4 hours Ago
Stop targeting trans youth for political points No matter which side of the aisle you’re on, most people agree that freedom and privacy are bedrock rights. The federal government has no business dictating how communities support their own kids. But that’s exactly what the recent attempt to rewrite Title IX was about — shoving the government into people’s lives to score political points and targeting transgender youth in the process.
On March 3, the U.S. Senate rejected this dangerous overreach.
Among the lawmakers who stood up for fairness and common sense were Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. Their votes reaffirmed what most Coloradans already know: Every child deserves dignity, privacy and the freedom to be themselves. I want to thank Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for rejecting this extremist proposal.
Let’s be real — this bill was never about protecting women’s sports. It was about using trans lives as a wedge to divide us. And it was part of a larger, coordinated effort by right-wing extremists and the Trump administration to erase transgender people from public life.
Colorado refuses to play along. Fairness and equality are not upheld through sweeping federal bans that target and harm transgender youth. School athletics should be handled locally, with compassion and a deep respect for the privacy of every student and family.
If lawmakers actually cared about equity in women’s sports, they’d be addressing chronic underfunding, the barriers faced by low-income athletes, and the abuse and harassment of women in athletics. Instead, they’re attacking trans kids, who already face enough hardship just trying to exist. The forces behind this bill are relentless, and transgender rights remain under siege.
Colorado and the country have real problems that we need our government officials to solve. It’s time to stop these petty efforts to distract the American people from the failures to address those real problems. Mardi Moore, CEO Rocky Mountain Equality, Boulder Ensure long-term survival of locally owned restaurants Downtown Boulder Partnership, the Boulder Chamber and Visit Boulder are proud partners in supporting our community’s economic vitality.
We work together behind the scenes and in the public realm to ensure that the people who live, work, play and visit here enjoy a high quality of life. We recognize that, in Boulder, most business is small business , and that’s why we take special pride in lifting up our friends and neighbors who work in and run them. It’s no secret that the restaurant industry is suffering.
In our work, we have daily conversations with restaurant operators who are struggling to make payroll — stepping out of their kitchens and their comfort zones to engage in coalition-building, as well as coming up with creative strategies and marketing ideas to increase their customer base so they can continue to operate. Many operate on razor-thin margins, and the minimum wage increases adopted by Boulder County, the City of Boulder and in Denver have increased costs further. In Denver, where restaurants have been shuttering at an unprecedented rate, a steadfast group of operators initiated HB1208 — a Restaurant Relief Bill.
This bill would help restaurants stay open by giving local control to municipalities to set the tip offset credit and ensure that pay is more equitably distributed among front-of-house and back-of-house workers. A lively and lovely restaurant scene is vital to our community’s well-being. Unfortunately, this bill has been politicized, and the rhetoric has abandoned civility.
As the lead champions for small businesses in Boulder, we support HB1208 because we want to continue sharing meals and celebrations, exploring cuisine from other cultures and countries, and gathering in our local restaurants. Our restaurants are a huge part of the culture that makes Boulder attractive to residents and visitors alike. The folks who started restaurants didn’t get into this business to be politicians , but for many of them, the circumstances are desperate and HB1208 presents a reasonable, localized solution that might help them make it through this strange economic time.
We encourage you to put politics aside and help ensure the long-term survival of our locally owned restaurants by supporting HB1208. Bettina Swigger, CEO, Downtown Boulder Partnership; John Tayer, President & CEO, Boulder Chamber; Charlene Hoffman, CEO, Visit Boulder.
