The latest cost estimates from RTD for the FasTracks boondoggle have grown by nearly $1 billion.

The $4.7 billion commuter rail project that Denver area voters approved in 2004 continues to see unprecedented cost increases.  The severely mismanaged project now is forecast to cost taxpayers $7.8 billion, $968.3 million more than the previous estimate.

The Annual Program Evaluation (APE) presented to the RTD Board of Directors this week continues to highlight the failures of the FasTracks program dating back to its conception.  The costs for the project were severely underestimated – many times – and mismanagement has become engrained in the boondoggle.

It was less than one year ago that the 2011 APE painted a dire picture of a project drowning in red ink.  The latest APE tacks on an additional $968.3 million to the cost of the project reflecting more than a 60% increase in what taxpayers were told it would cost originally.

Despite RTD’s promises in recent years to get their cost estimates right, this report shows they still haven’t figured out their math.  It is up in the air as to whether they are incapable of providing accurate estimates or simply too incompetent (I think the latter).

RTD blames the bulk of the latest cost increase (85% of it) on various issues related to the Northwest Rail corridor to Boulder and Longmont.  In a familiar refrain, the district says that as it completes its planning for the corridor, it realizes it is going to cost more.

This should serve as a warning to taxpayers that when RTD moves on to the North Metro corridor and others, cost estimates will certainly increase even further.  Taxpayers were promised something that RTD cannot deliver.

Of particular note is this from the presentation: “These costs assume a successful sales and use tax election in 2012, with Northwest Rail completed by 2024, and all other projects completed by 2020.”

In other words, the only way the boondoggle gets done in a reasonable amount of time is if voters agree in November to take it in the shorts and approve a massive doubling of the tax we are already paying for FasTracks.  The RTD Board will decide whether or not to put the issue on the ballot but the passage of such a measure is far from assured.

RTD’s track record of failing to deliver on its promises and its repeated shortchanging of taxpayers is sure to hurt it.

Adams County voters were the only ones to reject the original TaxTracks measure.  The North Metro line continues to see not only increased costs associated with it, but also cuts in the service that were originally proposed.  This would not seem to bode well for RTD to get the county’s voters to view the program favorably.

Also of big concern for RTD are the recent revelations regarding the Northwest Rail Line.  Cost is of course an issue but what should make Broomfield and Boulder County residents concerned is RTD’s latest idea of cutting rail service to the area entirely to eliminate those cost increases.

Under one proposal the RTD Board is considering, they would, “Remove Northwest Rail Line from the FasTracks program, and replace the commuter rail with expanded BRT [Bus Rapid Transit] in the service area.”

It is interesting to note that RTD says, “BRT would provide more peak and off-peak service than could be provided by the rail.”

So then why the heck are we building rail at all?

Critics of the FasTracks program have said from the start that BRT would have been a better solution across all of the corridors.  BRT provide better, more flexible service and costs less to implement and maintain.

RTD and taxpayers instead have become infatuated with the idea of bright, shiny trains riding the rails despite the fact they don’t do the job as well as BRT and cost far more (especially when someone as incompetent as RTD is running the show).

Boulder Councilwoman KC Becker told the Daily Camera recently, “I look at this and I think, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re just hosed’”

Welcome to the club, Becker.

On the net: 

• Denver Business Journal: Latest construction cost estimate for FasTracks: $7.8 billion

A sweet deal if you can get it. Quality Paving resurfaced the driveway of Adams County Commissioner Alice Nichol's home. (Google)

The first conviction in one of many scandals to rock Adams County in recent years has yielded stunning results.  Dennis Coen, former vice president of Quality Paving, has been found guilty of 62 felonies.

Coen was complicit in a scheme carried out by his employees and Adams County staff that bilked taxpayers out of millions of dollars for work that was never performed.  He will now have a criminal record with 21 counts of forgery, 20 counts of theft, 19 counts of conspiracy to commit theft and two counts of attempting to influence a public servant.

One county employee and a former Quality Paving employee have taken plea deals in the investigation.  Former Adams County public works director Lee Assay and construction manager Sam Gomez are next on the docket and face charges similar to Coen.  Currently on trial is the former owner of Quality Paving, Jerry Rhea.

The scandal has reached the highest levels of county government where the Board of Commissioners approved many of the no-bid contracts that lined the pockets of Quality Paving management and employees.

