SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Another attempt to divert conservation funds emerges"

The topic of diverting lottery funds is one of the most absurd yet out of our state lawmakers.  They either go at it as 'all or nothing' (or) refuse to stand up to the trough hogs like Pitkin County.

Washington State and the State of Illinois disburse gaming proceeds, specifically lottery.

A certain percentage goes to Parks, Rec, Open Space.  Another chunk goes to public and post-secondary education.  Another piece of the pie goes to Road, Bridge and Infrastructure maintenance. With another slice going to Human Services.  Periodically, some rotations are done.

GOCO has sucked up millions of dollars in lottery proceeds since inception.  There are counties around the state that are just sitting on funds trying to find still yet another play park, recreational game or venue or chunk of ground to build something 'recreational' on.

While our schools and public education system are in dire financial straits, we have more homeless and hungry than every before in Colorado history and you can't drive anywhere without a wide range of pot holes plaguing every mile you drive.

A few days ago, the Aspen Times published their editorial "Aspen pounds its liberal chest"  and did so with obviously great pride.  I could not stomach the thought of the likely bloody brutality commentators would respond with, so I did not toss it up.  The topics they chose to tout as "liberal" base were far from politics.  Why is it, that immediate inflammatory content is the first choice for "liberal" publications?

Since when are liberals the only ones who conserve and recycle plastics?  What?  Mayor Mick, who apparently is the only one who has "secret access" to all cast ballots, went in and determined that it was only "liberals" who voted for the ban??  Get real!.

"Liberals" are the only ones who supported getting away from the US Chamber?  Here's a news flash, Aspen and ACRA:  You have a lot more "liberals" and "conservatives" out here wanting a clear transparency answer on "why" the detailed accounting  of the ACRA 501-C6 isn't the reason for leaving the US Chamber behind.  The very idea that an entire 'scandal' can be played out in global press over the "climate change" and "US Chamber decision" is ridiculous, silly and pompous.  You have much greater concerns, say the folks.

The Aspen arm of the Susan G. Komen foundation saw heavy negative fire from an entire nation, not just "conservatives".  Their position catalyzed the conversation to ignite but the primary back-slappers were Aspenites.  The move by Aspen's Komen sparked the "war on women" battles that have been going on ever since.  A war, since the Aspen Times is keeping score, that "conservative women" are winning.  This isn't about Roe v. Wade, birth control, Planned Parenthood funding.  The "war on women" is about respect for all women.  Something that a rising showing of "liberals" are having difficulty with.  Aspen Komen had a few great days of media spotlight but the message they sent was exactly the opposite of what they thought they were achieving.  "Conservative" women have since made certain that the facts are drowning out the spin.  So far, "they" seem to not only be succeeding, "they" seem to be showing a great deal of respect for all women.

I wonder if the Pitkin County Commissioners are going to write still yet another of their infamous letters.  This time trying to stop the 'education hogs' from seizing the entire pie of lottery proceeds. 

That might be tough to pull off with any credibility since they are "open space, parks and rec hogs' themselves and are just coming off sending their latest missive to the government. 

 And then there is that small problem of the blazing 'manufactured outrage' sending too many letters protecting Aspen's drug and law enforcement culture.  Just look where that got them with the DEA and FBI.

How about sharing that cash cow of gaming proceeds?

win win.

(Read the article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

 

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Lottery conservation funds being eyed by veterans’ advocates"

Of course they are.

Open space, parks and rec has been hooked up to the cash cow of lottery and gaming proceeds with zero competition for those funds.

Sinking millions of dollars into one special interest, Colorado would be much better served to follow the lead of other states in the union.

Consolidate all gaming proceeds into one kitty and then divide that up between Parks-Rec-Open Space, K-12 public education, law enforcement and public safety, road and bridge and human services.

It's called fairness and equal sharing  amongst public need entities  rather than the current greed-mongering from Parks, Rec and Open Space.

Interesting to watch again the crossover power between boards and local interests in some of the names that are speaking out against the measure.

Andrew Travers:
"...An effort by state legislators to redistribute lottery funds for conservation grants, and put them toward veterans’ programs, has drawn concern from local open space officials.

The Pitkin County open space department will ask the county commissioners to pass a resolution opposing the veterans initiative next week.

“I don’t believe it’s the solution to the problem, to take funds away from something that is working,” said Barb D’Autrechy, county open space acquisition manager.

State Sen. Suzanne Williams of Aurora and others are gathering support in the legislature to create a new scratch-off lottery ticket to fund additional aid for Colorado veterans and amend allocations of lottery funds. Changing the distribution of lottery proceeds would mean changing the Colorado Constitution, which requires a statewide vote.

Supporters are hoping to place the issue on the statewide November ballot.

Voters have previously supported the parks- and conservation-centric funding model, which supports grants for open space purchases, trail projects and wildlife protection.

Conservationists do not wish to be pitted against veterans in competition for state funds, said Martha Cochran, director of the Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT)...." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."