This letter was sent to Yellow Scene Magazine. As with all Letters to the Editor, the views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. We value providing space for community voices.

This letter has previously been published by the Longmont Times-Call.

I am strongly supporting Jenn Kaaoush for Boulder County Treasurer because of her outstanding character and deep commitment to the community. She proved her leadership during one of the most intense public crises Boulder County has faced: the Marshall Fire on 12/30/2021, which destroyed over 1,000 homes. In the wake of this trauma, Jenn was an essential resource for survivors navigating the overwhelming processes of financial recovery, including FEMA, SBA, insurance claims, and rebuilding challenges. Recognizing the need for long-term support, she co-founded Superior Rising. Perhaps her most critical contribution was her successful advocacy in Washington, D.C., for the extension of federal wildfire tax relief protections. This legislation ensured survivors would not be taxed on qualified recovery funds, a measure that provided essential financial aid to families like mine who had lost everything and found their insurance insufficient due to Covid-era price increases. Jenn’s commitment is what voters need to know about her candidacy. She is impressive because she understands both the complex financial systems and the crucial human side of recovery. She didn’t just discuss helping people; she actively showed up and did the work. This proven, hands-on leadership is exactly what I want for the Boulder County Treasurer’s office.

– Tucker Collins

Louisville, CO

The post Letter to the Editor: Tucker Collins Supports Jenn Kaaoush for Boulder County Treasurer appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Affordable housing is a glaring and urgent concern for metropolitan areas and their surrounding towns across America. In Denver, average home prices have almost doubled in the last decade. Boulder has seen a similarly steep trend in that time period while the average rent across Colorado is $2040 a month. Aside from inflation, these skyrocketing numbers have been attributed to the involvement of what are being widely being referred to as “corporate investors.” The logic behind the attribution is that these large investors are taking ownership of pre-existing residential units, namely single family homes (SFH) which lowers the available supply for purchase and drives up demand. The other branch of this argument is that those residential units are then turned around and rented out for prices so high that renters can’t save up to buy a home. 

In response to these affordable housing concerns, an executive order from the Trump Administration on January 20th called for greater restrictions on large investors’ purchases of SFH. “Neighborhoods and communities once controlled by middle-class American families are now run by faraway corporate interests,” Trump stated. “People live in homes, not corporations.”  An official stop on Wall Street involvement, from the president whose family legacy is built upon corporatization, makes sense from the lens of the “returning to traditional American values” messaging which has dominated the MAGA platform. 

“Buying and owning a home has long been considered the pinnacle of the American dream and a way for families to invest and build lifetime wealth,” Trump’s order reads. “But…that American dream has been increasingly out of reach for too many of our citizens, especially first-time homebuyers.”  

Colorado realtor Vivi Gloriod said that the January 20th executive order works in conjunction with an August 2025 order which, in part, allows individuals to withdraw from their 401k’s for the purpose of purchasing homes – with zero penalties and zero taxes. “A lot of people get matching [401k’s] with their employers but it was elusive money they couldn’t touch until they turned 65.” Gloriod added hopefully, “This could make a big difference in housing affordability for first time buyers.” 

Although the imbalance of Colorado’s housing supply and demand is apparent to realtors, renters, and aspirational homeowners alike, banning corporate investors from buying more property only fractionally addresses the affordable housing crisis. The housing issue spans multiple sectors, all engaging in a tug of war over supply, costs and risk. 

With the implementation of HB23-1253 in 2023, the Colorado legislature created a task force to study corporate home ownership. They published their findings in a June 2025 report. The report shows that in 2023 the share of corporate owned housing across all “owner occupiable” units in Colorado was 3%, which was less than the national average. One of the top three corporate investors, accounting for highest ownership of residential realty in the country, is Blackstone Inc. 

Gloriod said, “Blackstone has bought up a ton of houses in Colorado in the past, and this executive order really prevents that from happening again.” She was referring to a lot of 978 apartment units under Blackstone’s ownership, later sold to Equity Residential in 2024, as well as a 2007 purchase of  359 residential properties through “Tishman Speyer Real Estate Venture VII,” a partnership between two Blackstone subsidiaries. The mass of property acquired by corporate heavy hitters like Blackstone is nothing to snuff at but it cannot account for the entirety of the affordable housing crisis Coloradans find themselves in. 

Smaller LLC investors, known as “mom-and-pops,” have also played a role in lowering housing supply. According to Cotality’s 2024 data acquisition close to 1 in 5 SFH purchases made since the pandemic were done so by these so-called mom-and-pop landlords. Both Gloriod and Joe Seehusen of Compass Real Estate said that Colorado was a hot spot for small and large investors alike in the 2010s, but that has changed in recent years. Seehusen said “Ideally when you are a mom-and-pop investor, you want to buy low and rent high enough to net a profit. There were opportunities for people wanting a 10-20 house portfolio in Colorado, before prices started shooting up. So now they’re leaving town for cheaper places like St. Louis.” 

Despite federal claims that blocking large investors will increase homeowner accessibility, the trickle out of such investors from Colorado’s housing market witnessed by Gloriod and Seehusen has not significantly impacted Coloradans’ home ownership opportunities.  

Increasing the housing supply has been looked to as a possible solution for affordable housing in Colorado. In 2019, Colorado hit a historic peak – the shortfall between housing demand and supply was a gap of 140,000, meaning 140,000 residents who wanted or needed homes did not have them.  Since the HB23-1253 initiative, led by Governor Jared Polis, the State Demography Office (SDO), and Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), the shortfall lessened to 106,000 units but, the report acknowledges that the drop was largely due to slower population growth and increased housing production. “Between 2020 and 2023, Colorado built an average of 43,000 housing units each year, significantly higher than the pace of the previous decade.”

Seehusen, who has been a realtor to the West of I-25 for eleven years, said that continuing to increase the housing supply has become incredibly difficult. Building supplies, while increasingly plasticized, have been deteriorating in quality since the pandemic, and prices have spiked with the implementation of Trump’s tariffs. Seehusen said, “A lot of builders don’t want to build because the quality of the building can go downhill. If they put in windows that give out in five years, they can get sued…They just don’t build complexes how they used to.” 

Stricter zoning has also played into liability and costs, as in the case of the Boulder and Superior areas after the Marshall Fire. With over a thousand homes destroyed, Boulder implemented new fire-preventative requirements for new developments, but residents’ insurance coverage for losing their home could not afford a re-build under those requirements.  

Along with increased mortgage interest rates in the Denver area – from approximately 3% in 2020 to 6.5% in 2025 – insurance rates for both builders and homeowners have also gone up. “Colorado is in the top three for hail in the country. With high HOA rates, owners can’t afford to repair hail or other kinds of damage, and the damage gets worse because of that,” Seehusen said. While liability increases for builders using less sustainable materials, the use of cheaper materials does make housing more affordable. “People may not like it, but they have to do it that way.” Seehusen said as he referred to the war between affordability and liability. 

“For example, there is an initiative for ‘assumable loans,’ where somebody can sell their house with the same interest rate they bought it at. So if they’re paying a 2.8% interest from a house they bought in the pandemic, the next owner would assume that amount… but a deal like that in a market with a 6 or 7% average, would drive up the value anyway,” Seehusen weighed. 

It is possible that the White House block of Wall Street investors may work in conjunction with its’ executive order to make 401k’s more fluid for potential homeowners to result in more accessibility for first time homeowners, as Gloriod predicted. But in the grand scheme of Colorado’s housing, the restriction of corporate buyers will hardly move the needle. If the complex problem of affordable housing is to be even marginally solved, it will require a more holistic approach than an executive order can provide.

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The post Affordable Housing vs Housing People Can Afford appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Colorado is entering spring after one of the warmest and driest starts to a year in more than a century of records., with snowpack across the state far below normal and drought conditions expanding across much of the Front Range.

Against that backdrop, the Town of Erie is asking residents, homeowners associations, and businesses to keep sprinkler systems turned off through the end of March as water demand surges beyond what the town’s winter system can supply.

Officials say current water demand is about 30 percent higher than typical for this time of year, largely driven by residents turning on irrigation systems weeks earlier than normal.

If irrigation continues, the town says it may shut off water service at property taps for residents, HOAs, or businesses that do not comply.

For large HOAs, the shutoff would typically affect irrigation systems only. For individual homes or smaller properties, however, the measure could cut water service to the entire household or building.

Town officials say they have been urging residents for roughly two weeks to turn off sprinklers, but demand has continued climbing.

“We really don’t have any buffer room,” town spokesperson Gabi Rae told the Denver Post. “Every day it’s been increasing by 200,000 to 300,000 gallons as people turn on their sprinkler systems. We will hit capacity and run out of water in a couple of days if they don’t stop.”

Erie’s winter water system currently distributes about 3.5 million gallons per day, far less than what becomes available once summer water supplies come online.

Black line shows 2026 snowpack levels falling below the state’s previously recorded minimum. (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

A Dry Winter Across Colorado

The situation in Erie reflects broader conditions across Colorado.

State data shows Colorado’s snowpack currently sits well below normal, with several watersheds between roughly 38 percent and 65 percent of typical levels for this time of year, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Governor Jared Polis recently activated the Colorado Drought Task Force, citing record warmth and one of the driest starts to a year in more than a century of statewide records.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to severe drought conditions now cover much of Colorado.

Meteorologists say the unusually warm winter has prevented snowpack from building to the levels normally needed to replenish rivers and reservoirs in the spring.

Photo credit: Longmont firefighter Patrick Kramer

Early Fire Season Concerns

The dry winter is also raising concerns about early wildfire risk along the Front Range.

Warm temperatures, strong winds, and dry vegetation can quickly turn small grass fires into fast-moving blazes, even outside the traditional summer fire season.

The Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County in December 2021, demonstrated how quickly wind-driven fires can spread across the Front Range during dry conditions.

For communities like Erie, maintaining adequate water supply is not only about household demand but also about fire protection and hydrant pressure during emergency situations.

Town officials noted that upcoming windy conditions could further increase fire danger in the region.

Other Cities Preparing Water Restrictions

Erie is not the only community beginning to respond to the dry winter.

In Aurora, officials are recommending Stage I watering restrictions that could take effect April 7 if approved by city leaders. The proposed rules would limit outdoor watering to two days per week and call for a 20 percent reduction in overall water use.

Nearby Lafayette has also asked residents to refrain from running irrigation systems.

Water managers across the Front Range warn that drought conditions could affect municipal water supplies throughout the coming spring and summer if the region does not receive significant precipitation.

Waiting for Summer Water Supplies

Erie officials say part of the problem is timing.

During winter months, the town receives less water through its supply system than it does during the summer irrigation season. Additional supplies typically arrive in early spring when the Carter Lake canal system begins distributing water.

“That’s what we’re waiting for,” Rae said.

• The canal system is expected to open April 1, after which Erie can begin transitioning toward normal irrigation schedules.

Until then, the town is asking residents to delay outdoor watering as long as possible.

At the earliest, Erie recommends:

• Even numbered addresses begin irrigation April 4
• Odd numbered addresses begin irrigation April 6

Residents may still use a hose to water trees, shrubs, and gardens, but officials are asking the community not to water turf grass.

Regional Water Projects Face Uncertainty

Longer term water supply questions also remain across northern Colorado.

One major project intended to help meet future demand is the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), a proposed reservoir system designed to provide water storage for growing Front Range communities.

However, the project has faced rising costs and increasing scrutiny. In 2025, the Fort Collins Loveland Water District, one of NISP’s largest participants, announced it was reviewing whether to remain involved due to escalating costs and financial risks.

The cost of the project has climbed from an early estimate of roughly $400 million to more than $2 billion.

Other regional water projects, including Windy Gap and Chimney Hollow, have also experienced delays tied to construction issues and environmental concerns.

While those projects are intended to expand long term supply, Erie officials say the current issue is much simpler.

With drought conditions worsening and irrigation starting early, the town’s winter water system simply cannot keep up with demand.

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The post Erie Moves First on Irrigation Limits as Drought and Historic Low Snowpack Grip Colorado appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

$6 million in investments will support three affordable housing projects prioritizing Marshall Fire Survivors

BOULDER, Colo., February 18, 2026 – Community Foundation Boulder County today announces three investments representing the final distributions from the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire damaged or destroyed over 1,000 homes in southeastern Boulder County, making it the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history. Within hours, Community Foundation Boulder County created the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to support the immediate, short- and long-term needs of the community. Thanks to over 82,000 donors, the Boulder County Wildfire Fund raised over $43 million dollars, and in partnership with a local volunteer advisory committee, the community foundation took a people-first, trauma-informed approach to the allocation and distribution of funds. Now, just over 4 years after the fire, all funds raised have been distributed.

The final distributions totaling $6 million will support three affordable housing and homeownership initiatives managed by Impact Development Fund, Pennrose, LLC and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. These projects, ranging from single-family homes to a multi-resident senior housing development, will ensure affordable housing options are available for fire survivors to stay in their communities.

$2.5 Million to Impact Development Fund

Impact Development Fund (IDF) and its construction subsidiary, Impact Development Builders (IDB), were awarded $2.5 million to fund their Single-Family Acquisition Rehab (SFAR) program. Through this program, IDB will develop completed single-family homes listed at market appraised values based on comparable homes in the surrounding community. The program is intended to serve households between 100% and 120% of the area median income, with marketing and outreach efforts focused on reaching Marshall Fire Survivors. IDF and IDB have acquired eight single-family residential lots in Superior and plan to begin development in 2026.

“Impact Development Fund is excited to continue our partnership with Community Foundation Boulder County to support families impacted by the Marshall Fire and strengthen the community’s rebuilding efforts,” said Megan Ferguson, chief executive officer of Impact Development Fund. “This grant enabled the purchase of infill lots in Superior, allowing our team to bring together construction expertise and patient capital to deliver high-quality homes made affordable through creative financing options for middle-income families.”

IDB is a team of certified general contractors specializing in single-family construction, with a proven track record of delivering affordable housing across Northern Colorado.

We snapped this before we knew it was the Marshall Fire

$500,000 to Pennrose, LLC

Pennrose, LLC was awarded $500,000 to fund an affordable housing development providing 50 income- and rent-restricted apartments in downtown Superior. The development—named Kite Route Crossing—will offer affordable housing for individuals and households 55+ who earn between 30% and 70% of the area median income.

“Pennrose is deeply grateful to Community Foundation Boulder County for their investment in affordable housing in Superior,” said Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president at Pennrose. “By supporting stable, high-quality housing for those most impacted by the Marshall Fire, the community foundation is not only helping rebuild structures, but restoring security, dignity and a renewed sense of home for our community’s elder residents.”

The development will also be designed for maximum fire resiliency using fire-resistant exterior materials, a building-wide sprinkler system, the creation of a protective zone adjacent to the building to provide defensible space and other features going above and beyond the 2021 IEC Code.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, Kite Route Crossing will be the first income and age-restricted housing community in the Town of Superior and will offer preference for eligible households displaced or impacted by the Marshall Fire.

$3 Million to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity was awarded $3 million to partially fund a $6 million project to build ten permanently affordable homes within the Marshall Fire burn area in Louisville, Colorado. The project is intended to serve families between 30% and 80% of the area median income and to prevent the displacement of teachers, health care workers, service employees, and other members of the community who are at risk of being priced out.

The ten homes will be constructed utilizing BoulderMOD, an innovative modular homebuilding facility run in partnership by the City of Boulder, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, and the Boulder Valley School District.

“This $3 million commitment from the Community Foundation is truly transformational for our work,” said Dan McColley, executive director for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. “Two million dollars is a direct investment in building these homes, and another $1 million is a community match. That match is an open door. It’s an invitation for our neighbors, partners, and donors to step in with us and make sure affordability isn’t lost in the wake of the Marshall Fire.”

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

Recovery Support Program

The previously announced Recovery Support Program will continue to provide financial assistance to Marshall Fire-Affected individuals and households across Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County who continue to face housing instability, unmet needs or property restoration challenges as a direct result of the December 30, 2021, wildfire.

“Recovery from the Marshall Fire is far from over yet,” said Tatiana Hernandez, chief executive officer of Community Foundation Boulder County. “Our support of the community continues through the Recovery Support Program and these investments to create affordable housing options for those seeking a path forward.”

All applications for the Recovery Support Program must be submitted through Impact Development Fund’s Disaster Recovery Website: https://impactdf.org/disaster-recovery

Supporting Boulder County’s Affordable Housing Goals

In addition to meeting the needs of the Marshall Fire-affected community, these projects advance the Regional Housing Partnership’s goal of ensuring 12% of all housing stock is affordable for low-, moderate- and middle-income households by 2035.

“We set an ambitious goal four years ago—to support the rebuilding of over 75% of fire-affected homes,” said Hernandez. “While most have rebuilt and our community has exceeded that goal in record time, we know that some are on a different recovery timeline. We hope these investments will offer a new, affordable option to staying local, including renters seeking to come back to the community.”

Community Foundation Boulder County will release an updated report on the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, including an outline of financial information, a summary of grants made and compiled stories of community recovery in 2026. View the Boulder County Wildfire Fund 3-Year Report for more information on the work of the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

About Community Foundation Boulder County

Mission:

Community Foundation Boulder County nurtures and activates the ideas, generosity and leadership of the community to galvanize resources and support equitable solutions for all who live or work in Boulder County.

History:

Since 1991, Community Foundation Boulder County has addressed the evolving and growing needs of the Boulder County community head-on. The foundation has granted a total of $200 million thus far to help support the most pressing needs in our community.

Community Foundation Boulder County

1123 Spruce Street | Boulder, CO 80302

Our Tax ID (EIN): 84-1171836

###

The post Boulder County Wildfire Fund Announces Final Distributions appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

The Town of Superior Seeks Qualified Contractor to Lead Creative Efforts for the Marshall Fire Remembrance Project

The Town of Superior is seeking a contractor to propose a preliminary design concept for a unique
remembrance of the 2021 Marshall Fire, to be located in Superior open space near the Oerman-Roche
Trailhead. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is intended to gather information concerning the ability of a contractor to meet the needs of the Town of Superior. After review of qualifications, the resulting semi-finalists will each receive a Request for Proposal (RFP). Interested firms are invited to submit (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications by 10 a.m. Aug. 12, 2025. View the full project scope on the Town website.

At the conclusion of the Town’s engagement process, subsequent analysis, and review by an independent
consultant, the Marshall Fire Remembrance advisory group and the Superior Council concluded that three
resulting “concepts” surfaced: one primary and two add-alternate options. Applicants are encouraged to submit
on all three concepts:
• A Place to Gather
• Pet Remembrance
• Dispersed Components

Consultants will be required to submit a brief concept description for the primary component, A Place to
Gather, but if possible, are encouraged to submit concepts for all three components. Qualifications will be
reviewed and a more in-depth Request for Proposals (RFP) will be sent to short-listed consultants.
Background: On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire destroyed 398 structures in Superior alone, including 393 residences and the town’s historical museum. In the ensuing three years, led by the Cultural Arts and Public Spaces (CAPS) Committee and the Marshall Fire Remembrance Subcommittee, the Town of Superior has conducted extensive public engagement around how best to commemorate this tragedy.

Contact: Jennifer “JG” Garner
Arts & History Supervisor
303-499-3675 ext. 167
jenniferg@superiorcolorado.gov

The post The Town of Superior Seeks Qualified Contractor to Lead Creative Efforts for the Marshall Fire Remembrance Project appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In the early 2000s, Boulder County began implementing sustainability-focused policies that laid the foundation for modern climate initiatives. Programs such as the Keep It Clean Partnership (KICP) and the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) were developed to promote water conservation and sustainable land use. The county also introduced zero waste policies and renewable energy incentives, aiming to transition away from fossil fuels. While these early initiatives were progressive for their time, they primarily focused on incremental improvements rather than transformative change.

Over the past decade, Boulder County has increased its focus on climate action, renewable energy adoption, and stricter environmental regulations. Some of the most notable advancements include the following:

• Implementation of several key environmental policies over the years to address climate change and promote sustainability. One of the most significant initiatives was the Climate Action Plan Tax, introduced in 2006. As the first tax of its kind in the United States, the county has played a crucial role in funding renewable energy projects and energy efficiency initiatives, helping to reduce the county’s carbon footprint.
• In 2018, Boulder County committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving a 90% reduction by 2050. These ambitious targets aim to transition the county toward a net-zero emissions future by relying on cleaner energy sources and more sustainable community practices.
• In 2020, Boulder County strengthened its environmental policies by adopting one of the strictest oil and gas setback laws in Colorado. This law limits fossil fuel extraction near homes, schools, and community areas.
• The county has also taken steps to expand renewable energy programs, actively promoting the use of solar, wind, and geothermal energy to transition away from fossil fuels.
• Boulder County has invested in transportation initiatives designed to reduce car dependency, such as expanding bike lanes and improving public transit options.
• Boulder County is home to non-profits such as Resource Central, which encourages residents to adopt responsible water usage habits in response to increasing drought risks.

While these policies demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, many rely on long-term planning rather than immediate action. Given the accelerating climate crisis, there is growing concern that Boulder County’s efforts are not keeping pace with the urgency of the problem.

The stark reality is that despite Boulder County’s ambitious sustainability goals, progress remains slow, and the region continues to experience climate change-induced challenges such as wildfires, extreme heat, and declining air quality.

Alternatives to oil and gas

While the county has made strides in restricting new oil and gas drilling, 73 wells remain active, and more than 100 additional wells exist in the eastern part of the county. The county has pursued legal action against major oil companies, but legal battles take years to resolve, delaying meaningful impact.

To truly mediate the effects of climate change, policymakers should enact an immediate phase-out plan for remaining oil wells rather than waiting for natural depletion. For too long, politicians have taken money from big oil companies while overlooking environmental violations that directly affect their constituents.

Boulder County has promoted solar, wind, and geothermal energy, yet high installation costs prevent widespread adoption. Additionally, while the county has set emissions reduction targets, these rely on statewide clean energy transitions rather than Boulder-specific solutions.

Additional policies to increase solar power implementation include:

• Subsidies or rebates for low-income residents to install solar panels.
• Fast-tracking community solar projects that allow residents to share renewable energy resources.
• Mandating solar installations on all new buildings to accelerate adoption.

Limited accessibility to going green is one of the major hurdles for rural communities’ efforts to switch to sustainable energy sources. Despite investments in bike lanes and public transportation, Boulder County remains heavily car-dependent, contributing to high emissions. Public transit options remain limited, particularly in less urbanized areas.

Most notably, electric vehicle (EV) charging networks can be limited outside of metropolitan cities, and charging is slow. It sometimes takes upwards of 40 to 50 hours for a fully electric vehicle to reach a full battery and between 5 and 6 hours for a plug-in hybrid. Boulder County has a total of 538 charging stations, 44 of which are fast chargers.

Beyond EVs, public transportation is an alternative to personal car use. However, major improvements in the state’s public transportation system would make it a more viable alternative to driving. Subsidies in RTD passes and the implementation of congestion pricing or low-emission zones could further discourage excessive car use.

BOCO’s changing climate

With rising temperatures and diminishing snowpack, Boulder County is at risk of water shortages in the coming decades. While programs like Resource Central promote conservation, there are no strict regulations on excessive water use.

The Marshall Fire, which destroyed over 1,000 structures, was a clear warning sign that climate change is making wildfires more frequent and intense. Boulder County only began monitoring its stormwater after the fire in 2021. Additionally, air quality continues to deteriorate due to smoke pollution from regional wildfires continues to deteriorate air quality.

Historically, native land stewards recognized the importance of techniques such as controlled burns and reforestation. Some environmentalists have suggested returning the protection of our parks and forests to native tribes who have extensive knowledge and centuries of ancestral traditions of sustainable land stewardship.

Further regulations than those already in place on builders and contractors who construct new homes and buildings in the region should ensure that structures are built to reduce the risk of fire damage. The eastern part of the county had few significant wildfire events until the Marshall Fire, leading the county to update its building fire code. Now, ignition resistance building materials are required in Wildfire Zone 2 as well.

Green policies, red tape

Political and bureaucratic delays cause many environmental policies to require extensive planning, public hearings, and legal battles before implementation. A lack of federal funding results in economic constraints. Renewable energy projects, public transit expansions, and water conservation programs require significant financial investment. Other challenges include public resistance, as some sustainability initiatives face pushback from businesses and residents who fear economic or lifestyle disruptions.

Boulder County must move beyond planning and take immediate, decisive action to truly impact climate change. One of the most urgent steps is to enforce a clear timeline for phasing out oil and gas operations, ensuring a structured transition away from fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the county should mandate solar panel installations on all new residential and commercial buildings, accelerating the shift toward renewable energy.

To make sustainability accessible to all residents, it is crucial to subsidize sustainable energy solutions for low-income households, removing financial barriers to adoption. Additionally, Boulder County must expand public transportation options and invest in electrification, reducing reliance on personal vehicles and cutting transportation emissions.

With water scarcity becoming an increasing threat, strict water conservation measures should be enforced before a crisis arises, ensuring long-term resource sustainability.

Lastly, as wildfires continue to devastate the region, strengthening wildfire mitigation strategies — such as controlled burns, improved forest management, and home-hardening programs — should be a top priority to protect both communities and ecosystems. By implementing these urgent measures, Boulder County can transform its climate commitments into tangible, lasting change.

Boulder County has made commendable progress in sustainability, but progress alone is not enough when faced with the urgent reality of climate change. The slow pace of action continued reliance on fossil fuels, and gaps in renewable energy access highlight the need for more aggressive policies and faster implementation.

Simply put, climate change is accelerating faster than Boulder County’s sustainability efforts. If Boulder truly wants to be a leader in climate action, it must transition from planning to immediate, large-scale implementation — before it’s too late.

Residents can reduce car use, switch to renewable energy, conserve water, and support local climate policies. While individual acts can certainly make a local impact, the largest contributors to climate change continue to be the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas drilling, rising water demand, transportation emissions, and wildfire threats are the most pressing challenges BOCO faces for the next 25 years. The question now is: Are the residents of one of the most naturally beautiful places in the country willing to take radical action against corporate giants in order to protect the land they live on?

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The post Going Green: How Much Has BOCO Improved in 25 Years? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

December 30, 2021. Louisville. Photo: Patrick Kramer of the Longmont Fire Department

It has been over two years since the Marshall Fire swept through the grasslands of Boulder County. The most destructive fire in Colorado history in terms of buildings destroyed, the fire took the lives of two and created irreparable damage for many more.

The initial response to the fire focused on ensuring safety in the moment but as the dust settled, Boulder County and its residents realized they needed to do more to prevent future events like this one.

As nice as it would be for the Marshall Fire to be a one-off event, a changing climate only increases the likelihood of future destructive fires. Earlier and warmer springs lead to more rapid snowmelt, drying out grasslands and increasing flammability of the surrounding environment. Additionally, as populations increase, more communities are located adjacent to, or in, grasslands and forests. This means naturally occurring wildfires are more likely to impact people and their properties.

As a result of this inevitable future threat, partnerships between scientists, community groups, local government, and individuals aim to find a solution to the multifaceted issue of wildfires in Boulder County and surrounding areas. Sharing resources between these groups is an essential aspect of creating an efficient wildfire mitigation plan. One example is The Watershed Center.

Marshall-Fire-damage_youtube-screencap_ys_2023_04

Protecting and restoring watersheds

“Fires don’t recognize jurisdictional boundaries and fires could go through multiple properties, towns, and municipalities, so if you have one entity that is managing their land but they’re adjacent to another entity that are not doing that or doing it differently, that’s going to affect how the fire would potentially spread and behave,” said Matt Bitters, ecologist at The Watershed Center.

The mission of The Watershed Center is “to protect and restore watersheds for people and the environment using a collaborative and science-based approach.” Established in 2005, the organization has been led by a diverse group of stakeholders, seeking science-based and people-oriented solutions.

Boulder creek in winter, Boulder Colorado

Among other things, The Watershed Center studies and shares information about response of vegetation after fires, fire mitigation, and post-fire recovery.

Every part of the organization relies on information sharing to communicate the best strategies for lowering fire risk. While not many overall practices have changed since the Marshall Fire, groups like The Watershed Center have allowed the community to divide and conquer on the specifics of what works in a variety of circumstances.

While grazing and mowing have been fire prevention practices for decades, figuring out how big of a buffer is needed where, taking wind speeds into account, and finding the balance between protecting natural spaces and stopping the fire spread.

Bitters said an all-or-nothing approach was a common sentiment directly after the Marshall Fire. “We heard a lot of concerns from residents saying ‘just mow the grasslands, get rid of the open space,’ and while that reduces fuel, it’s nuanced because the grass will grow back,” he said.

Without considering the time of year, the maintenance required, and how removing grassland impacts the natural ecosystem, a mow-it-all response is not beneficial. Weeds may replace the grass that are even less fire resistant, animal habitats may be destroyed, and the balance of the natural replenishment of land may be off-kilter. Removing vegetation can lead to other environmental troubles like erosion and soil loss.

Bitters reminded community members that “fires have been here long before any of us have been, and these ecosystems depend on fires.” Understanding how these environments functioned before people arrived is essential in proper land management.

Boulder Office of Disaster Management

The Boulder Office of Disaster Management focuses directly on communication with individual community members. They encourage folks to make a specific plan to ensure the least damage when a disaster hits.

“We’re all at the crap sandwich picnic together when one hits, and so the preparedness is kind of like the mustard, the hot sauce, whatever you want to put on it to make it a little bit better,” said Monika Weber, disaster management coordinator at the city of Boulder’s ODM.

Preparedness does not prevent a disaster from happening but rather decreases the physical and emotional damage when one occurs.

The ODM is a direct result of the Marshall Fire. Prior to the fire, a program called Better Together attempted to encourage residents to protect themselves and their community. The Marshall Fire alerted the local government to the need for more comprehensive resources for emergency preparedness.

Weber said that people’s interest in her work ebbs and flows. At times, when there has not been a disaster for a while, people get preoccupied by the other things going on in their lives. It is her job to remind people that preparedness is most important when things are calm.

The department has several trainings for community members to get information about preparedness and how to inform others about how they can do the same.

One of the most important parts of these trainings is: “Make a plan for your household,” said Weber. “And that really should encompass how you are going to communicate with one another, evacuation, knowing your routes, knowing what modes of transportation you’re going to take, and then also a grab list.”

Grab List

A grab list should encompass the important emotional items that you would like to take with you in an emergency evacuation. Creating a list with items and their locations and posting it somewhere easily accessible — like the inside of a kitchen cabinet — is important to avoid emergency panic. And, with a list, if someone else is at your home when an emergency occurs, they may be able to locate some of those important items for you.

Questions to ask to help you make a grab list:

• What are items that you’d want to take with you in the event of an evacuation? Be sure to consider items that are important to you that may be irreplaceable.
• What items do you need to maintain your wellbeing? Are there medications, supplies, etc. that you need to take with you?
• What are key items that you would want to be prepared with to help you maintain your lifelines?
• Write down your grab list including both the item and its location in your home.
• Consider ordering items on your grab list in terms of priority. This allows you to make your list scalable, so you can grab your most important items if you have very limited time to evacuate.
• Have every household member complete their own personal grab list of a few items.
• Provide a trusted person with access to your home — this gives you a backup option of someone who can help gather individuals, pets, items, etc. in the event of an evacuation if you’re away.

Be prepared, sign up for alerts

While a plan is an important tool for disaster preparedness, above all, Weber recommended that people sign up for emergency alerts. This can be through BOCO Alert or ReachWell, two platforms that send messages to people’s smartphones alerting them to possible emergency situations.

The Office of Disaster Management has created many physical tools to support folks in their disaster preparedness. These documents were recently translated into Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, and Russian — the five most common languages in the county other than English.

Other resources include a Disaster Preparedness Conversation Card. This tool was originally created to help community members with disabilities communicate during emergencies, but Weber said it is also a good tool for anyone to start a conversation with their neighbors about a disaster preparedness plan.

“The first thing on our list is: Trust your gut,” Weber said. While the office plans to host more trainings, conduct further outreach, and continue spreading preparedness tactics, she encouraged everyone to trust their instincts and do what keeps them and their community safe during an emergency.

Wildfire Partners

Knowing how to respond to an emergency is an important skill. The threat of wildfires is not going away, but Wildfire Partners, a subsect of Boulder County, is working to help residents make their homes and properties more fire-resistant.

“We’ve been around for 10 years, and most of our work was in the West because traditionally that’s where fires start,” said Stephanie Buchanan, wildfire mitigation program specialist. “We know that that’s not always the case now, but we focus on individual home assessments, and we basically show people, give them the tools for what they would need to do to make their home itself and 100 feet around their home fire safe.”

Essentially, Wildfire Partners helps folks build a metaphorical bubble around their homes so that when a fire does occur the likelihood of damage to their property is lower. They focus not on preventing wildfires but on community resilience in the face of such events.

Buchanan said that the biggest change post-Marshall Fire was the spread of resources to the eastern part of the county. People who choose to move to the mountains often know that wildfire is a possibility; it is the folks who live in town who have never had to think about it before.

Even Buchanan herself, who lives in a neighborhood in Louisville and has been a fire safety educator for 10 years, said that she did not think about protecting her own home until the Marshall Fire.

“For those communities like ours where we live so close together, mitigation has to look different,” she said. “We’re really focusing on community mitigation and education in those neighborhoods who’ve never really thought about it until the Marshall Fire.”

In these communities where homes back right up to one another, one neighbor’s mitigation efforts are nearly pointless without the collaboration of the surrounding properties. This has led Wildfire Partners to change the language and tactics they use around mitigation to meet these communities where they are. One big focus is getting people to see how they have an individual responsibility to make their community safer.

Similar to Weber’s work, a challenge is keeping people engaged when there has not been another fire close to communities in over two years. “Everybody kind of wanted to do something right after,” Buchanan said. “And now we’ve had a wet season without fires and time, and those things put together make it so that it’s not so much in the forefront.”

This new community outreach program did not begin in full force until December of 2023, so its effectiveness has yet to be evaluated.

