State & Federal Update – November 27, 2024

It’s Wednesday, November 27, 2024. The 2025 General Assembly will convene in 42 days. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, which occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, is based on the colonial Pilgrims’ 1621 harvest meal. The modern holiday continues to be a day for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, football and family. Most Americans are familiar with the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving Feast, but few realize that it was not the first festival of its kind in North America. Long before Europeans set foot in the Americas, native peoples sought to insure a good harvest with dances and rituals such as the Green Corn Dance of the Cherokees.

Most of the credit for the establishment of an annual Thanksgiving holiday may be given to Sarah Josepha Hale. Editor of Ladies Magazine and Godey’s Lady’s Book, she began to agitate for such a day in 1827 by printing articles in the magazines. She also published stories and recipes, and wrote scores of letters to governors, senators, and presidents. After 36 years of crusading, she won her battle. On October 3, 1863, buoyed by the Union victory at Gettysburg, President Lincoln proclaimed that November 26, would be a national Thanksgiving Day, to be observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November.

It would be an oversight not to acknowledge that Thanksgiving facts and myths have been intertwined for years, much like gravy mixing with mashed potatoes, and untangling them is just as tricky. Though the holiday is often celebrated as a time for family gatherings and feasting, its origins and evolution are marked by both moments of unity and deep tension, particularly when it comes to Native American history and the legacy of colonialism.

On this Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the moments that bring us together, the challenges that help us grow, and the opportunities ahead. Wishing you a holiday filled with warmth, joy, and cherished memories.

These updates are curated from multiple news sources and designed to be a “choose-your-own-adventure.” Please read any coverage of interest and skip anything you deem to be irrelevant. Hyperlinks are provided to add additional context. With the 24/7 news-cycle I hope to keep us all in the loop on items we may want to know about or better understand. Please feel free to share if you think someone outside FGMC needs to be aware of this information.

Disclaimer – The news and articles contained within this update do not represent any political positions or policy opinions of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP. This update is designed for informational purposes only.

Today’s Big Three Things-To-Know:

1. The standoff in Denver. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston made national headlines for his remarks to Denverite about President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportations. In the interview, Johnston imagined a future where the city and its residents might push back against federal immigration crackdowns. “Instead of having [Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you’d have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston said on November 15. “It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.” His comments sparked a wave of reactions, including significant coverage from national media outlets like Fox News, and provoked criticism from conservative leaders. Most recently, Tom Homan, President Trump’s incoming hardline immigration czar, threatened to jail Mayor Johnston after the latter stated he was willing to risk imprisonment to oppose Trump’s mass deportation plan.
2. Another standoff awaits the Colorado Capitol. Governor Jared Polis is once again at odds with fellow Democrats in the state legislature and the Colorado labor movement. The governor quickly dismissed a key piece of legislation unveiled earlier this month, which unions have identified as their top priority when lawmakers reconvene at the Capitol in January. The bill is supported by prominent legislative Democrats, as well as the chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. This divide is expected to reignite tensions that flared earlier in 2024, when Polis vetoed three labor-backed bills passed during the legislative session. In May, hundreds of protesters gathered on the steps of the Capitol, flanked by some of the state’s leading Democrats, to voice their outrage. Chants of “Shame on Polis!” rang out as demonstrators wore “Polis failed workers” T-shirts and stood under a banner reading “Governor Polis turned his back on us.”
3. What to do with all that vacant office space. Nearly a fifth of office space nationwide remains vacant, marking a record-high vacancy rate that’s expected to continue rising. In response, cities are taking action to convert unused office buildings into much-needed housing, aiming to address both their housing shortages and economic challenges. These efforts include speeding up approval processes, granting exemptions from affordable housing requirements, and making adjustments to building codes. Some regions are also offering tax incentives or subsidies to encourage developers to take on these conversions. “Cities must focus on removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to make these conversions viable,” said Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

***Bonus Story – The Trump tariff tirade. President-elect Donald Trump’s tirade on Monday about imposing harsh tariffs on the U.S.’s closest trading partners is drawing concern from both Democrats and economists, who argue it could undermine his pledge to lower consumer prices. In posts on Truth Social, Trump announced he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods starting on his first day in office. The tariffs, he said, would remain until these countries curb illegal drug and migrant flows into the U.S. “Thousands are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote. “This Tariff will remain until drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal aliens stop invading our country!” While Trump has previously threatened tariffs without full follow-through, the executive branch can impose such taxes without congressional approval, meaning some action is likely. “We’ll see more tariff threats over the next four years,” said Brendan Duke of the Center for American Progress, “but it’s unclear what exactly he’ll target.”

