COLORADO’S #1 HISPANIC-OWNED BILINGUAL PUBLICATION VOL. XLI NO. 15 National Association of Hispanic Publications April 15, 2015 LA VIDA LATINA How will you spend your tax Vestido Rojo/Red Dress refund? Page 7 at Northglenn High ESTA SEMANA THIS WEEK PoliTicS PolÍTica Denver Municipal elections James Mejia offers a breakdown of the candidates. 2 COMMENTARY COMENTARIO La Voz photo by Daryl Padilla Shown above in anticipation of the American Heart Association’s Se muestra arriba a la espera del taller de la American Heart Association Vestido Rojo (RED DRESS) workshop on Saturday, April 18th at the Vestido Rojo (RED DRESS) el sábado, 18 de abril en el Sheraton Inn en Sheraton Inn in Lakewood, Latina students of Northglenn High School, Lakewood, estudiantes latinas de Northglenn High School, voluntarias UNC Estudios Vestido Rojo volunteers, NHS Counselor Valerie Vigil and La Voz staff Vestido Rojo, NHS Consejera Valerie Vigilia y el personal de La Voz reúnen, México- gather, all dressed in RED in order to create awareness of the increase todas vestidas de rojo con el fin de crear conciencia sobre el aumento de in heart disease in Latinas. The workshop addresses nutrition, exer- las enfermedades del corazón en las mujeres latinas. La nutrición taller Americanos cise, health concerns and offers other valuable information. La Voz is en dirección a, ejercicio, problemas de salud y otra información valiosa. Mis prioridades educativas a proud sponsor. (See list of NHS participants, volunteers and La Voz La Voz es un orgulloso patrocinador. (Ver la lista de participantes del NHS, no me permitían perder staff on page 13). voluntarias y personal de La Voz en la página 13). el enfoque de lo que yo quería. 6 Modern-day slavery SpoRTS ERNEST GURULÉ 30 million men, women and chil- country has more of its citizens India’s embroidery mills, Ivory DEpoRTES If you think slavery---human dren are trapped in this blight on enslaved than Mauritania, a West Coast’s chocolate plantations and bondage---is a thing of the past, humanity 365 days a year. African nation of four million, almost every nation where dia- think again. In 2015, slavery, In sheer numbers, India is where one in every 25 people will monds are mined. Opening Day including generational slavery, unmatched with more than 14 mil- be born and, one day, die in the The most recent UN count Rockies beat Chicago continues its sordid existence lion people waking each day as same hopeless existence. estimates that nearly 170 nations- Cubs 5-1 on the big day. around the world. The United indentured as they might have Slavery, which includes chil- --on every continent---have slave 13 Nations estimates that more than been in biblical times. But no dren as young as five, occurs in CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >> ¿QUE PASA? La esclavitud moderna WHAt’s HAPPENING Si usted piensa en la esclavi- En el 2015, la esclavitud, incluy- de 14 millones de personas que La esclavitud, que incluye a tud --- esclavitud humana --- es endo la esclavitud generacional, despiertan cada día entregados niños de tan temprana edad como EVENTS CALENDAR, PAGE 10 algo del pasado, piénselo de nuevo. continúa con su sórdida existencia a cómo pudieron haber sido en a los cinco años, ocurre en las en todo el mundo. Las Naciones tiempos bíblicos. Pero ningún fábricas de bordados de la India, Unidas calculan que más de 30 país tiene más de sus ciudadanos las plantaciones de chocolate de millones de hombres, mujeres en la esclavitud que Mauritania, la Costa de Marfil y casi cualquier y niños están atrapados en esta una nación del Oeste africano de país en donde se sacan los dia- peste de la humanidad 365 días cuatro millones, en donde una mantes. al año. de 25 personas nacerá y, un día El conteo más reciente de la En números grandes, India morirá en la misma existencia sin ONU calcula que cerca de 170 no tiene comparación con más esperanza. CONTINUA EN PÁGINA 11 >> www.lavozcolorado.com 2 POLITICS / POLÍTICA LA VOZ Bilingüe April 15, 2015 Denver’s Municipal Elections Of Denver’s 660,000 residents, Shepard faces criticism over some of the development in as much as Greco and Clark have been able to do. 433,000 registered to vote in the District 1. Challenger and architect, Rafael Espinoza, is rally- But two other candidates should not be counted out at last municipal election of 2011 and ing long-time Northside residents and grassroots supporters this point. Mickki Langston has performed exceptionally 124,000 actually voted. That means but lags in fundraising. This one will be interesting to watch. well in debates and offers a fresh perspective for small busi- that in the last city election, less District 2 ness and Luchia Brown is drawing on her Baker neighbor- than 19 percent of Denverites decid- In this open seat, the fundraising advantage is with hood experience to become the neighborhood candidate. ed city leaders