Buchanan is hopeful about the future resources coming to mitigation efforts. “There will be more money coming to community members to do mitigation that will come in different forms,” she said. “We’re all paying into this mitigation tax that passed in November of 2022 … so as we’re all paying into it, we’re going to be pushing it back out to the community in different ways.”

Through social media and newsletters, Wildfire Partners is working to make resources easily accessible. Buchanan acknowledged that it can be a daunting task to begin making your home and community safer. She recommended approaching it one piece at a time.

“It takes time, it takes money, it takes know-how, and we have the help now for people in all those areas, but if you just start with one little thing at a time, we can all be collectively making a difference for ourselves, and our neighborhoods, and the greater community,” she said.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

This united effort to move towards fire-safe communities is culminating, most recently, in an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan currently in place in Boulder County was completed in 2011 with far different environmental circumstances and a different population.

The county has stated that the plan “identifies and prioritizes measures to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface during a wildfire event.” All of Colorado’s CWPPs must meet the Colorado State Forest Service’s minimum standards.

A CWPP is not legislation. It is not a legally binding document. Rather, it is a way for the community to get on the same page in order to effectively prevent future wildfire damage.

One important aspect of this is gathering community feedback. This is done through public open houses hosted by the county, where residents can gather information and address their concerns. If folks are unable to attend these events, they may fill out a survey to have their voices heard.

The final community open house is being hosted on Saturday, April 20 at LeftHand Fire, with the hopes of a finalized, updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan completed by June.

As of March 25th, 2024, a draft of the CWPP is available on the city of Boulder website, alongside a forum for public comment, which was open until April 8th, 2024. These steps to share information and gain feedback are essential to creating a more fire-resistant community. Government officials, local experts, and informed community members seem to agree: The time to act is when things are relatively stable. The time to prepare is before you need the resources, and the time to be informed is now.

The post Boulder County Is Revamping Their Efforts for Wildfire Mitigation Two Years Post Marshall Fire appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Marshall Fire exemptions

The Louisville City Council recently voted to exempt construction materials from the city’s use tax for permits issued for homes damaged in the Marshall Fire and allowing damaged homes to opt out of the city’s 2021 building code when rebuilding. Residents previously recalled Councilmember Maxine Most over her objections to these exemptions, with Most citing environmental concerns.

Rob Zuccaro, community development director, said that the city already has ordinances exempting homeowners whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed in the fire. 

The ordinances passed by the Council on Dec. 19, 2023 give the same exemptions and opt-out options to homes that sustained smoke, heat, water, ash or other damage due to the Marshall Fire.

Zucarro said more than 1,400 homes in Louisville experienced varying degrees of damage from the fire but were not completely destroyed. He said both ordinances will help those homeowners out financially and fill insurance gaps.

“The two ordinances before you really just take those ordinances that were applied to the full loss or the structures that sustained direct fire damage and extends it to any property that had any type of damage from the fire,” Zuccaro said. “These ordinances would extend the use tax exemption and then the opt-out to the energy code.”

The ordinance was amended by the Council to extend the deadline to Dec. 31, 2025, as the deadline was originally Dec. 31, 2024.

“We’re late to the party on this, and I’m sorry”

The deadline was extended after the Council discussed how rebuilding efforts can be drawn out by insurance disputes, financial hardships and not having the ordinance in place for homeowners who did not experience complete loss during the fire.

“We’re late to the party on this, and I’m sorry,” Mayor Chris Leh said.

Several Louisville residents spoke to the Council in favor of both ordinances including Reina Pomeroy whose family home burned.

“I’m a total loss survivor,” she said. “My house was one of the last ones on my block to burn. Some of my neighbors were home a year later. Some of my neighbors are not yet home. The ambiguity for this community, unlike for my situation, is so real. They don’t know what comes next. This industry is so unregulated. There’s very little FEMA and SBA and additional financial support out there for these groups, and it makes it really complicated to find financial assistance, to be able to make it back to zero. Not even better, just to zero.”

Pomeroy told the Council she recently returned from Maui, where a wildfire burned through the town of Lahaina on Aug. 8, causing loss of life, property and cultural landmarks.

“I just returned from Lahaina, Maui that was devastated by the fire,” she said. “That community is looking to us. They’re looking to see what we’re going to do.”

Jeffrey Hart, whose home was damaged, told the Council that he favored passing the ordinances.

Louisville Mayor Chris Leh

Smoke, ash, and mirrors

“Insurance knows there’s no protocol, no set standards much to do for smoke damage houses,” he said. “As such, they’ve been highly resistant to offer coverage for this because the liability incurred myself and numerous of my neighbors have been going through a legal process trying to recover some funds.  After a year-long struggle, my wife and I came to a settlement with our insurance company. The house is not going to be safe to live in until it’s fixed. There’s no doubt about that.”

Hart told the Council as they started demoing his house, they found more damage than expected inside the walls. 

“The entire sections of the installation are black through the entire depth of it from smoke piles bashed between the walls,” he said. “The workers who hate wearing masks, but they recognize the risk inherent with this. I want my family home. I love living in the community, I love living in Louisville. Anything you can do to help us would be greatly appreciated.”

Kimberly Redublado told the Council that her family home is still uninhabitable.

“I’m speaking tonight on behalf of our family of five and for other families with partial loss of homes still struggling,” she said. “We ask that the city has the two ordinances. Our home in Louisville was damaged in the Marshall Fire. No one is living in it. The fire burned homes to their foundations directly in front of us, right behind us and adjacent to the west, maybe 25 feet away from our home. We had apparent burning and water damage. We lost our brand-new landscaping and 30-year-old trees. There was a smell of char and a stunning, horrible smell of chemicals through our home.”

Personal impacts

Jeri Curry, executive director of Marshall ROC, which is the Marshall Fire Long-term Recovery Group spoke in favor of the ordinances.

“Households who have extensive smoke ash and thermal damage are really struggling in the recovery. I’m familiar with the entire landscape of the recovery and these are some of our toughest cases that we see on a daily basis,” she said. “The challenges are similar to those whose homes were destroyed. However, in some ways even more difficult when people question whether them at every step of the way, whether they really did have as much damage, they feel lesser than their home is still standing and so they feel guilty. It’s a wide range of challenges that they’re faced with.”

David Summers of Louisville spoke of the personal impact the Marshall Fire had on families.

“Me and my family were deeply impacted by the Marshall Fire,” he said. “All of our neighbor’s houses burned down. Our house only stands because of the efforts of the firefighters that decided to make our house the line in the sand and were tirelessly working all night to save homes.”

Summers said a neighbor’s house, just 10 feet from his property burned.

“The closest house was 10 feet away from my house that was burned to the foundation, and burned our landscaping, melted the windows, charred the siding on the back of the house and filled all the wall cavities with soot and the ash,” he said. “We had to tear the house down to the bare studs from the outside, remove the siding, sheathing, insulation, and then replaced all that. We were left with a large insurance gap. We were lucky in that we had savings, so we paid out of pocket to get back into our house. We were out of our house for an entire year. We moved back in on the one-year anniversary of the fire. I ask you to pass both of these ordinances. It will help me, my family, it’ll help people get back into homes.”

Mayor pro tem Caleb Dickinson said that homeowners affected by the Marshall Fire were going through various forms of trauma.

He said it was an oversight as the Council believed insurance companies would completely cover homes damaged by the fire and he found it “offensive” that some insurers were bad actors in the situation.

“I think it was a huge oversight on our part and I was on Council, so I take ownership for that. And it was an accidental oversight,” he said.

The post Louisville City Council Votes to Exempt Construction Materials for Marshall Fire Rebuilds appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

HB 24-1011 aims to resolve an ongoing dispute between some homeowners and insurance companies ignited by the Marshall Fire

A new bill introduced by two Boulder-area Democrats could force mortgage companies in Colorado to disclose information to homeowners about the disbursement of insurance proceeds after extreme cases like the Marshall Fire.

Rep Kyle Brown, D-Boulder, who is co-prime sponsoring House Bill 24-1011 with Boulder-area Rep. Judy Amabile, told Yellow Scene Magazine that the bill is designed to bring more transparency to the insurance claims process. If passed, the bill would also create a civil cause of action for homeowners to sue mortgage companies who do not disclose information about the insurance payment process.

The first hearing for the bill is scheduled for January 25.

“This bill is a direct result of the lessons we learned during the Marshall Fire,” Brown said. “So for those folks who might face a disaster or a fire or a flood in their home in the future, this bill will provide some important protections.”

Homeowners often rely on their insurance policies to cover the cost of repairing significant damage to their home, or to completely rebuild it in extreme cases like the Marshall Fire. Navigating the process to get that insurance check can be complicated enough for the few people who own their homes outright. But it can feel like a sisyphean task for the majority of homeowners who hold mortgages.

When a mortgaged home is damaged or destroyed, insurance companies write claims checks to both the mortgage company and the homeowner because both entities have ownership interests in the property. The mortgage company is responsible for releasing the funds to the homeowner, but the terms and conditions of the release vary by institution, Brown said.

Capitol building, photo by Noah Sandoval via Unsplash

The bill would also require mortgage companies to pay homeowners any excess insurance proceeds that are left after the mortgage is paid off. For example, if a homeowner owes $200,000 on their mortgage and receives an insurance payment of $400,000 for damages incurred, then the mortgage company would be required to disburse the entire $400,000. Right now there is no state rule requiring them to do so, Brown explained.

“When people are rebuilding and repairing their homes, they need to have access to the capital that they’re entitled to under their insurance policy,” Brown said. “It allows them to rebuild their homes so that they can move on with their lives in whatever way they need.”

The bill was introduced at a time when housing affordability has become a top priority under the Gold Dome. Gov. Jared Polis noted during his State of the State address on January 11 2024 that housing is the number one issue for most voters in Colorado.

“There is a real sense of hopelessness and despair in our state around housing that’s on par, in many ways, with how people feel about the divisiveness of our national politics,” Polis said.

Colorado democrats have said they will try to pass multiple bills to help local governments access the tools to meet their affordable housing goals instead of pushing through one large legislative package like last year, Colorado Newsline reported.

“That’s something that is going to provide a roadmap for each individual community and region, to know what the need is, what the progress is in meeting that need and what they need to do from a menu of options to get to the goal,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, told Newsline.

The post New bill could force mortgage companies to finally tell you how much you’ll be paid if your home is damaged appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This is the final installment of a multi-part series that explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

Mutual Aid Is the Way Forward

“Because of global warming, this is going to keep happening. And it’s going to happen in our cities,” Marshall survivor Fallon Voorheis-Mathews states. Henry Wong, also a survivor of the fire, points out that no matter where, “we have to accept that we’re living with risk.” What is more, under neoliberalism and surrounded by the many faces of capitalism, none of this is likely to change soon.

Fortunately, as Dean Spade argues, mutual aid “is something everyone can do right now.” Mutual aid offers a tool for building a sustainable future, and the sooner everyone starts helping to build this infrastructure, the better.

In our neoliberal era of diminished public resources such as safety nets, no one is secure. Yet, if our communities were stronger and healthier, there would be fewer disasters. According to several reports, the Marshall Fire may have started in part at the compound of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, a wealthy international high-pressure religious organization with property located near the mesa and open space at the intersection of CO 93 and Marshall Drive.

The group has a long history of racism, antisemitism, and sexism and of breaking laws related to child labor, child abuse, and much more — and of wriggling free from accountability time after time. As podcaster Katya Weiss-Anderson points out in her exposé on the Twelve Tribes, the group goes out of its way to “recruit people in vulnerable positions . . . They know how to manufacture an environment that feels warm, welcoming, and wholesome . . . especially for folks who are experiencing loneliness or trauma. That can be extremely alluring, but it is just a PR front.” All of this could be prevented by creating better communities, so that no one ever becomes so vulnerable that joining an exploitative group seems like a good idea. That makes everyone safer.

It shouldn’t take a catastrophe to provide an inkling of what humans living together could and should be like. I often wonder, will there be systems of mutual aid created in my neighborhood? Though I’m sure that it will be awkward and riddled with mistakes along the way, I choose to hope so.

What can mutual aid look like right now?

Most Marshall Fire survivors I spoke with were eager to share advice to help readers prepare in the event of a crisis, though one person cautioned me: “Actually, advice sucks, it’s empty, meaningless, because no one, literally no one, could ever imagine anything like this, so there is no way to ‘prepare.’” Certainly, only a person who has lost their home in an instant can know what that is like.

Ultimately, in the present sink-or-swim reality of neoliberal capitalism, many people in a disaster can only rely on individual or family resources, which are largely determined by social position — how can advice change that?

At the same time, everyone, even those who rarely consider the broad societal context, are always creating practical and caring connections with others, beyond the family and outside the jurisdiction of the government, sometimes at a distance from capitalist exchange. Even this article represents a collaboration among several interviewees and authors linked to, few of whom were previously acquainted and some of whom will never meet. I know we all hope it can help others, that it will in some way provide mutual aid.

In that spirit, I relay some advice from Marshall survivors. If you live in a disaster-prone area:

• Do not neglect your emergency go bag, and make sure it includes good-quality masks
• Learn about safety recommendations and practice your evacuation plans, in case it’s hard to focus during an emergency
• Map out alternate evacuation routes
• Don’t wait for an evacuation notice if it’s likely you might be in danger.
• Get the best insurance you can
• Pressure local governments to set up the best possible notification systems
• Upload copies of important photos and documents to cloud storage, and consider storing such physical items in a safe deposit box at a local institution
• Join your local social media groups
• Work on psychological self-care skills
• Don’t put yourself or loved ones at risk for material reasons

The last point may be the most important one. Experiences of the Marshall Fire varied greatly, but almost everyone emphasized the clarity they found regarding the relative unimportance of material possessions compared with the well-being of loved ones. After the fire, Henry Wong changed majors to pursue a career more conducive to a manageable workweek so that he can spend enough time with those who matter most to him: “People and animals that you love — sometimes we forget what’s truly important, so it’s a good reminder. It makes you see that the house, the cars . . . what you care about the most are the living things that you love.”

Survivors also shared that healing from the disaster requires connection, that it’s not an individual journey. Kathe Perez emphasizes that relationships have been key during the past year: “The process of healing from grief is long and unplanned. This is tough stuff. This is the work of spiritual warriors. This is the place where, when we are broken open, we take a deep breath and the hand of another and breathe deeply and look within. Together we can heal. Together we find hope again.” As Carole Billingham reminds us: “We’re in this together,” which means, among other things, “it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help; it’s a sign of wisdom and strength,” and that healing cannot be accomplished alone.

Special thanks to Carole Billingham for introducing me to so many other survivors of the Marshall Fire. If you or someone you know are a Marshall survivor in need of mental health support, please see this list of crisis services.

To donate to support survivors in the long-term or to obtain assistance, visit the Boulder County Wildlife Fund and the Red Cross.

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: Advice from Marshall Fire Survivors appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This is Part 5 of a multi-part series that explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

Part 5 dives into the need for accurate, up-to-date information during disaster

It’s difficult to overestimate social media’s role in public safety during a disaster, particularly given the inadequacies of many government alert systems, which tend to operate on an opt-in basis. What’s more, in the case of the Marshall Fire, the system failed to provide notice to many who did subscribe. Almost no one I spoke with found out about the fire from an evacuation notice. Henry Wong’s household, for instance, learned of the evacuation order as they were already driving away to escape the smoke. 

It may be obvious that people today rely on social media to communicate and exchange support, but there are new details to unpack as the technology, and the climate, changes. Case in point: the recent acquisition and transformation of Twitter by an inexperienced billionaire with  — shall we say — questionable values shows the fragility and ephemerality of the profit-driven social media ecosystem.  Mutual aid can and does take shape on social media, but an entire platform can be transformed or ruined on a CEO’s whim.

What if these communications systems, which have the capacity to sustain global and local interaction, were publicly owned and operated, or even designed primarily for the purpose of mutual care? As researchers have demonstrated, and as people of color and other marginalized folks living in primarily white and well-off areas know all too well, apps like Nextdoor and Facebook support a range of activities, not all of them benign. 

During and after the fire social media became, for many, one thing only: a lifeline. Marshall survivor Fallon Voorheis-Mathews said, “the fire has brought us together as a community.” Without social media, this would not have happened to the same extent. It would have been very difficult to maintain the broad yet detailed communication people needed to accomplish these connections and help one another. 

Social media has been a pivotal source of emotional support as a space for sharing and processing. Kathe Perez said, “My postings on Facebook continued for some weeks. The public catharsis helped in ways that it’s difficult to describe.” 

Social media use among neighbors is always significant in Louisville and Superior even in the best of times. During the nearly two years since so many residents were dispersed by the fire, neighbors in Fallon’s part of Louisville have gotten to know each other quite well using preexisting social media networks. Their private Facebook group, “80027–OhOh27–The Original OhOh27,” existed long before the fire and probably predates the Nextdoor app as well.  The OhOh27 provides a place to talk about anything relevant to the neighborhood, such as comparing notes about noise from the airport, sharing advice and referrals, and posting photos of hiking — a favorite pastime in the area. One guy likes to contribute to the neighborhood vibe by posting jokes every day. When the fire arrived, many residents turned immediately to the OhOh27 for information and advice.

Such networks became essential in circulating information in the face of the exploitative insurance industry and FEMA’s scanty assistance. Fallon echoed the perspective shared by almost everyone I spoke with: “FEMA’s a joke. It doesn’t give anything to anyone who has insurance, even if they are underinsured.”  For those who qualify, FEMA provides up to $40,000, barely a year’s living wage for a single person in Boulder County. This is an example of why, according to Dean Spade, the “local and decentralized nature of mutual aid is essential, and we can see this in disaster response especially, where FEMA is generally useless on the ground, whereas local mutual aid projects made of people who know their neighbors and know the place are more effective. It is a mistake to characterize practices based in local knowledge and local control as ‘small scale’ when people are doing them all over and sharing knowledge and resources across large distances.” 

As of the overnight destruction brought by the Marshall Fire, many homeowners’ American dreams are now underwater, to borrow a common financial metaphor, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite every precaution, one underinsured survivor’s home shot immediately to minus $100,000 right after the fire. Currently, their house is valued at approximately minus $300,000 — and falling.

For Fallon, as for the many other homeowners who got burned on insurance, the fire was “a very humbling experience. I was doing pretty well, but I don’t have an extra three hundred grand lying around!”

There is little in place to regulate the price gouging. Many who lost their homes cannot afford to sell and must therefore rebuild, at high cost and very slowly. It also means that instead of using pockets of coverage available to replace furniture or other household items including clothing, they must spend it on construction. Out of necessity, many residents of Louisville now have professional-level expertise on insurance, because even though they had “done everything right” and updated every aspect of their policies before the fire, their coverage wasn’t even close to being enough. Social media has provided channels for circulating this hardbought knowledge for the benefit of others in the neighborhood. 

As the fire was burning, many residents learned more from one another through social media than they could from county systems and the news. It was through Facebook that Carole Billingham learned that the nearby Costco was being evacuated, and that’s when she and her husband realized that they should leave too. Once evacuated, Carole also kept in close contact with several neighboring households using a group chat. One of her neighbors on the circle had a webcam active, which was reassuring because as long as the camera was still receiving electricity, the houses were still standing. 

Jennifer Ho, a professor in ethnic studies at CU Boulder, emphasized that she was aided by social media every step of the way toward safety: “One of the things I fear and mourn about Twitter’s potential demise is the way that I and others in emergency situations and crises have been able to get information — in many cases that can be lifesaving. The day of the Marshall Fire I took a photo from my deck of the smoke I could see in the West and posted it to Twitter. I then followed others tweeting and eventually followed the hashtag #MarshallFire. As the smoke plume grew bigger and as I was seeing tweets from people in Louisville post about evacuating.”  

She continued: “I mused on Twitter whether I should pack a go bag. The response I got was a unanimous YES — this was 30 minutes before my husband came home and told me that Clinica [his work] had evacuated and we should consider doing the same. People on Twitter also advised what we should pack and to take a video of everything in our home in case our house did burn. And as we worried whether we should evacuate, it was Twitter that made us realize it was better to leave before we received an evacuation order telling us to leave, because we could see the tweets from others who were caught in traffic trying to flee or who had lost electricity and were panicking in their garages not sure how to manually open their garage doors. I learned all of this on Twitter by following the hashtag and seeing peoples’ tweets about the fire and evacuation.” 

As for official systems, Ho’s household “never received a text or email warning us about the fire or whether we were in the evacuation zone. We didn’t learn anything about packing a go bag or documenting what was in our home from any public agency. It was only Twitter that helped me learn about these things—and that kept me informed about the path of the fire and the traffic (and we learned where traffic was bottlenecked through Twitter and so when we evacuated we were able to avoid the worst areas).”

Ho also pointed out that “it’s chilling to imagine how many more lives might have been lost if Twitter had changed hands in late 2021 rather than 2022.”

Unfortunately, most of the popular socials are privately owned and, in most cases, optimized for profit-seeking based on relentless controversy. They can be just as unreliable and insufficient as some of our present government-supported systems have been, and they can foster an atmosphere that is too toxic for sharing psychological support — make that double failure of neoliberalism a triple, then a quadruple. The likely collapse of a dominant platform like Twitter is a serious threat to public safety.

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: Social Media, Infrastructure for Mutual Aid appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Though new drilling permits haven’t been granted in more than a decade, Boulder residents are feeling the effects of climate change

When the Boulder oil field was discovered by the Mckenzie oil well in 1901, it prompted a “black gold” rush. A thousand companies formed in the next three months, scrambling for mineral leases that would allow them to cash in. 

At its peak in 1909, the McKenzie Well produced 86,000 barrels of oil each year. Drilling continued until 2007, when the well was plugged due to low production. 

In Boulder County, just over 200 oil and gas drilling wells remain in use, though many have been plugged or abandoned, and no new applications for drilling permits have been submitted since the early 2000s. 

But in the northeast, it’s a different story. Weld county is the top oil and gas producer in Colorado, with 17,317 active wells as of Sept. 1, and Boulder County air monitoring shows the emissions from those drilling sites blow into Boulder County, affecting local air quality. 

Colorado ranks fifth in the United States for overall oil and gas activity, with the majority of extraction occurring in Weld, Garfield, La Plata, Mesa and Rio Blanco counties. Though oil and gas extraction brings revenue for the counties, it also creates environmental and public health concerns for residents. 

“When the winds come from the northeast to the county, that’s when those emissions are higher at [the Boulder reservoir] monitoring site, and there’s a huge impact to our air quality,” said Cindy Copeland, air and climate policy advisor at Boulder County Commissioners’ Office. 

Boulder County is challenging oil and gas production and their consequences — from legal action to lobbying for stronger statewide regulations to nature-based climate adaptations. But past emissions and pollutants from other parts of the country are intensifying climate change impacts in Boulder, complicating the county’s goals. 

“We have the climate impacts, that’s a global thing, but we try to do as much as we can, the county, to reduce our emissions, to try to help make a difference,” Copeland said. 

CLIMATE CHANGE IN COLORADO

Midmorning on Dec. 30, 2021, a grass fire sparked in southeast Boulder County. Winds were dry and warm, spreading the Marshall Fire more than 6,000 acres through densely-packed neighborhoods in Boulder, Louisville and Superior. 

The fire caused $2 billion worth of damage — the most destructive fire Colorado had ever seen. 

Less than two years later, Coloradans witnessed skies thick with smoke from wildfires burning in western Canada. At the time, Colorado’s air quality was one of the worst in the world.

Climate change has made western North America hotter and dryer, creating a tinder box for more frequent, more intense wildfires. Climate change and its contributing factors can also increase heat and air-quality related health impacts and displace wildlife. 

Oil and gas are some of the biggest contributors to atmospheric warming in Boulder. Fossil fuel extraction and burning release greenhouse gasses and air pollutants that trap heat in the atmosphere and can be harmful when breathed in at high levels. 

Health professionals are worried about the impacts of climate change and air pollution on human health, especially for those living near drilling sites, said Barbara Donachy, a Colorado Physicians for Social Responsibility board member. 

PSR advocates for reduced oil production across the country, pointing to heat-related illness, chronic respiratory problems and nervous system damage linked to air pollution exposure and climate change as causes for concern. 

“It should have been phased out a long, long time ago and the price we’re paying for greenhouse gas emissions is tremendous,” Donachy said. “There is a direct relationship between the health impacts that are quite substantial and are of great concern.” 

Coloradans’ health is particularly affected by ground level ozone, an air pollutant that exacerbates asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and is formed from drilling emissions like benzene mixing with oxidized nitrogen on sunny, warm days. In Boulder, air quality often exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency’s ozone safety standards.  

The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, the state’s oil and gas regulation agency, has received hundreds of public comments concerned about the cumulative impacts of oil and gas operations on health and the environment, but state actions to address those concerns haven’t followed, Denver7 reported in October.  

Even when oil wells have been abandoned, they can leak carcinogens, greenhouse gasses and other toxic air contaminants. Wells are often abandoned because they are no longer economically viable, allowing the drilling company to file for bankruptcy, and use that money to then begin new drilling projects. 

Colorado has about 50,0000 unplugged oil and gas wells and the estimated cost of cleaning up those wells stands at about $4.6 billion. There are plans to make oil and gas companies pay into a Bureau of Land Management fund that pays for remediating unplugged wells, but the financial burden currently falls to Colorado taxpayers. 

Conditions stemming from poor air quality can be compounded by extreme heat, putting people at higher risk for hospitalization, Donachy said. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. 

Heat waves in Colorado are expected to jump from 10 per year to 50 by 2050, according to States At Risk, which tracks states’ preparedness against climate threats. 

“Heat is going to become an increasingly serious problem for people who are vulnerable,” Donachy said. 

LOCAL ACTION AGAINST GLOBAL PROBLEMS

Oil and gas drilling is regulated by a combination of local, state and federal laws, but with more regulatory powers shifting to local governments, Boulder County has not seen an application for permits to drill in over a decade — though this has incited problems of its own.

Boulder has more authority over new oil and gas drilling in the county and imposing fines on existing drilling for leaks, spills and emissions since Colorado Senate Bill 19-181 passed in 2019. The bill also asked different agencies to more thoroughly assess the public health and air quality impacts of new drilling projects. 

“The impacts on residents, the impacts on our air quality, public health effects, there’s a whole list of impacts that we would be concerned with, and so our goal on the regulatory side is to really regulate those as thoroughly as possible,” said Kim Sanchez, deputy director for Boulder Community Planning & Permitting. 

But Boulder’s tougher stance against fracking has incited legal pushback, including a 2017 lawsuit filed by the state that led the Colorado Supreme Court to strike down Boulder’s fracking moratorium, which was in effect from 2013 to 2021. 

The most recent battle over oil and gas drilling in Boulder ended on May 1, when Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc indefinitely paused plans to drill in the Blue Paintbrush well pad in Weld County after five years of pursuing a permit. The project included plans to drill down in Weld County, then drill east under Boulder County. 

Extraction expected to start drilling in 2022, after it invoked a “forced pooling” order that would have given Extraction access to the county’s minerals despite the Board of County Commissioners rejecting the initial lease offer. 

Continued objection from the County that Extraction did not have the mineral rights to drill prompted a hearing before the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. Extraction’s decision came a few weeks before the hearing would have been held. 

Though Extraction could later pursue drilling projects in the Blue Paintbrush, the pause is a temporary win for Boulder Open Space, public health and the Boulder community, said Kate Burke, senior assistant county attorney for Boulder. 

“I think our population of Boulder County has this deep connection at a human level, to the natural resources that are surrounding us,” said Tim Broderick, senior sustainability strategist with the Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience (OSCAR). “It’s kind of baked into the DNA of what makes Boulder County, Boulder County.”

The county has set a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. In 2021, Boulder produced approximately 1,500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 31.8% decline from 2005 levels. Of these emissions, 98% were from sectors that largely rely on fossil fuels, including electricity, transportation and natural gas, according to the Boulder Community GHG Emissions Data Dashboard.

“We’ve known for a very long time, we need to transition from fossil fuels,” Copeland said. 

Boulder also implements a range of nature-based solutions aimed at capturing carbon emissions currently in the atmosphere, and providing a buffer from high heat and wildfire events, Broderick said. 

This includes adding trees in urban areas to decrease heat, absorb carbon dioxide and protect against flooding; improving top soil conditions to combat dust storms, improve nutrient density and increase carbon capture in soil; and thinning forest cover so that fires don’t spread as quickly or extensively. 

“We view the work of nature based solutions and climate action as one of the critical layers of how we solve this challenge of climate action and how you adapt to the new reality that is going to be our future,” Broderick said. 

SETBACKS FROM THE STATE 

In many ways, state and county regulations work in tandem, Sanchez said. Boulder County cooperated with the state to pass SB 19-181, and often participates in developing statewide legislation and public health studies around oil and gas. 

But intense lobbying efforts from the oil and gas industry can defeat efforts to regulate fossil fuels. This was the case with the Protecting Communities From Air Pollution Act which was proposed last legislative session, Copeland said. 

One of the goals of the legislation was to increase communication between the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, which passes air regulations and issues air quality permits, and the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, which grants siting permits for oil and gas developments. By doing so, the bill’s proponents hoped to significantly decrease emissions from oil and gas projects. 

Despite being presented by Democrat legislators to a Democrat governor administration, the Polis Administration didn’t support the legislation. 

“That bill really got gutted,” Copeland said. 

Between 2015 and 2019, the oil and gas lobby spent more than $4 billion to influence state-level elected officials in Colorado, according to a 2020 report from Common Cause — an organization focused on government accountability. The same report found 612 instances when companies paid a lobbyist to monitor or act on a piece of legislation related to oil and gas. 

While Boulder County can decide local policy, state rules and regulations can prevent larger changes, like changes to public transportation, which is regulated at the state level. 

“We’re trying to work within the system to do things, unfortunately, it’s frustrating for a lot of us who really believe in strong climate action that we have to take baby steps to get there,” Copeland said. 

BOULDER’S STAND IN COURT

In July 1977, a senior company scientist named James F. Black presented Exxon Corporation’s Management Committee with an alarming fact: the fossil fuels that Exxon produced and sold were warming the planet, at the threat to humanity’s survival.

In the 1980s, Exxon conducted their own rigorous research into carbon dioxide’s impact on the planet, finding the same result. 

Exxon knew that fossil fuels were threatening the planet, and intentionally altered people’s perception of the risk of burning fossil fuels, proliferating harm to people and communities across the world. 

That’s the basis of a 2018 lawsuit filed by Boulder County, the City of Boulder and San Miguel County against multinational fossil fuel corporations Exxon Mobil and Suncor Inc. 

The suit argues that Exxon and Suncor, having drilled for oil in Colorado and contributed to the global climate crisis, harmed resident’s property, safety, health and welfare. The companies must pay their share of current and future damages that Boulder is experiencing because of climate change, said Marco Simons, general counsel at Earthrights International, which represents the Colorado communities in the lawsuit.  

“The folks who knowingly and intentionally contributed to this problem, the climate crisis, and did so at great benefit and profit, should bear at least some of the responsibility for those injuries,” Simons said 

The case is currently awaiting a decision from the courts regarding two motions to dismiss the case, filed by Exxon and Suncor in 2019. 

The case was remanded back to Colorado state court in 2020 after Exxon and Suncor attempted to move the case to federal court, placing the case back in a venue where a jury of those who are harmed by the companies’ actions are involved in the trial. 

Burke presumes that Boulder County would use any money from the lawsuit for climate resiliency efforts, but with the litigation pending, no specific decisions have been made. 

The lawsuit invokes tort law, a legal principle that has been present in civil lawsuits since the 19th century, and involves making one party remedy harms they inflicted upon another party.

This is similar to lawsuits brought against the pharmaceutical industry and tobacco companies, which operated on a public nuisance claim in which governments claim harm done to the public by a company’s tortious conduct, Simons said.

Several dozen other lawsuits filed by local governments across the U.S. bring a similar argument against oil and gas companies, exhibiting a new phase of addressing climate change through litigation, the Guardian reported. 

“This is a novel application of tort law, because it hasn’t been used specifically around climate change injuries,” Simons said, “But that happens all the time in the law. New things come up and the fundamental principles of tort law that have been with us for hundreds of years adapt to new facts.”

Besides requiring the companies to pay for damages, the lawsuit would not prevent further drilling activity or change any regulations around oil and gas in Colorado. 

The lawsuit is important for Colorado residents because it means their taxpayer dollars would not have to pay entirely for the climate mitigation and adaptation efforts their counties are undertaking to address local impacts of climate change, Simons said. 

The lawsuit is just one part of the effort Boulder is making to address climate change in the county, but it’s an important piece because it has the potential to fund actions that would help protect residents from future climate disasters and remedy some of the damage that’s already been done, Burke said. 

“Responding to the climate crisis is a major priority in Boulder County, on all fronts,” Burke said. “Reducing climate harming emissions, dealing with the actual effects, being more resilient for floods and fires. [The lawsuit is] just part and parcel of our interest in addressing these issues.”

The post A layered approach: Boulder’s efforts against oil and gas drilling, climate disasters in a warming world appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In an unprecedented election season, the spotlight has been seized by proposed legislation on safety risks related to homelessness, the polarizing Safe Zones 4 Kids ballot initiative that both the Daily Camera and the Boulder Weekly have come out against. 

I was excited to research this article comparing policy positions of Safe Zones 4 Kids (SZ4K) and No on 302, a group I support. [This has been added back in from the original draft to disclose the author’s position]

Boulder psychiatrist and SZ4K spokesperson Jennifer Rhodes described 302 as a simple, straightforward matter of protecting schoolchildren by strengthening existing policy: “302 is a one sentence addendum to an existing ordinance, BRC 8-3-21, that would compel the city to give higher priority to schools and the pathways kids use to get to school when the city does the work of removing prohibited items, as defined by 8-3-21.” 

