“Wait and See!” the Head-Spinning 2021 CO Legislature by Jeriel Clark Related Bills That Couldn’T Wait
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The Vol. 41 No. 1 Spring 2021 “Wait and see!” The head-spinning 2021 CO legislature by Jeriel Clark related bills that couldn’t wait. Political & By late Friday, the legislature Organizing recessed with a plan to resume Director session on February 16. As packed and busy as it can be, A one-month gap in session the state Legislature is more-or- made this year odd. At the risk less reliable in its steadfast rhythm, of messaging their bills too with legislators working to early, legislators were sitting determine the fate of hundreds in a cone of silence, and it was We may not be able to discuss the legislature in person of bills in just 120 days. While difficult for us to anticipate quite yet — so we decided to do something different! some days can make your head what legislation we would spin, this year we discovered see introduced at the Capitol. something far worse than the and Agriculture Committee would allow you to subscribe busy hum of session was the Important bills emerge members were following a bill to a local rancher too. Not only “wait and see”mode that we that had passed through the does this mean peace of mind sat in until February 16. But despite this, our members Wyoming legislature. By the in knowing where your meat were working hard to make end of the year, our ranchers comes from, it’s also vital for By early December, rumors sure at least three bills were determined this is exactly what the survival of local ranchers were circulating that the 2021 introduced — some helping Colorado needed, and luckily, who would benefit from better Legislative Session would begin draft language and holding several legislators agreed. market access to consumers, only temporarily, and then meetings with local lawmakers, higher compensation for their quickly adjourn for a time to let and others sitting in coalition Senate Bill 21-079 (coined the product, and shorter wait times COVID-19 cases fall. That’s just meetings to discuss strategy. Animal Shares Act) would open for processing — all solving what happened on January 13. And now that we’re here, a up meat sales for local ranchers problems made worse by the Our legislators came together at full month into session, we in our community to go directly pandemic. And ranchers and the Capitol, new and returning have already seen the fruits of to residents here in Western local food consumers are lawmakers were sworn in, and those efforts start to grow. Colorado. So if you subscribe in luck! This bill has sailed then they got to work for three to a produce CSA from one of days to address several COVID- Last year, our local Food your favorite local farms, this bill Continued on page 3 WESTERN COLORADO ALLIANCE NON-PROFIT ORG. Inside PO BOX 1931 U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND JUNCTION CO 81502 GRAND JUNCTION, CO 2020’s moments of Lightning-fast progress on PERMIT NO. 134 awakening ........................ 2 clean energy ...................... 7 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED The path to homegrown An important step for local prosperity ......................... 2 ranchers...... ..................... 7 Meet our new legislative intern, A huge win for UVA & Daniel Haas ...................... 3 the grassroots organizing cycle! 2021 Legislative Guide ......4-5 ...................................... 8 A year of major oil and gas When Mesa County’s Alliance victories ........................... 6 fought for the GJ riverfront.... 8 2 Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion Spring 2021 2020’s moments of awakening by Andreya Krieves urgency to stand up and address Amanda Gorman, the nation’s Alliance Chair what’s broken and shined a first-ever National Youth Poet light on the importance and Laureate, in the final lines 2020 will be a year that none effectiveness of organizing. of her poem, “The Hill We of us will forget. Looking back Climb” that she read at this at all that has happened in our At home and across the year’s inauguration ceremony: communities, across our state, country, we saw examples of and throughout the nation, we ordinary people getting involved We will rebuild, reconcile and remember the countless moments in organizing; from local mutual recover that took our collective breath aid groups to innovative and every known nook of our away. We’ve existed in crisis get-out-the-vote efforts nation and mode as the relentless events of that resulted in record- every corner called our country, the past year have exposed deep breaking voter turnout. our people diverse and beautiful rooted problems, exacerbated will emerge, inequities, and shown us just As you read through the articles battered and beautiful. how divided we have become. in this issue of the Clarion, I When day comes we step out of hope you will be both inspired the shade, Fortunately, amidst the chaos and invited to act in the many aflame and unafraid, there have also been