaos

The sixth installment of RMV’s COvid Chronicles covers the week Colorado dropped the mask—just not in the way you’d hope. Restrictions vanished for rioters, but stayed in place for students and small businesses. It wasn’t science guiding policy. It was politics. No, it’s not short. Neither was the fallout.

Looking back five years later, it’s hard not to feel for everyday, taxpaying Coloradans. As May 2020 ended, COVID cases dropped, testing surged — and all people wanted was a little common sense.

Instead, they stayed home from work, logged into Zoom again and again, and watched their kids graduate by car window, ski-lift, or rope rappel — masked, of course.

Then they turned on the news. And who were the headlines about? Not employees. Not the sick or elderly. Kids? You kid! This is The Child Sacrifice State, after all — and Colorado’s leaders eagerly traded away children’s well-being for the comfort of able-bodied adults still lounging in lockdown.

No, the real VIPs were criminals, prisoners and protestors — the approved kind. They got the passes, the platforms, the pulpit. Ordinary Coloradans were told to stay silent and stay home.

COvid Chronicles May 24–31, 2020: When ‘peaceful protests’ overruled pandemic policy—and unleashed chaos Read More »

Garbo: Biden deserves compassion—but who lied to keep control?

First, let’s say what should be said: cancer is brutal. No matter the person or politics, a diagnosis of aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer is devastating. President Biden is a husband, a father, and a human being. 

No one should go through this lightly, and anyone with a shred of decency should extend basic compassion to him and his family as they face this battle.

But that human sympathy must not excuse institutional deception.

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Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire

A series of violent incidents in Denver between December 2024 and May 2025 has intensified scrutiny of Colorado’s criminal justice reforms, with critics contending that lenient policies on bail and sentencing have compromised public safety. 

Six recent cases, documented through court records, booking reports and social media posts from the advocacy account @dobetterdnvr, reveal a troubling trend: offenders with extensive criminal histories, released on low or no-cost bonds or parole, allegedly committed murders, assaults and attempted murders – leaving multiple victims.

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire Read More »

Denver approves executive pay hikes while facing budget shortfall and reserve drop

A set of salary increases for top Denver officials is drawing criticism, as the city faces continued financial strain and modest pay growth for most employees. The raises are included in the 2025 budget—totaling $1.76 billion—which the Denver City Council approved on November 12, 2024. 

On May 6, the City Council’s Finance & Governance Committee approved nearly $500,000 in pay increases for 12 charter-appointed department heads.

These changes are expected to add over $216,000 to general fund expenditures this year, with individual increases ranging from 4% up to an eye-catching 43%. The new salaries are scheduled to take effect on July 1.

Denver approves executive pay hikes while facing budget shortfall and reserve drop Read More »

The Business Times: Public trust demands Grand Junction councilman Jason Nguyen resign now

This is the only statement which we can make related to a post from Jason in a private group on Facebook. There is no “context” to be parsed or question to be asked by what he meant with his post. What he thinks about a good percentage of the population of Grand Junction and how he views many businesses cannot be taken in error.

The statement made by Jason Nguyen shows he despises and desires the economic ruination of many of the constituents he claims to represent. And if the members of the Grand Junction City Council, especially Jason’s two like-minded cohorts Anna Stout and Scott Beilfuss, don’t denounce his statement above and beyond the meaningless phrase “in the strongest possible terms” and call for his immediate resignation, then they should resign along with Jason.

The Business Times: Public trust demands Grand Junction councilman Jason Nguyen resign now Read More »