SZ4K, whose endorsers include Safer Boulder and PLAN-Boulder County, denied that 302 targets the unhoused. However, the ballot measure refers specifically to the controversial camping ban (BRC 8-3-21) established in 2021, an enforcement-based response to homeless encampments, a long-standing conundrum in Boulder that has never before been voted on. Homelessness has come to the fore because, as Andy Sayler of No on 302 pointed out, “the homeless rates have increased substantially over the last few years in a very visible manner. None of us walk around Boulder and go, like, things are going great. There’s people camping along the creek path!”

The No on 302 campaign, endorsed by organizations such as Boulder County NAACP and Boulder Progressives, acknowledges the reality of safety risks near paths and schools due to the actions of a very small percentage of unhoused people, particularly in the downtown area near the Boulder Creek Path and Boulder High School. They argue that the initiative will not effectively address such risks and that there is much to unpack in that single sentence on the ballot.

Not Simple?

Katie Farnan of the No on 302 campaign pointed to the language specifying the removal of “prohibited items, such as tents, temporary structures, or propane tanks” — equipment associated with homeless encampments—“within five hundred feet of a school or fifty feet of any multi-use path or sidewalk.” 

Farnan shared with me the City of Boulder’s “threat matrix” by which encampments are ranked in priority for clearing. Currently, the only category that ranks higher in priority than proximity to waterways (“x4”) and schools (“x4”) is threats of violence (“x5”), and, importantly, not everything that qualifies for removal gets cleared. 

According to 302’s opponents, this means that the change in policy would punish encampments for location more than for dangerous behavior. Winning the vote would enshrine the policy in law so that it is more difficult to change. Opponents like No on 302 organizer Aidan Reed are “not sure if that measurably reduces public crime. It does in the moment, perhaps. But over the long term, you’ve moved it along,” and on this point opponents mention cities like Chico, CA. No on 302’s Sayler added, “when you’re taking away the place they’re currently living without giving them any other place to go, you’re not really solving any problem, you’re just shuffling the problem around. It’s ineffective, but it is, unfortunately, the strategy the City has been pursuing and the strategy that Safe Zones helps to put additional political force behind.”

Ballot initiative 302 is as much about city politics as visible homelessness. Sayler described how there’s a “high correlation” between positions on 302 and the current high-stakes face-off between conservative and progressive candidates in city elections: “we’re electing a mayor, we’re electing four Council seats. Those five new people are really going to be the ones that drive Council’s position going forward.” No on 302 is interested in “making sure we have folks in those seats that are really interested in addressing this issue via effective, data-driven practices and a willingness to experiment.”

Although Rhodes of SZ4K stated that “a person not being housed does not alone pose a threat to public safety,” No on 302 said the law would respond as if it did. “Safe Zones wants to say that it doesn’t matter what an encampment is doing, it matters where it is,” Farnan explained. 

Indeed, as Rhodes of SZ4K stated, “302 changes the when and where, not the work that is done.” For Farnan, “that is basically criminalizing an entire group of people for being homeless.” Douglas Hamilton of No on 302 described the ballot initiative as “dehumanizing,” adding that “when you start to dehumanize folks, then anything’s possible. ” 

Perhaps both groups can agree that SZ4K 302 is “simple and straightforward.” To the No on 302 campaign it’s simply “a referendum on homelessness.”

Not about Safety? 

In addition to the safety of schoolchildren, the stakes of 302 include the safety of unhoused people — the real victims of homelessness — and how their plight can destabilize safety in a community.

Particularly in extreme cold and heat, the harm of being unhoused, which usually means lacking adequate healthcare, is very great, not to mention the shocking rates of sexual violence experienced by homeless women. 

“The unhoused are, by far, disproportionately the primary victims of crimes by the unhoused,” explained Reed, adding that this is why many unhoused people avoid shelters and prefer to camp. It can be difficult to keep these facts in mind when a person suffering from homelessness is behaving in an odd or menacing way, Reed said. Rhodes of SZ4K explained, “vulnerable people experiencing substance use disorders, mental health crises as well as being unsheltered who openly use drugs and experience instability in our public spaces pose safety concerns to themselves and the general public.” 

On top of that, according to No on 302, clearing encampments further disrupts the daily lives of homeless people, rendering them even more vulnerable, because they often have nowhere else to go. In the perspective of No no 302’s Hamilton, “this type of legislation is immoral” and would make Boulder “actually less safe,” as with other cities like Portland, OR.

As No on 302’s Reed pointed out, “leading with enforcement, leading with encampment clearings has a disproportionate impact on people of color.” African Americans are particularly overrepresented among the unhoused by comparison with numbers in the population.

Not about Kids?

Camping is already illegal in public space, propane tanks are already prohibited, and dangerous items are removed immediately if reported. So, opponents argue, in what way will kids be more protected? “I don’t really see how it actually measurably improves public health or safety,” said Reed.  For opponents, if 302 would merely push encampments to other areas, such as the Pearl Street pedestrian mall, the foothills, and neighborhoods like Goss-Grove and University Hill, heightening the risk of fire and sanitation issues affecting everyone, including kids.

SZ4K’s rhetoric about saving the children, explained Sayler, is an age-old tactic: “From a political standpoint, no one wants to take the position of doing something that’s bad for kids. Homeless or unhoused individuals in Boulder County are not even in the top ten set of risks to children right now. Similarly, on the trans front, trans individuals are not a risk to children. It’s a false political narrative that’s being deployed.”

What’s more, 302’s opponents said, 302 is clearly not limited to an effort to protect school kids. They add that, by including sidewalks and multi-use paths within safe zones, 302 covers around 80% of the city. As Sayler put it: “you’ve suddenly rolled up a huge amount of the city into this measure, the vast majority of which has nothing to do with schools.”

To these criticisms SZ4K responded, “the language of the ballot item includes the words ‘subject to’ prioritized removal. These words give the city the necessary latitude to use best practices based on real time risk assessments. In other words, not all sidewalks at all times all at once will be prioritized – like the opposition is disingenuously contending. Also the language says ‘multi-use pathways OR sidewalks’ not AND sidewalks. Even if the ordinance included only the words, ‘multi-use pathways,’ sidewalks would still be included according to the City attorney.” The City Attorney stated in an email, they will not comment on “a legal interpretation of a pending ballot item.”

Perhaps the most important criticism of 302 rests on the understanding that many unhoused people are children, and they are the kids harmed most by homelessness. Thus, according to opponents, the ballot initiative fails in its most central claim: protecting kids from harm. On average, there are just under 400 homeless kids in Boulder, and the number rises sharply following public emergencies like the Marshall Fire.

Children who are housed can also be negatively impacted by enforcement-based responses to homelessness. No on 302’s Farnan, who has spent many hours with her kids volunteering for local homeless aid organizations, sees 302’s approach as not just harmful to homeless people but a poor example for children, teaching them to dehumanize the unhoused. Kids, she says, learn what to think, feel, and do — and how to solve problems — from watching what adults are doing. Farnon said that 302, in effect, “is pitting groups against each other, pitting students against homeless people, and then asking voters to choose. I think it’s bad policy.”

A Question of Capacity

No on 302 recognizes that voters are frustrated with the amount of visible homelessness in Boulder despite the camping ban. Reed argued — paraphrasing Police Chief Maris Herold’s remarks at the September 7, 2023, City Council meeting — that the real problem is capacity: “right now our jail is full. They’re still dealing with COVID-era backlogs.” There is also a severe shortage of mental health professionals to provide services in the jail. 

Rhodes of SZ4K focuses on the resources already mobilized, claiming that Boulder taxpayers spend “more per capita than any other municipality in the county for sheltering and other supportive services like Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.” Rhodes argued that 302 would utilize existing resources without diverting funds from other programs or increasing spending. For the No on 302 campaign, avoiding budget increases is not the point. Reed sees a need for clarity about the resources and services available by comparison with the demand.

With respect to the issue of capacity, some might argue that Ballot Initiative 302 is overly simple. Rhodes may be correct in claiming that 302 “has no budget implications of any kind and really is little different from current enforcement practices, other than in the timing of removal of prohibited items.” However, according to No on 302, reprioritizing the use of enforcement funds and Boulder’s limited services would have serious material impacts, with unhoused people suffering more, even those who are not hurting anyone. 

“We Want the Same Thing”

“We both want solutions. We welcome the engagement about solutions,” Rhodes of SZ4K said. Hamilton of No on 302 summarizes how every parent feels, across the political spectrum: “I have two children in middle school, one is going to be in the high school next year. I care about their safety, and I don’t want them to be in dangerous places.” As Rhodes puts it, “One would think this is something we, as a community, would care to address.”

In Hamilton’s opinion, the yes-or-no decision-making of electoral politics may not lead to an answer: “The way electoral politics is set up is an us-versus-them mentality. And I truly don’t see the proponents of this measure as anything but human beings trying to do what they think is best for the community. How do we have a full community conversation? Homeless people need to be in this. Everyone needs to be in this conversation, as a community.” Similarly, No on 302’s Sayler said, “What I would like to see done isn’t actually on the ballot. The only way we’re going to make progress on this front is to be willing to try things and then look at whether or not they’re working and try something different.” 

Organizers of No on 302 emphasized that regardless of the outcome of the vote, they have ideas for how community conversations might move forward, and they know it won’t be easy. As Farnan summarized: “people are frustrated. People don’t want to have visible public camping in their spaces, where they believe everybody should have the freedom to use those spaces. But 302 is nothing more than a frustration channel. It’s not going to reduce homelessness. It’s not going to enhance our safety.”

When it comes to solving the problem of homelessness, said Farnan, “We could have started somewhere else, we should have started somewhere else.”

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The post Ballot Initiative 302: A Tale of Two Boulders appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This is Part 4 of a multi-part series that explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

Part 4 explores the experiences of Marshall Fire survivors navigating insurance claims, remediation, and more

On a late summer day in Boulder in 2022, while ashes the size of cottonwood seeds wafted past on a westerly breeze, I began collecting photos and interviews about wildfires in the northern Front Range region of Colorado. Later, on an evening just before the new year, I left home to write in a restaurant on the other side of town, taking my go bag just in case, because a wildfire evacuation perimeter had been set up a block away. 

As I prepared to leave, I could hear one of my neighbors, an older man I had met for the first time earlier that day, knocking door-to-door to make sure everyone was aware of the danger. Most people seemed distrustful of him and hell-bent on downplaying the danger. More than one person responded rudely, as though his expression of concern were an invasion of privacy and an imposition on their valuable time, rather than an attempt to protect their lives.

With dozens of fires in the area in 2022, the most on record, there is every reason to expect that the intensifying trend will continue. One Boulder neighborhood has organized collectively to bury its power lines in preparation for the next fire emergency. Otherwise, it would seem that so far, relatively few have learned anything practical from the Marshall Fire. We have a long way to go, but for those paying attention, each survivor’s story illuminates ways to make our communities safer and healthier for everyone. Even by talking with just a handful of people affected by the fire, I learned more than I could possibly share in a series of articles.

In the wake of Marshall, the Billinghams knew to remain vigilant in their dealings with insurance companies — an experienced, professionalized, and well-monied perspective that served them well. For example, their first insurance adjuster was often unresponsive to communication regarding compensation for the additional living expenses — ALE — outlined in their policy. It was a challenge, but Carole and Steve finally succeeded in getting a new adjuster to work with, one with greater authority, and their needs were much better satisfied. What would have happened had they been less advantaged and consequently less accustomed to advocating for themselves?

Not long after the fire, Carole and Steve’s first adjuster told them they needed to move back home. After staying in hotels with their dogs and ordering takeout to avoid exposure to COVID, they would have liked nothing more, but they had other serious health concerns to consider.

They could afford to refuse, so they did. Carole describes their attitude as “caution — not fear, but caution. We wanted to go slow and steady.” There was a boil water advisory in effect, and it was obvious to them that the air was filled with dangerous toxins, since homes had burned along with all of their contents, ranging from antifreeze to solar panels, and the debris would take a long time to remove. 

Plus, for Carole’s household, avoiding chemical injury isn’t a choice: she suffered a brain trauma in a car accident years ago and is sensitive to the effects of airborne chemicals, and a member of their family lives with an autoimmune disorder. They hired a certified industrial hygienist to test for soot and other toxins in the air and on surfaces in their home. The process of collecting samples and sending them to an independent lab cost $1,800, but for Carole and Steve it was worth it. They wanted to feel confident that they had enough factual information to know whether it was safe to return to their house and to make the best choices available to them. Based on what they learned, they hired a remediation company.

The expense of the process of remediation exposes how the social differences flattened at first by a disaster soon become retrenched. As Skinner Myers told me, “You get to see — fast — the class divide when disaster strikes.” For Carole and many others, remediation was a necessity, and luckily for Carole, she was among those for whom remediation has been effective. For many of the homeowners who could afford it, it has not been.

For other survivors, remediation looked more like a luxury. Stressing over whether to pay thousands, possibly tens of thousands, to improve the air quality in a home is a “first-world problem,” Henry Wong said with grim amusement. The pollution in Guangzhou, which was at its worst when Henry was growing up there — though it was not at all bad by Chinese standards at the time — was “off the charts,” meaning that it was above the upper limit of the US-based Air Quality Index. Each day, residents of Henry’s childhood city inhaled pollution equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes.

Perhaps all would agree, that in a better world, the one many of us believe is possible, everyone’s safety from toxins would be a collective priority rather than a privilege for the few. As things stand, only the well-resourced can afford to engage in concrete, material self-defense against the ableism and exploitation reinforced by disaster capitalism. These are individual stopgaps, not solutions.

At the same time, amid the loss, frustration, and unfairness, the human inclination toward mutual aid showed signs of vitality. Rebecca Solnit has studied this tendency: “in disasters, most people are altruistic, brave, communitarian, generous and deeply creative in rescuing each other, creating the conditions for success of survival and often creating these little disaster utopias where everyone feels equal. Everyone feels like a participant.” Indeed, community donations following the Marshall Fire were very generous. As just one of many examples, a local credit union quickly raised over a million dollars in aid.

Frequently, Marshall survivors found that the assistance available through government, nonprofits, NGOs, church congregations, and insurance only addressed a small part of what they needed. In addition to friends and family, it was often neighbors who came through. Shortly after the fire, one of Carole and Steve Billingham’s neighbors maneuvered clandestinely around the evacuation order so that he could turn everyone’s water off on their circle before the impending freeze, potentially saving them all many thousands of dollars in additional damage due to burst pipes. If this suggests how crucial mutual aid is, even for the comfortable, it also illustrates how much worse things can get without preventive reciprocal support.

Even though the combination of official assistance and support provided through personal relationships was rarely enough, the disaster has made clear that family and friends can offer a starting point for building the infrastructure of mutual aid. Right away, when Fallon Voorheis-Mathews’s friends heard about the loss of her house, they set up a fundraising account on GoFundMe. To help support her fledgling aerial dance company, friends also sold one-dollar tickets to “virtual shows” showing videos of various performances online, where attendees could “like,” share, and make donations.

Fallon observed how people can help one another by using the talents, experiences, and skills that make them unique. One of her closest friends is from Louisiana and worries constantly about their family during hurricane season. As a result, that friend has outstanding skills in crisis support and knows how to help in ways people don’t necessarily know how to ask for. 

Another friend, who is trained in survivor advocacy, acted as a barrier between Fallon and the onslaught of communication that quickly arrived as the fire received major media attention — and as Fallon’s to-do list grew exponentially. During those decisive first weeks, Fallon’s friends let everyone know: “if you need something, come through us.” They vetted offers to donate clothes and furniture, so that well-intentioned strangers would not unload worn-out items, a common mistake that enriches donors emotionally but is profoundly unhelpful to recipients.

While numerous households navigated ordeals like Carole and Steve’s in order to return home, great numbers of residents had no home to return to without first undertaking the long process of rebuilding. Even with cooperative efforts such as the community-organized Boulder Valley Builders Expo of green contractors held in late February 2022 , the learning curve has been overwhelming. In a late 2022 email, Makia wrote, “In the months since the fire, I’ve had to learn about insurance, debris removal, construction, construction loans, permitting, city ordinances and countless other things. None of these were in my normal life prior to this, but you find out very quickly how much all of these things matter and how little time you have to learn it.”

Few individuals possess all of the specialized skills necessary to build even a single house, let alone rebuild a community with all of the infrastructure that supports a neighborhood, like water and power. As Makia, who recently celebrated seeing a new foundation laid for his home, points out, “We were all suddenly taking on countless new jobs while attempting to just figure out how to recover from a life changing event. There’s still a lot I have to learn about this process, all the while attempting to recognize our own personal trauma throughout this.”

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: Mutual Aid, the Real Insurance appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Whether the Ward 2 recall election in Louisville is a microcosm of America’s plunge into fractured discourse or an isolated clash between an elected official and a collection of her constituents is a matter of perspective.

Realtor Mario Jannatpour, 61, tilts toward the latter view. He is among those seeking the removal of Louisville City Councilwoman Maxine Most in the Oct. 3 recall, citing what he depicts as her failures following the Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall fire that destroyed 1,084 homes, including Jannatpour’s. It was the most devastating fire in state history, causing more than $2 billion in damage. Two people were killed.

Most voted against allowing homeowners to rebuild under 2018 codes rather than tighter measures passed the same year as the fire. That showed she was “not taking into account the needs of her constituents,” Jannatpour said. Most was outvoted, but Jannatpour said her decision sowed the seeds for the recall effort launched a year later.

Having decided to pursue a council seat to represent “people without a voice,” Most was elected 58 days before the fire. She said a disaster fueled by climate change shouldn’t be the reason to lower rebuilding standards, a stance that stirs the continual ire of her foes. Most believes that tighter regulations may help prevent some of the widespread damage from natural disasters. Authorities in June said the Marshall outbreak was sparked by an unmoored Xcel Energy line and the embers from a week-old trash fire.

The push against her, Most said, is indicative of the modern political divide, not along partisan lines — Louisville is a blue town in a sea of blue in Boulder County — but ideologically. She said she believes she has riled pro-business Democrats, who view her as opposing growth. The recall seeks to replace her with Judi Kern, who did not respond to interview requests.

“They have said this isn’t just about the fire,” said Most, 62, a self-employed marketing and business consultant. A successful recall, she said, would reflect “this thing that’s going on across the country, the toxic, vitriolic national politics.”

Colorado is part of a larger shift: In each of the previous two years, the number of officials facing recall efforts nationwide has topped 400 for the first time, according to Ballotpedia, a nonprofit project that tracks politics and public policy across the country. Recalls are on pace to continue the trend this year. Ballotpedia began tracking recalls in 2012.

Colorado ranks third so far this year behind Michigan and California for the number of officials targeted for recall. The rankings were the same last year, when Michigan led the U.S. with 133 officials facing recalls followed by California, 72, and Colorado, 34.

City council officials such as Most are commonly the targets. Of 448 officials who faced recalls last year, 175, nearly 40%, were city council members. The National Conference of Legislatures wrote in a 2021 report that some estimates say three-fourths of recalls are for city council or school board officials.

Just 19 states have provisions for recall elections with a 20th, Virginia, providing for recalls through the courts, a high bar seldom cleared. Colorado is like most other states that allow recalls in that voters can pursue the option for any reason, a point of contention for Most, who points out that she’s not been accused of wrongdoing. 

As the state legislatures conference explained in its report, “recall differs from another method for removing officials from office — impeachment — in that it is a political device while impeachment is a legal process” typically involving the two legislative chambers in central government. 

Instead, Most and officials like her are subject to trial by way of public vote. Her supporters, such as Tim Stalker, who resides in Louisville’s Ward 3, insist opponents’ concerns are more personal than procedural.

“People in this group on the recall side are calling her out for personality traits and expressions,” said Stalker, 56, a web developer. He referred to the recall as “trickery” in a guest opinion appearing in the Boulder Daily Camera under the headline, “Louisville recall is akin to an attack on democracy.”

Foes of Most such as Jannatpour said the initiative is driven by what they describe as her lack of engagement with her constituents in a ward heavily impacted by the fire.

“We live in a representative democracy,” Jannatpour said. “Our elected representatives are there to represent us, their constituents. They should be advocating for their constituents. The feeling was that she didn’t listen or advocate for us.”

Most cites back-and-forth emails between her and Jannatpour, contesting the notion that she was disengaged. She labels the recall a waste of taxpayer money, saying if people were unsatisfied, they could vote her out when her seat is up again in 2025.

Jannatpour is among five donors to the recall committee, which tallied $2,450 in contributions, from Aug. 1 to Sept. 12, according to its latest campaign filing. Tim Crean, who works at the University of Colorado and has led the recall effort, contributed $700. Architect Christian Dino, retiree Hank Shaw and financial analyst John Dolliver donated $500 each. Jannatpour gave $250.

Campaign reports for Most show she raised $1,611.84 from 20 donors, including her, the largest contributions a pair for $250 each coming from Cynthia Corne, a Louisville business consultant.

The post Maxine Most Recall: Legitimate grievances or political power grab? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This is Part 3 of a multi-part series that explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

Part 3 looks at the lack of mutual aid during the surreal and traumatic experiences following the fire

When Marshall burned, existing support systems like the automatic SMS alerts proved grossly inadequate, and many people were simply unaccustomed to helping anyone they didn’t know. Outside of their households and families, many were revealed to be very isolated, and all lacked meaningful government support, despite voting and paying taxes.

It didn’t take long for shock to set in as individuals and families pursued atomized strategies, reaching frantically for safety and information as they fled their neighborhoods. Familiar places became terrifyingly surreal.

Carole Billingham of Louisville, an intuitive counselor and life coach, describes how even though almost everyone she saw seemed calm and alert during the evacuation process, time slowed down. At one point, Carole and her husband, Steve, drove past a group of sardonic teenagers in gas masks walking in the opposite direction, back into the neighborhood, like extras in a sci-fi satire rather than human beings whose lives and communities were at risk.

Makia Minich lived in Superior’s Sagamore neighborhood, which was entirely destroyed in the fire. At first, Makia and his fiancée, Kat, weren’t worried, because small fires are common in the region. They knew it was time to go “when the skies started changing color.” By the time they had gathered their two cats and their dog, who had run upstairs to hide under the bed, the rear deck of the house was aflame. 

“At that moment,” Makia remembers, “I ran into the kitchen, grabbed car keys and my wallet, and we ran outside under falling soot and debris and jumped into the car. Our focus was on ourselves and our animals, and as a result all we had was the clothes we were already wearing and nothing else . . . It was almost comical how the next day it snowed.” They drove off with Kat wearing no shoes, socks, or coat.

It took a while for Makia and Kat to recognize how deeply they had already been affected: “During those moments we went from ‘this is normal’ to running on nothing but adrenaline.” As Makia concentrated on driving the household to safety, he realized that his breathing had changed. They decided to stop in a mall parking lot to make sure everyone was alright and decide what to do next: “I got out of our car just as another car had pulled up next to us. I remember seeing them, two normal people having a normal day going to the mall while my face and teeth were covered in soot and two cats were meowing in the back, I said ‘have a nice day!’ and waved as if on auto-pilot.”

Options for Escape

Skinner Myers, his wife, and their children found themselves stuck in traffic. They were inching forward in a line of cars passing a police blockade against a backdrop of flames shooting into the sky, an apocalyptic scene no one wants their kids to experience. To move the young family away from danger while determining their next move, Skinner, who was at the wheel, departed from the suggested evacuation route, managing through trial and error to pick a path north around street closures toward his office in central Boulder. 

As a recent transplant from Los Angeles — Skinner is a noted filmmaker, photographer, actor, and assistant professor in film studies at CU-Boulder — he kept thinking about the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, in 2018, where seven people died in their cars following faulty evacuation instructions. “It’s claustrophobic,” he says, “because if the wind shifts, you could be burned up.” 

Later while trying to relax at dinner with another evacuated family up north in Fort Collins, Skinner’s friend was asking him to check on their house next time he drove to work. A text arrived: the house was gone. Soon they would learn that they lacked the thousands in savings it would take to access their insurance benefits for rebuilding. Their home, their most important investment, was simply gone. Inadequate policies and under insurance plagued many relying on support from existing systems.

In the following weeks while the Myers family stayed in temporary lodgings in Fort Collins, both children expressed a new preference to sleep in their parents’ room, even though they had their own beds. Every new smell made the whole family nervous, wondering if it was an indication of smoke: “We are now hyper aware of this,” Skinner said. In preparation for future emergencies, they have purchased a four-wheel-drive truck with a large gas tank so that the family can reach safety no matter what.

Evacuees’ stress was compounded by a lack of fine-grained information. Henry Wong, a graduate student originally from Guangzhou, China, said that the information available on the local news was helpful but not very precise. He and his fiancée had no way to determine whether it was accurate. They learned as much from sensory observation during their evacuation from Louisville as they did from the reportage. Flames could jump in any direction at any time, which they already knew from seeing a police car on fire in the middle of a road with nothing else burning around it, and from driving past single houses burning amid developments that were otherwise untouched. In such unpredictable conditions, it’s very difficult to protect oneself and others without robust assistance in place.

Mental Impacts

For many, the surreal details remain etched in the trauma impacting their nervous systems, regardless of their wealth. For Henry and his partner, the short-term financial impact of staying away from home was a strain on their student budget, especially because they had to sleep in hotels at first due to all of the region’s AirBnB’s filling up. Otherwise, they haven’t suffered much. The only long-term consequence has been a lingering acute awareness: whenever they smell something unusual or see a fire truck, they manage the stress by making nonchalant jokes about the city burning again. 

It remains a strange experience to see the badly burned areas, though for others affected less directly the bizarre vistas may have become commonplace. Near Henry’s home there is a driving range where on a pleasant day one can see golfers practicing — right next to an area that burned to nothing and just over the hill from where hundreds of houses were destroyed.

Not all survivors were residents of the neighborhoods that burned. Pasha Ripley lost almost all of her household’s belongings, which during their move had been in storage in Superior in a facility behind Costco. Her genderqueer son was looking forward to joining Eagle Scouts, and she had been saving her father and grandfather’s regalia for him.

Among residents affected more seriously, many report needing long-term mental healthcare assistance that they didn’t require before. Kathe Perez, a Louisville speech pathologist who lost her home, said: “I need all the inner resources—mental, emotional, cognitive—available to me to rebuild my life.” She goes on to say: “Medication helps. . . . At first, I really couldn’t talk. I could only cry, crushing heavy sobs. I was inconsolable. I had difficulty tracking conversations. I had trouble remembering things. I had no capacity to listen to your sadness about my sadness.”

It didn’t have to be this bad. Not only is it past time to quit fossil fuels, better regulate insurance industries, and set up finely tuned alert systems that won’t let people down, but it would have been safer and less traumatic to have robust community-based systems in place.

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: It Didn’t Have To Be This Way appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Historical photos provided by the Carnegie Library for Local History, Denver Public Library, and Louisville History Museum

Forged by fire and stone

There is a place where the wind eats the snow. The air is pressurized over the top of a colossal mountain range we call the Rockies before it is released down the other side. Wind gusts violently careen through the pine-forested foothills and crash out onto a land ocean we know as the Great Plains.

It’s the Chinook. This warm winter wind can bring the force of a hurricane down onto the flatlands. It uproots trees, stirs up dust storms, and sends backyard trampolines flying. It can also snap live power lines and breathe life into the dimmest of embers.

On December 30, 2021 the conditions aligned in this environment to create an almost unthinkable catastrophe. An exceptionally dry early winter had turned the grasses of Colorado’s High Plains into brittle tinder. On that late December day, wind gusts were clocked at up to 115 mph at the edge of the Rockies. Multiple ignition points were activated by the winds. Spot fires lit up like blinking Christmas lights and then erupted into wind-driven hell vortexes. Fire crews had no chance to stop the blaze, which seemed to erupt everywhere all at once.

As the winds gusted and shifted, embers darted to new targets, jumping over some homes and businesses only to set others ablaze. Heroic first responders frantically evacuated citizens with only minutes to spare. Some residents took to driving through fields ahead of approaching walls of flame and smoke.

When snow finally blanketed the smoldering neighborhoods the next day, over a thousand homes and seven businesses were burned to the ground. Two people lost their lives. The Marshall Fire was the most destructive in the history of Colorado. Almost all the losses were sustained in the beautiful Colorado towns of Louisville and Superior.

Both Boulder County towns are routinely ranked as among the best places to live in America by various media outlets. In fact, Louisville is a two-time No. 1 best place to live by Money Magazine and has made the top 10 list multiple times.

December 30, 2021. Louisville. Photo: Patrick Kramer of the Longmont Fire Department

But these towns have not always been the serene suburban havens they’ve become. When the aftermath of the Marshall Fire was still smoldering, some residents speculated that coal was to blame. After all, it was known that there was another fire burning in the area at the time — an underground cauldron continuously smoldering for over 100 years. Near Superior, under the Marshall Mesa, ground temperatures have been measured at over 200 degrees Fahrenheit from the simmering coal underneath the surface. The underground fire is a relic of why these towns even exist.

Seventy million years ago the land where Louisville and Superior sit today was not the semi-arid high plain beautifully situated at the base of a big mountain range. Back then dinosaurs waded through the waters of a giant tropical swamp. Over the eons all that plant matter had to go somewhere, and it ended up pressurized into a layer of soft black rock. This formed the Northern Colorado Coal Field.

The first prospectors to arrive in Colorado were seeking gold in the late 1850s. But, as they moved through the area looking for the yellow metal or related business opportunities, some of the keener observers noticed outcroppings of black rock, surface coal, on the plains north of Denver and east of Boulder. In an arc that roughly follows the course of the aptly named Coal Creek, a series of coal mining towns sprang up. Near the edge of the mountains was Superior, and just east of Superior would be Louisville.

Coal mining provided the catalyst for railroad construction in the area, which in turn accelerated the volume of coal extraction as the railroads not only ran on coal but were used to haul massive quantities of the black rock to wherever it was needed. Indeed, these new Boulder County coal towns, like Louisville and Superior, would for a time provide the growing Denver area with most of its power.

Fifteen miners with their lunch buckets. Third from left in second row is Peter Johnson. (Donor: Ralph Johnson, of Louisville)

But the human history of this area does not start with coal. Nor does it start with gold, or even with the first white explorers who traversed these plains and mountains from the east in the early 1800s, or the Spaniards who ventured into the area from the south with their horses two centuries earlier. People had already been here for hundreds of generations, the earliest of which hunted the woolly mammoth and feared the sabre toothed tiger. The area that is Louisville and Superior today was likely inhabited for at least thousands of years during the winter because the proximity to the mountains provided a slightly milder and more sheltered micro-climate compared to places farther east or west.

More recent Indigenous peoples include the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne. While the Utes and their direct ancestors had been in the area for centuries, the Arapaho and Cheyenne were newcomers in the early 1800s having previously been displaced from their Upper Midwest homelands by the westward expansion of European Americans from the east.

The horde of pioneers and fortune seekers from the east did not just settle a land already occupied, they transformed it as if terraforming a new planet. In 1820 Colorado’s high plain was part of a vast American Serengeti teeming with millions of bison upon which the Plains Indians depended. The landscape was a vast rolling ocean of grasses crisscrossed by precious prairie riverways lined with cottonwoods. The enormous prairie was backdropped in the west by the rampart of a vast mountain range, its glacial valleys, and high peaks known only to its indigenous inhabitants.

1912. Native American (Ute) men and children ride on horseback as part of the marking ceremony for Ute Pass Trail, El Paso County, Colorado.

By 1870, just a half century later, the bison were rapidly disappearing, felled by the hundreds of thousands by pioneers seeking fortune rather than sustenance from the land. Rivers were diverted, damned, and irrigated. Great fields were cultivated. Domesticated herbivores were a poor replacement for the depleted bison — the newcomers mowed down prairie grass like thousand-pound locusts. The mountains and prairies were hollowed out by people obsessed with finding black, yellow, and silver stones. The horse-drawn wagon was replaced by the steel horse belching its black smoke and bringing ever more people from the east. The Native Americans were forced from their suddenly defiled range into reservations to the north and south.

When seen through the eyes of the Plains Indian, the period from 1820 to 1870 was an apocalypse. For the newcomers, the West meant opportunity and not just for Americans. Titans of the Gilded Age industry needed bodies to extract their fortunes for them, and they often looked abroad for their labor. Many of Louisville’s early coal miners came from Italy, eventually forming large prominent immigrant families.

I spoke with Ron Buffo, a Louisville native and retired high school social studies teacher born in 1953. Buffo spun a fascinating family history for me that begins with his great grandfather Michele — pronounced MeeKAYla — Buffo. A Colorado coal mine offered him and his brother Giacomo jobs and a paid trip across an ocean a continent away from home. After the long journey Michele hopped off the train and looked around at a foreign land that bore little resemblance to his northern Italian homeland. As someone with mining experience, he knew the work would be hard and the pay little, but he also knew it was better than anything he could get in Italy at the time.

Michele Buffo worked in the Louisville mines for five years before he was able to bring his wife to Colorado to join him. They had two sons, Dominic and Baptiste. Dominic dropped out of school at the age of thirteen to work in the mine with his father. In those days the mining companies paid the miner by the ton, not the hour, and an able-bodied son could increase the load and the income for the family. School was of lesser importance than the chance to get ahead financially.

1909. Photo of the Miners Trading Company building which was demolished due to coal mining subsidence, and once stood on the site of 701 Main Street.

Dominic Buffo’s coal mining career ended after 31 years with a gruesome accident in 1944. While working the conveyor belt on the tipple of Erie’s Columbine Mine, his right glove was snagged in the machinery, violently yanking his body forward. Dominic threw his weight back to avoid getting pulled over the top to an almost certain death, but the force of the conveyor belt ripped his right arm off at the shoulder.

Dominic was loaded into a basket and taken on a grueling 45-minute ride to the nearest full-service hospital in Boulder, nearly bleeding to death en route. His life was saved, but a blood clot formed in his head causing him to lose his ability to speak for the rest of his life. He also developed black lung disease from his years of breathing in coal dust almost every day since age thirteen. Dominic lived in Louisville for another 31 years after the accident, passing away in 1975 at age 75.  “I tell you what,” said his grandson Ron, “he was a strong old man.”