Adams County Commissioner Alice Nichol is herself a key figure as it was revealed that Quality Paving had resurfaced the driveway at her home, a fact she failed to disclose to investigators.  A special prosecutor is currently delving into her exact role while many of her other questionable dealings have come to light.

The conviction of Coen is certainly notable but it is only one step in rooting out the corruption in Adams County government.  Elected officials and county employees need to continue to be held accountable for their actions.

• Denver Post: Ex-executive of Quality Paving guilty of 62 felonies

Adams County Commissioner Skip Fischer has wisely decided to not seek reelection. All eyes now fall on ethically lacking Alice Nichol and her decision. (Adams County)

Adams County Commissioner Skip Fischer announced this week that he will not seek reelection for a third term.   One of two commissioners now on the board with ties to the county’s scandalous history, Fischer saw the writing on the wall and will slip into history rather than go down in defeat in November.

As a commissioner representing the county’s District 1, Fischer did manage to avoid many of the scandals that plagued current commissioner Alice Nichol and former commissioner Larry Pace.  Fischer however was intimately involved and voted on many questionable deals that have come to light.

The list of scandals that have disgraced the county in recent years is long and not-so distinguished.  While Nichol and Pace were truly the bad seeds on the board, Fischer found himself caught in the middle.

Fischer was aware of what was going on and he certainly was complicit, casting votes without dissention on many key issues like the no bid contracts received by Quality Paving.  However it is our impression that he wanted to do the right thing but simply did not know how to or did not have the guts to take a stand.

Following on Pace’s loss in November 2010, Erik Hansen assumed a seat on the dais and has been working on pushing through reforms to clean up county government.  The moves are commendable but have been slow to take shape and not as extensive as what they should be – likely due to the old guard Fischer and Nichol still maintaining control.

Fischer’s exit opens the door for Adams Count y voters to continue the process of cleaning up the mess in Brighton and install politicians that are worthy of the office.  Voters will need to be wary of who they cast their vote for as they are plenty of members of the Adams Family waiting in the wings to take Fischer’s place and this cannot be allowed.

Will Alice run?

There has not been any official word as to whether or not disgraced Commissioner Alice Nichol will seek reelection.  The rumor mill has it that she is seriously considering running, apparently thinking that Adams County voters are stupid enough to return the ethically challenged commissioner to office.

Challengers are already lining up to knock Nichol off should she decide to seek a third term.  Hanging over her head as well is an investigation being conducted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office into her dealings.

The outcome of the investigation matters little as Nichol’s role has been well documented.  She would do well to step aside and save voters the trouble of kicking her butt out.

Thornton City Council tackles chickens and bees rather than urban blight, transportation, the economy and bringing jobs to the city.

With apparently nothing better to do Thornton City Council once again appears set to continue the ‘Boulderization’ of the city.  Its latest efforts revolve around bringing agriculture into a wholly suburban environment and catering to a few residents while impacting everyone.

‘Urban farming’ is a trendy way for yuppie city dwellers to get back to their agricultural roots without having to give up their iPhones, DVRs and shopping malls.  It allows them to foist their greenie ways on the rest of us, get their hands a little bit dirty and feel good about themselves while making the rest of their neighbors suffer.

Thornton considered three aspects of this latest trend including backyard chickens, farming and beekeeping.

Mercifully, after wasting city staff time and taxpayer money, the idea of allowing chickens to be raised in urban backyards died.   Still in the works are the annoyances of tractors and bees in our neighborhoods, issues which create a whole slew of unenforceable regulations and make life miserable for residents.

The issues have been discussed extensively and are likely heading for a public hearing soon.

• On the net: City of Thornton Council Update, Sustainability Options: Bees

On the surface these moves toward so-called “sustainability” seem admirable.  However they all cater to a very small part of the population while impacting many more negatively.  That fact alone should have council dismissing these issues out of turn.

In the case of the beekeeping issue, council and staff tried to head off many concerns in the proposed ordinance.  They however fail to understand that you are bringing a rural and agricultural endeavor into suburbia and the two do not mix.

It is admirable that council proposes requiring any potential beekeeper to obtain written permission from their neighbors.  However, this puts those residents in the uncomfortable position of potentially starting a neighbor versus neighbor dispute should they choose not to endorse the endeavor.