***Bonus, Bonus Story – A looming congressional contest. A surge of lawmakers from both parties are vying for coveted spots on the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Appropriations committees, which will be at the heart of legislative action in the 119th Congress as the second phase of the Trump era unfolds. In the House, if Republicans maintain their current margins, there will be four open slots on their side, and six vacancies for Democrats due to retirements and election losses. In the Senate, the exact margin for Republicans remains unclear as they regain the majority, but at least one Republican position will open, and possibly more. With one Democrat and two independents aligned with Democrats set to leave the committee, there’s likely to be room for at least one new Democratic member as well.

And now, more news…

From Denver…Elon Musk, Republicans blast Denver mayor for resistance plans — but what does the law say?

Via Denverite, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston got national attention for his comments to Denverite about President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.

In the interview, Johnston imagined a future where the city government and its populace might resist an immigration crackdown. rewrite “More than us having [Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston said on Nov. 15. “It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.”

The mayor’s words of defiance drew widespread reactions in national Fox News coverage and from conservative leaders.

You can read more from Denverite here, The Guardian here, and CNN here.

Also from Denver…She worked for Denver for 20 years. Now she’s suing Mayor Mike Johnston’s office and his chief equity officer.

As reported by Denverite, Denverite, a City of Denver employee is suing the Mayor’s Office and the Mayor’s Chief Equity Officer. Jessica Calderon’s allegations include sex and national-origin discrimination, retaliation and violations of her constitutional rights to free expression and assembly.

She filed the complaint in August and her attorneys amended it this week. It addresses several years of grievances that span the administrations of former mayor Michael Hancock and Mayor Mike Johnston.

The Denver City Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the complaint, and neither the Mayor’s Office nor Chief Equity Officer Ben Sanders have responded to Denverite’s requests for comment on the allegations.

You can read more from Denverite here.

From Boulder…Boulder police refute claims they are not following leads in JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation.

Via The Denver Post, as the 28th anniversary of JonBenet Ramsey’s murder approaches, the Boulder Police Department provided its annual update about the ongoing homicide investigation and refuted claims that the department has refused to investigate leads.

In recent years, the Boulder police have posted updates on the case around the anniversary of the murder. This year, a Netflix docuseries was also released that, according to the trailer, “poses a critical question: Will Colorado authorities finally take the necessary actions to bring JonBenet Ramsey’s killer to justice and offer her family the peace they’ve long sought?”

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn on Tuesday released a statement regarding the case.

You can read more from The Denver Post here.

From Colorado Springs…Final redistricting sets new map for next year’s Colorado Springs City Council elections.

According to The Gazette, Colorado Springs released the new map of City Council districts on Friday, creating the borders that will be used for next year’s slate of council elections.

The city charter requires the City Clerk’s Office to create a new map of city districts every four years to keep the areas represented by each council member roughly the same size. Colorado Springs’ city population grew to just over 500,000 people this year and the redistricting aimed to split the city in groups of 83,391 residents.

The final map has no changes from the version that had been originally presented in October. City Clerk Sarah Johnson said the proposed map was the most popular of three options presented earlier this year and did not get any significant complaints from the public since.

You can read more from The Gazette here.

Around the metro…Inflation is hitting everyone hard, especially your local food bank.

From CPR, in an industrial-sized kitchen tucked away at Denver’s Food Bank of the Rockies, sous chef Adrienne Flowers is helping a group of smiling volunteers in hair nets. Together, they’re preparing cubed mango for a taco meal that will feed hundreds of hungry kids.