Before the accident Dominic was a lifelong member of the United Mine Workers of America fighting, like many coal miners of his day, for better pay and working conditions. He followed in the footsteps of his father Michele, an ardent union man himself. In fact, Michele and his other son Baptiste, Ron’s great uncle, participated in the Hecla Mine conflict of 1914 when gunfire erupted between the union men and state government forces. 

The striking miners, according to Buffo, were fearful of a repeat of the Ludlow Massacre in Southern Colorado — they knew it was the same Third Colorado Cavalry that attacked Ludlow that was headed up to Hecla. The union handed out hundreds of rifles to the striking miners. Hours of gunfire ensued with remarkably few injuries. Ron Buffo still has the rifle that his great uncle used at Hecla.

Dominic Buffo. Photo provided by Ron Buffo

It was during this time that, according to Buffo, the state government placed a trigger-happy machine gunner at Hecla who had a habit of randomly firing into the town of Louisville. One night Buffo’s great grandfather Michele went to use the outhouse when a bullet zipped through and grazed the top of his hand. When I asked if they reported the incident to the police, I knew the answer before it came. What would have been the point? “The government supported that kind of thing back then,” said Buffo.

Just before dawn on January 20th 1936 an underground explosion rocked Monarch Mine #2 just south of Louisville. Something ignited the combustible air and uncovered coal dust, eight coal miners perished. The body of Joe Jaramillo was never recovered and he rests to this day somewhere directly beneath the Flatiron Crossing Mall. The loss of Jaramillo compelled his fourteen-year-old son, Joe Jr., to go to work in the mines at age 14 to support his family. Joe Jr. would live the rest of his life as a coal miner with an interlude as a soldier and prisoner of war in World War II. He was among the final shift of miners to close down Erie’s Eagle Mine for good in 1978. Joe Jr.,  like so many coal miners, suffered from black lung disease. He died of a heart attack just three months after his retirement.

Ron Buffo reflected on the dangerous work and labor violence of those years experienced by his family and others. “Thank goodness I didn’t have to work in a damned coal mine,” said Buffo.

After his grandfather’s accident in 1944, Buffo’s grandmother was forced to find work and became one of the first people hired at Rocky Flats. Coal mining was in decline by that time and many out-of-work miners found jobs there as well. As if the risk of black lung disease weren’t enough, now they would face cancer-causing radiation, unbeknownst to them at the time. “My father and brother both died of cancer as a result of radioactive exposure from Rocky Flats,” said Buffo.

1909. Two barbers with chairs ready for customers. The photographer’s image is reflected in the mirror.

With a strong Italian heritage comes the rumors and stereotypes of organized crime, but there seems to be little evidence of much of this in Louisville. According to Buffo, there was a small Italian Mafia presence operating out of North Denver. Buffo recalls “during the 60s and 70s if you drove down Main Street (Louisville) you’d sometimes see five or six brand new Cadillacs parked out front of a pool hall. Those weren’t people from Louisville,” said Buffo. 

Legends of bootlegging tunnels underneath Old Town Louisville from the Prohibition era have mostly been either debunked or unproven. However, according to Gigi Young at the Louisville Historical Museum, the Prohibition era did produce some interesting bootlegging schemes in Louisville including a giant hidden underground still.

The nature of Louisville and Superior continued to evolve in the post World War era as coal mining was replaced by a more diversified economy in a growing Denver-Boulder metropolitan area. Buffo graduated from Louisville High in 1971. When I asked him about those days, I could feel the sense of excitement and nostalgia come through the phone. This was Louisville’s classic Americana era when homecoming and football games against Lafayette High School were the big thing.

It took the Louisville kids weeks to collect enough scrap wood for the homecoming bonfire, a tradition that would never fly today. Reflecting on this, Buffo said, “They once took Old Man Ferrari’s outhouse and put it on top of the pyre.” During football games, “a couple thousand people would show up,” said Buffo. “It was a lot of fun.”

Superior? It’s a strange name for a town. Located a little to the southwest of Louisville, the town of Superior was originated by a farmer, Charles Hake, who settled on the land around 1860. He knew of the exposed coal seam on his land, but it wasn’t until 1892 that he partnered with Jim Hood to drop the first coal mine shaft. The resulting mine called The Industrial would operate for the next 53 years and extract four million tons of coal from the earth.

1923-1925: Photographs of the Industrial Coal Mine coal camp near Superior, showing among other things the company housing and the company casino; also members of the Morgan and Gibby families.

Although the town of Superior was incorporated in 1904 only a few hundred residents called Superior home for almost the next century. Then the 1990s came and Superior exploded like a coal mine blast, booming to over 12,000 residents by the turn of the Millenium.

Chandy Ghosh and her husband were one of the early residents of Superior’s beautiful Rock Creek subdivision. Originally hailing from Calcutta, India, Ghosh came to New Mexico on a full ride scholarship in 1987, got a job in Denver at US West, and moved to Superior for the “superior schools” in the late 1990s.

Ghosh described for me a real life American dream. She became a successful telecommunications executive and found the perfect home with her husband in Superior with an unobstructed view of the mountains and a friendly community. “Twenty-five years later, I still feel blessed that we got this spot,” said Ghosh.

I asked Ghosh what she thinks about Superior’s growth. She remembered in the early years how the city lights would end on her commute home from downtown Denver near Westminster Mall and then it was pitch black. “Now, you can’t tell where Denver ends and Superior starts,” said Ghosh.

Ghosh is more than okay with the growth. “The schools and the views brought us here,” she said. “But, I’m really more of a city girl.” Ghosh believes that Superior is growing into an independent town with its own identity. “I’m loving Superior right now,” she said.

But on December 30, 2021 they nearly lost their dream home. In fact, it’s almost a miracle that they didn’t. “We smelled the smoke before we saw the fire,” she said. “Then I looked up and saw huge flames across the street, and at that moment someone started banging on our front door.” It was the fire marshall and they needed to go immediately.

Harper’s Lake. Photo: Dustin Doskocil

They only had time to grab passports before racing out the door. “We thought there was no way the house would survive,” said Ghosh. “But the next morning some friends snuck into the neighborhood and told us ‘your house is still standing!’” Somehow the flames parted. It burned the houses one block over on both sides of their street, but not theirs. Such was the erratic nature of the Marshall Fire.

The Marshall Fire did not break these communities. Not even close. They are quietly rebuilding. These towns were forged by hardy families. They had men (and often boys) who swung pick axes at black rocks six days a week and paid the price for their toil to build better lives for their descendants. They had women who endured the low income and constant worry about their mining husbands and sons.  

I know from speaking with Ron Buffo that he takes great pride in the example that his forebears set, and in the communities they helped build. Like Buffo said, we all should be glad that we don’t have to work in a damned coal mine.

Despite the Marshall Fire, Louisville and Superior remain among the best places in America to live. It is not just the great views and great schools. There’s something particularly wonderful about this area that we can’t quite put our finger on. Perhaps it’s simply superior.

The post Louisville and Superior: Surviving the Elements appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Rebuilding from natural disaster within a capitalist system

YS explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through a multi-part series including interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

On December 30, 2021, a wildfire tore through Louisville and Superior, two wealthy suburban cities nestled among the busy shopping centers and relatively pristine open spaces stretching between Boulder and Denver, Colorado. Two lives were lost that day, and more than 1,100 businesses and homes were destroyed, many of them containing home businesses and remote work spaces for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. By the next day when a heavy snowstorm added another ring of hell, a deep transformation of the area’s economic and psychological landscapes was already well underway.

In the following months, reconstruction began, and the grasses and shrubs returned, but the charred remains of trees and houses make the absence of thousands of displaced residents impossible to forget. Many continue to struggle with financial obstacles to returning home, especially now that most residents’ single year of insurance coverage for emergency living expenses has run out, if it was adequate to begin with — not to mention the ongoing health risks of living in smoke-damaged structures.

The Marshall Fire poured fuel on a problem already raging out of control for renters and owners alike in Boulder County and elsewhere: the ballooning cost of all forms of housing.

Homeowners in particular face ongoing devastation from a combination of unexpectedly inadequate insurance coverage and woefully minimal assistance from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many renters in the area suffered tremendously as housing became a rarer commodity.

The massive losses incurred render especially stark the inadequacy of current methods of responding to disaster. It’s not just insurance and FEMA that betrayed survivors. It’s all of us collectively. It’s capitalism, which also fuels climate change.

Looking back over the past twelve-plus months of recovery, all signs point toward living differently so that disasters can be less, well, disastrous. The question is: How? As many have known since at least the Paris Commune, the answer, or at least part of it, is to build material and relational networks of reciprocal care.

Part 1: Mutual Aid in Suburbia? Offers a panoramic perspective on the demographics of Boulder County, particularly Louisville and Superior, with an eye on what this meant when the Marshall Fire occurred.

Part 2: Mutual Aid Is Everyone’s Future considers how neither wealth nor government can keep us safe from climate disasters and outlines the basics of mutual aid.

Part 3: It Didn’t Have to Be This Way, looks at how the lack of mutual aid helped during the surreal and traumatic experiences. 

Part 4: Mutual Aid, the Real Insurance, explores the experiences of Marshall Fire survivors navigating insurance claims, remediation, and more.

Part  5: Social Media, Infrastructure for Mutual Aid, unpacks what it means when we reply on social media platforms like Twitter, or NextDoor, for community safety.

Part 6: Advice from Marshall Fire Survivors, shares tips from the front lines of climate disaster.

Special thanks to Carole Billingham for introducing me to so many other survivors of the Marshall Fire. If you or someone you know are a Marshall survivor in need of mental health support, please see this list of crisis services.

To donate to support survivors in the long-term or to obtain assistance, visit the Boulder County Wildlife Fund and the Red Cross.

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: Interviews with Marshall Fire Survivors appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This is Part 1 of a multi-part series that explores the ongoing impacts of the Marshall Fire through interviews with survivors and analysis of the role of climate change and alternatives to recovery such as mutual aid.

Photo by Skinner Myers

Capital, ethnicity, and class

Fallon Voorheis-Mathews, resident of Louisville, a nurse, and the owner of an aerial dance company, grew up in the mountains near Glenwood Springs where she knew a family whose house burned down in the 2002 Burning Mountain Coal Seam Fire. As an adult living on the suburban plains “across the street from Costco,” she never imagined that she too might lose her home to fire. But, as Fallon points out, climate change is everyone’s problem, not an isolated issue restricted to sparsely populated areas: “Because of global warming, this is going to keep happening. And it’s going to happen in our cities.” High concentrations of capital will not protect us from climate change — not even those of us for whom capitalism seems to work well.

What’s more, long before the Marshall Fire, numerous hardworking residents of Louisville and Superior were already facing challenges as immigrants, students, and small-business owners. And large numbers of ordinary people living hand-to-mouth perform the many low-paying service jobs that make “The Boulder County Experience” possible, though they often cannot afford to live here.

Boulder and the surrounding areas toward Denver and Fort Collins are notably wealthy and visually spectacular, famous for a high quality of life often characterized by such values as fitness, health food, and new age spirituality. Many people, myself included, are drawn to this area because we love the outdoors.

If that all sounds very white, it is. Or, as one Louisville resident, an “invisible Latina” who identifies as both white and Hispanic, likes to say, the area is “mostly white.” Another resident of Louisville, a Chinese immigrant, describes the demographics as including “a healthy amount of Asians — enough so that it’s not uncommon to see thirty-something Asians with their small children in the park or at a playground, for example — but not many Black people.”

An African American professor notes that when he lived in Louisville during the year before the fire, it was rare for him to see other Black people there — and when he did, it would always be in Target, so he could never tell whether they were local or just visiting to shop. As shown in the recent award-winning documentary This Is [Not] Who We Are, people of color, who are numerous in Boulder County and have always been here, often experience terrifying levels of bias roiling beneath the shiny happy surface.

The most vulnerable

Somehow, people working low-paying service jobs manage to scrape together enough to cover the necessities, whether it’s exorbitant rents and overpriced groceries or the cost of a long commute to and from work. All the while, the size and vulnerability of the local unhoused community continues to grow, in part due to inflation. Between capitalism and climate change, the unhoused may be in the most danger of all.

Fire at first has a way of quickly undermining socioeconomic differences. As Marshall survivor Henry Wong said, “When a natural disaster occurs, everybody is equal. No one is better, and no one is worse.” In any disaster, everyone needs the same things, and nothing else helps. As a result of surviving Marshall, many have acquired new understandings of power structures and the necessity of networks of mutual support — including a renewed sense of what it means to be human. 

Renowned author Rebecca Solnit describes how the effect of disasters can create openings for “radical social reorganization.” That doesn’t mean that people know how to go about it — certainly not over the long-term — but the seeds of transformation can be opened by the heat.

The post A Wildfire Sheds Light: Mutual Aid in Suburbia? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Louisville, CO — The small group of residents supporting a recall claiming Louisville Ward 2 Council Member Maxine Most did not adequately support or advocate for Marshall Fire victims now say Most’s voting record is the real reason behind their actions.

A business leader who has worked for decades in the tech industry, Most strongly refutes claims that she is anti-business and not a collaborative member of the Louisville City Council.

“I stand behind a voting record that represents the priorities and values of the majority of our Louisville community,” says Most, who has voted unanimously with her fellow council members more than 90% of the time, including approving critical Business Assistance Program updates, a series of common-sense gun safety ordinances, a cap on the number of gas stations, and use tax rebates for those rebuilding from the Marshall Fire.

Most also championed regenerative agriculture on open space to sustainably address wildfire fuel mitigation in a community that values environmentally conscious approaches to land management but is still reeling from the Marshall Fire.

Like many in Boulder County, Most is a single parent who lives on a moderate income. In the past, she has had to rely on government assistance and community generosity to get by.

“I do my best to consider and represent those in our community that struggle, are marginalized, or don’t feel they have a voice, whether they are Marshall Fire victims, members of the LGBTQ+ community, seniors on fixed incomes, or young families looking for the first affordable home,” Most says.

Most believes her life experiences bring a needed perspective to the seven-member City Council. “We don’t always agree. However, the overwhelming majority of Council votes are unanimous.” Most states. “I’m proud to be a member of an extremely collaborative and collegial body.”

Most’s campaign believes the people of Louisville must send a clear message that recalls should be reserved to address egregious conduct – not policy disagreements. In the upcoming November 7 election, voters will decide five of Louisville’s seven Council seats.

“Forcing an expensive recall election, just five weeks before this scheduled election, is an unnecessary strain on the City’s financial and human resources,” Most says.

Most looks forward to finishing the last two years of her four-year term. As a 27-year resident of Colorado (the last 17 in Louisville), she understands how critical the balance between economic and environmental sustainability are to the future of our community and our state.

“I will continue to serve our community and solve problems for ALL the residents of Louisville.”

The post Louisville City Councilor Maxine Most Fights Back Against Ward 2 Recall appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

DENVER — A new documentary, Co-Existing with Wildfire, will premier on Rocky Mountain PBS (RMPBS) on Sunday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m. The film explores the shared responsibilities of local, state, and federal agencies to steward public lands by managing and mitigating wildfires. Co-Existing with Wildfire was produced and directed by Steven Weiss and Jesse Grace through Colorado State University, Fort Collins with support from the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media (COFTM) within the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and in partnership with Colorado State University, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control within the Department of Public Safety. Following the premier, the documentary will be available for streaming on the RMPBS website. 

About the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media

The Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) attracts and facilitates content creation in the state to generate economic growth. It promotes the state’s film and television industry locally, nationally, and internationally while highlighting Colorado’s unique rural areas. It is a Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. 

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Cannabis Business Office; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.

The post Co-Existing with Wildfire to Air on Rocky Mountain PBS appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Special Thanks to Shay Castle, Boulder Beat (AP Storyshare)

It’s spring in Boulder County. Flowers are blooming, trees budding.

Something else is sprouting in the Marshall Fire burn area: Houses. Dozens of them, being built anew after 2021’s devastating blaze, twice as fast as the national average for rebuilding following a natural disaster.

Building professionals say that’s thanks in large part to the efforts of the local governments to simplify and demystify the rules, prioritize Marshall Fire victims and put them on a fast track to a new home.

As a result, 495 of the 1,096 lost homes have been cleared to begin rebuilding, according to municipal dashboards. Thirteen 13 families have been able to move back home, with many more expected to join them throughout the summer.

“By September 15, we anticipate having at least 100 families back home” in Louisville alone, said Lisa Ritchie, the city’s planning manager. “It’s been all hands on deck.”

Making it easier

On average, it takes five years for just 25% of homes to be rebuilt after they are destroyed in a natural disaster. That’s according to the American Institute of Architects National Disaster Recovery Committee, and Scott Rodwin, president of Boulder-based Rodwin Architecture and director of the AIA for Northern Colorado.

Rodwin, who has five clients in various stages of rebuilding, recently co-presented to the AIA Colorado board on the Marshall Fire progress, followed by a driving tour of the burn area. He estimates that, by the two-year mark, some 250 homes will be complete — hitting that 5-year average three years early.

As of now, 45% of homes destroyed have been granted building permits.

In unincorporated Boulder County, building permits have been issued for 57 of 157 destroyed homes. Louisville has issued building permits for for 247 of the 550 it lost, and four households have moved back home. Superior has handed out 191 building permits,  representing 49% of the town’s 389 homes destroyed by the fire. Nine families have moved back home so far.

The FEMA-led debris removal, the first of its kind in the state, helped tremendously, Ritchie said, finishing in six months. When lots were cleared and rebuilding started in the fall, Superior, Louisville and Boulder County were prepared with a streamlined process, beefed-up staffing and reduced fees and taxes for Marshall Fire rebuilds.

Planning and building staff from the three municipalities also meet frequently with residents to identify and address whatever issues arose in the process. Superior’s town board went from two meetings a month to two or three per week.

“We upped the amount we were interacting to make sure we were nimble enough to execute anything we knew needed to get done,” said Superior Mayor Mark Lacis. “We reached out to community and said, ‘If there’s anything we can do to make this easier, we want to hear about it.”

In Boulder County, everyone is assigned their own individual rebuilding coordinator, according to Kim Sanchez, deputy director of community planning and permitting.

“They are that point of contact,” Sanchez said, to address issues, provide updates and answer questions. “So there’s just one person that the property owner has to deal with.”

‘Bending over backward’

Boulder County had an advantage over Superior and Louisville, in that they already had a set of rules to govern what happens after a natural disaster. It’s Article 19, developed after the 2010 Fourmile Fire. With each new destructive event, it’s been amended.

“Unfortunately, we have sections for each of the disasters we’ve experienced: Fourmile, the 2013 flood, the CalWood Fire,” said Sanchez. “Right away, we went to work writing provisions for the Marshall Fire.”

Among other things, Article 19 guides rebuilding. Crucially, it allows applicants to skip a lengthy site review process if they stay within certain parameters.

Not having to do site review “shaves half a year off,” Rodwin said. With other changes the county has made to prioritize Marshall Fire rebuilds, the time spent in permitting has been drastically reduced.

Prior to the Marshall Fire, the “fastest possible path” through the county’s regulatory process “was 11 months,” Rodwin said. “Sometimes it took 2,3 years: You had to wait in line just to get an appointment to meet with anybody.”

Post Marshall Fire, “we’ve been getting building permits approved in under two weeks.”

“It’s not a perfect process,” he said, “but the county is really trying hard, bending over backward.”

Rebuilding greener

Louisville also set a goal of 10-15 days for first review of a building permit. The city’s chief building official, who typically doesn’t handle building permits, sets aside Thursdays to process them for Marshall Fire victims, Ritchie said. “Sometimes Wednesdays, too.”

There are exceptions. Production builders, developing multiple properties at once, are sometimes pooling all the applications and submitting them together. But, generally, things are moving much more quickly than usual.

The permit for Casey and Kevin Lombardo’s Louisville home took eight weeks — a bit longer than they initially thought. But the city’s first pass did indeed take two weeks from when it was submitted.

The extra time was to address the Lombardos’ plan to build a Passive House, an energy-efficient structure that relies primarily on design, shading and ventilation for heating and cooling. After the family fled the Marshall Fire, they watched former neighbors quickly begin planning to rebuild.

They were overwhelmed, having bought their previous homes already finished. It wasn’t until they attended a webinar from the Colorado Green Building Guild that “something clicked,” as Casey said.

“Seeing this possibility of this other type of home, that excited us,” she said. “That was a turning point.”

Added Kevin: “I went from, ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with this,’ to ‘I want to be deeply involved.’”

The Lombardos are not alone in pursuing greener rebuilds. Planners for Louisville and Superior said 70% of properties are meeting or exceeding the most recent energy codes, despite the towns exempting Marshall Fire homes from them.

Extensive rebates from the state and Xcel Energy made it financially feasible, builders said. Passive Houses like the Lombardo’s come with an extra incentive: They’re more resistant to fire.

“From the moment we decided to build, we decided we always want to look back at this time and say we did everything we could, we made the best choices,” said Casey. “We didn’t just throw up a house because we wanted a house.”

‘We need everybody’

The post Marshall Fire homes being rebuilt faster than national, post-disaster average appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Has “sustainability” become an eye-rolling buzzword that’s tossed around boardrooms and shoehorned into public policy as an afterthought?

Communities in Boulder County and their leaders are banking against that cynicism — but what do we mean by the term “sustainability”? At its core, when it comes to ecological sustainability, we’re talking about survival. Too dramatic? We mean the ability of communities, organizations, and individuals to behave in a manner that protects and maintains our ecosystems for current and future generations of human beings. No ecosystem means no humans.

Small towns and cities across the country are looking for ways to strengthen and diversify their economies, attract residents, build lasting infrastructure, and ensure resiliency against future climate events. Especially in areas highly dependent on tourism — like Boulder County — they also want to maintain their distinct identities and not lose what makes each place unique to visitors and residents alike.

Colorado is experiencing an alarming increase in climate change-related events — severe and devastating droughts, wildfires, and flooding are becoming more frequent and costly. The oil and gas industry, especially fracking operations, are major contributors to methane pollution. Cutting methane emissions from oil and gas, according to the David Suzuki Foundation, is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to address climate change.

At its core, when it comes to ecological sustainability, we’re talking about survival.

In response to these challenges, the state has set ambitious sustainability goals. In 2019, Governor Polis signed an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. The state has also set targets to increase renewable energy production, improve energy efficiency, and reduce waste.

While these goals are commendable, achieving them will require a concerted effort from all communities in the state, including smaller towns and cities. With smaller revenues and tax bases than larger centers, is there any way to balance urgent economic needs with ecological preservation at a municipal scale?

Erie’s challenge

Many communities have developed detailed sustainability strategies to address these increasingly complex challenges. Erie has established a Sustainability Advisory Board to advise the town’s board of trustees on “matters that relate to the planning, development, maintenance, and management of sustainability activities throughout Erie.”

According to Alissa Kuzmich, a member of the Erie Sustainability Advisory Board, the town is experiencing a period of growth yet still has a very strong community feel. “We recently had a Hope & Gratitude Project,” she told Yellow Scene. “It was in the old town called Briggs, the main street that the old town is on. School children filled the streets with luminaries talking about what they were hopeful for.”

Many communities have developed detailed sustainability strategies to address these increasingly complex challenges.

The Sustainability Division partnered with the Erie’s Tree Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Department to hold an Arbor Day/Earth Day Celebration event. It brought in exhibitors related to horticulture, tree management, the solar industry, and electric vehicles — the latter hosted by Drive Electric Colorado. “There’s no pressure for purchase,” said Kuzmich. Instead, at this event people have the opportunity to ask questions without a sales pitch. This year the event is planned for April 29th.

“One of the things that’s happening right now that’s pretty cool is called Elevate Erie — it’s a comprehensive plan. It sets the vision for the next five years,” Kuzmich told YS. “With all the growth we’ve had, sustainability was invited to be part of that conversation.” The board gives input on Erie’s development, along with members of many other organizations, to ensure equitable representation across the community.

The town also has a noble goal to become a zero waste community. The concept of zero waste aims to minimize environmental impacts throughout the entire lifecycle of a product — beyond recycling and composting — to include design, use, and material management. Erie plans to increase access to recycling and composting while reducing waste that ends up in its landfill. The town claims that recycling and composting are some of the most effective ways to reduce “consumption emissions.’.

Nederland: Small but mighty

Nederland, aka “Ned,” is just west of Boulder with a population less than 1,500. The town attracts tourists with its picturesque scenery, fishing, skiing, cycling, camping, shops, boutiques, and even a vibrant music scene. YS spoke with Sustainability Coordinator Leah Haney who is relatively new to the role. Haney executes the Sustainability Advisory Board’s goals for renewable energy and zero waste by 2025. The board acts as a partner with Boulder County, the state of Colorado, and the local business community to determine resource availability and align these with the needs and wants of residents. The partners “make collective decisions,” said Haney, “coming from and guided by Boulder County’s requirements and what we’ve set for ourselves locally.”

The town attracts tourists with its picturesque scenery, fishing, skiing, cycling, camping, shops, boutiques, and even a vibrant music scene.

One of the initiatives Haney is particularly proud of is Nederland’s Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Deposit Program “where a credit goes to renovators or builders or demolition companies if they can divert and save some of those materials to reuse. They get a credit back. This was a big program implemented by the town, but it hasn’t been used a whole lot yet, we’re working on the outreach part,” explained Haney.

The town is also working on a community solar garden that Haney hopes will lead to more businesses installing solar panels. Nederland is also transitioning to electric vehicles and is on a waitlist to get an all-electric Ford Lightning truck, which Haney doesn’t believe many mountain towns have. The town will also be adding more EV chargers to accommodate tourists from neighboring Denver as well as locals who wish to make the switch.

Haney was pleasantly surprised that sustainability initiatives were not a hard sell. Local food production is a high priority for many, and building up a community greenhouse and farmers market are a common goal.

What’s challenging in a town of this size, according to Haney, is making sustainability a priority in a community with limited human resources, all while maintaining a small town feel — which is the reason people come to visit. “This was a different town 20 years ago,” said Haney. “It will continue to change over time, and we get to help decide what that looks like. One of the benefits of being a small town is that we get to instigate change — probably pretty well — with just having a small community, maybe quicker than a larger municipality.”

Lafayette: Greening community engagement

Lafayette is a small but eclectic and engaged city full of character, and according to its Sustainability Manager Elizabeth Szorad, this willingness of residents to get involved with sustainability is one of its greatest assets. The downtown is culturally vibrant and art focused. Many popular community events are centered around artists and their creativity. Szorad capitalized on this and held a call for artists to create digital art to place on waste containers throughout downtown.

The downtown Lafayette is culturally vibrant and art focused. Many popular community events are centered around artists and their creativity. ? City of Lafayette

“Overall, we have a very great community, very involved,” Szorad said. “They care about our downtown, our neighborhood aspects, and building that community. We’re in a really nice spot in terms of growth.”

Lafayette is subject to a heat island effect, especially in the downtown corridor. A “cool roof” solution of shade provided by trees to mitigate this effect is one effort that will be proposed at a Lafayette City Council soon. Szorad said they’re at the beginning stages of analysis to determine how to make the city more resilient against the effects of extreme heat. “Can we find trees to provide shade in our downtown?” Szorad asked. “That comes into the conversation about water conservation — how much water would that need? Do we have enough water to grow the trees necessary to produce shade?”

The heat island effect

Szorad has been encouraged by the level of engagement of residents in Lafayette and their willingness to learn how to live more sustainably. She believes the key to implementing sustainability within a community is not a “zero to one hundred” approach but, rather, incremental behavior changes where everyone does their part.

One of Lafayette’s key priorities in “greening” the city has been focused on water conservation. In 2013, Lafayette instituted a permanent water conservation ordinance to protect its resources. The city partnered with local nonprofit Resource Central, offering three programs for residents to conserve water: Lawn Removal Service, Garden in a Box, and Slow the Flow programs are designed to reduce the amount of lawn residents have, replace them with waterwise yards which may include permeable green landscaping or other water-efficient plant material, and evaluate existing outdoor sprinkler systems.

Water conservation projects are top of mind to Szorad: “Due to climate change and earlier snowmelt in general, there’s a greater emphasis on what we’re going to do with our water conservation initiatives. Not only on the policy side — we are looking at different building codes.” The community has xeriscaped facilities that do not require water, such as roadways and medians, and will also be converting a facility in 2023 to be one of the largest demonstration xeriscape gardens in Colorado.

The gardens will be a community gathering space where residents and students can come learn about conservation and wildfire prevention. Lafayette also holds an annual Gas-Powered Mower and Leaf Blower Take Back Event, where residents receive an electric lawn equipment voucher in exchange for the return of their existing gas-powered equipment. This year’s event is taking place on April 22.

“Due to climate change and earlier snowmelt in general, there’s a greater emphasis on what we’re going to do with our water conservation initiatives. Not only on the policy side — we are looking at different building codes.”

“Part of our philosophy is to practice what we preach in sustainability as an organization,” Szorad told YS. “So if we do get calls like, ‘What are you doing about water conservation or recycling?’ We can tell our story to residents, so they understand that this is a priority — and they can look into what resources are available to make those incremental changes,” she explained.

The town is enhancing its sustainability plan by turning it towards a climate action plan. Lafayette will also be introducing a multi-modal transportation plan to include an e-bike rebate program which Szorad says has already been successful in Boulder and Denver. The goal is to change commuters’ transportation mode. In a city of nine square miles with an average trip of three miles, Szorad said that commuting translates very well to e-bike use, even with the addition of cargo. For this initiative, Lafayette is partnering with nearby Louisville. Creating regional partnerships increases the size of sustainability teams, which are usually limited in smaller localities.

Boulder County: A multi-pronged approach

The county refers to itself as a “global leader in climate action,” and the county’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience believes that radical transformation is required to meet the challenges faced by residents impacted by the climate crisis.

YS spoke with Christian Herrmann, the office’s Climate Communications Director. Herrmann said they’re “lucky in terms of being a local government that has a really passionate population that wants governmental action on the climate crisis and sustainability.”

Zach Hedstrom of Boulder Mushroom – ? Boulder County. Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience

Boulder was one of the first counties in the United States to establish a designated climate action fund to kickstart innovative projects and technologies that fight the climate crisis through carbon dioxide removal. “Instead of just reducing emissions by cutting fossil fuels and reducing pollution, we also believe that’s not enough,” said Herrmann. “We need to start innovating and actively sucking the legacy emissions and carbon dioxide that’s in the atmosphere out of the atmosphere.”

Herrmann points to the Marshall Fire — which was Colorado’s most expensive to date — as an example of the extreme wildfires the Boulder County area is experiencing. The Boulder Watershed Collective, Grama Grass & Livestock, and Boulder Mushroom — a local mycology center — have partnered with assistance from the county’s Climate Innovation Fund to decompose wood chips and inoculate them with mycelium in an effort to help the soil retain moisture and carbon dioxide, thereby making land more resilient and less prone to wildfire.

Herrmann sees the need for communities to partner. Local governments in the western U.S. are pooling resources to remove CO? out of the atmosphere. Four Corners Carbon Coalition, a partnership between Boulder County, Salt Lake City, Santa Fe, and Flagstaff just launched a first round of grants for projects that use removed CO? to produce concrete. Concrete production represents over 7% of all global emissions.

“We need to start innovating and actively sucking the legacy emissions and carbon dioxide that’s in the atmosphere out of the atmosphere.”

“We’ve focused a lot as an organization on agricultural climate solutions,” said Herrmann. “That’s a huge puzzle piece — that local soils and local populations have access to food that’s produced nearby. In addition, farmland, when managed well, can function as carbon sinks.” Carbon sinks are anything natural, such as vegetation, the ocean, or otherwise, that accumulate and store carbon compounds.

BOCO also partnered with Mad Agriculture and the James Beard Award-winning Zero Foodprint to launch Restore Colorado. Restaurants and food businesses can sign up and use 1% of customers’ bills to fund local farms and ranches to support local regenerative and carbon farming practices such as composting and tree planting. Over thirty-two Colorado restaurants and businesses, like Annette, Dry Storage, River and Woods, Somebody People, and all Boulder Subway sandwich locations, are taking part in the program.

The county is also tackling climate change in a more systematic way in the courtroom. The county, along with San Miguel County, filed a lawsuit in 2018 against oil companies Suncor and ExxonMobil demanding that they contribute to the costs associated with climate change, estimated to top $150 million dollars by 2050. The communities are supported by EarthRights International, Hannon Law Firm, and Niskanen Center. The case has been remanded to Colorado state court as of 2020.

The end — and a collectively renewable beginning

Climate activists and organizations have long been sounding the alarm. The Colorado Sierra Club has been advocating for climate change solutions with recommendations from air and water quality to public health, wildlife preservation, and fuel consumption. The social justice and equity component of environmentalism can’t be overstated. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences indicates climate change and extreme weather events have a disproportionate burden on vulnerable populations.

“I think that’s what we need to tackle the climate crisis — we need local action.”

“In general, children and pregnant women, older adults, certain occupational groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with chronic medical conditions are more vulnerable to health stressors, such as extreme heat, floods, poor air quality, and other climate-related events,” the report states. The unfortunate reality is that those with less access to resources have less of a way to impact governmental policies despite being the most affected by a changing climate.

Despite this, there’s an appetite in BOCO and North Metro to fight back. Initiatives are often fueled by passion and a willingness to turn the tide and protect the fragile local ecosystems.

“I think that’s what we need to tackle the climate crisis — we need local action,” Herrmann told YS. “We need people to be thinking about their gardens, improving the health of their gardens, and growing their own food … and you also need to be tackling more systemic action to help shift the system where possible.”