Further, what if someone buys a house next to a beekeeper?  The very real possibility of someone with a bee allergy unwittingly buying a house next to something that puts them in danger exists.  What is to protect them?  Absolutely nothing.

Rational or not, many people –especially children – have a fear of the insect.  It hardly seems fair to purposely put a stressor on these residents when they have a reasonable expectation in place of the chances of an encounter.

What parent doesn’t already have to deal with a child panicked because a bee or two is hovering nearby?  The child is terrified and there is little consolation.  It is a frustrating experience for all involved.

Yes, the chances of being stung are slim now but they increase when a colony moves in nearby.  Residents spending time outside with their families should not be forced to combat this.

For many of us, a run-in with the insect and getting a bee sting would cause little more than pain and swelling.  Others could face far graver consequences. For someone who suffers from bee sting allergies the swelling can be much more extensive and painful.  For 3% of the population a sting can put them into anaphylactic shock, a condition that causes circulatory collapse and could lead to death.

As we say, the chances of being stung by a bee are remote but why introduce an increased chance of something disastrous happening?  It sounds overly dramatic but is Thornton City Council truly willing to put someone’s life at risk with this silly, feel good measure?

The logistics and details of this measure also prove to be problematic.

A six foot fence around the colony is to be put in place, “so that all bees are forced to fly at an elevation of at least six feet above ground level.”  Umm.  Okay.  I’m not too sure what that is supposed to accomplish since the bees have to return to ground level to pollinate.  Further, the fence, coupled with the apiary itself, is sure to be an eyesore for neighbors.

Much of the changes to city code to allow for beekeeping are wholly unenforceable.  Anyone who has dealt with a problematic neighbor’s yard and called the city knows full well that fact.

Thornton Code Enforcement can take no action on something in a person’s backyard unless they can see it from the street.  Unless a neighbor is willing to let code enforcement in to look over the fence – thus surly starting a fight with that neighbor – the city is powerless.  If that beekeepers apiary or barrier fence is a disaster, you will be forced to stare at it and have little recourse as the city cannot protect you.

“Do no harm” should be a leading principle of any governing body.  Thornton City Council needs to evaluate every issue with this basic premise in mind.  Yes, urban farming, backyard chickens and beekeeping all seem wonderful on the surface.  They however cater to very few residents and far more are negatively impacted.

We have heard the argument that issues like this aren’t a big concern because many residents live in covenant controlled communities and the HOA will maintain control.  We have long railed against this point of view as it simply abdicates the city of its responsibilities.  What about the majority of residents that do not have any additional controls?  Does it not fall upon the city to protect them?

With pressing issues like urban blight, transportation, the economy and bringing jobs to the city lying at their doorstep, Thornton City Council should focus on these and other more important issues.  Leave the farming, chickens and bees to those living in rural areas.

What do you think?  Call or send city council an email and let them know your thoughts.

Thornton City Council Contact Information

Ward I

• Jenice “JJ” Dove at 303-538-7537, home at 303-427-9746, on her cell at 720-280-7467 or via e-mail at Jj.Dove@cityofthornton.net.
• Mack Goodman at 303-538-7534 or via e-mail at Mack.Goodman@cityofthornton.net

Ward II

• Eva Henry at 303-538-7536, home at 720-475-6461, or via e-mail at eva.henry@cityofthornton.net
• Val Vigil at 303-538-7535 or via e-mail at Val.Vigil@cityofthornton.net

Ward III

• Beth Humenik at 303-538-7532, home at 720-872-218, or via e-mail at beth.humenik@cityofthornton.net
• Lynne Fox  at 303-538-7533 or e-mail Lynne.Fox@cityofthornton.net

Ward IV

• Eric Tade at 303-538-7530, home at 303-549-3946 or via e-mail at Eric.Tade@cityofthornton.net
• Randy Drennen at 303-538-7201, cellular at 303-906-4689, home at 303-450-9488, or via e-mail Randy.Drennen@cityofthornton.net

Mayor

• Heidi Williams at 303-538-7531, cell phone at 303-819-9722 or via email at heidi.williams@cityofthornton.net

Is it the City of Thornton’s job to bailout the local school district?

The City of Thornton has offered to help Adams 12 Five Star Schools with its budget mess by taking over some of the expenses associated with middle school sports.  The city’s generosity however gives rise to bigger questions as to whether or not it is the city’s responsibility to provide the district a bailout.

