Embedded Files
HEATHER GARDENS INDIVISIBLE MEETING JULY 10, 2018
Immigration
Our speakers for the July 10, Heather Gardens Indivisible meeting were Jessica Burnett, a staff attorney for the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) and Kristi M. Radosevich, an attorney who does voluntary legal work assisting immigrants under the auspices of RMAIN. The following is a collection of highlights from their presentation.
About 900 adult immigrants, including many asylum seekers are housed in the Aurora Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) facility. Many of them have been forcibly separated from their children. A high percentage, if not a majority, are single moms who came to the U.S. with their children as a last resort to avoid domestic and gang violence when they were unable to obtain protection in their country of origin. It is hard to obtain reliable data about the detained population in the Aurora facility because immigrants are frequently shuttled between detention centers scattered throughout the U.S.
HEATHER GARDENS INDIVISIBLE MEETING June 12, 2018
Congressional and Legislative Redistricting on the November 2018 State Ballot
Colorado has seven congressional districts with a possible eighth district expected after the 2020 census. The General Assembly is comprised of 35 single-member senate districts and 65 house districts. Only one of the state’s congressional districts is considered competitive, and the General Assembly is considered somewhat slanted toward Democrats. While we do not see Colorado’s districts gerrymandered to the extent seen in some states, the redistricting process can certainly be improved and made more competitive.
The 2018 Colorado redistricting ballot proposals seek to reduce partisanship and increase transparency in the redistricting process while making our elections more competitive.
There are several defining details regarding the structure of the commission. Among the most important is equally divided commission membership – four Democrats, four Republicans, and four Independents. The maps would be drawn by a nonpartisan staff; each map would have to be passed by more than a majority of the commission. Principles such as following current law regarding population and protecting county and city integrity, compactness, and communities of interest are to be followed in the drafting process. Open meetings are required.
HEATHER GARDENS INDIVISIBLE MEETING MAY 8, 2018
Tax Reform and How it Impacts You
The speaker for our May 8, 2015 Heather Gardens Indivisible Club was Douglas Dixon, CPA. He discussed many facets of the recent Republican tax reform bill. The following is a brief summary of his comments.
The tax plan helps businesses more than individuals. Business tax cuts are permanent while the individual cuts expire in 2025. But the nation’s largest employer, Walmart, said it will raise wages. It will also use the money saved by the tax cuts to give $1,000 bonuses and increased benefits.
HEATHER GARDENS INDIVISIBLE MEETING MARCH 13, 2018
COLORADO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6 – AN OVERVIEW
Introduction
This is a summary of a presentation by Tyler McDermott, Chairperson of the District 6 campaign for the Democratic Party. The presentation was made at the March 13, 2018 meeting of the Heather Gardens Indivisible club.
Geography
District 6 consists of parts of 3 counties (Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas) and all or part of 17 cities (Aurora, Brighton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Commerce City, Thornton, Littleton, Greenwood Village, Cherry Creek and slivers of six others).
HEATHER GARDENS INDIVISIBLE MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2018
Summary of Comments by Ilana Spiegel A Public Education Activist
Throughout history, conflicting models, or visions, for public education have emerged. At the core of these conflicts is the question of what is the appropriate and optimal role of government versus markets for our education system. Those who prefer freer markets have a vision that advance individual and collective interests through private, non-governmental sectors. On the other side there is an historical vision of government action needed to initiate, support, and administer essential services that the markets fail to provide.
Economic Inequality: Important Things You Should Know But Probably Don’t - Part II 1
October 10, 2017
October 10, 2017
Last month we looked at the nature and extent of inequality in the U.S., the historical context for current inequality, and how U.S. inequality compares with that in other developed countries. This month we look at the causes of growing inequality, the consequences of growing inequality, and some ways to curb that growth.
The Causes of Growing Inequality
There are at least five major drivers of growing inequality.
Economic Inequality: Important Things You Should Know but Probably Don’t1
September 9, 2017
Introduction
A large body of soundly researched studies shows that there is dramatic and growing economic inequality in the United States. This is the first in a series of relatively short documents that will provide an overview of: 1) the nature of that inequality, 2) historical context for the consideration of inequality, 3) how inequality in the U.S compares with inequality in other developed nations, 4) the main drivers of inequality, 5) the impact of inequality on our nation and 6) what are some of the things that can be done to stop or at least slow the growth of inequality.
Why Focus on Economic Inequality?
Economic inequality provides the foundation for or contributes heavily to other kinds of inequality such as racial and ethnic inequality. It is an absolute foundation for educational inequality. It also is the primary basis for inequality in access to basic health care. Its continued growth poses an existential threat to democracy in this country. If that seems to be a wild-eyed fanatical statement, please bear with us as we provide solid documentation for the assertion.
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