We need to be realistic. Oil and gas companies as well as the military — the world’s single largest consumer of oil according to studies by Brown University’s Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs — are the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. It’s clear that community initiatives, while laudable, practical, and helpful, will never be enough to stop dangerous emissions from leaking into the atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a special report on the impacts of global warming in 2018 with clear conclusions: “Limiting global warming to 1.5ºC would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.” The IPCC’s report indicated that we have 12 years to act decisively. That was five years ago already. Proponents of fracking would like us to believe the economic effects of halting fossil fuel extraction would be dire. This ignores the extreme costs of disaster event-related losses — $2.97 trillion over the past two decades according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction: “While better recording and reporting may partly explain some of the increase in events, much of it is due to a significant rise in the number of climate-related disasters. Between 2000 and 2019, there were 510,837 deaths and 3.9 billion people affected by 6,681 climate-related disasters. This compares with 3,656 climate-related events which accounted for 995,330 deaths (47% due to drought/ famine) and 3.2 billion affected in the period 1980-1999.”

“We need people to be thinking about their gardens, improving the health of their gardens, and growing their own food … and you also need to be tackling more systemic action to help shift the system where possible.”

Focusing on economic impacts of slowing oil and gas also ignores the growth in the clean technology and energy sectors. Clean energy boosts employment levels. Jobs are expected to expand to 43 million worldwide by 2050. It also reduces consumer costs, is commercially viable, and allows universal access to energy. The industry’s “math” simply does not compute.

Coloradoans want to see change, and as a region disproportionately and disastrously affected by the climate crisis, they’re taking initiative and holding their representatives to task. No one is naive here. Residents know that systemic global change is needed to truly halt the effects of the climate crisis.

Even faced with these sobering facts, small changes do make an impact, and local communities are bringing awareness to the severe and devastating effects of climate change to our environment. Our ecosystem depends on it, and thereby so do we.

The post The Power of Local Action: How Municipalities Are Making a Difference in Sustainability Efforts appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Insurance companies have resisted changes to the industry that would benefit survivors of natural disasters, making it more difficult for homeowners facing this dire situation.

The second moment of trauma

There is another looming moment not often talked about that comes in the wake of disaster — that sinking feeling when hope fades and reality of an uphill battle sets in. There is no going back. Unfortunately many families had to experience this feeling of helplessness and loss yet another time following the Marshall Fire when insurance didn’t adequately cover the damages wrought by Mother Nature. Surviving a natural disaster is traumatic enough. Discovering your insurance won’t fully cover the costs of the damage is a whole new hurdle, but it can evoke the same feelings of loss, helplessness, and insurmountable odds.

The danger of living in a place with such stunning natural beauty is understanding that nature cannot be tamed, controlled, or even predicted at times. We value our open spaces, our mountain views, and the forests of trees that can bring such tranquility to everyday life in Colorado, but existing this close to nature has its occasional drawback when fires or storms have other plans.

951 total loss of homes reported

Buying insurance is almost no one’s idea of a fun time. Going over specifics and details to be worked into a contract with your agent can be time consuming and tedious. It is so much easier to simply enter some basic information about your home and let a computer program run the numbers. It is so much more tempting to go with the easiest or cheapest insurance option, forgoing coverage that may never be needed for the sake of efficiency. Getting into the weeds of every item in the home that has value, double checking calculations, and obtaining multiple quotes from adjusters take time and resources not readily available to everyone.

Unfortunately so many residents found out — in the hardest way possible — their insurance did not cover the total loss of property in the Marshall Fire. Even homeowners who had the extra time to spend on their insurance when first moving into their house may have at one point rejected a coverage increase. Some of our rural residents have added to their homes or built additional structures to better suit their needs. Additionally, building codes may have changed since the home insurance was first purchased which may affect payout if new codes were not addressed. Not everyone is aware of the exact coverage needed for their specific situations. Any of these events would have resulted in insufficient coverage.

The non-profit organization United Policyholders’ website explains, “If you refused to follow recommendations from your agent or insurer to increase your limits, or if you have made major improvements to your home without notifying your agent or insurer, it is unlikely your insurer will agree to pay above the amounts stated in your policy contract.”

United Policyholders goes on to define what underinsurance means: “When you’re underinsured there is a gap between the actual cost of replacing your destroyed home or business and the available insurance benefits in the policy that was in force at the time of loss.”

That’s when despair can strike again. It is daunting beyond belief to have lost your home and possessions. It becomes dehumanizing to also be informed that your insurance will not cover the total loss. Homeowners facing this situation are looking for empathy, support, and assistance but are instead faced with the cold hard facts that money rules the day. Insurance agencies exist, like so many of our institutions, to make a profit. It is not profitable to cover the complete loss of numerous homes, and the agencies bank on this unlikely event never happening when they issue insurance. That all means when disaster does strike, homeowners need to be prepared to fight another battle once the initial dust clears. It also means that as the climate shifts to become more unpredictable and more devastating, total loss events are more likely to occur.

The good news is that underinsurance can be rectified — under the right circumstances. Even though your insurance policy is a legally binding document, some things can still be amended or adjusted after the fact for those who are persistent enough and have some support from advocate groups, lawyers, and the time to spend fighting.

Contracts and contractors

Insurance agencies present themselves as experts when a home or business owner works with them to establish a policy. The cruel irony is that in the event of loss, the property owner must now become the expert in finding ways to advocate for themselves and understanding the full nuances of their coverage. Knowing what avenues to pursue and who to turn to can be half the battle.

Reading insurance policies often brings about that glazed-over look, pages on pages of minutiae and details nearly incomprehensible to the average person. “Legalese” is a term colloquially used to describe the detailed and specific language that contracts use. Simply interpreting what a policy fully entails can require someone with specialized skills.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Attorneys often get a bad rap, but this is a time when you will need someone in your corner fighting for you. Finding the right lawyer for your needs can help immeasurably. In some ways, it can be like dealing with the police. Do not have your insurance company take a statement or interview you without consulting with a lawyer. You can accidentally limit your coverage by saying the wrong thing to the right person. Insurance companies know how to protect themselves and as a homeowner or business owner facing a total loss, you do not want to limit your coverage by misunderstanding or simply misstating a basic fact. It is difficult to comprehend and communicate in legalese, so having an expert on your side when attempting to negotiate with a corporation can be immensely helpful.

You wouldn’t fight the fire on your own, you don’t need to fight insurance companies on your own either. Lawyers don’t have nearly the reputation that firefighters do, but in this case they are crucial to navigating the complex system. It may seem like an uphill battle — because it is — but insurance companies often count on homeowners becoming frustrated and giving up hope instead of pursuing a fight for fair coverage. This can seem cruel, forcing disaster survivors to fend for themselves, but it is the nature of the business in many cases.

Another separate but related stress to deal with is contractors who inflate quotes post-disaster in order to take advantage of those in desperate need. Unfortunately, there is no statewide database for licensed and bonded contractors in Colorado. Each municipality must independently verify a contractor’s information is up to date. Fortunately, this has not been as widespread of a problem as it could be according to our conversation with Garry Sanafaçon, recovery manager for Boulder County.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Always make sure your contractor is licensed and registered in Boulder County. It may be cheaper to go another route, but you as a homeowner would be left with huge costs and liability you had no idea existed. Licensed contractors have liability insurance that covers any injuries or post-construction failures that could possibly occur. Certain contractors may advise homeowners into signing as owner-builder so as to remove this liability, claiming that it will save money. In the short term, they are correct. It can save you money, but in the long run it can leave you with liability and debt if work is performed incorrectly.

Your recourse for poorly completed work, unfinished jobs, or disappearing contractors vastly increases when you hire a licensed contractor. You can report them to the municipality where they operate, which may cause them to lose their license if their violations are egregious enough. This is a much more effective way of holding them liable than simply leaving a bad Yelp or Facebook review.

Taking the human out of the equation

The way insurance works, it is in the best interest of agents to get you to sign up. These tactics can make them offer you less insurance coverage for a lower cost if that’s what it means to get you to use their services over competitors. Reducing your entire life’s possessions to numbers can seem dehumanizing — because it literally is. Computer software is most likely responsible for what insurance policy you have for your home.

Insurance companies use software programs to issue insurance claims. They input data provided by the homeowner, and the computer tells both parties what insurance is needed. Homeowners need to be as detailed as possible in order to get the right coverage. This is the time to be meticulous, dive into details, and possibly save yourself a huge hassle on the backend if, God forbid, anything should ever happen.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Sanafaçon told us that “the insurance companies use software to estimate, and just like anything, it’s only as good as the data you put in.” The more detailed and specific you can be when signing up or renewing your policy, the better the outcome will be when disaster strikes.

Many agencies do not want the general public to know that it is possible to fix underinsurance after the fact in certain circumstances. If underinsurance was no fault of your own, for example you believed you were fully insured when in fact you were not, there is still a path forward.

Insurance agencies often have homeowners sign agreements not to discuss the amounts above their policy that were successfully negotiated, which stifles word of this process getting out. Instead, stories of homeowners not being able to fight their insurance companies dominate the news and can create a feeling of helplessness for others in the same situation.

Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, told YS that unfortunately, “disclosures don’t solve the problem.” Bach stated that your best bet is to “find a good agent, spend time with them explaining the features of your home, and when they generate a quote — which they will do using a replacement cost estimating software provided to them by an insurer — get a second opinion, the software chronically skews low.”

“Don’t trust your insurance company is going to take care of you when you get a renewal,” Sanafaçon warned. He also advised to “ask your insurer to put in writing that you are adequately covered, which they’ll never do, and the other is to actually do your own calculations.” To begin, he shared, “talk to construction experts or general contractors in your area who know what kind of house you have and what it costs to rebuild.”

“Don’t trust your insurance company is going to take care of you when you get a renewal.”

Rectifying underinsurance

One suggestion when facing underinsurance is to band together with other home and business owners who have policies from the same company. Strength in numbers allows victims in similar circumstances to find what strategies work best, consistently move up the chain of command, and offer comfort and support knowing that you are not alone after facing such a loss.

United Policyholders provides a comprehensive step-by-step plan on how to start dealing with underinsurance after disaster strikes. The first and most obvious is to identify any errors in the policy itself. This does not happen often, but finding a mistake like incorrect square footage can get your foot in the door and open up more avenues for collecting the money you will need, as long as the error is not on your end.

Another crucial step can be to have an “independent scope of loss from a qualified professional on the total cost of replacing your home with one of like kind and quality, to current building codes,” UP’s website states. There is a cost associated with hiring a professional to do this, usually a few thousand dollars, but the benefits can be immeasurable, not just for covering your monetary losses but for the peace of mind that you have adequate coverage.

Strength in numbers allows victims in similar circumstances to find what strategies work best, consistently move up the chain of command, and offer comfort and support knowing that you are not alone after facing such a loss.

Finally, another route that should be considered after a major natural disaster is to name and shame insurance companies that are not living up to your expectations and making things more difficult for you and other survivors. The media or your local government representatives can be avenues to publicly express your frustration and disappointment of the company’s customer disservice. Bad press and media coverage of difficult insurance companies can cause higher-ups at said company to reconsider their approach if it may affect their bottom line. Unfortunately our society runs on dollar signs. There is also the option of applying for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program, which can help cover the gap between what you need and what insurance will provide.

There are remedies for overcoming the second-time trauma hits, but they are not quick or easy. On a state level one remedy could be “legally requiring insurers to calculate RCV (replacement cost value) accurately before they issue a policy and holding them responsible for retroactively increasing the policy limits if they turn out to have projected low is the key, but insurers resist having the law state that,” Bach explained.

Reaching out for resources, connecting with other survivors, and pursuing all available options for help can be exhausting. Ultimately, similar to working on personal trauma, success may depend on resources available to each individual and the persistence to put forth the effort. Sadly, we are unlikely to see any state-wide initiatives that deal with the underlying problem. “I’ve presented before state regulators on underinsurance many times over the years, but I don’t know of a current initiative on point, other than the constant attempt to mandate disclosures,” Bach revealed. It might be time to put pressure on lawmakers to better regulate insurance agencies so that the unexpected — and unthinkable — do not have to occur twice for disaster survivors.

The post Dehumanizing and Traumatic: Underinsurance Following a Major Disaster Can Be a Daunting Hill to Climb Alone appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

 The recall states it stems from her responses to homeowners following the Marshall Fire 

Louisville city council member Maxine Most

A recall petition has been filed against Louisville city council member Maxine Most. The petition, filed earlier this week, alleges that Most “displayed no empathy” when advocating for homeowners who lost their houses in the Marshall Fire in 2021. The filers, Tim Crean, Christian Dino, John Dolliver, and Mario Jannatpour, state in the recall that Most “has not responded or engaged with MF [Marshall Fire] constituents,” among other complaints.

Most defended herself, stating, “I try to come from a place of equity at all times.” Most expanded, “We have people who are in crisis on a daily basis. It’s important to be a voice for people who don’t have a voice. I don’t think that’s being un-empathetic.” Most also expanded on the needs of low-income constituents and the crises occurring every day for those in poverty.

“How council member Most had presented herself, the types of questions she was asking had really struck a chord with people who lost their homes,” Tim Crean, one of the recall petition filers, told us. He expanded that Most seemed to be more focused on enforcing building codes and funding use taxes in a political agenda than helping homeowners rebuild following the Marshall Fire.

The recall has yet to be approved by the city clerk, who is currently reviewing the petition. If it is approved, the recall movement would advance to the signature collection phase. The City of Louisville website states that a successful recall petition needs to collect “registered electors equal in number to 25% of the entire vote cast for all the candidates for that particular office at the last preceding election.”

We asked Crean if there was a specific incident that prompted the recall. He explained that a group of homeowners had been upset with Most for many months prior but had been preoccupied with returning to normalcy and that much of the rebuilding had only recently begun. Crean clarified the impetus for the recall “It’s definitely not a single incident, but the two at the top of everyone’s minds are the energy code and the use taxes.”

Use taxes are a companion to sales tax and according to CBS News “RTD, and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District charge sales and use taxes of 4% on building materials.” Homeowners who lost property in the fire were seeking relief from the taxes imposed on their rebuilding efforts. Most expands on where the tax relief funds would come from, ’Initially, it was going to come out of the general fund and I didn’t think it was appropriate to ask the tax payers of Louisville to cover fire-related expenses for individuals. We have a lot of people in our  community who struggle on a regular basis financially.” Most states, “Eventually, I voted for it because we found a way to do it that didn’t take money out of the general fund.” 

“We hope other constituents feel like there was a lack of compassion there, a political agenda that was being pursued at the expense of people who had just lost everything,” Crean explained how Most’s adherence to the sources of use tax funding, her outspoken personality, and her choice to emphasize the most up-to-date building codes for Marshall Fire rebuilds is viewed by some as politically motivated in order to uphold green reforms that place more of a burden on homeowners looking to rebuild. “The time to force people to do clean energy upgrades to their home is not when 560 homes are lost,” Crean pleaded. Crean was referring to the required green energy code updates that homeowners must adhere to when rebuilding a residence lost in the fire. All newly built homes must follow these codes but some Louisville fire survivors are looking for a way to lower the financial impact of their rebuild and construct their houses again so they can return to their place of residence.

“Saying that our response to the climate crisis is going to allow people to build to a lower environmental standard didn’t make sense to me,” Most explained her decision to stick to the most recent energy code standards for homes being rebuilt in the wake of the most devastating fire that Colorado has seen.

When asked why Most was being recalled, as opposed to any other city council member, both parties had different answers.

Most said that she was not the only council member to advocate for the positions she stood for — green energy codes, use tax funding, and social equity —  but is the only one facing recall.

She believes one of the reasons for her recall is that she received lots of national “attention on right-wing media about the gas stations.” The 7-0 vote from Louisville city council to limit new gas stations was widely mocked on conservative outlets. Most gave an interview to Fox, which was used to single her out among all council members as the face of the bill.

Most explained additional reasons she feels the recall is being attempted. “I have been very vocal in my advocacy for equity in our communities,” she expanded. “I speak my mind, and I have a pretty strong personality,” she said.

“It’s really important to say this particular person has failed to meet the bar of what we would expect from the city council,” Crean replied when asked about recalling Most. He reiterated that it was not one single incident but that the questions Most asked in meetings with homeowners seemed to lack empathy, especially her voice in not reducing energy codes and use taxes. 

When asked about the recall election potential falling so close to the regular city council election, Crean replied, “We’re just focused on the recall at the moment.”

Most has other concerns. If the recall petition is approved, she said, “They’re going to force the community to spend taxpayer money to run an additional election.”

Law states that a successful recall petition would trigger an election within 90 days, placing the potential recall vote in July. The recall effort would take place within a few months of a regularly scheduled election for November 7th.

For the record, Most disputes that she ever used the word “fragility” when discussing fire survivors, as reported in 7 News. “I never said anything like that,” Most emphasized to YS. The recall effort was first reported by 7 News. The same report claimed that Most was “caught” making fun of fire survivors, but the quote was not attributed and Most denies saying it. 

The post Recall Petition Filed Against Louisville City Council Member Maxine Most appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Yellow Scene welcomes Letters to the Editor and is happy to publish your thoughts, within limit. Please send all love letters, hate mail, curious thoughts, and open letters to editorial@yellowscene.com.

Since moving to Erie two years ago from Morris, Illinois, I have depended on Yellow Scene to acquaint me about everything from the best restaurants to dentists. I just look forward to getting
the latest addition to catch up on whats happening in Boulder area.

I taught history for 35 years and really enjoyed the look back at old Lafayette where my daughter lives and why I moved here to be close to grand kids. I think “tidbits” like the “dead work” of not getting paid to actually build the mines, but only mine the coal itself demonstrates how far we have come in the labor rights and how the former Mayor Mary Miller was instrumental in making Lafayette “dry” after loosing her husband to alcoholism speaks to how history is often shaped by strong personal experiences.

I also appreciate the current events about Ukraine, making the analogy of the Superior fire tragedy trying to give some perspective of imaging flames lasting for a year now with no end in sight. I found the geo-politics of the other former soviet republics near Ukraine, not covered by major media very interesting.

Very much look forward to the next issue, thanks for making me feel comfortable and informed in my new home.

Ken Iverson,
Erie

The post Letter to the Editor | March 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Tim Drugan, Boulder Reporting Lab (AP Storyshare)

A new study on the Marshall Fire reaffirms the need for better guidelines to safeguard water systems from contamination as wildfires burn through more residential areas.

But Andrew Whelton, the study’s lead author, hopes lessons from the Marshall Fire can help other communities avoid the worst future fires have to offer.

“The Marshall Fire was the most effective disaster response to a damaged water system that I’ve ever been a part of,” he said.

Whelton, a professor of civil, environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University, flew out to Boulder County days after the Dec. 30, 2021 disaster to study the damage to water systems and municipalities’ response. His study, published in American Water Works Association in January, helps answer, at least partially, the question of how much contamination occurred and what can be done to improve wildfire water safety.

The fire damaged six public drinking water systems: Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, East Boulder County Water District, Eldorado Artesian Spring, Inc. and the Sans Souci Mobile Home Park. Toxic chemicals leaked into pipes from damaged homes and into hydrants where low water pressure created vacuums that pulled the compounds into the distribution system.

In Louisville, some chemicals remained at unsafe levels for weeks after the burn, evading several flushings of the system. That includes benzene, a volatile organic compound, or VOC, that has been found to cause cancer in the long term.

Superior not only had ash fall into its source water but the town’s water treatment plant lost electricity and the plant’s backup generator was destroyed. Superior’s residents complained for months after the fire of their water having a smokey, chemical flavor. In the year since, Superior spent more than $4.6 million on their water system response and recovery. Louisville spent roughly $1.4 million.

Superior’s reservoir is being treated to remove any potentially harmful semi-volatile organic compounds that caused the smokey flavor.

Whelton’s study, more than anything, validates struggles other municipalities have faced after wildfires destroyed entire neighborhoods and chemicals lingered in the air and water. Because the field is so new, there is a lack of established guidelines on how to properly test water after a wildfire and what to test for.

“When the fire occurred, all utilities [in Boulder County] were not aware of what, where, and how to collect post-fire water samples,” the study said. This lack of awareness could mean that contaminated water was consumed or bathed in. (A primary concern was exposure to VOCs, such as benzene.)

Though Whelton said none of the public water systems were prepared for what took place in the Marshall Fire, municipalities in Boulder County were the most proactive he had seen. (He’s been a part of several water disaster recoveries, including the 2017 Tubbs Fire and the 2018 Camp Fire in California, the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam contamination, and a chemical spill in West Virginia.)

Water testing was an illustration of this. Though there wasn’t an established framework of what to test for, those in charge were “hungry for information” and willing to learn from anyone with credentials.

“The municipalities impacted by the Marshall Fire all were open and proactive to making the best decision they could, and finding resources to make that decision,” Whelton said. “I’m using them as examples to other communities.”

“Sometimes the water utilities will say, ‘We don’t have to test for anything, so we’re not going to,’” Whelton said. Not Boulder County.

But the response was not without mistakes and failures. Boil water advisories were not consistent, for one.

When water is contaminated, boiling it is insufficient and can lead to chemicals off-gassing into the home. Meaning, people drink fewer chemicals only to inhale higher levels of the compounds.

“The boil water advisories were not designed to protect customers from being exposed to chemically contaminated water,” the study said. Among the six water systems affected, “only Louisville urged their customers to avoid drinking and contact with water as they conducted sampling and ultimately found contamination.” (The East Boulder Creek Water District found chemical contamination several weeks after the state lifted the boil water advisory.)

The lack of coordination “underscores a much larger public notification problem associated with wildfires,” in Colorado, the study said.

When smoke gets into the water system

Depressurization is a top water quality concern for a town struck by fire. To get water from treatment plants to homes and businesses across a city, water is pressurized. If pipes are damaged — or the distribution system runs low on water — that pressure is lost. This creates a vacuum that sucks smoke and chemicals into the water system. Louisville lost water pressure during the Marshall Fire, and high levels of contamination were found in its distribution system after. Lafayette did not lose pressure and contamination was minimal.

Flushing the system so contaminated water is replaced with a fresh batch from the treatment plant is one way to mitigate contamination.

Knowing this, post-Marshall fire, flushing was a priority, especially in Louisville that both lost pressure and pumped lake water into their distribution system to aid firefighters. “After the fire was contained, all water systems first focused on damage assessment, flushing, and re-pressurizing their water distribution systems,” the study said.

And yet, “contamination in Louisville remained at select locations above the benzene maximum contaminant level for weeks,” even after aggressive flushing. Three months after the fire, testing showed no contamination.

One reason contamination in Louisville might have persisted despite flushing is overheated plastic pipes. Some plastics, when heated by a fire, can leach benzene and other chemicals for months or even years. In Whelton’s research, plastic pipes were primed to leach chemicals by temperatures as low as 392 degrees Fahrenheit. Wildfires can exceed 1,400 degrees.

Also, if municipalities do not flush their systems quickly enough after a fire, chemicals sucked into the system via pressure loss can soak into plastic pipes, even if those plastic pipes weren’t heated, and leach out over time. So someone in the same distribution system, though far from the burn scar, could be exposed to carcinogens over time without knowing it.

“The longer contaminated water sits in the water mains, plumbing, etc. the greater potential you have of that infrastructure posing a serious health risk to the users,” Whelton said.

‘Severe’ issues with water testing post-fire

Testing is critical to identifying contamination early on.

In the Marshall Fire, not only was there a lack of coordination on when and where to take samples of water, there was a lack of capacity to then test those samples. The study revealed “several chemical water sampling and analysis issues” that made understanding the full scope of contamination unclear.

“For Louisville alone, six commercial laboratories were contacted for assistance,” the study said. “Some laboratories did not respond to requests, lacked sampling supplies, and stated they could not promptly provide results to the water system.”

Preparing for future fires, it’s important municipalities and labs understand how to properly test drinking water for contamination after fires, the study urged.

It’s also important to rethink water distribution systems to better prevent such contamination in the first place.

One of the main solutions offered by Whelton in the Marshall Fire study, backed by experience from previous fires, is “zoning water systems.”

By splitting a water distribution system into zones, if one area of town gets hit by fire, heated pipes leaching chemicals or contaminated water can be quarantined from other parts of town. Done on a large scale would entail breaking a city into sections like North Boulder, East Boulder, and so on.

On a smaller scale, remote shutoffs for each building could cut individual homes off from the system when needed, protecting nearby buildings and the water system as a whole.

Such shutoffs would have preserved water in the Marshall Fire and kept more people out of harm’s way. While the fire burned, Louisville and Superior Department of Public Works employees went into the fire zone where “structures around them were on fire” to “stop the bleeding” of water from houses that were no more.

“They were shutting off these valves located at the street so the homes that were burned down, with water shooting out, would stop leaking,” Whelton said. “Because that was draining the water system and firefighters needed that water.”

At the time of the study’s publication, insurance hadn’t kicked in to cover the costs of damaged water systems. Municipalities were relying on stored cash to make needed repairs. And as they wait on insurers and FEMA for aid, those cash pools will continue to drain. The water systems are still recovering.

The post New study confirms Marshall Fire contaminated drinking water, but the response prevented a crisis appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Horses at 287 and Jasper, Erie, CO. Photo credit: Carrie Dowdy

[WORLD]

• Meta’s advertising practices of collecting personal data has been ruled illegal in the European Union, incurring a fine of over $400 million.
• Greta Thunberg was carried away by German police at a climate protest while attempting to protect against the expansion of coal mining into a traditional German village.
• The Chinese Communist Party lifted its heavy travel restrictions pertaining to the Covid pandemic just in time for Lunar New Years, the largest travel holiday for the nation.

[NATIONAL]

• Five Memphis police officers were fired and charged with murder and a sixth placed on leave in the brazen murder of 29-year old Tyre Nichol. Beaten like a “human pinata” is how the Nichol’s family lawyers described the fatal attack. The unit the officers were part of has been disbanded as well. 
• Calls continue for freshman Republican George Santos to resign amid incredible accusations of multitudes of lies. It seems he has lied about nearly every stage of his life, including his schooling, his family, his career, and even his name.
• Classified documents found by President Biden’s legal team at the President’s properties warrant the appointment of a Special Counsel to review. 
• Not the only former President under scrutiny for mishandling paperwork, classified documents have also been found in former Vice President Mike Pence’s possession raising questions on how material like this is handled when officials leave office. 
• The debate over the United States’ debt ceiling once again reawakens amid fear of partisan bickering and a divided government. Look for this to be used as a political tool in the coming weeks.
• According to the White House, the coronavirus public health emergency will end in May, signaling a shift in policy and perception pertaining to Covid.
• Ronna McDonald wins the RNC chair race for her fourth term. She is the longest serving RNC chair in centuries. 
• Actor Alec Baldwin is charged with involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico relating to a firearms death on set of the movie “Rust” which he was also producing. 

[LOCAL]

• CU Boulder student Patrick Scott Durham is expelled for having ties to neo-Nazi group Patriot Front, as investigated by the CU Independent and the Colorado Springs Anti Fascist group.
• Two new members are finally confirmed to the The Boulder Police Oversight Panel, Lisa Sweeney-Miran and Sam Zhang. The pair both advocate for more effective oversight and changes in the way we think of policing and were opposed by pro-police organizations.
• An Aurora police officer is charged with third degree assault after Aurora sheriffs were called in response to the off-duty officer allegedly punching a disabled woman.
• Although six of the seven states that the Colorado River flows through have agreed to a water usage restriction proposal, California, the largest consumer, has failed to sign on. They are now forging ahead with their own proposal for the Federal government. 
• Investigators do not find enough evidence to implicate former Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Justin Nathan Coats, but state that he created a “dysfunctional and toxic” work environment during his time including an attempt to bribe an employee so she would not reveal dozens of sexual misconduct allegations in the department. 
• The Carlson 1-24 oil and gas site in Broomfield has been abandoned, environmentally tested, and re-seeded with native Colorado grass in order to incorporate the site into the Markel Open Space, reversing the typical trend of destroying nature to dig a well.
• Lorena Garcia, previous U.S. Senate Candidate, is chosen in the first round of voting to fill the vacancy in the Colorado House of Representatives after the resignation of representative Adrienne Benavidez.
• City of Thornton joins a growing lawsuit against companies that produced “forever chemicals” called PFAS which have since entered the town’s drinking water.

Small Talk

“This peaceful continuation of power must never be taken for granted. Our mandate from the people of Colorado is to lead the Colorado way. It’s not about the brand of our politics, it’s about solutions.” – Governor Polis at his January 10th, 20223 inauguration.

“Colorado is not and has never been a sanctuary state and the governor is not focused on buzzwords” – spokesperson for Governor Polis states in regards to Colorado accepting more migrants in December.

“This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop.” – Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for Tyre Nichol’s family

“Humans have a basic cognitive need to categorize and simplify the world around them. And some lawyers use a prospective juror’s race or gender as a proxy for their ability to serve on a jury, in reliance on stereotypes.” – Ann M. Roan, Boulder-based criminal defense attorney regarding Senate Bill 128’s attempt to rectify racial bias in the justice system. 

By the Numbers

The post Month in Review | February 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Combating the effects of climate change is a broad effort that can take many forms locally.

When disaster strikes it can feel as if the world beneath your feet has shifted. Dust settles and things fall back into place, but nothing is the same. Scars forever mark not just the land, but the mind as well — remnants of the strength and force of the earth around us.

We know the globe is actively being altered by our actions. We know that the climate is changing at a rapid pace. We have seen the effects firsthand: not just the fire one year ago, but the floods last decade and numerous other disasters that have washed away homes, lives, businesses, and memories.

A before and after image illustrating the impact of climate change in Colorado. Courtesy of CU Boulder.

The frustration comes in part from the fact that so many of our leaders are sitting on this information. They acknowledge the climate is changing yet their actions do not reflect any sense of urgency. Everyone likes to talk the “eco-friendly” talk, but what communities are actually doing their part to mitigate the impact of climate change? Let’s highlight and celebrate the many ways that our local communities are working towards a stronger climate future.

There are numerous factors at play, everything from the obvious recycling programs and official disaster plans, but there are also the not-so-obvious: educating our youth in sustainability, ensuring homeless people have safe places to stay, and providing arts programs to express the frustration and emotion that comes from a looming crisis. It may not seem obvious, but the unpredictable weather will mean unhoused individuals will face even more daunting challenges. Studies and surveys consistently show that the younger generation feels hesitant about their future, are worried about climate change, and are hesitant to have children in part due to the climate crisis.

This changing landscape affects us all, but it is not an equal distribution of burden. Those with health or mobility issues, fewer resources, and the unhoused will all be more impacted by a changing environment. The deep irony is that individuals and nations with the most wealth are oftentimes the largest contributors to the climate crisis but will themselves be affected less by the damages caused.

Comparing how each city and town is doing is difficult to do. There is no one “winner” that is prepared beyond everyone else. Every neighborhood has areas to improve on, and every community offers a sliver of hope in their own sustainable solutions. The key is to take action where your community is lacking and celebrate the accomplishments of what has been done.

The unfortunate truth is that climate change is an international problem on a global scale, yet we feel the effects locally on a community level. Rising temperatures brought about by global polluters and massive corporations will alter ecosystems across the earth. Unfortunately, we must be the ones to prepare our home towns to lessen the impacts of these climate events.

The unfortunate truth is that climate change is an international problem on a global scale, yet we feel the effects locally on a community level.

To add insult to injury, oil and gas companies have free reign to frack where they wish in the state of Colorado. This harmful process accelerates the damage from climate change and is actually a key contributor to pollution and wildlife disruption. Possibly the most impactful way to make a change is to show up to town hall meetings in support of a fracking ban, to demand it from our officials, and to vote for candidates who refuse to take the millions of dollars these large corporations have to spend on our elections.

One way to drive change is to continue to look into the varied solutions suggested by other communities. Does your city or community have a similar program or is there a void that needs to be filled? Suggesting programs at city council meetings can be one avenue, starting a local volunteer chapter can be another. Holding officials accountable to climate action promises, making sure that cities are not just paying lip service to “going green,” and educating and spreading awareness to your peers and the younger generations are all ways to get involved that can appeal to nearly everyone.

When disaster inevitably strikes again, when helpers are needed in times of crisis, when we need to turn to the next generation for our climate solutions, what neighborhoods are leading the way?

Photo courtesy of the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.

Homeless Services

Surviving the winter cold without a home is already a near superhuman feat that many members of our community must endure every single year. It is only going to get worse. As the national homeless population grows, more and more individuals and families will be facing the prospect of a winter without a roof. Coupled with an increasingly volatile climate, the challenge of navigating life outdoors will only become more and more difficult. Planning for a future where existing without shelter will be even more lethal than it is now and will require long-term thinking as well as immediate solutions. When disasters destroy houses, what communities are best equipped to help residents recover?

Homeless Shelters:
Boulder – 6
Lafayette – 1
Longmont – 3
Louisville – 1
Westminster – 2

City Services/Programs:

• The city of Boulder offers several services including a critical weather shelter at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless on nights when temperatures reach dangerous levels.
• Longmont created a street outreach program called the Longmont Targeted Homeless Engagement & Referral Effort that aims to provide resources for those experiencing homelessness.
• Louisville provides a listing of over 3,000 places to find shelter, affordable housing, and transitional places to stay. Simply having a roof over your head can make all the difference in the world on the road to recovery.

Education

A sustainable future is only achievable through an educated and active population. Polls consistently show that younger people care more about climate change and see it as an existential threat to be dealt with immediately. We need future leaders to be inspired and informed about the dangers our communities are facing in a changing future. From floods to fires, those who model the changes, who provide solutions, and who lead us through the next chapter will be the youth. They will not only bear the burden of an inherited environment fraught with signs of collapse, they are also tasked with conserving plant and animal species, managing sustainable growth, and finding solutions to unforeseen problems yet to arise.

We need future leaders to be inspired and informed about the dangers our communities are facing in a changing future.

Arts & Creativity

Not everything is doom and gloom. From darkness comes light. Creativity and artistic expression are fantastic ways to let off steam, express inner emotion, and inspire others to action. Creating a new path forward will require different ways of seeing things. We need the artists, the visionaries, and those who think outside the box to be encouraged to develop their voices. Art and science will both need to play a role, working hand in hand to guide us through a changing planet.