Middle school sports fell to the budget ax this school year as Adams 12 was forced to make tough choices.  While athletics can be important in developing youth, real education takes place in the classroom so it was a logical decision.

Adams 12 has been the recipient of taxpayer generosity many times in recent history including voter approved tax increases in 2000, 2004 and 2008.  We have also allowed the district to increase their debt tremendously which now stands in excess of a whopping $340 million.

Moody’s Investors Services noted just last month Adams 12′s level of debt was ‘above average’ for a school district.  The figure is in fact one of the highest debt levels of any district in the state.  Are there alarms going off in anyone’s head?

If Adams 12 had been good stewards of taxpayer funds perhaps the evaluation of the issue might be different but it has not.  There isn’t a parent or teacher in the district that couldn’t point to waste at the top heavy school district.

Proper planning would have allowed the district to weather the economic storm – just like Thornton has – but they failed to do so.  Adams 12 got themselves into their financial mess and transferring their obligations to municipalities should not be allowed.

The district has already pushed expenses off on parents in the form of ever increasing ‘fees’. Now those same parents are expected to have their tax dollars bailout the district’s athletics programs.  What will it be tomorrow?  Will the city take over bussing?  Building and facility maintenance?

There will certainly come a day when tax receipts will increase and voters will once again be generous to Adams 12 and give it more money.  Will the district then take the athletics programs back over and relieve Thornton and other cities of the burden?  Of course not, why would they?  They have found an entity that is willing to fund its programs for them.

Thornton’s effort to get the four other cities within the school district on board with helping to restore the programs is laudable.  It however sets a bad precedent of municipalities coming to the rescue of other cash strapped quasi-governmental entities.

City council would do well to pay attention to some warning signs in the latest Financial Forecast they just received from city staff.  They were cautioned that revenue growth is slowing and in fact flattening.  Further, the report said there was “Limited revenue to support new/increased demands for service.”

Clearly the city in all of its generosity needs to take care of primary and critical city services before it takes on new obligations.  Tacking on a new long term expense would be unwise at a time when financial resources are already strained.  Short of a miraculous economic turnaround they are going to be that way for some time.

Cooperation between the city and the district is welcome but not when it comes at further expense to taxpayers and increases a burden on cities.  Whether the cost to the city is $1,000, $10,000 or $100,000, this cannot be seen as anything other than another taxpayer funded bailout.

Oh yes, we are going to hear that it is ‘for the children’ and our heart strings will be tugged but whether taxpayer money goes to a private business or a quasi-governmental entity, a bailout is a bailout.

RTD's cost estimates for just one line of the FasTracks boondoggle have now exploded by more than 60%.

Much like the ‘Big Dig’ in Boston, the FasTracks rail project in Denver has become synonymous with the word boondoggle.  Despite RTD’s promises that they had corrected their numerous failures, we have learned that they have once again severely underestimated costs.

The Denver Business Journal reported on Wednesday that the cost of the Northwest rail line from Westminster to Longmont had exploded by 63%.  Previous estimates but the cost of the line at $894.6 million.  That cost is now $1.4 billion (with a B!).

Comically, RTD spokesman Scott Reed told the Journal, “We knew there was going to be an increase.”  Of course one has to wonder then why Mr. Reed’s employer never bothered to include that in previous estimates.

Reed goes on to say that because of the added cost, the rail line will have to be delayed up to five years to stay within the budget.  However, that delay will cost taxpayers up to $300 million more resulting in nearly a doubling of the cost of the line.

As usual RTD offers a litany of excuses as to why the cost has grown but in the end this is yet another in a long line of failures by the district and its management.  Voters approved a sales tax increase to fund FasTracks expecting a cost of $4.7 billion and that has now grown to over $7 billion.

To make matters worse, the project is far behind schedule.  The only way the project can be completed anywhere near within the time promised is if voters approve a second, massive tax increase at some point in the future.

Cost overruns, mismanagement and failed estimates have resulted in taxpayers being soaked for billions of dollars more than what was approved.  When RTD goes back to taxpayers with their hand open wanting more money, voters would do well to remember what poor stewards they have been.

On a related note, I was on the FasTracks website came across an item that said, “Poll shows high level of support for FasTracks.”  The link leads to a presentation that touts 76% of the respondents had a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the project.