moments of ways our Alliance continues to The new dawn blooms as we free it. awakening and hope as people organize for positive change right For there is always light, came together in common here in our West Slope commu- if only we’re brave enough to see it. cause to make a change. The nities. For even more inspiration, If only we’re brave Western Colorado Alliance crises brought the clarity and I lift up the words and wisdom of enough to be it. Chair Andreya Krieves The path to homegrown prosperity by Emily Hornback year of work facilitated by the workers and their families. Our Alliance has long worked Executive Director newly formed Just Transition Some of the proposed actions for responsible mining laws that Office (a collaboration between from the plan include: protect our lands, water quality As national politicians debate the Department of Labor and landowner rights. We also infrastructure spending bills and Employment and the • Bringing grant- continue to support policy and and how to “build back better,” Department of Local Affairs) funded programs to practices that limit greenhouse Colorado has led the nation and was required by legislation coal communities gas emissions and protect our by creating a first-of-its-kind passed in 2019 to help fulfill climate. At the same time, we plan to transition communities Colorado’s “moral commitment • Helping coal industry fully recognize that many of dependent on coal generation to assist the workers and workers and their our rural Western Colorado and mining to a new economic communities that have powered families plan for communities have been driven future. In late 2020, the Colorado for generations.” potential job changes by the coal economy for decades Colorado Final Action Plan for a and we do not want to leave Just Transition was submitted to Colorado has seven remaining • Creating plans for programs our neighbors or communities the Governor’s office, outlining coal-fired power plants, several of to help workers retrain in an economic hole caused the beginnings of what will which are in Western Colorado. and find new jobs by the sudden loss of their likely be more than a decade’s Most or all are likely to close economic base. As such, we worth of work to help coal- in the next 10-15 years due to • Collaborating with have supported the creation of dependent communities avoid increased competition from utilities and mining the Just Transition Action Plan a devastating economic bust. lower-priced sources of energy companies to help cover and will continue to organize The plan explicitly advocates as well as laws and regulations to the expense of transition to influence its implementation for a national strategy, citing the protect public health and counter and execution to benefit our interstate and even international climate change. As a result, The plan includes many other Western Slope Communities. nature of the coal industry. But some of Colorado’s six starting points for policy, it also provides 12 other ways operating coal mines are economic investment, rural To learn more about the the state is going to support likely to close as well. economic diversification, and Office of Just Transition and the switch away from coal. Communities in 11 Colorado workforce development. It’s the Action Plan, visit: counties could be adversely expensive though, with a $100 The Colorado Just Transition affected, along with between million price tag that will require https://cdle.colorado.gov/ Action Plan is the result a 2,000 and 3,000 Colorado federal action to support. the-office-of-just-transition Our Alliance’s Board of Directors Our Alliance’s Staff 2481 Commerce Blvd., PO Box 1931 Officers Local Affiliate Directors Grand Junction CO 81502 Andreya Krieves, Chair, Grand Junction GRAND VALLEY CITIZENS ALLIANCE brings people together to build (970) 256-7650 Kevin Kuns, Vice Chair, Montrose Betsy Leonard, Battlement Mesa grassroots power through Emily Hornback, Executive Director Bill Wellman, Treasurer, Crawford RIDGWAY-OURAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL Al Lowande, Ridgway community organizing and Jeriel Clark, Political & Organizing Director Brenda Bafus-Williams, Secretary, Nick Allan, Community Organizer Montrose UNCOMPAHGRE VALLEY ALLIANCE leadership development. Kevin Kuns, Montrose Joel Dyar, Community Organizer WESTERN COLORADO ALLIANCE IN MESA COUNTY Brian Williams, Community Organizer Our Alliance’s vision for the future Steve Allerton, Grand Junction Arn McConnell, Communications Coordinator is one where engaged local voices At-large Directors are leading communities across WesternColoradoAlliance.org Gabriel Otero, Fruita Director Emeritus Western Colorado that are healthy, [email protected] Rodger Steen, Steamboat Springs Peggy Rawlins, Grand Junction just and self-reliant. Spring 2021 Western Colorado Alliance The Clarion 3 “Wait and see!” — The head-spinning 2021 legislature Continued from page 1 year over year. For every life lost to suicide, there are 25 people through the legislature and has who survive a suicide attempt.