Mental Health Services

Recovering from a life-altering disaster can take more than just rebuilding. Losing your home in a fire, flood, or other natural disaster can be one of the most tragic events in life. The collective trauma experienced by our communities last year is punctuated by the individual trauma of possessions lost, homes destroyed, and lives uprooted. We will need mental health services for acute loss as well as long-term support for everyone recovering. Mental health, therapy, and wellness programs can benefit anyone but are especially helpful for those in marginalized communities of all kinds.

Healthcare Services

The unfortunate reality is that the impact of natural disasters can often be measured in human loss. Although the impact of property damage and the loss of one’s home are completely devastating, the dire truth is more of us will be in need of medical care following weather events. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of future disasters. The warming environment can absorb more energy, meaning storms will be stronger and potentially more lethal. Communities will need robust healthcare services capable of handling all types of injuries.

Hospitals:
Boulder (not including branches) – 2
Carbon Valley (Frederick, Firestone, Dacono) – 2
Lafayette – 1
Longmont – 3
Louisville – 1
Superior – 1
Thornton – 3
Westminster – 4

The unfortunate reality is that the impact of natural disasters can often be measured in human loss.

Disaster Preparedness

Community effort is needed to prepare any city for natural disaster. From diligent homeowners clearing their brush to the local city inspector checking for code violations to the countywide disaster plans once tragedy strikes, there are numerous ways a neighborhood can prepare for and help mitigate damage from wildfires, floods, wind events, and other storms.

Destruction left by the Marshall Fire. Photo courtesy of Dan Bruder.

Rebuilding

Unless you have previous construction experience, the rebuilding process can be convoluted and fraught with red tape. The permitting process can seem unnecessarily complicated and move as slow as molasses at times. Finding a licensed, experienced, and reliable contractor is another can of worms. Then the actual construction begins. It is a stark reminder to have adequate insurance and be aware of the risk of natural disaster. Now that recovery has begun, what communities are doing the most to help their residents rebuild from the Marshall Fire?

Affordable Housing

Sometimes rebuilding is not feasible. Sometimes it is best to move on. There is no one answer to everyone affected by disaster. Every individual and family will need to come to their own best solution.  For those who choose to move to a new location, cost can often be the prohibitive factor. Insurance can help, but we know that too many homeowners were under-insured and face massive costs after the Marshall Fire. The cost of rebuilding and recovering, plus the stress of navigating an insurance company that probably is not covering everything you need can be daunting. Finding an affordable place to live in a new community can be the beginning to the end of your stresses, or it can be another nightmare of its own.

Non-Profit Organizations

Shifting our society away from a carbon-based fuel system driven by for-profit corporations is a monumental task. The largest entities are often the largest polluters. Help support the local non-profits that make the world just that much better by doing their important and varied work. If you have the time, get involved and make a donation out of your time. If not, they always appreciate a monetary contribution for their efforts as well. Either way, let’s make a difference.

Number of Non-Profit Organizations:
Boulder – 5,402
Erie – 5,882
Lafayette – 5,864
Longmont – 5,100
Louisville – 5,890
Lyons – 5,447
Niwot – 5,067
Superior – 5,452
Thornton – 5,199
Westminster – 5504

Local Farming

Sustainability comes in many forms, but some of the impactful ways to move towards a greener future is to grow your own food, or at least support those that do. Transporting food across the globe uses massive amounts of fossil fuels. Climate crises will make it more difficult to grow certain crops and nearly ensures that some yields will fail. Farming locally creates a stalwart community more resilient to global uncertainty and more connected to the earth locally.

Boulder County Farm Data:
Over 1,000 Farms in Boulder County
13,000 Acres of Irrigated Crops
3,000 Acres of Dryland Crops
90% of all crops end up in our food system

The post Let’s Celebrate What Local Neighborhoods Are Doing to Help Adapt to Climate Change appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By: Jennifer Oldham for ProPublica (AP Storyshare)

Sheriff’s deputies driving 45 mph couldn’t outpace the flames. Dense smoke, swirling dust and flying plywood obscured the firestorm’s growth and direction, delaying evacuations.

Within minutes, landscaped islands in a Costco parking lot in Superior, Colorado, caught fire as structures became the inferno’s primary fuel. It consumed the Element Hotel, as well as part of a Tesla service center, a Target and the entire Sagamore neighborhood. Across a six-lane freeway, in the town of Louisville, flames rocketed through parks and climbed wooden fences, setting homes ablaze. They spread from one residence to the next in a mere eight minutes, reaching temperatures as high as 1,650 degrees.

On Dec. 30, 2021, more than 35,000 people in Superior and Louisville, as well as unincorporated Boulder County, fled the fire — some so quickly they left barefoot and without their pets. Firefighters abandoned miles of hose in neighborhood driveways to escape.

The Marshall Fire, the most destructive in Colorado history, killed two people and incinerated 1,084 residences and seven businesses within hours. Financial losses are expected to top $2 billion.

The blaze showed that Colorado and much of the West face a fire threat unlike anything they have seen. No longer is the danger limited to homes adjacent to forests. Urban areas are threatened, too.

Yet despite previous warnings of this new threat, ProPublica found Colorado’s response hasn’t kept pace. Legislative efforts to make homes safer by requiring fire-resistant materials in their construction have been repeatedly stymied by developers and municipalities, while taxpayers shoulder the growing cost to put out the fires and rebuild in their aftermath.

The Marshall Fire Burned Grasslands to the West Before Consuming Neighborhoods and Shopping Centers in Boulder County. Satellite imagery was taken in 2019, two years before the Marshall Fire, and obtained via NAIP. Credit: Map by Lucas Waldron/ProPublica

Many residents are unaware they are now at risk because federal and state wildfire forecasts and maps also haven’t kept pace with the growing danger to their communities. Indeed, some wildland fire forecasts model urban areas as “non-burnable,” even though the Marshall Fire proved otherwise.

The disaster put an exclamation point on what scientists, planners and federal officials warned for years: Communities outside the traditional wildland-urban interface, or WUI, are now vulnerable as a changing climate, overgrown forests and explosive development across the West fuel ever-unpredictable fire behavior. Fire experts define the WU  zzz I, pronounced woo-ee, as areas where plants such as trees, shrubs and grasses are near, or mixed with, homes, power lines, businesses and other human development.

They now agree that instead of a threat confined to the WUI, the entire state, including areas far from forests, may be at risk of a conflagration.

“The Marshall Fire was a horrible, tragic event that served as a wake-up call for the rest of our state,” said state Rep. Lisa Cutter, a Democrat who represents mountain and foothill areas. “I don’t think we realized how much wildfire could impact communities that aren’t deep in the forest — it’s not something any of us are immune to.”

Unheeded Warnings

Data Source: Colorado Forest Atlas. Map by Lucas Waldron/ProPublica.

An early warning of the growing danger to suburban communities arrived in 2001. That year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies identified scores of Colorado municipalities adjacent to public lands as being at high risk of a wildland blaze-turned-urban conflagration. Some of these areas burned in the Marshall Fire.

A decade later, in 2012, another warning came, as an unprecedented weather-driven inferno, the Waldo Canyon Fire, destroyed several Colorado Springs neighborhoods.

Afterward, fire experts urged state lawmakers to adopt a model building code that communities in high-risk areas could enact. Such codes have been scientifically proven to reduce risk for residents and rescuers and to increase the odds structures will withstand a blaze by requiring fire-resistant materials on siding, roofs, decks and fences, along with mesh-covered vents that prevent embers from entering.

But lawmakers bowed to pressure from building and real estate lobbyists as well as municipal officials who demanded local control over private property.

Meanwhile, the number of new homes built in Colorado’s WUI — as defined by researchers several years ago — more than doubled between 1990 and 2020. And nationwide, the WUI is growing by 2 million acres a year. Homes in 70,000 communities worth $1.3 trillion are now within the path of a firestorm, according to a June report from the U.S. Fire Administration that featured photos of the Marshall Fire’s destruction.

Over 40,000 Residential Structures Were Built in the Areas Now Considered Wildland-Urban Interface in Boulder County Between 1990 and 2022. The location of each dot was determined by the geographic centroid of the parcel containing it. In rural areas, the dots may not reflect the exact location of the building. The WUI boundaries are from the 2017 Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment, which are the most recent boundaries contained in the Colorado Forest Atlas. Credit: Data Source: Boulder County Assessor’s Office. Graphic by Lucas Waldron/ProPublica.

In the months that followed the Marshall Fire, there were again calls to consider a statewide building code. A last-minute amendment to a fire mitigation bill in May would have created a board to develop statewide building rules, but it was pulled after builders, real estate agents, municipalities and others opposed it.

It wasn’t the first time the state’s powerful building industry asserted its influence over policy. Whenever a wildfire bill comes to the state legislature, well-heeled lobbyists routinely represent the industry, records kept by the Colorado secretary of state show. The state’s culture of local control and the construction industry’s $25 billion annual contribution to the economy hampered lawmakers’ ability to find middle ground on a minimum statewide building code.

ProPublica’s review of legislation introduced from 2014 to 2022 found only 15 out of 77 wildfire-related bills focused primarily on helping homeowners mitigate their risk from fires. Most of the 15 proposals offered incentives to homeowners and communities through income tax deductions or grants — some of which required municipalities to raise matching funds — to clear vegetation around structures.

None called for mandatory building requirements in wildfire-prone areas, even as 15 of the 20 largest wildfires in state history have occurred since 2012.

The lack of uniform regulations has cost the Centennial State millions in federal grant money: The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the state grants from the agency’s resilient infrastructure funds, which from fiscal 2020 to 2022 totaled $101 million.

Colorado remains one of only eight states without a minimum construction standard for homes.

Municipalities Weigh Prevention and Its Cost

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. The Marshall Fire incinerated 550 homes and businesses in the city. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica.

Developers have also influenced municipalities’ recent decisions, as homes decimated by the Marshall Fire are rebuilt in Boulder County, and the cities of Superior and Louisville located within it. The debate has reflected difficult tradeoffs between the cost of making homes more fire-resistant — particularly in an era of high inflation and unpredictable supply chains — and residents’ tolerance for risk.

Lawmakers in Louisville, where 550 homes and businesses burned, voted to remove a fire sprinkler requirement for homes, citing cost, despite evidence such systems reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 80%. The City Council also voted to allow residents to choose whether to follow new energy efficiency requirements estimated to add $5,000 to $100,000 to the cost of a new home.

By contrast, in unincorporated Boulder County, which lost 157 homes to the Marshall Fire, commissioners in June voted to require fire-resistant materials on all new and renovated homes. Before the inferno, the eastern grasslands were exempt. (Mountain residents, who since 1989 have been required to follow mitigation practices, have seen the effectiveness of such codes: Eight out of 10 of their homes survived the Fourmile Canyon Fire in 2010.)

In Superior, which lost 378 structures, the Board of Trustees voted down a proposed citywide WUI building code in May. After residents of the leveled Sagamore neighborhood requested they revisit their decision, trustees reconsidered in July.

The financial pressures facing Superior officials and their constituents were evident as they considered whether to require fire-resistant materials solely for homes destroyed by the Marshall Fire or for the entire city.

“This is all a huge cost we cannot bear,” said Robert Lousberg, a resident who wants to rebuild several homes. “I understood this is a once-in-a-lifetime fire.”

Some neighbors disagreed.

“Sagamore burned down in less than an hour — one of my neighbors ended up in the hospital after trying to escape the fire on foot — that’s the main reason we need these codes, to slow the spread of fire,” Dan Cole said. “We have an opportunity to build a more fire-resistant neighborhood right now, and it would be foolish and short sighted not to take it.”

Builders estimated that costs for tempered-glass windows, fire-resistant siding and other materials could reach $5,500 to $30,000 per home. Procuring the materials and labor to install them could delay rebuilding.

Like residents, town trustees were divided about whether the cost outweighed safety benefits to residents and first responders should there be another conflagration.

“To me, it’s unconscionable to have people rebuilding in an unsafe manner,” said Trustee Laura Skladzinski, who did not seek reelection last month. “I would rather have residents pay $20,000 now. If they cannot afford it, how are they going to be able to afford it when their house burns down?”

Some noted that most residents didn’t have enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding their homes.

Trustee Neal Shah said the city should have adopted tougher codes after the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, which prompted calls for a voluntary statewide building code that communities could institute requiring fire-resistant materials in homes.

“I fundamentally believe in WUI standards,” Shah said, “what I can’t solve is the math.”

The body voted 5-1 to institute the code, then added an opt-out clause for those rebuilding their residences.

Colorado Springs Fire Foreshadowed the Risks

A decade before the Marshall Fire, a blaze was burning in the mountains above Colorado Springs on a 101-degree June day. That afternoon a thunderstorm caused a sudden shift in the wind, pushing a wall of burning debris out of the Rocky Mountain foothills into the state’s second-largest city.

Firefighters fled the 750-foot-high fire front — as tall as a 53-floor building — as it chewed through pine, pinyon and juniper dried by a record-hot spring. Sixty-mile-per-hour gusts peeled back the door on a fire truck. Fist-sized embers rained down on the city’s Mountain Shadows community. The fire incinerated 79 homes per hour, or 1.3 per minute, over 5 ½ hours, a report found.

The Waldo Canyon Fire killed two people. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

In the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon Fire, which destroyed 347 homes and killed two people, Colorado Springs drew lessons from which residences had survived and capitalized on fresh memories of burned neighborhoods to institute tougher building requirements.

Standing recently in the shade of a still-scorched tree behind her home, Patty Johnson described how her house was relatively unscathed, even as eight of her neighbors lost their residences. She credited ignition-resistant materials, including stucco walls, siding, a composite deck and a concrete tile roof. Drought-resistant landscaping also helped. Her family sold the home in September to move into a smaller place in the city.

Patty Johnson. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

After-action reports found neighbors’ work clearing vegetation around homes helped firefighters save 82% of residences in the 28-square-mile burn area.

FEMA estimated that minimal expenditures to protect Colorado Springs neighborhoods had paid off. In Cedar Heights, $300,000 in mitigation had prevented about $77 million in losses.

“The Waldo Canyon Fire was shocking, but it could have been so much worse if the city of Colorado Springs had not spent decades getting ready,” said Molly Mowery, co-founder of the Community Wildfire Planning Center.

Even so, the fire reached 2,000 degrees and moved so fast it incinerated some homes with fire-resistant material and fire-proof safes inside.

Nevertheless, the city followed a 30-year pattern and took its lessons to heart to institute additional building requirements to fortify homes in wildfire-prone areas. Timing was everything, Mowery’s nonprofit concluded in a recently released analysis.

The city had done the same in 2002. With smoke still in the air following the Hayman Fire — which started about 35 miles northwest of the city and destroyed 600 structures — a coalition of fire officials, homeowners’ associations and local builders and roofing contractors devised rules that banned wood roofs on all new homes and repairs greater than 25% of the total roof area.

Similarly, after the Waldo Canyon Fire, as heavy machinery cleared charred neighborhoods, the city updated its code to increase the distance trees had to be from homes and require fire protection systems, ignition-resistant siding and decks, and double-paned windows for all new or reconstructed homes in hillside areas.

Fire officials used spatial technology to hone the city’s definition of the WUI. The tool identified a 32,655-acre area — one of the largest high-risk regions in the United States. The city recruited homeowners to educate neighbors in the threatened area about fire-resistant practices.

Peer pressure worked, said Ashley Whitworth, wildfire mitigation program administrator at the Colorado Springs Fire Department. If a homeowner’s property is flagged red on the city’s online risk assessment map (denoting it needs work), neighbors reach out to learn why they haven’t completed mitigation.

Ashley Whitworth. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

Colorado Springs’ voters overwhelmingly approved the allocation of $20 million in city funds toward incentives to gird wildfire-prone properties.

Days after the vote in November 2021, the Marshall Fire unfolded 90 miles to the north across communities with little history of wildfire mitigation.

Scientists, some of whom lived in Boulder County and were evacuated, proclaimed it a “climate fire.” They cited the extreme weather that preceded it: Abnormally high levels of snow and rain in spring and summer had nurtured abundant 4-foot grasses that baked to a crisp during a historically dry fall. Chinook winds blasted the region for an unusual nine-hour period and propelled the firestorm. And even though there’s growing understanding that fire season is now year-round, no one believed a December blaze could ravage entire cities.

While it began as a wildfire in grassland, once it reached nearby communities it transformed into an urban conflagration — the type of fire that destroyed Chicago in 1871 and San Francisco in 1906 and that until the early 20th century consumed more property than any other type of natural disaster.

“Was this a wildland fire or an urban fire?” Sterling Folden, deputy chief of the Mountain View Fire Protection District, asked during a July legislative committee meeting. “I had five fire trucks in the entire downtown of Superior — I had 20 blocks on fire — I usually have that many for one house on fire.”

Whitworth, of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, said there were more lessons to learn about the threat of wildfire.

“The Marshall Fire was a really big hit for people here because it happened in December and it happened just like that,” Whitworth said. “Everyone said to me, ‘It could happen here,’ and I said, ‘You’re absolutely right.’”

Is the Entire State Now Vulnerable to Wildfire?

With the 2023 legislative session days away, fire chiefs, county commissioners, scientists and planners are once again calling on Colorado lawmakers to institute statewide rules that mandate fire-resistant materials in high-risk areas.

Cutter, who will be sworn in as a state senator in January, is developing a bill that would require the state to create a WUI code board to write minimum fire-resistant building requirements. It’s patterned in part after the amendment that failed at the Capitol this spring.

Such laws save lives, said Mike Morgan, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The 36-year fire service veteran cited studies from the nonprofit Fire Safety Research Institute and the federal National Institute of Standards and Technology showing that building codes work.

“Firefighters take extraordinary risk to protect lives and property,” he added. “If we start building communities and structures out of materials more resistive to fire, we are upping our odds of success — we’ve got to do something different and do it better.”

The insurance industry is also warning that if Colorado lawmakers and communities don’t reinforce homes against wildfire, mounting claims from blazes could put premiums out of reach for many. The industry supports a statewide building code.

“Unlike other disasters, wildfire is one of those risks there is much we can do from a mitigation standpoint to put odds at least in favor of that home surviving,” said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

“We’ve got to get it done,” she added. “Colorado right now is at … a tipping point with concerns about keeping insurance here and keeping insurance available.”

But such rules won’t be adopted without a compromise among local control advocates, builders and fire officials.

Construction industry representatives who met with Cutter and Morgan recently said builders are wary of one-size-fits-all requirements imposed by the state. Together with the insurance industry and municipal governments, they have met the past few months seeking to influence the bill’s language.

“It’s important to make sure we match codes with risk,” said Ted Leighty, chief executive of the Colorado Association of Home Builders. His members “are not opposed to talking about what a code board might look like — if we were to adopt a model code that local governments could adopt to match their communities’ needs.”

The idea for such a board emerged after the Colorado Fire Commission received a letter from Gov. Jared Polis in July 2021.

The first-term Democrat, who was reelected in November, sent the missive following conflagrations in 2020 that exhibited unimaginable fire behavior: The 193,812-acre East Troublesome Fire traveled 25 miles overnight and incinerated 366 homes; and the 208,913-acre Cameron Peak Fire, which torched 461 structures, burned for four months despite firefighters’ efforts.

Polis wrote that legislators in 2021 had failed to “address a critical piece of the wildfire puzzle in Colorado: land use planning, development and building resiliency in the wildland-urban interface.”

Instead, lawmakers focused on fire response, restoration of burned lands and voluntary mitigation by communities.

In answer to Polis’ missive, a little-known subcommittee, which included state, county and city fire officials, met between August 2021 and April. The 51-member group agreed it’s time to rethink which communities are prone to wildfire, offering a new definition of the WUI: The group concluded “almost the entire state of Colorado falls within the WUI,” according to minutes from a Feb. 10 meeting, “which could make a strong argument for adopting a minimum code.”

Fire officials also countered the long-held belief that communities favor local control over building requirements. They pointed to a 2019 law that established a minimum energy code that local jurisdictions must adopt when they update local building codes. About 86% of the state’s 5 million residents now live in a community that mandates such measures.

“There is minimal evidence that people voluntarily regulate themselves,” committee members concluded, according to minutes of their Feb. 28 meeting.

Rebuilding Like Before

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

A report on the Marshall Fire released in October by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control noted how wooden fences abuting grasslands had accelerated the blaze’s spread, leading flames from the grass directly to homes. Firefighters also described fence pickets flying past at 80 mph and landing to start new fires.

This month, as homes were being rebuilt on Cherrywood Lane in Louisville, in one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, evidence remained of first responders’ frantic efforts to cut down fences to prevent them from spreading flames to neighboring homes.

New homes are going up across the 9-square-mile burn zone. A recent drive through the area revealed many are being rebuilt with the same kinds of fences. With no building code dictating that the fences be made of fire-resistant materials, homeowners are using flammable materials that have been standard in the past, unaware it will again put them at risk in the next blaze.

Wooden fences such as these touch homes and grasslands in communities up and down the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains.

Rebuilding without ignition-resistant barriers leaves the homes vulnerable to the next climate-driven wildfire, said Morgan, the state fire chief.

This month, with snow on the ground and temperatures in the 40s, another blaze ignited not far from where the Marshall Fire burned. Thirty-five-mile-per-hour winds spread the flames and forced evacuations before the threat subsided.

“I’ve heard people say the Marshall Fire was just a fluke,” he said. “I would disagree — there are literally thousands of communities along the Front Range of the Rockies from Canada to New Mexico subject to these Chinook winds multiple times a year, and when the conditions are right this can happen.”

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.

The post Wildfires in Colorado Are Growing More Unpredictable. Officials Have Ignored the Warnings. appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

• January 6th Select Committee refers former President Donald Trump to the Justice Dept. for felony charges. The Committee’s charges include insurrection, obstruction of the proceeding, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Four Trump allies, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Scott Perry, and Andy Biggs, all Republicans, were also referred to the House Ethics Committee for a failure to comply.
• Brittney Griner is released from a Russian labor camp. The WNBA star was released in an exchange between the United States and Russia. Convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was swapped for Griner, who was accused and convicted of possessing marijuana. Welcome home Brittney!
• UN Member Nations Oust Iran from Women’s Rights Panel. This obvious move was the latest effort by the international community to condemn the Iranian government’s crackdown on widespread protest and unrest. The women’s movement to remove the requirement to wear a hijab had been met with violence.
• President Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act. The newly signed bill recognizes a national right to a same-sex marriage, and mitigates the potential impact of a conservative Superme Court overturning the currently established law. Governor Polis was a strong advocate for this bill during his time in Congress.
• Kyrsten Sinema switches party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. Just as her relevance as a swing vote was fading, Sinema once again captures a news cycle by announcing she is leaving the Democratic party. Sinema consistently voted against progressive policies as a Democrat, leading many to doubt that her party affiliation will change the landscape of Congress.
• FTX’s co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried is arrested in the Bahamas and extradited to the U.S. in connection to the collapse of the crypto-exchange company he founded. He was released on a $250 million bond and is now on house arrest.
• Argentina defeats France to win the World Cup. Lionell Messi helps lead his team to victory in what many are calling the best final match ever, despite the numerous off-field scandals involving FIFA and the host nation, Qatar.
• 25 People arrested in Germany for an attempted plot to overthrow the democratic government. Raids were conducted across the country in a coordinated infiltration of an extremist group plotting a coup against the democratically elected government.
• December 30th marks the one year anniversary of the Marshall Fire that swept through Superior, Louisville and parts of Boulder County forever changing the landscape of these treasured towns.
• 2 Killed in Shooting at Jehovah’s Witness Church in Thornton. The Christmas Day shooting happened when no services were occuring. Authorities say a man shot his wife before taking his own life. There was no threat of wider violence to the public.
• University of Colorado Football program hires Deion Sanders as Head Coach. The former NFL superstar coached Jackson State for their recent winning seasons but prompted controversy by leaving for CU Boulder. Jackson State is a historically black college and critics say Sanders left early after promising the college he would remain at the helm.
• The District Attorney filed hundreds of hate crime and murder charges against the Club Q shooter. Attorney for the 4th District Michael Allen filed the charges as a clear message to the community as well as the shooter that the DA will take a strong stand. Bias-motivated charges have also been filed under a new Colorado Law that allows additional prosecution for crimes committed against specific groups of people.

Small Talk

“The testing stems from a recent spike in reports of individuals smoking in public restrooms over the past four weeks. On two occasions, city employees were evaluated and cleared of ongoing health concerns after experiencing symptoms consistent with a potential exposure to meth residue or fumes.”

– Boulder City Staff regarding the closure of Arapaho Ave. Library due to presence of methamphetamine in the air conditioning system.

“A key contributor during the winningest four-year period in franchise history, Ronnie was part of two Super Bowl teams and led the Broncos in rushing during our Super Bowl 50 championship season.”

– Denver Broncos statement on the passing of Ronnie Hillman, age 31.

“We will celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there will be no electricity. Millions won’t have neither heating nor running water. All of these will be the result of Russian missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure.”

– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his December 21st address to Congress.

“I am ready for my next chapter outside of this golden dome as I plan to continue to work for the people of Colorado… With my fellow Latino legislators, we have grown our caucus to 14 members, the largest in Colorado history. I am proud of our work to engage Latinos across our state and ensure the needs and concerns of our Latino communities are addressed. This outreach and advocacy will continue under their watchful eyes, and I look forward to seeing their continued impact.”

– Colorado State Representative Adrienne Benavidez said in her resignation letter.

“It’s happening all over the place, and it’s very alarming for publishers and the larger book world.”

– Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times writer on banned books.

“It’s a great tragedy that for 1,500 fish there was no chance of survival. The focus in the afternoon was clearly on saving the fish in the remaining tanks.”

– Almut Neumann, Berlin City Official on the AquaDom Aquarium collapse.

By The Numbers

The post Month in Review | January 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Superior’s Marshall Fire Solidarity Breakfast, commemorating the Marshall Fire and Wind event, will be hosted at the Superior Community Center (1500 Coalton Road) on December 30 from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.

This event will be an open-house-style breakfast featuring donations from Santiago’s, Serendipity, Huckleberry, Moxie Bread Company, Chick-Fil-A, Louisville United Methodist Church, and Louisville Rising. A local jazz pianist will provide music for the morning. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Family-friendly crafts and activities will be hosted by the Superior Youth Leadership Council and Snapology. Mental, emotional and social support will be offered by local professionals throughout the event.

Please join us as we support each other as one community.

Community Story-Telling

Directly following the breakfast, Superior Rising, in partnership with Colorado Public Radio, will host a story telling session. This will be an hour-long structured event featuring pre-determined speakers. Speakers wishing to participate must contact Superior Rising before the event. Everyone affected by the fire is welcome to listen, and there will likely be an open mic session for those wishing to share their story but are not included speakers in the programing.

The post Superior to Host Marshall Fire Solidarity Breakfast and Community Story-Telling Open to All appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FEMA News Release 

Seguido en Español

FEMA has approved another $1.5 million in Public Assistance funding for the cost of fighting the Marshall Fire in Boulder County. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued by President Biden on Dec. 31, 2021.

The Marshall fire which began on December 30, 2021, burned across open grassland space and into the communities of Louisville and Superior destroying more than 1,000 homes, 200 commercial structures, and causing major damage to infrastructure in Boulder County.

The FEMA grant will provide an additional $1.5 million to Boulder County for the cost of managing the Marshall Fire response and subsequent recovery efforts.  The total FEMA Public Assistance funds provided to the State of Colorado for the Marshall Fire is now more than $37 million.

The FEMA Public Assistance program provides funding to governmental agencies and certain private non-profits for eligible disaster response costs and to repair or replace damaged public infrastructure. For more information about the Public Assistance program, visit: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.

FEMA concede $1.5 millones más para la recuperación del incendio Marshall

La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés) ha aprobado $1.5 millones más en fondos de asistencia pública para ayudar con el costo de la lucha contra el incendio Marshall en el condado de Boulder. La ayuda se otorgó bajo una declaración de desastre mayor emitida por el presidente Biden el 31 de diciembre de 2021.

El incendio Marshall, el cual comenzó el 30 de diciembre de 2021, quemó a través de los espacios abiertos de los pastizales y llegó a las comunidades de Louisville y Superior, destruyendo más de 1,000 casas, 200 estructuras comerciales y causando grandes daños en infraestructuras en el condado de Boulder.

La subvención de FEMA proporcionará $1.5 millones adicionales al condado de Boulder para el costo que implica el manejo de la respuesta al incendio Marshall y los esfuerzos de recuperación posteriores. El total de los fondos de asistencia pública de FEMA proporcionados al Estado de Colorado para el incendio Marshall es ahora de más de $37 millones.

El programa de Asistencia Pública de FEMA proporciona financiación a las agencias gubernamentales y a ciertas organizaciones privadas sin ánimo de lucro para los costos elegibles de respuesta a desastres y para reparar o reemplazar la infraestructura pública dañada. Para más información sobre el programa de Asistencia Pública, visite: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.

The post FEMA Awards Another $1.5 Million For Marshall Fire Recovery appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo: Judi Morell

• On November 15, Former President Trump announced his plan to run for President again in 2024 amid continued investigations into his criminal activities including the events of January 6th, 2020 and the discovery of stolen classified documents at his Mar-a-lago resort.
• A blast killed two people in Poland on November 16. According to NATO and the Polish government, the blast likely resulted from a stray Ukrainian defense missile responding to an incoming Russian barrage.
• On November 16, NASA successfully launched its first rocket in its Artemis project. The unmanned flight will go around the moon and is a test meant to be the first step in returning astronauts to the moon after decades of missions aimed at low-Earth orbit.
• On November 16, the US Senate advanced legislation to protect same-sex marriage. In a 62-37 vote, 12 Republicans voted with all Democrats to move forward with the bill. It is expected to pass where it will then move to the House for approval.
• On November 16, it was announced that Republicans had flipped the House back in their favor. Although a so-called “red wave” was predicted by Republicans, the majority is extremely slim and took nearly a week of vote-counting for it to be clear that the party had won the majority.
• In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Michigan, California and Vermont voters all approved sweeping amendments to their states’ constitutions guaranteeing the right to abortion and other reproductive health services. This comes after it was announced that Kentucky voters rejected an anti-abortion amendment meant to insulate a state abortion ban.
• On November 4, Elon Musk assumed his position as CEO of social media company Twitter after his acquisition of the company. He immediately laid off half the company’s staff and implemented certain content bans as to what users could post, contradictory to his promises that his acquisition would create greater opportunities for free speech.
• Aaron Carter, who became a beloved teen-sensation in the early 2000’s, was found dead at age 34 at his home on November 5th.
• Colorado Governor Jared Polis won another term over his opponent Heidi Ganahl.
• After a neck-and-neck race, it was announced that Lauren Boebert, the controversial representative of Colorado’s 3rd district, had beaten her opponent, Adam Frisch, by 0.2% of votes. The race result will undergo a mandatory recount.
• Colorado voters voted to legalize psilocybin and psychedelic therapy, becoming the second state to do so after Oregon did in 2020. Similarly to Oregon, Colorado voters also approved Proposition 122 which will decriminalize the growing, use, and possession of psychedelic mushrooms.
• Nathaniel Stark, a 27 year old Boulder man, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for second-degree sexual assault. Stark had previously pleaded guilty to the abuse of his former girlfriend’s pet cats and dog and is serving a 3 year sentence for animal abuse concurrently with the 12 year second-degree sexual assault sentence. The courts have labeled Stark as a “violent sexual offender,” a designation given to sexual offenders deemed likely to reoffend.
• On November 18, Colorado Open Lands granted permanent protection to the Tucker Open Space outside of Nederland. The 323-acre space was privately owned until it was purchased in 2020 by Boulder County.

Small Talk

“We are willing to look at it operationally. There are things we can do. I think as you suggested — off hours (on) Saturdays — we may be able to come to some agreements on that at an operational level. I think it’s something that through the negotiation, I think we were pretty consistent that the school district was not willing to accept that.”

– Boulder Valley Senior Planner Glen Segrue in regards to the negotiations surrounding the controversial proposal for Boulder Valley School District to annex 48 acres at 6500 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder for its Education Center property and a modular home factory for students to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s quite a bit busier. Everyone working together to keep the clients safe and warm helps us not burn ourselves out, which is kind of our goal this winter.”

– Larry Jacobs, a professor of political history, elections and voting behavior at the University of Minnesota, in regards to election deniers reportedly increasing efforts to sabotage upcoming elections.

“We are excited to announce our ice rink is back for passengers and community members to enjoy.”

– Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington in regard to the return of its ice rink to its outdoor plaza which has been shut down since 2020 due to COVID.

“I’ve been processing flowers and sweeping floors since I was little. I’ve been around the business for a really long time, but the transition from being around the business to being intimately involved with the business is pretty big.”

– Nate Golter, new owner of Longmont Florist, a 53-year town staple. Golter inherited the business from his grandfather, Gary.

By The Numbers

The post Month in Review | November 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Vice President and General Manager Chris Sheehan and Chef Luis Catzim. Photo: Deborah Cameron

Late in the day on a Saturday afternoon, the Eatery @ The Sport Stable (also known as The Hangry Horse) is an active place. It couldn’t really be any other way. Just to walk into their dining room, which is located as part of the Sport Stable facility at the end of Louisville’s Main Street, you pass a volleyball court and walk just outside two premium rinks used for ice hockey, curling, and skating lessons. Once you’re inside, if you look past the host stand, you see two more fields, a soccer field, batting cages, and volleyball courts.

Most of the tables were full of hockey families and sports fans during my visit, their chatter framed by the hum of multiple large screen TVs and activity at a full bar. Chris Sheehan, vice president and general manager of the restaurant owned by Rock Creek Entertainment, greeted me and introduced me to Chef Luis Catzim. I was interested in knowing about the restaurant and its business model that’s deeply intertwined with area youth sports. I started by trying to really understand what keeping up with a busy Saturday is typically like for him.