Digging a bit deeper however shows just how ridiculous and invalid the survey is.  41% of the respondents were not familiar or only somewhat familiar with FasTracks.  Further, 49% think the project is on schedule, ahead of schedule or didn’t know.

Clearly, a large portion of people that took the survey don’t know what the hell they were being asked about.  Also, nearly half did not even know the project was far behind schedule.  I suppose maybe ignorance really is bliss – at least to RTD.

On the net:

• John Caldera: Underfunded Project Won’t Be Completed on Time: an RTD Story

Is it time for the City of Thornton to become the City and County of Thornton?

Whispers about the possibility of Thornton forming its own county are now a very loud chorus with city council now openly asking if it is time to break ties with Adams County.  Scandals, questionable dealings, the lack of openness and a poor rate of return for the city and its citizens have all taken what was a slight gap between the two governmental entities and turned it into a major rift.

As part of the annual survey of residents the city conducts, Thornton City Council will be asking the question: Should the City of Thornton become its own county much like Denver and Broomfield?

That idea certainly has its merits.

The recent battle between Thornton and Adams County over the housing of jail inmates has brought to the surface very real concerns the city has had about being under the Adams County umbrella.  While the jail issue may have pushed the city over the edge, it is but the tip of the iceberg.

You can’t hardly open a newspaper or turn on the TV without hearing about some new scandal or questionable dealings in Adams County.  From some members of the Board of Commissioners to the Assessor and the Sheriff, the county’s elected officials are under a cloud of suspicion. The lack of proper governance has cost Adams County taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

The cities within Adams County provide the majority of the county’s funds.  As the county’s largest city and the one with more than a quarter of the population of the county, the City of Thornton and its residents foot a bigger share of that bill than anyone.

In a situation like with the jail where the county has gone back on a 20 year agreement with the city, it is only right that the city questions the county’s accounting and its demand for more money.  It is Thornton taxpayers who backed the construction of the jail to begin with and have paid dearly for it with their hard earned money.

In the past many have questioned whether Thornton was getting its fair share of the money its citizens give to the county.  From open space taxes to money from the state for roads, Thornton taxpayers only get back a percentage of what is paid in.

A city breaking away to become its own county is not without precedence.  Broomfield did this just 10 years ago and has absolutely flourished with its newfound independence.

Coincidentally, the Broomfield Enterprise recently did a story on the city’s 10th anniversary taking a look at how things have changed since state voter’s approved the creation of the new county.  The paper found that taxes are lower, city services have improved, and the economic outlook is extraordinary.

Further, because Broomfield is a home-rule entity, its officials are fully accountable – something which we clearly don’t have in Adams County.  The Enterprise even used Adams County’s recent scandals to highlight the benefit saying, “The added level of accountability on local officials can be especially appreciated when reading recent headlines in Adams County, where Assessor Gil Reyes was investigated for giving favorable downward property tax valuations to properties owned by one of his largest campaign contributors, and a commissioner is mired in a paving scandal.”

Glad to know that our outstanding Adams County elected officials can be used as such shining examples of failed governance.

Just as when Broomfield charted its course to independence, naysayers will have plenty of arguments against the move.  They will say the math doesn’t work, it will cost too much, services will suffer, etc.  Clearly however that is not the case although it has to scare the hell out of those at the Adams County offices in Brighton.

Given that there is quite possibly significant benefits to Thornton citizens, the idea of the City and County of Thornton is worthy of investigation.

On the net:

• YourHub: Thornton mulls idea of becoming its own city and county
• Broomfield Enterprise: Services, savings add up for Broomfield as county
• Broomfield Enterprise: Broomfield County turns 10 this month

New congressional boundaries have reshaped the political landscape in many areas including Adams County.

As expected, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the Democrat backed maps for the decadal redistricting and in doing so the political landscape for the north Denver metro area has changed dramatically.

The new maps will have repercussions for the next 10 years and gives Adams County residents a real opportunity at electing representatives that more accurately represent our views.  No longer is Thornton lumped in with the liberal Boulder leftists and the more rural parts of the county will have a representative more in tune with their unique needs.

In recent years the western part of Adams County including Thornton was represented by Representative Jared Polis (D-CO2).  While we had high hopes for Polis, we quickly learned that the issues he felt were a priority did not match up to those of his constituents.  Eastern Adams County was represented by Ed Perlmutter (D-CO7), another liberal who has towed the Democrat party line hand in hand with President Barack Obama.