including the Mayor former Rocky Mountain News Reporter, Kevin Flynn, but They are joined by the only two candidates living on the and members of City Council. fundraising and endorsement momentum is moving the west side of the district, Ian Harwick and Mateos Alvarez. As with every four years, in direction of former State Representative, Fran Coleman. Has Jake Viano is the only Republican in the race and Michael this municipal, non-partisan elec- Flynn needled too many public servants in his reporting? I Levy is not accepting donations, instead encouraging voters James Mejia tion, Denver voters will be asked to predict a spirited runoff between these two. to give to their local school. select representatives in an off-year Former State Representative, Jeanne Labuda, knows At one point thought to be Anne McGihon’s to lose, five election - that is, between the years of state and national the district well but hasn’t gained expected traction. If she candidates have a reasonable chance to make the runoff. elections and held the first Tuesday of May as opposed to doesn’t make the runoff, her support of another candidate After that, it’s a whole new game. the first Tuesday of November. Each elected office is for a could help substantially. District 8 four-year term and three successive terms are allowed. If Entrepreneur, John Kidd, should attract the conserva- City Council President Chris Herndon is unopposed in no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the total vote, tive and Republican voters in the district, which is larger this newly drawn district. the top two vote getters go to a runoff on June 2nd. The than many districts in Denver. Kidd has been endorsed by exception to this procedure is the selection of At-large City District 9 current Councilwoman, Jeanne Faatz. Incumbent Albus Brooks is opposed by Ean Tafoya and Council representatives who represent the entire city, where Perennial candidate and City of Denver employee, the two candidates receiving the most votes in May will be Michael Borcherding in this new district. With substantial Danny Lopez, has substantial campaign experience but not fundraising and the political establishment behind him, declared the winners. enough support to get it done in this election. Historically, incumbents have a decided edge for re- Brooks will have to adjust to a new constituency that takes election, though some challengers this year will make a District 3 him further west to a region previously represented by couple City Council districts competitive. Along with some Incumbent Paul Lopez is running unopposed and is rid- Councilwoman, Judy Montero. redrawn districts and open seats without an incumbent and ing on recent success with a new district park and improved District 10 the City Council races could keep the election on May 5th city services. How about that Cesar Chavez Boulevard this With City Planner, Anna Jones and retired healthcare interesting. term, Councilman? administrator, Wayne New designated as frontrunners, fun- The future of our city is at stake so celebrate this Cinco District 4 draising and endorsements went their direction early in de Mayo by voting! Southeast Denver native Kendra Black leads in fund- the race. However, a recent surge by political staffer, Travis Mayor raising and is endorsed by outgoing Councilwoman, Peggy Leiker has made District 10 a three-way horserace. Incumbent Mayor Michael Hancock has been insulating Lehmann. However, strategic planner, Halisi Vinson has In an independently minded district, will the endorse- himself from challengers since he was elected in 2011 and put in a valiant effort that has also attracted an impressive ments of State Representative Paul Rosenthal and outgoing has raised over $1.2M. Challenged by three other candidates set of endorsements including the often-enviable support Councilmember, Jeanne Robb help Anna Jones? Will the without any reported fundraising last month – Seku, Paul of former Mayor, Wellington Webb and other current office support of Cherry Creek North, where he served as neighbor- Fiorino, and Marcus Giavanni, Hancock will easily be re- holders. hood president, propel Wayne New? elected. Webb announced his endorsement saying Vinson will My money is on Travis Leiker to solidify the LGBT com- fight for parks and against parkland sale or swaps in south- munity and call in political chits to make the runoff against Auditor east Denver where a Denver Public School elementary is one of the other two top candidates. City Council District 7 representative, Chris Nevitt, nar- currently being built. Chris Chiari and Chris Wedor have held their own in rowed the field early and is challenged by Certified Public One of the best parts of this race has been the presence debates and in fundraising but it may not be enough to Accountant, Tim O’Brien, who has over a decade of state of third candidate, Carolina Klein.