“Sometimes maintaining all of this is like juggling,” he admitted before shifting to the positive, “but I’ve been in hospitality for years. I still like that moment when I’m anticipating the customer’s needs and fulfilling them.”

It’s good to see the Eatery @ the Sport Stable is doing so well, given what it’s been through. As with the rest of the hospitality industry as well as the wider world, they grappled with the pandemic. Throughout it, the owners kept the core group of staff employed and converted their business to takeout through DoorDash and Grubhub. They managed to get through those difficulties and come out the other side.

But then came the Marshall Fire.

There aren’t too many places where you can look from a balcony and see where the fire started, but you can do that from the Eatery @ The Sport Stable. It was that close to the ignition site. Furthermore, because it was experiencing a remodel, the devastating smoke and ash affected the site even harder than it otherwise would have.

Chef Luis Catzim. Photo: Deborah Cameron

Catzim was employed the whole time and remembers what happened when the fires occurred. He remembers getting the phone call and coming to the realization that the kitchen he spent so much time in, his kitchen, was in the line of fire. He couldn’t do much but tried to help, or standby, while the owners worked through the aftermath. Sheehan said that once the fire danger was past, though the structure remained, there was soot and smoke damage everywhere. Much had to be rebuilt.

As is the case with many other places, the restaurant is a survivor and it’s continuing to serve the public and sports families like it has always done. Catzim is back behind the stove serving some of his favorite dishes. Families are loving the pizzas that are coming out of their brick ovens, and Catzim is happily making his own favorites including the Quesa Birria tacos with braised beef, pickled onions, and avocado, and the Philly Wrap, a play on the French Dip but in a tortilla and unique to the restaurant.

The menu items reflect Catzim’s passion for creating things that are fresh.  “Everything is homemade. The salsa, the toppings. When I inherited this kitchen, they were already on the menu, but I changed the flavors. Now, when the plates from tacos and wraps come back, they’re all clean. There’s not much left for the dishwashers to do.

Originally from the Mexican state of Yucatán, Chef Catzim loves fresh flavors but aside from the items he had me try, one of the things he said he’d really like to create some day is ceviche, a recipe he learned from his grandmother. “Ten hours marinating. Don’t shortcut.” Ingredients he likes to use include octopus, crab, mango, avocado, and lime.

Photo credit: Deborah Cameron

He’s also a fan of the Yucatán taco, featuring a thicker homemade tortilla, almost like a flatbread, stuffed with ground beef, cabbage, or mixed greens.

Chef Catzim and Sheehan are excited to be where they are. They’re focusing on the future rather than dwelling on a stressful past. The concept is poised to grow, with more stores on Louisville’s Main Street coming. All signs point to more tacos, pizza wraps, and good times coming out of this place for years to come.

The post Off Menu with… Chef Luis Catzim | Eatery @ the Sport Stable appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Nury Martinez

• On Oct. 18th, President Joe Biden made a pledge to Congress promising that, if Democrats can hold on to their majority, the first bills he will sign into law in 2023 will protect abortion rights. 
• On October 6th, President Biden pardoned all people federally convicted on marijuana charges. He also announced an investigation into the drug’s federal classification. 
• On October 13th, it was reported that the January 6th panel plans to subpoena former President Trump in regards to his actions during the Capitol riot. 
• Angela Lansbury, star of the beloved mystery show Murder, She Wrote, passed away on October 11th at the age of 96.
• Nury Martinez, the Los Angeles city council president, was called on by President Biden to resign after audio of her making racist remarks was leaked. 
• Uvalde, Texas suspended its entire police force on October 7th amid protest of its response to the May 24th mass shooting. 
• The approved $1 million from Denver’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has begun to be distributed. The ARPA will distribute the money in 3 stages to around 4,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity as a result of inflation and the COVID pandemic. 
• FEMA has awarded $3.4 million dollars to the state of Colorado to support Marshall Fire Recovery efforts. 
• CU Boulder has expanded its parental leave policy with benefits to employees kicking in immediately.
• A Longmont man named Sammy Valdez that has been suspected in connection with a Lafayette fentanyl overdose has begun his trial. 
• On Thursday October 6th, Yellow Scene was the first publication to report on the disappearance of Chloe Campbell. Previously listed by police as a runaway, Boulder Police Department was flooded by calls the following day which ultimately caused them to escalate the case on Saturday, October 8th, and formally investigate it. This resulted in Campbell being found and returned to her family on October 10th. 
• On October 18th, an amber alert was put out for A’myah Gordon, a 10-month old from Aurora. She was last seen in the 14900 block of East Alameda Parkway in Aurora.
• Denver’s So Many Roads, a Grateful Dead-themed bar, has been ordered to close for the month of November in response to reports of employees dealing cocaine and other substances.

Small Talk

“Yeah, we’re back. That was checking off boxes. That was me two years ago, which is obviously I’m still me, but that was the mentality I was in. I’m back. Everybody knows I’m going to go get this bucket, and everybody has the belief that I’m going to go get this bucket.”

– Jamal Murray on his return to the Nuggets after receiving knee surgery.

“It’s moved from spur of the moment, ad hoc, to an organized, well-funded, premeditated effort to make charges of election fraud.”

– Larry Jacobs, a professor of political history, elections and voting behavior at the University of Minnesota, in regards to election deniers reportedly increasing efforts to sabotage upcoming elections. 

“We know that the last few years have been challenging. Some of the toughest years in our history. But we’ve never kept our eye off of keeping Colorado moving forward.”

– Governor Jared Polis during his contentious debate with opponent Heidi Ganahl. 

“About eight or nine years ago, KeHE said that we want to be more closely connected to the natural foods community and the epicenter of the natural foods industry.”

– Organic food company KeHE Distributions, LLC executive director of brands Ben Friedland in regards to doubling down on making Boulder its home with the opening of a new innovation center on 14th and Canyon.

“It can give exposure to the beauty and unique characteristics of Boulder to a broad audience. We want to continue to attract attention from the movie business.”

– President and CEO of Boulder Chamber of Commerce John Tayer in regards to a film titled “Elevation” starring Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin filming scenes in Boulder

By The Numbers

The post Month in Review | October 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

• The FBI reported finding empty folders meant for classified documents in their raid of Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort. 
• Queen Elizabeth died on September 8th at the age of 96. She will be succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.
• On September 28th, Hurricane Ian touched down in Fort Myers, Florida. A category 5 hurricane, it is one of the most powerful storms to hit the US in decades, with wind speeds being recorded at over 150 mph.
• On September 16th, the EPA announced it has granted $121 million in federal funding to Colorado for watersheds and clean drinking water as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 
• The U.S. Senate delayed their vote on a bill protecting same-sex marriage until after the midterm elections. 
• The body of Hillaree Nelson, a Coloradan extreme skier famed for reaching the summit of Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, was discovered in Kathmandu, Nepal. Reports say she was skiing Mount Manaslu and fell off the mountain. 
• A prescribed burn was scheduled on September 27th to teach fire investigation students. Conducted by West Metro Fire, the students will learn about fire prevention and management through the prescribed burn which lasted three days. 
• A Boulder woman, Laura McCall and her two sons disappeared abruptly on September 14th. The children were found the next morning alone in their mother’s car. McCall was soon found nearby and arrested on two charges of misdemeanor child abuse. The children were subsequently reunited with their father. 
• A 20 year old Greeley woman named Yareni Rios-Gonzalez was critically injured after being placed in the back of a police car that was parked on train tracks which was then hit by a train. She is expected to recover and no charges have been filed at this point.
• Disgraced pop star R. Kelly was charged with child sexual abuse and the production of child abuse imagery on September 14th. Kelly was already serving a 30-year sentence on charges of racketeering and child abuse and the new charges are expected to add to that sentence. 
• Amtrak halted all long distance trains in response to potential stoppages related to two prominent rail freight unions working out contract negotiations. 
• Famed rapper Coolio, known for his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” died at age 59 on September 28th. 

Small Talk

“Home prices in Colorado increased by 40% in less than two years, so I think what we are seeing now is a little bit of correction. Rising interest rates are tightening the market and I think we are switching from a seller’s market to a buyer’s one.”

– Nick VinZant, a senior research analyst at QuoteWizard, an insurance website, in regard to a decline in Colorado’s home prices. 

“That’s the past, and this is the now. I just know what we’re about to go out there and try to do. I know it’s going to be a great game in a rivalry between these two teams, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

– Broncos Coach Nathaniel Hackett in regard to the team’s game against the Raiders.

“We are trying to engage more volunteers all of the time. We want folks that want to do citizen science work. It is really important because it is just a snapshot, and it’s good to look at whether the water is improving or declining.”

– Barb Sheedlo, president of the St. Vrain Anglers Chapter, part of the national nonprofit Trout Unlimited regarding the “Citizen Scientist” program that allows volunteers to assist with the collection of aquatic macroinvertebrate to see whether diverse species are living in the waterways, which gives researchers insight into the health of the river system in the Longmont area.

“This was a pretty cool event, and we wanted to make sure everybody knew about it.”

– Mountain View Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Webb at an event honoring Addison Meyer, an Erie 11 year old that was commended for reporting a fire at a neighbor’s house before it got out of hand. 

“If you have received a settlement or denial letter from your insurance company, it’s important to share this information with FEMA. This information is crucial to updating your FEMA case.”

– A release reminding those attempting to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA after the Marshall Fires to make sure their applications are up to date.

By The Numbers

The post Month in Review | September 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

On December 30, 2021, hurricane force winds fueled the largest urban wildfire in Colorado history. The Marshall Fire burned 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. The next day, President Biden approved federal disaster assistance for Boulder County. More than $30 million from FEMA’s Public Assistance program has been provided to Boulder County and its communities. Most of the aid has been for debris removal efforts. Funds have also been provided for emergency response actions related to evacuations and debris removal, in addition to permanent repairs. There is a 90 percent federal cost-share for the program. FEMA Individual Assistance has paid $1,962,368 to Boulder County households. The program provides aid to ensure individuals are in safe housing and address critical unmet needs. FEMA also funded a crisis counseling program to support the behavioral health needs in the community. To lessen the impact of future wildfires, FEMA brought in a Mitigation Assessment Team. The team assessed post-fire conditions and building performance and will make recommendations on improving building codes.

This work will influence wildfire mitigation nationwide and help survivors to repair, retrofit, or rebuild safer & stronger. Learn how, find resources, & speak to a specialist. 833-FEMA-4-US (833-336-2487) or email fema-r8-hmhelp@fema.dhs.gov. Funds have been set aside for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. These serve as federal matching funds to support mitigation projects selected by the state. Communities statewide are eligible to apply for the program. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provided low-interest disaster loans to businesses and individuals to help with funding their recovery. SBA has approved $96,165,700 in loans to homeowners and $7,367,200 for businesses, for more than $103 million dollars to assist survivors.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion8

Learn more at fema.gov/disaster/4634 May 2022 2
DHSEM’s mission is to lead and support Colorado’s effort to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from
all-hazards events. Follow DHSEM on Twitter at https://Twitter.com/COEmergency or https://dhsem.colorado.gov/

(Featured photo provided by Robert Davis, Yellow Scene staff writer)

The post Boulder County Disaster – Six Months Later appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Louisville, CO. – On Saturday, June 18, 2022, GreenPoint Roofing will host a special evening at Louisville Community Park to honor the heroic first responders of the Marshall Fire. As we all know, December 30, 2021 was a day of vast devastation and heartbreak in the local communities of Louisville and Superior. The grief we feel over all that has been lost is immeasurable. Yet, when we think of that day, we are so incredibly grateful to the brave first responders who risked their lives to protect our beloved community. We look forward to a memorable night to honor these individuals and their enormous contributions.

The teams from Louisville Fire Protection District, Mountain View Fire Rescue, Lafayette Fire Department, Louisville
Police Department and Boulder County Sheriffs Department are invited along with their families for a night of food, drinks, live music and festivities at Community Park in Louisville. This special event will not be open to the public.
Musicians Jonah Werner and Dave A’Bear & Friends have generously donated their time to perform. We are extremely grateful to our generous corporate sponsors GreenPoint Roofing , GAIA, E and L Team/Remax, Colorado Doorways, DAJ Design, Williams Wealth Management, Facial Aesthetics, Diverge Homes, Tandem Design Group, ProGreen Solar and HighPoint Painting. Additionally, we are fundraising within the community to cover the costs associated with the event.

We are also grateful to our food and beverage sponsors Picas Taqueria , Lulu’s BBQ, Lucky Pie, Punch Buggy Shave Ice, Sweet Cow, Stem Cider, Lefthand Brewery, Howdy Beer, Hiball Energy Seltzer, Superior Liquor and Eldorado Water. Finally, we appreciate Sparkles Face Painting and InFunity Events for donating their services. Any remaining will be donated to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to support those impacted by the wildfire.

The post An Evening Of Appreciation For The Marshall Fire First Responders appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Longmont, CO— MAY 22, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Rick Stoner draws from a near death experience to create “Patient Practice: An Exhibition of Works Through and Visualizing Recovery”

Rick Stoner has been an artist for almost his whole life. What started as a distraction tool used by his mother in church, turned into a 65 year passion. In high school, Stoner took up painting, a medium he continues to work with. Not just a painter or printmaker, Stoner is also an art educator who has taught at Colorado State University, the University of Denver and Front Range Community College. Now Stoner teaches private lessons from his studio in the Firehouse Art Center, where he has been an artist in residence for over 35 years. In June, the Firehouse will unveil his new exhibit “Patient Practice”, featuring works created by Stoner during his 2 year recovery from a near fatal illness.

“On July 7th 2021, I was literally taken down by the worst pain I have ever experienced. I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in my spine, and advised that if I had not gotten to the emergency room, I would have died. This diagnosis led to two major back surgeries and a two month stay in the hospital & rehab facility, which I refer to as the asylum,” Stoner states, surrounded by works in progress in his studio. The solo exhibit documents the traumatizing journey of the entire experience from the point of vulnerability to recovery, while also sharing the work Stoner created during recovery. Medical imagery will accompany works complementing each other visually and thematically. Also included in the exhibit are abstract sculptures that deviate from Stoner’s representational painterly style.

“I love Egyptian art and stripes, and through that I came up with these shapes and designs”, Stoner states. Hidden in the stripes is a reference to his broken spine, carved into the base are Doctor’s names and medical diagnoses, and the egyptian crook shape was influenced by the cane Stoner needed for months after the surgery. The zoomorphic qualities of the sculptures invite the viewers to discuss what it means to live in an imperfect body and to still be useful to society, as the sculptures incorporate tools for digging and creation, challenging how society views disability, and illness. “I am on my way to recovery but while in the asylum, the thing that got me through, other than family, friends, nurses & doctors, was my capacity to create. Even when I was confined to the hospital bed I was still doodling, and soon as I was moved to a wheelchair, I began painting. It’s just something that I have to do to stay sane. It is my belief that we all possess this ability to create and I hope that this show will be an incentive for others to join in that creation.”

The exhibition opens on June 10 and runs until July 10th at the Firehouse Art Center, 667 4th Avenue, Longmont,

SOUTH GALLERY: JONO WRIGHT ARTIST OCCUPIED PROGRAM JONO WILL BE WORKING IN THE SOUTH GALLERY: JUNE 1-SEPTEMBER 1 EXHIBIT OPENS SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

The Firehouse Art Center is pleased to announce that Jono Wright is the 2022 Summer Artist in Residence in the Firehouse Artist Occupied Series. This program invites emerging and established artists working in all media to explore their practice while engaging with the community.

“In the event of a fire or natural disaster, what would you bring with you if you had to flee your house?” In the wake of the Marshall Fire and the global refugee crisis we are becoming aware of what’s most important to us, the activities and objects that sustain our souls and remind us to live. We invite you to join Jono and your community members to collaborate on a series of oil paintings that will function as collective altars to that which we hold dear. The paintings will be memento vivere, reminders to live.

Come to the Firehouse Art Center and bring 1, 2, or 10 objects that hold powerful personal meaning that you would like to have memorialized in a painting. You will collaborate on the project by photographing your objects in the gallery and Jono will incorporate your images into a series of oil paintings. Prints of the paintings will be available for purchase through his website with all profits donated to Marshall Fire relief.

About the Artist: Jono Wright is a Colorado painter who creates art that explores ideas about spirituality and the creative process. He believes in discovering the meaning in his work during the creative process rather than illustrating a preconceived idea. Portraying subject matter such as plant life, people and objects, he intertwines Buddhist philosophy, Western psychology and ritual theory, fusing traditional genres of landscape, figure, still life and abstraction into unique contemporary forms.

ARTIST MEET AND GREET AND PHOTO TUTORIAL: JUNE 11, 3PM-5PM- FREE
Jono Wright will discuss his process and his relationship with the subject matter in his works. Participants can bring items to photograph to become part of the September exhibit

The post Rick Stoner draws from a near death experience to create “Patient Practice: An Exhibition of Works Through and Visualizing Recovery” opening: Friday, June 10, 6-9PM appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder County officials rejected a controversial ordinance aimed at reducing vehicular homelessness in the county after residents and housing advocates spoke out against the bill during a public hearing on May 19.

Boulder County Commissioners Matt Jones, Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin

Commissioners Matt Jones and Marta Loachamin both raised concerns about some of the language in the ordinance during the public hearing. Jones said he was concerned about the language that explicitly states a homeless person does not have an expectation of privacy when they sleep on public lands. Loachamin echoed Jones’ concerns and added that she was concerned with potential “unintended consequences” from the ordinance. Commissioner Claire Levy was absent from the meeting.

“My understanding of this issue is that it started with vehicles blocking county roads, which is a land use issue,” Loachamin said. “But what I haven’t heard about is the data about people experiencing homelessness in Boulder County and how this will help us address the high cost of housing in our area.”

The ordinance in question, Ordinance No. 2022-1, would impose civil penalties of up to $300 per incident on people who are caught “residing” on public lands. Residing is defined as “temporarily or permanently sleeping, cooking, or otherwise engaging in activities of daily living,” according to the ordinance’s text. It is enforceable by city officials from the Boulder Sheriff’s Office, county security officers, and representatives of the county department of parks and recreation.  

More than 30 people spoke during a public hearing for the ordinance on Thursday and an additional 60 emails were sent to the Board of County Commissioners. County officials said the ordinance is necessary to protect the quality of life of homeowners in the county who have complained about trash and sewage issues arising from increased homelessness. Advocates said the ordinance is poorly timed considering that Boulder is still rebuilding from the Marshall Fire as economic conditions like the increasing cost of living and high inflation threaten the housing stability of many residents.

“This proposed ordinance is an insult to the boulder community who is still recovering from the Marshall fire and will rebuild after future fires,” said Ryan Harwood, a representative of Boulder SAFE, a housing advocacy nonprofit. “Boulder Strong means supporting everyone in need. Let’s be clear: This is an attack on the working class. The people living in cars are our cashiers and other workers who cannot afford rent.”

Homelessness has become a much more visible problem in Boulder County following the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people experiencing “unsheltered” homelessness in Boulder, meaning that they primarily sleep outside, doubled between 2019 and 2020 from 53 people to more than 118, according to regional Point in Time Count data from the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI).

In response, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said his office approached the Board of County Commissioners to create an ordinance that would allow law enforcement to deal with an increasing number of complaints from homeowners about trash and sewer issues resulting from increased homelessness. He described the ordinance as a tool to help officers educate people about the city’s ordinances while maintaining the quality of life for homeowners.

“We’re trying to balance a couple of issues here that are obviously tricky,” Pelle said. “This ordinance won’t solve the problem but will allow us to deal with a particular aspect that is impacting our community.”

Conrad Lattes, an open space attorney with Boulder County, said the proposed ordinance is less restrictive than similar legislation that was passed in other jurisdictions.

“The goal is not to punish but to protect county land to and prevent adverse impacts to the county and our neighbors,” Lattes said.

But many Boulder County residents at the public hearing said the ordinance is an illustration of how the county talks about taking a Housing First approach to solving homelessness and then fails to back up its assertions with legislation.

Housing First models refer to the process of placing a homeless person into housing before they receive other treatments for behavioral health, mental health, or substance abuse disorders, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This approach is “guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less critical,” the organization says.

Michael Denslow, a scientist from unincorporated East Boulder County, said he is shocked at the timing of the ordinance since there are still large swaths of the community who are displaced because of the Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes and caused more than $500 million in damages.

“At a time when people are struggling to pay rent and afford food, this is the solution we’re providing?” Denslow said. “People just want a place to rest rather than being pushed back into the cycle of poverty.”

Maria Colvin, who is experiencing homeless in Boulder County, said the ordinance would make it harder for people like her to enter the county’s service pipeline, which she describes as a Catch-22. She said that the county offers very few real ways out of homelessness and that criminalizing survival only puts people further away from accessing housing.

“There’s no reason to continue criminalizing poverty if your goal is to help people access housing,” Colvin said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Colvin also connected the proposed ordinance to Denver’s urban camping ban, which turned 10-years-old on May 14. Denver officials have consistently said the city’s camping ban was designed to reduce homelessness and connect more people with services, two claims that city data does not support.

Since Denver’s camping ban was enacted, Denver police have made more than 27,000 contacts with homeless people and connected just two percent of their contacts with services, according to city data. Meanwhile, the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Denver has grown from 1,000 in 2012 to more than 1,500 by 2021, according to MDHI data.

Darren O’Connor, the criminal justice chair of the Boulder County branch of the NAACP, said strengthening Boulder’s camping ban is “inhumane,” citing the case of Jessica Aldama, a pregnant homeless woman who died on Boulder’s streets after a stillborn delivery after receiving several tickets for unauthorized camping in the city. 

“This ordinance is an admission that the county has failed to serve its community,” O’Connor said. “As people continue to rebuild from the Marshall Fire, your response is to punish the victims by criminalizing sleeping in their last resource—their cars.”

Kyle Castleberry, who lives in a recreational vehicle in Boulder County, told county commissioners that the real issue that the ordinance seems to take aim at is containment of homeless people’s belongings. He said these issues could be resolved by increasing trash services rather than with fines and penalties.  

“It’s clear that some people don’t understand how difficult it is to be homeless,” Castleberry said. “But this needs to be the start of the conversation. So, let’s get into it.”

The post Boulder Officials Reject Controversial Ordinance Prohibiting Car Camping appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Art courtesy of redtailridgelouisville.com

• 33-year-old male arrested for sexual exploitation of a child. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 33-year-old man known as Andreas Halusa on the charges of possession of child sexual abuse material in the 600 block of Pearl St. in the City of Boulder.

• A Denver Grand Jury has indicted 10 gang members for 114 felony counts against 47 people. Nine individuals have been arrested while one member of this gang remains at large.

• The U.S. has sent a combined total of 2.4 billion dollars to Ukraine. This number includes the cost of the military equipment that has been sent to bolster the Ukrainian army and the financial aid that has been approved by the U.S. Congress.

• It has been estimated that Colorado will be spending its 308 million dollars in COVID relief through 2026. Denver has collected 22 percent of all of the stimulus money given to the state of Colorado and will use these funds to invest in the recovery of the city.

• More than three months after the Marshall Fire, government-funded debris removal has begun in Boulder County. According to Jeffery Maxwell, Boulder County’s director of public works, the removal will take about four months to complete.

• Boulder Officials are considering authorizing a new student housing development to replace a former Best Western hotel. It would cost approximately 28 million dollars to turn the hotel at 770 28th St. into housing for college students.

• The United States Justice Department plans to appeal the lifting of mask mandates on planes and trains if the CDC deems it necessary. This appeal would go against the decision of a Florida district court that deemed mask mandates “unlawful.”

• Boulder County has launched the “Rebuilding Better” website for Marshall Fire-impacted residents. This website has been designed to help those impacted by the Marshall Fire rebuild their homes in affordable and environmentally friendly ways.

• Louisville citizens have voted against the Redtail Ridge 3 million sq. ft. commercial development. Brue Baukol Capital Partners have said they will continue to pursue redevelopment of the 389-acre site under a 2010 City Council-approved plan.

• Justin Brooks has been elected as the first black mayor of Erie. Christiaan van Woudenberg, Emily Baer, and Andrew Sawusch have been elected to the Board of Trustees, creating the most diverse city government in the history of Erie, Colorado.

• Dana Derichsweiler, owner of the Walnut Cafe, has retired. After over three decades, Derichsweiler has sold the Walnut Cafe to employees Ariel Cooke and Ashley Parzych. Cooke and Parzych plan to honor Derichsweiler’s legacy by continuing to make the Walnut Cafe a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA community.

• Boulder County citizens are continuing to debate the creation of a library district. Those in favor of the district consider its creation a necessary measure to ensure the survival of Boulder’s public libraries. Opponents of the library district are concerned about the increased property taxes that will be used to fund the development of the district.

• Protestors have received a 14 million dollar settlement from the Denver Police Department. A federal jury found that the Denver Police used excessive force against protestors during the Black Lives Matter protests in May 2020.

Small Talk

“We will continue to provide them (Ukraine) more ammunition, as we will provide them more military assistance.” 

– Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the United States’ involvement in the Russian war against Ukraine.

“It’s hard to see everything hauled away, but at the same time, this will move us forward to accepting what happened.”

– Brenda Leighton on the Marshall Fire debris removal

“We believe these individuals are responsible for 14 separate incidents totaling 47 victims in the Denver metropolitan area – most of them drive-by shootings of rivals.”

– Denver District Attorney Beth McCann on the arrest of the 9 gang members

“The Department continues to believe that the order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health. That is an important authority the Department will continue to work to preserve.”

– The United States Justice Department’s statement on its decision to appeal the decision of the Florida Circuit Court to end mask mandates on public transportation

By the Numbers

• The U.S. has given a total of two billion dollars to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia.
• 2,702 civilians have been killed during Russia’s war with Ukraine.
• The average weekly number of COVID cases in the is 26,357 with Boulder county making up 0.0032%.
• Nearly 240 anti-LGBTQIA legislation have been filed in 2022.
• There have been 14 documented wildfires in Colorado since February of this year.

The post Month in Review | April 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Barney Thinnes walks through what remains of his home on West Mulberry St. in Louisville, CO to collect pieces of a birdbath from his backyard. He’s tall with the slender frame of a hiker, one that bends under the weight of what he’s carrying up to the street. Several of his neighbors have made similar piles of dinner plates, broken kettle grills, and pieces of furniture that are meant to live elsewhere. This isn’t the first time Thinnes has come back to reclaim what’s his after the Marshall Fire, and it won’t be the last.

As the calendar turns to spring, signs of life are beginning to appear all around the idyllic Centennial Heights subdivision. Advertisements for spring baseball camps are taped to light posts, and a steady stream of people are walking their dogs along the Powerline Trail past Fireside Elementary.

But the smell of charcoal is inescapable when the wind comes through just right. Many of the homes that withstood the Marshall Fire have significant smoke damage and dumpsters full of drywall and insulation in their driveways. The upper middle-class neighborhood that once stood tall against the horizon now provides a perfect view of Centennial Highway and the outdoor hockey rink at the Louisville Recreation Center nearly a half mile away.

“You know, all this rebuilding stuff is going to take a while,” Thinnes told Yellow Scene Magazine in an interview, “but I think we’re going to make it out okay.”

Boulder County Wildfire Risk Map

The charred remains of homes aren’t the only part of the rebuilding process many Boulder County residents say they are concerned about. Not only did it raze more than 1,000 homes, several local businesses, and claim the lives of two community members over New Year’s weekend, but it also exposed fissures in Colorado’s emergency notification system. City officials say the fire caused more than $500 million in damages, though many families say they lost much more.

Thinnes takes off his work gloves and wipes his brow with the inside lip of his baseball cap. The hat is a loose fit, like it hasn’t been worn in a while. It’s unseasonably warm for a Sunday in March, and sweat is starting to stain his green t-shirt. He unplugs a set of charred Christmas lights that were still wrapped around the tree in his front yard. Out back, all 11 trees he planted within the last few years are damaged beyond recognition. He gets down on a knee and wipes away a few shards of ceramic pottery from a planter by his feet.

“Looks like the perennials we planted are coming back this year,” Thinnes says. “I’ll have to come back and dig them up another time.”

Mulberry Strong. Photo: Irina Ratsek

“We thought we were safe living here.”

For Bonnie Gosler and her family, safety and security are their two top priorities as they readjust to life after the fire in a changing neighborhood.

There are burn scars littered throughout the neighborhood. Some of her neighbors have resorted to wearing face masks wherever they go; others say they just don’t like how the neighborhood smells like stale barbecue. Meanwhile, there’s a constant chatter about the health impacts from the hydro-mulch and other chemicals that were laid to contain the ash.

Gosler told Yellow Scene in an interview that her house sustained significant smoke damage like other homes in the area. It took several weeks of professional cleaning and remediation before the family felt comfortable moving in again. The family lost a few personal items and several clothing items in the fire, but Gosler says the most important thing they lost is their sense of security.

She’s also noticed the fire has taken away some parts of their six-year-old daughter’s personality. A once bubbly and vivacious child is now quieter on their walks to school because of the blackened holes that are filled with rubble. At home, Gosler says the two often talk about her friends that no longer go to Fireside Elementary because the fire forced them to move away.

“We thought we were safe living here,” Gosler adds, “but this was a real wake-up call.”

Mulberry Strong. Photo: Robert Davis

The family is also still dealing with emotional trauma from evacuating. The Goslers left just after 11 a.m. on December 30. The sky was glowing bright red, and the air was thick with soot and ash. Gosler hurriedly packed a bag of spare clothes, toiletries, and some necessities before getting her six- and nine-year-old children into the car, their eyes wide with fear.

By the time they got on the road, the air was stifling. Gosler, a technical writer by trade, checked her phone several times to see if Boulder County authorities had sent out any evacuation instructions. If they did, they didn’t send one to her, she says.

According to a report by 9News, only one out of five emergency alerts received about fire were confirmed, meaning the recipient followed the instructions to Press 1 to confirm. More than 24,000 alerts were sent to landlines, email addresses, and cell phones, but just over 4,600 were confirmed.

Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management offered to help Boulder County officials send out evacuation alerts using the state’s Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which grants officials access to cellphones like an Amber Alert. However, Boulder County declined the offer because they were already using another system to send alerts, according to the report.

Like many other families, the Goslers hit several roadblocks on their way out of town. The fire forced the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to shut down Foothills Highway, also known as US 36, and divert traffic eastward along Baseline Rd. and S. Boulder Rd. through Louisville and Superior. This decision ultimately combined the evacuees from three towns onto a handful of roads leading out of the area.

Several people posted videos on social media of themselves sitting still in traffic for multiple hours as the fires moved toward their cars. Others posted pictures of a hellfire haze surrounding the towns that seemed endlessly thick. The Goslers spent a couple of hours on S. Boulder Rd. before reaching Hwy 287 and heading south toward Arvada.

The family spent three weeks shuffling between hotels and Airbnb properties. Gosler adds that the experience was challenging for their nine-year-old son who is on the autism spectrum.

Now that the family is back in the home, Gosler says the lingering smell of smoke is a constant reminder of how close the fire came.

“It was a very traumatic experience for all of us,” Gosler said.

Powerline Trail. Photo: Robert Davis

Caught Off Guard

David Beebe, Fire Chief for the Mountain View Fire Protection District (MVFPD), recognized the danger the Marshall Fire posed almost immediately after arriving on-scene.

As a 17-year veteran of one of Colorado’s most experienced wildfire fighting brigades, Beebe thought he’d seen it all. He was a part of the crews that fought back the Overland Fire and the Fourmile Canyon Fire, which claimed a total of 10,000 acres of dense woodlands.

He also regularly helps train new recruits at Eldorado Springs Station 9, which was the first station to respond to the Marshall Fire. The station is tucked into a hillside and runs up against an open field of grassland, shrubs, and a few trees, making it an ideal place for firefighters to learn how to fight wildfires.

Following the Marshall Fire, Beebe says he’s seen all the data, read all the reports, and has listened to every critic tell him about what went wrong that day. Still, he comes to the same solemn conclusion each time and says it with a steadiness one should expect from a veteran firefighter: “There isn’t much else we could have done that day, from an internal perspective,” Beebe told YS.

Beebe says the decentralized emergency response system that Colorado firefighters use to allocate resources was one of his team’s biggest hindrances that day. The on-scene incident commander is responsible for telling dispatchers what resources to send and where they can be found. Beebe says this task was almost impossible to perform during the Marshall Fire because of its quick acceleration.

According to audio files obtained by the Colorado Sun, several other calls came in shortly after the Marshall Fire was first reported that also diverted resources out of the area. One firefighter can be heard calling for residents to be evacuated. Another put in a call for additional units as the fire, “moved through the property… and into some homes.”

Meanwhile, the environmental conditions proved to be overwhelming. Not only was the surrounding grassland especially dry after receiving less rain than usual that December, but the 90 mph winds that were measured that day helped accelerate the blaze much faster than firefighters anticipated. The fire even burned up the backup generator for the Town of Superior’s water pump, which caused fire hydrants in several neighborhoods to stop working.

Beebe says, with a hardened glare, that the location of the fire was also, “a little surprising.” MVFPD’s territory includes thick woods stretching from Flagstaff to Gross Reservoir, which are the places that Beebe says are typically more prone to wildfires.

Meanwhile, town officials had to work double duty to coordinate the evacuation with federal agencies. For example, the BNSF railroad, which crosses the two major evacuation routes, kept running during the evacuation until officials called Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Boulder, and told him to stop the train.

Beebe has been pleading with local leaders to address the myriad gaps in Colorado’s emergency notification system that were exposed during the fire. This includes providing additional funding and support for resource mobilization and improving communication between local, state, and federal agencies.

Beebe says that wildfire should become a higher priority topic in the General Assembly following the fire. He’s concerned that support might only last until the next emergency, and by that time, it could be too late.