Congressional District 4

The rural parts of Adams County’s eastern two thirds will now be part of Congressional District 4, represented by Cory Gardner (R).  Encompassing much of the Colorado plains, this redrawn district brings together many small towns and areas where agriculture is dominant.

Adams County residents in the new CD4 should be very pleased not only with the new boundaries but also with having Gardner as their congressman.  GovTrack labels Gardner as a “centrist Republican” and this will mesh well with CD4 voters.  Now in his first term, Gardner has served with distinction and the independence that Coloradoans would hope to see.

Congressional District 6

A look at the dividing line that splits Thornton into Colorado's 6th Congressional District and the 7th.

The new Congressional District 6 is an interesting one that will now include all of Aurora as well as parts of western Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties.  This brings Congressman Mike Coffman (R) to the northern third of Thornton as well.

In their redrawn CD6, Democrats hoped to make Coffman’s seat vulnerable and while a quick glance at voter registration numbers alone might indicate this, it is far from accurate.

First and foremost and something which cannot be underestimated are the ongoing scandals in Adams County involving the Democrat elected officials.  The county has already begun a tilt away from its leftist past and Coffman is going to find much more friendly environs than what some believe.

Second, is the man himself.  Having worked with Mike Coffman personally on a non-political project when he was Secretary of State, I can honestly say there is probably not a more honorable and hardworking man in Washington DC.  Coffman has distinguished himself during his brief time in the House of Representatives and newcomers to CD6 will find him very worthy of their vote.

Congressional District 7

Democrats did Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D) no favors with the new lines for CD7.  Perlmutter loses Aurora in the district’s new boundaries but picks up the southern two thirds of Thornton.

Voter registration numbers in the district are now far less favorable to him with Dems only holding a two point advantage.  Further, given Adams County’s long list of Democrat induced scandals, voters in the area are certainly not going to be tolerant of a representative that backed so-called “cap and trade” only to help out his own investments.

During his time in office as a “rank and file Democrat”, Perlmutter has towed the line with marching orders from Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.  In the heavily independent district, that is not likely to play well.  If Republicans can find a strong candidate with a compelling message, CD7 may very well return to Republican hands.

Colorado Peak Politics reported on rumors that Joe Coors Jr is considering a run for the seat.  This would certainly be a game changer.

Conclusion

In the end, it appears that Democrat attempts at gerrymandering may not pan out as they had hoped.  Their attempt to hurt Congressman Coffman looks doomed to failure and they have sacrificed Congressman Perlmutter in the process.  For the voters of Adams County, we find ourselves with the unusual opportunity to actually have representatives that truly represent our beliefs.  Maybe the Democrats finally did something right.

For more details on the changes, see here: Judge mandates drastic changes: Colorado redistricting to change the shape of state and local politics for a decade

The latest in a long line of problems in Adams County went national and was highlighted on the Drudge Report. Click for a larger view. (Drudge Report, November 27, 2011)

Twenty five days.  That is how long the Adams County Sheriff’s Office is accused of jailing a deaf man without providing any means to communicate with him.  Continuing a troubling trend of problems with county government, the story has now gone national with Drudge Report and the Associated Press highlighting the story.

The sheriff is being sued by Timothy Siaki after deputies arrested Siaki on charges of domestic assault and held him for 25 days.  According to Siaki’s lawyers, the man who does not write or speak English, was held without access to a sign-language interpreter that could even advise him of the charges he faced.

Kevin Williams, Siaki’s attorney, told the Denver Post, “There were 25 days of his life that he had access to nothing — no information on why he was being held, no information about his case or what was going to happen to him.”

Eventually Siaki was cleared of all charges but the suit against Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr is clearly troubling.

If Siaki was not even provided the basic accommodation of an ASL interpreter to help him during his internment, it not only is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), it also is virtually inhumane treatment of a prisoner.  No doubt the county has the capability to provide interpreters for foreign language speakers so why one is not available for sign-language speakers is unknown.

As with many of these cases, the truth probably lies somewhere between Siaki’s version and the sheriff’s.  However, given the ongoing issues with Adams County, one has to give Siaki more than a benefit of the doubt.

Darr has recently implemented a policy of charging municipalities for their prisoners.  With the blessing of the Adams County Commissioners, an agreement that had worked well for 20 years was thrown out the window.