Photo: Kayla Gaines

Fertile Ground for Wildfire

Deborah McNamara is a naturally energetic person. She loves the outdoors, exploring her spirituality, and writing stories about the journeys of motherhood. For the last few years she has been pushing local lawmakers to take a stronger stand against climate change and says the Marshall Fire set her into overdrive.

As a resident of north Boulder, McNamara has a personal connection to wildfires after surviving the Cal Wood fire back in 2018. She told YS in an interview that she could see the smoke from Cal Wood climbing over her neighbors’ homes and felt an eerily similar fear when the Marshall Fire broke out.

McNamara lives in a more rural enclave of Boulder, one that isn’t often recalled when one thinks of Colorado as a home for Twitter and Google. Her house is less than a mile from open spaces like Wonderland Park and its numerous hiking trails. McNamara says these are the areas that she most commonly associated with wildfires. After the Marshall Fire, however, she realized just how susceptible Colorado is to the natural disaster.

“This was the second time in as many years that my family could see a wildfire from our bedroom windows,” McNamara said. “I’m just not sure that wildfires have really been a top priority for lawmakers.”

Most people would be busy enough working full time as a campaign director for the climate action group 350 Colorado, but McNamara is also raising three young sons and wants them to grow up in a world where wildfires are much less of a threat. However, she realizes those days may be far into the future.  

According to the most recent seasonal outlook from the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (RMACC), an interagency environmental organization, Colorado’s wildfire risk is elevated because of extreme drought conditions across the state which “promote the availability of receptive fuels as well as rapid fire spread potential during springtime wind events.” Colorado’s eastern plains and southeastern corner have the highest risk for wildfire because of these conditions, the outlook said.

Colorado’s wildfires are becoming increasingly destructive. The state has spent more than $78 million on fire suppression activities since 2018, according to data from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. More than 1.4 million acres have gone up in smoke over the same period. 

The lingering effects that wildfires have on individuals and families can be just as economically damaging to communities as the wildfire itself. 

Wildfires often increase air pollution which, in turn, decreases economic productivity because people stay home from school and work, McNamara said. They are also damaging Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry, which contributed more than $9.6 billion in value-added gross domestic product and supports more than 120,000 jobs across Colorado in 2020, according to the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

Colorado’s residential areas, like the one McNamara lives in, stand on the losing end of Colorado’s increasing frequency of wildfires. According to a Colorado State Forest Service report, only 42 percent of Boulder County residents live in areas with little or no risk of wildfire. Many of the areas with the lowest risk are in the unincorporated parts of the county whereas the areas of highest risk are in the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Colorado Boulder and Foothills Highway.

350 Colorado is calling on Polis’ administration to sign an executive order declaring a climate emergency. The group is also pushing lawmakers to phase out fossil fuel use by 2030 and shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2025. McNamara described these goals as aggressive but necessary to meet the scale of devastation wrought by recent wildfires.

The group also wants to see Colorado expand the Office of Just Transition within the Department of Labor and Employment. This office is responsible for helping workers in the fossil fuel industry move into clean energy jobs with additional job training or placement services.

“What we’re seeing in terms of wildfire and drought is getting worse,” McNamara said. “We need our leaders to understand that and respond accordingly.”

Photo: Irina Ratsek

Legislative Response

One place that’s still emotionally draining for Louisville Mayor Ashley Stolzmann to visit after the Marshall Fire is the grocery store. What one symbolized as a place of community can now be a reminder of the grief and suffering caused by the fire.

“It just increases the proportion of the impact to see so many people who lost their homes or some of their favorite belongings,” Stolzmann told YS.

It wasn’t long after the fire started that soot and ash began billowing through Louisville’s historic Main Street. As Stolzmann watched the smoke fold over landmarks like Empire Restaurant with its 1950s-style marquee and The Huckleberry Diner just down the street from the municipal center, she knew the fire wasn’t like the others Colorado has seen recently.

She describes her community’s response to the fire as resilient, one that nearly matched the devastation of the fire itself. Local businesses and nonprofit organizations have hosted several charity events, and she says there is an “all-around sense of gratefulness” that more lives weren’t lost.

Like many in her community, Stolzmann worries that Colorado’s legislative response to its recent wildfires has been lackluster at best.

Gov. Jared Polis has signed several bills into law since 2018 that seek to bolster Colorado’s wildfire response system. In all, lawmakers have appropriated more than $113 million toward wildfire mitigation efforts over the last three sessions. They also passed bills that modified the state Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program to provide rural areas with more firefighting resources and improved health care benefits for firefighters.

Lawmakers kicked their wildfire fighting efforts into high gear following Colorado’s destructive wildfire season in 2020. That year, state lawmakers appropriated nearly $60 million for wildfire fighting agencies to purchase new equipment and increase forest health and wildfire mitigation programs.

Colorado lawmakers have also delayed some important climate rules despite calls from environmental groups to do more to address climate change. For example, lawmakers delayed the implementation of Colorado’s Clean Truck Strategy until 2023, which requires medium- and heavy-duty trucks to cut their vehicle emissions by 45% by 2050.

Federal lawmakers have also introduced the Western Wildfire Support Act, a bill that seeks to increase emergency funding for wildfires, establish a federal wildfire management plan, and support additional firefighting training efforts. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Neguse in the House of Representatives and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-New Mexico) in the Senate. However, the House has not held a hearing on the bill since January, and the Senate has not debated the bill’s counterpart since last year.

Stolzmann told YS that she has already had initial conversations with her peer mayors in Boulder County and other state partners about improving communication for the next time there is an evacuation.

She points to Houston, Texas as a model for how city evacuation plans should operate. The city added additional Bluetooth communication devices that communicate travel times with the Texas Department of Transportation after Hurricane Rita in 2006. This system allows them to adjust evacuation routes and ease traffic.

Stolzmann is also planning to take these ambitions on the campaign trail for a seat on the Boulder County Board of Commissioners when her term ends in 2023. For now, Stolzmann says she is heartened by her community’s continued support for one another. “This level of devastation was pretty unimaginable before it happened,” Stolzmann says, “but, I think it’s changed a lot about how we talk about a lot of things, especially emergency preparedness.”

Mulberry Street. Photo: Robert Davis

“I feel like we’re just now getting back into the swing of things.”

While officials continue to sort out the cause of the fire, the Goslers and several other families continue to slowly rebuild their lives. “I feel like we’re just now getting back into the swing of things, but we still have so far to go,” Gosler said.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, several groups quickly set up “hubs of warmth,” as Gosler says, to help survivors reconnect with the community and forget about the trauma they endured. These hubs ranged from clothing and food drives that were hosted at local schools to the Red Cross shelters that popped up nearby. 

Gosler says she felt like a part of the community again after receiving a donation of food and clothes from Fireside Elementary. At the time, her daughter had just two outfits to wear because smoke had damaged the rest. Gosler said watching her eyes light up as she got a new, clean shirt to wear made her forget about everything else that was happening because of the fire, if only for a little while.

Organizations like the Boulder-Longmont Association of Realtors (BOLO REALTORS(R)) also pitched in to help connect fire victims with housing. The group also raised more than $2 million on their own to fund grants that can help families put their lives back together.

Boulder County is trying to help residents move on in other ways as well. The county is offering mental health services to fire victims, and it has already adopted a new emergency notification system that sends alerts to cellphones without users having to opt in. The messages will also be broadcast in both English and Spanish.

When asked how she feels about the future, Gosler said she is very afraid Her family wants to buy a home nearby and settle down, but those hopes are growing dimmer given Colorado’s historically low supply of real estate inventory. Meanwhile, some of the charred plots that remain after the Marshall Fire are selling for $500,000 or more, which makes it increasingly difficult for Gosler to imagine staying in the area.

There are still several things trapping Gosler in the past. Many neighborhoods still have rubble and debris from the fire, leaving a lingering scent of charcoal in the air. The snow is also a reminder since a snowstorm came and dropped an eerie stillness over the neighborhood the day the fire stopped during. 

Gosler says she still thinks about the fire at odd times of the day. Sometimes she thinks about it when she’s cooking, other times when she’s alone with her thoughts. 

“The snow came a day too late for us,” Gosler says, “It was very, very cruel.” 

The post The Fire Next Time appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

New financial support opportunities and resources for building high-performance homes now available

Boulder County, Colo.- In collaboration with the City of Louisville and Town of Superior, Boulder County has launched RebuildingBetter.org, a new website for builders and Marshall Fire-impacted residents. The website can be viewed here. The Rebuilding Better site provides resources for planning, designing, and constructing high-performance homes that are cleaner, more comfortable, and more resilient to climate change impacts. The website is produced and maintained by EnergySmart, Boulder County’s residential energy advising service, and will be updated as more resources become available.Editor’s Note:

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

The post Boulder County launches Rebuilding Better website for Marshall Fire-impacted residents appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

As the April 19 special election vote for the proposed mega-development known as Redtail Ridge draws closer, some community members are questioning whether the proposal is in Louisville’s best interest following the Marshall Fire. While this is not the worst plan that has been proposed for the property, Yellow Scene Magazine does not believe the project is as good as it should be. This is also a poor time to put resources toward the development when there are more pressing matters on which the city should be focusing its time, energy, and manpower on.

redtailridgelouisville.com

redridgelouisville.com

The property in question is located at the intersection of U.S. 36 and Northwest Parkway where Louisville, Broomfield, and Superior meet and is considered prime real estate based on its proximity to Denver and Boulder. If approved, The Redtail Ridge plan would allot more than 3.3 million sq. ft. for a business park. For comparison, that is nearly double the size of the former StorageTek campus (1.6 million sq. ft.) and the Flatirons Mall (1.5 million sq. ft.). 

Even though this plot is eventually going to be developed commercially as it was zoned years ago, the evidence says that now is not the time and this is not the best route to maximize the good for the Louisville community. The slowdowns due to the Marshall Fire rebuild and the inadequate sustainability are not a price worth paying for commercial office space that isn’t needed to begin with.

redtailridgelouisville.com

Redtail Ridge could also impact the community outside of the redevelopment process. If approved, the redevelopment would be occurring concurrently with Louisville’s efforts to recover from the devastating Marshall Fire, where 1,084 residences were destroyed and 149 were damaged, according to Boulder County. Since the land is zoned for commercial use, putting residential properties on it is not an option, and Brue Baukol, the developer for Redtail Ridge, is not looking to rezone at this time. 

“[Redtail Ridge] will make the housing problem worse,” Louisville Mayor Ashley Stolzmann told YS in an interview. “We already have a job-to-population imbalance in Boulder County, and to further exacerbate that seems counterproductive.”

Stolzmann adds that the project would divert resources away from the city’s recovery efforts at a time when it is struggling to hire more staff. “ We are trying to staff up for the rebuild right now, but there are labor shortages and we’re having a really hard time hiring. So to add this workload, I think, would invariably impact our ability to get work done.” 

preservelouisville.org

Opponents of the Redtail Ridge plan like Citizens for a Vital, Sustainable Louisville (CVSL) say the project’s environmental impacts will be too great for the community to bear. For example, pollinators like bees will have a massive food desert due to this development that will have impacts all the way up the food chain. Other keystone species such as prairie dogs are also at risk.

“So in all likelihood, [these species] will be gassed or euthanized somehow,” Justin Solomon, an activist with CVSL, told YS. “And I think they’re thought of as sort of just being pests, you know, they’re everywhere. But actually, their numbers are diminishing greatly. So it’s just not true that they’re such plentiful species that we can afford to wipe out,”

Yes for Louisville campaign and developer Brue Baukol, declined to be interviewed by Yellow Scene Magazine for this story. Yes for Louisville’s website says that a yes vote is in favor of the newly proposed plan while a no vote is essentially a vote in favor of the old ConocoPhillips plan, which would add less open space than the proposed Redtail Ridge plan.

CVSL says this is a misrepresentation of the voting and approval process for such a property. If the no vote wins, the ConocoPhillips plan is not the only alternative and is actually unlikely to be resurrected. The ConocoPhillips plan was approved in 2010 and has never been put into action. If the development company, Brue Baukol, had wanted to move forward with the ConocoPhillips plan they could have done so long before now. In the opinion of representatives of CVSL, the fact they have chosen to work with the city in a long vetting process to get a new plan approved shows that they want to do better and are willing to take the time to get it approved and done right.

The Yes group also advertises on their website that Redtail Ridge would be LEED-certified or better. The LEED rating system is a range with Certified being the lowest ranking, then Silver, then Gold, with Platinum being the most environmentally friendly LEED ranking possible. 

However, there are doubts that the project could achieve a meaningful LEED rating given its projected impacts to Louisville’s traffic volume. Brue Baukol commissioned a study from Fox Tuttle, a transportation and development firm, which shows that several areas around the development where traffic would have failing levels of service if the development were to proceed. The Level of  Service (LOS) range from A to F. With the study finding that several areas around the development traffic will be rated at a LOS D or F level, caused by idling cars, and decreased flow of traffic.

redtailridgelouisville.com

The Redtail Ridge website  also refers to the project as having, “the most environmentally sustainable development in Boulder County.” In an effort to be green, the site would have, “the largest solar farm in Boulder County,” according to the website. These solar panels would create three megawatts of energy, which depending on the frequency/rate of the megawatts generated mean the number of homes powered is either three or hundreds. The unclear nature of the description that Redtail Ridge provides on their website leads to confusion regarding how many homes could be powered and this large range of possible power. Since they are not giving specifics, it calls into question how much good these solar panels are actually going to do. 

“They even said during the application process it couldn’t be LEED Gold,” shared Stolzmann. The plot has poor access to transit, and lots of emissions associated with cars, and the best they could qualify for is LEED Silver. “So by their own application material, it is a bad location for an office park from the transportation emissions standpoint.” 

preservelouisville.org

But the Yes group also contends that the redevelopment is necessary for Avista Adventist Hospital to expand. Yes for Louisville’s website says, “The anchor tenant at Redtail Ridge will be Avista hospital,” and then continues that the hospital and other future tenants will not want to work in, “an abandoned Kohl’s warehouse.” However, this is a misrepresentation of information, no one is suggesting that Avista hospital move into a currently vacant former box store. What is being suggested is that other businesses, who would be building a similar space anyway, ought to utilize the already constructed buildings instead of time, money, and resources going into new ones. 

Avista said in a statement that its plans to expand are not contingent on the approval of Redtail Ridge. “If the referendum passes, the development will include land zoned for a hospital,” the statement reads in part. “If it fails, we would be willing to explore obtaining the appropriate zoning approval with the city directly.” 

Similar to the Avista expansion, the extension of Monarch Campus Dr. from Monarch PK-12 to 96th is not contingent on this plan passing. The No group is actually in favor of an expansion, just not in the way the Redtail Ridge plan outlines it to happen. Sherry Summer, the registered agent for CVSL, said that they are against, “not the existence of Campus Drive but the configuration of it and the size.” 

redtailridgelouisville.com

As an alternative, Heather Gardner, also from CVSL, suggests that the expansion be a two-lane road instead of four lanes. This way, it will fulfill the need for another access point in the case of an emergency but it won’t invite people to use it as a shortcut across town, creating traffic problems. Some people have suggested this expansion should be gravel, but Gardner is in favor of, “a paved, emergency exit, back way to Monarch.” 

Solomon proposed a simple, twofold solution to the problem: reduce the size of the building and the number of cars it can support. “If you want to have the most impact, reduce the size of the development and you reduce the car trips because it’s a car-dependent development, then you decrease air pollution. It all flows from the size and that’s been our issue from the get-go. It all stems from just over development for the site and over-development for our small town,” he said

Stolzmann added that Louisville is considering amending its building code so that commercial developments would have to be more environmentally friendly than Redtail Ridge. The city council is expected to take up the amendments in either June or July.  “If we adopt those requirements, that would make any development much greener than what’s proposed,” Stolzmann said.

The post Why Redtail Ridge is not in Louisville’s Best Interest appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder County Fairgrounds will close its free coronavirus testing and vaccination sites this March as demand for both has continued to decrease. • The Boulder County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death of a 48-year-old Caucasian male who was involved in an incident within Eldorado Canyon State Park, in unincorporated Boulder County, on March 3rd. The cause of his death is to be determined. • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently confirmed that expenditures for foundation removal at homes destroyed by the Marshall Fire are eligible for financial reimbursement through the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program. In addition to foundations, FEMA has included reimbursement eligibility for the removal of structural footings, basements, and burned vehicles remaining on private property. • President Joe Biden has selected D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, making history by picking a Black woman for the Supreme Court. • The Boulder County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death of a 97-year-old Caucasian female who was identified as Mary Staub of Louisville, Colorado. Staub was found in the 1800 block of Plaza Drive. Her cause of death is yet to be determined. • Leroy Garcia has stepped down from his position as leader of the Colorado Senate. Garcia will become special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs within the U.S. Department of Defense at the Pentagon. Steve Fenberg has been elected as his replacement. • President Joe Biden will be sending an additional $800 million in military assistance, making a total of $2 billion in such aid sent to Kyiv since he took office. The administration has not only provided Ukraine with financial aid but also with weapons. These include 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 grenade launchers, 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and mortar rounds, and an unspecified number of drones. • The five-member Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) voted unanimously to adopt the new rules on financial assurance, also known as bonding. These rules will take effect in April and are considered “the strongest in the nation.” • The Colorado GOP has launched an investigation into environmental groups that they believe are connected to Russian oligarchs. Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown is calling on Colorado-affiliated environmental groups to divest and donate any Russian contributions that they have received. • Political Action Committees (PAC) are preparing to dump millions of dollars into political campaigns of candidates on both sides of the aisle. PACs such as PDC Energy, Noble Energy, and Seneca Oil and Gas are all individually donating to candidates who they hope will support their agendas. • Colorado oil producers have received approval for nearly 3,000 drilling permits so far this year. Even with all of these approved permits, oil producers have told shareholders that they have no plans to increase oil production and will instead use excess funds to pay off investors.

Small Talk

“If you did not plan for growth, you are not going to be able to achieve growth today. Capital discipline today for oil companies is basically no (production) growth.”

– Occidental Petroleum CEO downplaying the potential growth of oil production

“It’s also time to look into these radical environmental groups who have spent years working to stifle energy independence and demand that they donate and divest any donations they have received from Russia or any Russian-affiliated companies and groups.”

– Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown on the importance of investigating environmental groups

“We’re incredibly sad to see you go but we also understand this is a longtime dream of yours. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be an assistant to an assistant in Virginia? But in all seriousness, President Garcia, we are so proud of you.”

– Steve Fenberg wishing Leroy Garcia good luck on his new position in the U.S. federal government

“We’re going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead.”

– President Joe Biden on Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine

“This is the news from FEMA that we were hoping to hear. I cannot thank our partners at FEMA enough for the guidance and financial support they’ve provided. Their contributions to this recovery effort have gone well beyond financial assistance and I’m very happy they’ve been here working alongside all of us since the beginning.”

– Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy on FEMA’s support after the Marshall Fire

By The Numbers

• 98.71 new COVID cases per 100,000 people
• 636 civilians have been killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• 3 people have died in Colorado due to avalanches this season.
• 2947 gas and oil drilling permits have been approved in the state of Colorado.
• 54 complaints have been raised against insurance companies due to “adjuster-handling issues, claim delays and unsatisfactory settlement offers.”

The post Month in Review | March 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Aaron Harber

Anyone observing the advance of Colorado’s Marshall Fire, as many of us did from our homes, were stunned at the explosion of flames across Boulder County.

With winds gusting over 100 miles per hour, First Responders focused on evacuating residents.  Their extraordinary efforts resulted in tens of thousands escaping safely.  The tragedy was, sadly, had firefighters been better prepared, the majority of losses — from structures to the lives of people and pets — could have been avoided.

First Responders are our heroes so no one ever wants to be critical but, if we’re not open and honest, improving will be difficult.  My criticism is directed at the managers of agencies and departments — not the men and women on the ground trying to save lives and property.

My estimate was that the total cost of the damage done by the Marshall Fire will exceed $1 billion — double the $513 million estimate publicly given by government agencies.  

With the recent approval of the lowest bid contract for over $50 million to one company just for the clean-up process (the top bid was $199 million and it is likely, when all clean-up costs are included, the total will approach $100 million), and the probable cost of repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure (possibly as much as $250 million), the cost could be a third of a billion dollars before the expense of rebuilding just one home is added to the total.

In some cases, supply chain bottlenecks resulting in extraordinary price increases are not expected to ease for another year or two.  Extraordinary labor shortages have resulted in additional cost increases as well as severe delays in construction projects, regardless of size.  

In this economic environment, when victims are being quoted construction prices as much as $400 per square foot (e.g., a 2,500 square foot home would cost $1 million to rebuild), the average cost of rebuilding a home easily will exceed $750,000.  For 1,084 homes, that would total over $813 million.

When incorporating the skyrocketing increases in the cost of clean-up, restoration, and re-building the 1,084 homes which were destroyed plus the expense of temporarily housing several thousand people in the interim (some for several years), the total of more than $1 billion sadly seems to be realistic.

Unlike a planned development, where developers and builders have taken several years to line up designing, permitting, contractors, and supplies for a multi-year plan to build a new neighborhood, suddenly being faced with unexpectedly needing to build almost 1,100 homes is a challenge Colorado has never confronted.

The Marshall Fire has created a huge challenge for the multiple jurisdictions involved (the City of Louisville, the Town of Superior, and Boulder County) with none of the above-noted advance planning having been done.  The permitting process, alone, could take a few years.

Even if 200 new homes were constructed annually, it could take six or seven years for some residents to finally return “home.”  

And adding this kind of extra demand for homes to the already extraordinarily expensive Boulder County housing market will push housing prices even higher for the next decade.  And for many of the victims of the fire whose homes were underinsured (this is likely going to be the experience for the vast majority of property owners who assumed their insurance policies would cover the full cost of reconstruction instead of as little as only half of it), rebuilding will be out of reach.

With the reality that these types of wildfire events are becoming common, it is incumbent upon us to determine what we can do differently.  The hard truth, however, is getting moribund local, State, and Federal agencies to change their practices is a major challenge.  

This has been repeatedly confirmed to me by the men and women on the ground who aren’t given the resources they need to be successful.  They argue that their managers are doing things the same way they were done decades ago and are resistant to change. A national panel of experts highlighted some of these issues in a two-part series I moderated (www.bit.ly/FiresAH).

In the case of several recent Colorado fires (i.e., the Marshall, Calwood, and East Troublesome Fires), the local Fire Departments and the State of Colorado had products and resources available to them which they failed to use.  Had they been deployed, these resources could have dramatically reduced the devastation those fires wrought.  

Those products included “gels” which, when mixed with water, so greatly multiply the effectiveness of the final mix that it protects buildings and extinguishes fires by transforming the effectiveness of one gallon of water into that of 20 gallons.

The U.S. Federal Government and other countries know this, as does the Colorado Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology in the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The Department’s own extensive examination of gels concluded they often were the far superior option for fighting fires (www.bit.ly/FireTechCO.) Nevertheless, due to bureaucratic inertia, firefighting agencies frequently have failed to use them.

The good news is these products already are officially approved by State and Federal Governments for immediate use on the ground and in the air.  They are extraordinarily effective, inexpensive, nontoxic, biodegradable, and ecofriendly — unlike many other products used currently.

One product distributed internationally is named “FireIce.” A 60-second video demonstrates its extraordinary properties (www.bit.ly/FireIce1) while another short video intelligibly explains the technology (www.bit.ly/FireIce2).  

This product creates a thermal barrier which protects buildings from temperatures over 5,000oF — far hotter than the temperatures at which our friends and neighbors’ homes and businesses burned (i.e., typically at +/-2,600oF).  FireIce was the only efficient and effective product California successfully used last summer to protect fire-threatened sequoia trees.

If properly coated, structures in the path of a fire can survive for up to 24 hours.  Thus, it is highly likely that, if these products are used in future events, they could stop the spread of fires and protect structures — even under the extreme conditions experienced in the Marshall Fire .

Homeowners who coat their houses (simply using a hose and special pressure washer spray gun which mixes the gel solution) often can save their own homes.  Of course, this can require a half hour or more to complete but, even with a fast-moving fire, some homeowners have that time while others have only minutes to flee.

By addressing the multiple, inexplicable failures of emergency agencies to use all available warning systems in the Marshall Fire (nonsensically, one official actually said community siren alert systems were reserved only for “weather events”), when another fire occurs, residents could have significantly more time to respond.  This change needs to be implemented posthaste.

The most severe part of the Marshall Fire was not a “wildland fire.”  Rather, it was an “urban fire,” with one house igniting the next in line, creating what was described as “fingers of fire.”  Using FireIce, fire engines could have coated homes and businesses in the line of the advancing fire — stopping the blaze dead in its tracks.

For the Marshall Fire, Colorado firefighters had FireIce ready to go for the Single Engine Air Tanker (“SEAT”) on the tarmac at Broomfield’s Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport but the high winds made it impossible to fly the SEAT or any other equipment.  Inexplicably, the Fire Departments on the ground were not equipped with the same product.  

From this day forward, it will be inexcusable — and possibly negligent — if fire-fighting agencies and departments across the country are not better prepared.  Numerous firefighters have told me the challenge is that many of the managers of their agencies and departments refuse to change and are immovably mired in the use of inferior approaches, products, and techniques developed decades ago.

With fire danger now a year-round wildland and urban reality, we need to make certain our First Responders have the best, most efficacious, safest, and cost-effective weapons to fight fires and save lives. 

Please immediately contact your elected representatives to insist they arm our firefighters with the tools and products they need to protect our lives and those of our animals as well as save the property, wildlife, and wildlands about which we care so much.  

In particular, pressure needs to be placed on the managers of our safety agencies at the local, regional, State, and Federal levels to ensure that losses from future fires are minimized.

While many other longer-term changes also are needed — ranging from better forest management to restricting new construction in high-risk areas to fire-resistant structure and building lot design — we already have a solution available to us which will result in a massive reduction in the loss of lives and property.

Unless our collective voices are heard across America today, many more unnecessary tragedies will unfold and again we will regret not taking advantage of proven technologies already available to us.

Aaron Harber has no financial interest in any products or services related to anything discussed in this column.  

Aaron Harber is host of “The Aaron Harber Show” (www.HarberTV.com/Info),.  Email Aaron@HarberTV.com.  

© Copyright 2022 by Aaron Harber and USA Talk Network, Inc.  All rights reserved.

The post THE NEW ERA OF FIRES: WE CAN AND MUST DO BETTER: HOW MOST OF A $1 BILLION TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

NORTHERN COLORADO – The YMCA of Northern Colorado is seeking donations to provide free summer camp for hundreds of local children in need, including those impacted by the Marshall Fire.

Every year, hundreds of local children in need access YMCA of Northern Colorado Day Camps with the help of the Y’s donor-funded financial assistance or CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program). This year, the nonprofit is setting a goal of also providing camp scholarships for 250 children impacted by the fires.

“This summer, the need is intensified because so many families have faced devastation in our community,” said Chris Coker, President and CEO of the YMCA of Northern Colorado. “The fires caused chaos, stress and trauma for many local children. The Y must step up to provide day camp for these families. As the largest childcare provider in the area with numerous camp sites throughout Northern Colorado, we must give these children a supportive, safe and healing summer at camp. Our children deserve that.”

The Y needs support from donors to realize this goal: Gifts can be made at ChampforCamp.org.

The YMCA of Northern Colorado provides a social-emotional learning curriculum during summer camp; all camp staff undergo Mental Health First Aid and SEL training to ensure children dealing with trauma, stress and big emotions have support.

“The YMCA is dedicated to providing year-round programming that supports mental wellness and social- emotional learning for children, so that they can better manage stress and build resiliency,” said Lisa Swainey, Vice President of Community Programs for the YMCA of Northern Colorado. “We know that many children in our community have been impacted by the tragic fire that swept through the area, and we are here to partner with families to provide a space where they can heal.”

YMCA of Northern Colorado Day Camps are offered at 10 sites throughout Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties, so camps are convenient for families that have relocated. The Y will also provide free YMCA memberships for these families — to ensure that all family members can utilize Y spaces and programs to move forward together and restore their emotional and physical health.

Families that have been impacted by the Marshall Fire and need financial support for summer camp can email Lisa.Swainey@ymcanoco.org. Other families in need can access information about financial assistance at www.ymcanoco.org/financial-assistance-ccap.

About the YMCA of Northern Colorado
The YMCA of Northern Colorado is a nonprofit organization that strengthens the foundations of community. We do that through programs that focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. More than 50,000 youth, families and adults from all walks of life are served annually by the YMCA of Northern Colorado. Our facilities include the Johnstown Community YMCA in Johnstown, the Mapleton Y in Boulder, the Ed & Ruth Lehman Y in Longmont, the Arapahoe Y in Lafayette, the Cheyenne YMCA in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Camp Santa Maria overnight camp in Bailey. Learn more at ymcanoco.org

The post YMCA of Northern Colorado Raises Funds to Provide Free Camp for Hundreds of Families Impacted by the Marshall Fire appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources recently announced the release and call for applications to its Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) Workforce Development Grant.  The Grant is designed to assist local governments, Tribes, wildfire councils, non-profit organizations, public utilities and other entities to support on the ground wildfire mitigation work by conservation corps or Department of Corrections (DOC) State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams (SWIFT), and funding to support wildfire mitigation workforce training.

“We are extremely excited to get funds and these conservation corps and DOC SWIFT crews out to communities who are in immediate need of forest health and wildfire mitigation projects.  In many areas of Colorado there are projects waiting for funding or may not have the people power to get off the ground.  This Grant is here to kick start these needed projects and place hand crews where they are needed to protect life, property and critical infrastructure,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

The Workforce Development Grant encompasses:
Two types of project requests 

1. Wildfire mitigation work completed by a conservation corps or DOC SWIFT crew. DOC SWIFT crews are available STATEWIDE while conservation corps are only available in COSWAP’s Strategic Focus Areas.

2. Wildfire mitigation workforce training (Strategic Focus Areas only)

Two funding mechanisms

1. Crew time awards for 6-25 weeks of Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) accredited conservation corps or DOC SWIFT crews. These awards do not include any cash, only crew time and do not require a match.

2. Cash grants of up to $100,000 for wildfire mitigation work completed by a non-CYCA accredited conservation corps, or for wildfire mitigation workforce training. Cash grants require a 25% match.

“Our partnership with the Department of Natural Resources helps provide a critical service protecting Colorado communities from wildfires, but it also gives incarcerated men the chance to rebuild their lives and contribute in a meaningful way,” said Dean Williams, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Corrections. “It is priceless to see the confidence and sense of worthiness that the men gain by participating in the SWIFT program. This partnership is an example of how intergovernmental cooperation and a willingness to find creative solutions can truly benefit taxpayers.”

“This investment will not only protect thousands of Coloradans through critical fire mitigation, it will employ hundreds of young adult corps members and develop the next generation of wildland firefighters.  The COSWAP program will leave a legacy of lives and property saved along with hundreds of conservation corps members serving their local communities across Colorado,” said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director, Colorado Youth Corps Association. “The COSWAP partnership with conservation service corps represents the best of Colorado:  hundreds of young adults heeding the call to serve their communities and tackle the issue of devastating wildland fires head-on.”

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to review the request of applications document to learn more about eligibility and timelines and download an application on COSWAP’s website: https://dnr.colorado.gov/divisions/forestry/co-strategic-wildfire-action-program. DNR will accept applications on a continual basis until all funding is awarded.

The Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) within the Department of Natural Resources was created after the devastating 2020 fire season by the Colorado legislature and Governor Polis through the bi-partisan supported SB21-258 in the summer of 2021. COSWAP is designed to quickly move $17.5 million state stimulus dollars to start on-the-ground work on fuels reduction projects and increase Colorado’s capacity to conduct critical forest restoration and wildfire mitigation work that will increase community resilience and protect life, property and infrastructure.

The post DNR Announces New Grant to Boost On the Ground Wildfire Mitigation Projects appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Bootstrap Brewing’s Pickle Me Up

• Winter doesn’t mean any kind of slowdown for Boulder County’s food and restaurant scene. The big food and drink news that happened since Yellow Scene’s last issue was that CANarchy Craft Beer Collective, the owner of Oskar Blues and a slate of other craft breweries, was purchased by Monster Beverage Corp. More details can be found in the In the Cups column including comments from fellow beverage makers who knew Oskar Blues back in the day and witnessed its journey.

• The former Burger King turned UTurn BBQ space in Lafayette is under new ownership. Mono Mono Korean Hot Chicken Restaurant has opened as the newest expansion of JW Lee, who also runs Seoul Korean BBQ & Hotpot and Seoul Man Doo. In Longmont, Swaylo’s Tiki Bar is also hoping to open by the end of this month in the former Outback Steakhouse spot off of Hover, and in a town over, the Erie Social Club is getting ready to put out its welcome mat.

• We are sad to report, Erie has lost another restaurant. Rose Cafe, the town’s beloved breakfast and lunch spot, has announced their closure, effective immediately. Unfortunately, Rose Cafe indicated the decision to permanently close was partially due to pressures related to the current pandemic.

• Longmont has seen some growth, with Marketplace Bakery shifting spots, moving from its old location at 15th and Main Street to a new spot at 900 S. Hover Street. The bakery is taking over for the previous La Momo Maes Bakery due to owner retirements.

• Bootstrap Brewing has started canning one of the more unique beers in the county, a pickle beer. Made from the brewer’s gold medal-winning Golden Ale, it’s expected to reach liquor store shelves this month.

• Elsewhere in Boulder County, DV8 Distillery has released a Peanut Butter Bourbon that’s made with their aged bourbon, peanuts, vanilla, maple, and brown sugar.

• Restaurants and other small businesses in Niwot are gearing up to host a series of local events aimed at Marshall Fire Relief. They’re planning a pair of events to be held at Cimmini’s (formerly Pinnochio’s) on February 26th. Call the restaurant for reservations. All monies will be processed through the Community Foundation of Boulder County and be used to provide help directly to families that have been impacted.

The post Food News | February 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.