Misdeeds by elected officials and county employees have cost taxpayers millions of dollars in recent years.  Most recently, the county had to pay out $1.6 million to settle sexual harassment and retaliation charges against former coroner James Hibbard.

It would appear that the county is once again set to pay out big bucks in this suit against the sheriff.

The embarrassment that is Adams County government under old guard elected officials seems to know no limits.  When national outlets like the Drudge Report runs headlines highlighting our elected officials’ misdeeds, we see there is still a long ways to go to reforming our county.

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Do we really need more of the corrupt the Adams Family? The Adams County Democrats seem to think so.

In a letter to the editor of the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel a resident took to lamenting partisan politics at Thornton City Hall.  Considering the source is as partisan as they come, the dispatch is almost comical.

Linda Wisniewski rips into freshly seated Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams, apparently concerned about Williams’ party affiliation, campaign contributors and associations.  One would think if you were not for partisan politics, you would give someone a fair shot no matter their political affiliation.

In signing her name to the letter, Wisniewski should have provided full disclosure.  She and her husband, Marty, in fact serve on the State Central Committee for the Colorado Democratic Party.  She is also intimately involved with the Adams County Democratic Party of which Marty serves as chair.

Now that we have established the source and the far left direction it comes from, we could easily point by point refute the ridiculous claims and accusations in the letter.  However, we can see that it is actually a thinly veiled attack piece that attempts to use smoke and mirrors to obfuscate the truth about Wisniewski’s own party and its scandalous role in Adams County.

Was the 2011 mayoral campaign, one which is ostensibly non-partisan, more partisan that past elections?  Absolutely it was, as it should have been.

Voters of Thornton and Adams County as a whole have seen what form of leadership Democrats and the Adams Family provide.  Scandal after scandal has rocked our community.

Let’s take a look at some of the names who have shamed us:  Noel Busck (D), Gil Reyes (D), Ken Riley (D), Alice Nichol (D), Larry Pace (D), Diane Christner (D), Doug Darr (D), and James Hibbard (D).

Do you see a pattern there?  Hint: The D means Democrat. 

Those eight alone are responsible for dozens of scandals involving Adams County Democrats from the city to the county level.  Adams County’s decades long history of corrupt politicos with D’s after their name is catching up to it.

In an ideal world, yes, local elections would be non-partisan but that isn’t reality.  Perhaps it isn’t always as visible as it was this year but it is always there.

The reality is that we have corrupt politicians that steal from taxpayers and cling on to power at all costs (and all have the same letter following their name).  We also have an Adams County Democratic Party that rather than clean house, made officers of those involved in scandals.

Wisniewski and other leftist partisans can whine and cry about the lost battle of 2011 or those in the past and the ones coming in the future but the fact of the matter is that Thornton and Adams County voters have woken up.   We have seen the type of leadership they provide and have had enough.

If the Adams County Democrats are so concerned about the citizens of Thornton and the county, then they should start by looking within and getting their own house in order.  Until then, we will look elsewhere and in doing so we will certainly find people with real solutions, leadership ability and the moral fiber deserving of our vote.

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Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, November 24, 2011, Letters to the Editor

Watching Williams

I, like Carol Beckler, will be very curious to see how voting in Thornton’s new City Council will be handled. Will Heidi Williams be a Mayor for all the people of our city, or will she beholden to all the corporate money she accepted during her campaign. In my opinion that is where the partisan politics will come into our City Hall. She touted her party politics during the campaign, and accepted donations from many corporations like Walmart and Jake Jabs, is she now beholden to her party and their money? During the campaign our new mayor claimed to be a job creator, what will her alliance to large corporations bring to Thornton?

The core beliefs of the Republican Party are destructive to the blue-collar workers of Thornton. Our new mayor is a very small business owner; does she pay her few employees a living wage or offer them medical benefits? Will she take any of these important factors into consideration when voting? Or will she not care about the workers, like she didn’t care for her employees when she closed her Lakewood store?

I don’t blame our new mayor totally; she has learned well from her friend and predecessor how to bring party politics into our city. Erik Hansen was a pro at it and the city suffered because of it.

I just hope our new mayor realizes that the hard working citizens of Thornton are not looking for a handout, they are willing to work their way up the ladder, they just need the ladder to be there.

We will have to wait and watch to see where our new mayor’s alliances are.

Linda Wisniewski

Thornton