“We change the world for 2,600 children here in this kitchen,” she said. “We’re feeding our community. We’re feeding our future, and it just feels so good to be a part of that solution every day.”

Federal pandemic-era food aid ended across the nation last year, and with an increase in inflation, families are relying heavily on food banks this holiday season.  “More people are needing our help now than even at the height of Covid,” said Weston Edmunds, Communications Manager for Weld Food Bank.

You can read more from CPR here.

Around the state…At least 7 young people in Colorado detention facilities have been hospitalized this year after overdose-related calls.

Via The Denver Post, at least seven young people in Colorado youth detention centers were hospitalized following overdose-related emergency calls this year, including three teens who required life-saving naloxone at a Colorado Springs facility on the same day over the summer.

The Colorado Department of Human Services declined to provide The Denver Post with any information about overdoses at the state’s youth detention facilities, citing child privacy laws. The department says it doesn’t track the number of overdoses, so The Post surveyed fire departments in cities with youth services centers to compile these figures.

The Post found overdose calls in 2024 have come from at least four different state facilities: Spring Creek Youth Service Center in Colorado Springs, Gilliam Youth Services Center in Denver, Marvin W. Foote Youth Services Center in Centennial and the Campus at Lookout Mountain in Golden, which houses four distinct facilities.

You can read more from The Denver Post here.

From the Gold Dome…Jared Polis is headed for another showdown with Democrats at the Colorado Capitol over union issues

According to The Colorado Sun, Gov. Jared Polis is once again on a collision course with fellow Democrats in the state legislature and the Colorado labor movement.

The governor quickly pooh-poohed a piece of legislation unveiled earlier this month that unions say will be their priority when state lawmakers reconvene at the Capitol in January. The bill has the backing of top legislative Democrats, as well as the chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party.

The divide is likely to inflame tensions that flared when Polis vetoed three of the labor movement’s bills passed during the 2024 legislative session. During a May protest on the steps of the Capitol, hundreds of demonstrators, flanked by some of the most prominent Democrats in the state, shouted “Shame on Polis!” Some wore “Polis failed workers” T-shirts as they gathered under a banner that said “Governor Polis turned his back on us.”

You can read more from The Colorado Sun here.

Speaking of unions…Union workers file lawsuit against King Soopers and Safeway for alleged actions during 2022 strike.

As reported by Fox31, a class action lawsuit was recently filed by local union workers against the Kroger Company and Albertsons, the owners of King Soopers and Safeway respectively.

The lawsuit is in response to certain unlawful “no-poach agreements” the grocery stores allegedly entered into during a 2022 strike against King Soopers and City Market by the union United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 in Denver.

A spokesperson for the Kroger Company released a statement about the lawsuit and denied that there were any no-poach agreements between the two companies.

You can read more from Fox31 here.

From Colorado courts…Ethics complaints against former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters will move forward.

Via Colorado Politics, the ethics complaints against Peters have been on hold because of the recently-concluded criminal trial tied to a security breach with elections equipment at the recorder’s office in 2021. Peters was sentenced to nine years in Mesa County jail and state prison for charges.

She is appealing the decision. In an order issued on Monday, Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission said that, given that the criminal trial took two and a half years, any further delays would be prejudicial to the complainant, Anne Landman of Grand Junction.

You can read more from CoPo here.

More from Colorado courts…Former Colorado public defender files whistleblower suit saying his excessive caseload stopped him from doing a good job.

According to CPR, a former combat veteran and Colorado public defender is suing his former employer for firing him after he told a court that his excessive felony caseload was too high to adequately represent his clients.

Travis Weiner was fired earlier this year from his defender job in Weld County after repeatedly telling his supervisor that he didn’t feel like he could effectively fulfill his obligation to clients because of his burgeoning caseload.

Last week, Weiner filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the Colorado State Employee Protection Act. Weiner said when he was in county court, he usually had between 200 to 275 misdemeanor cases at a time and then when he was promoted to state court, he would carry usually 100 felony cases at one time from the Greeley office.

You can read more from CPR here.

In Colorado elections…Colorado House district race separated by 6 votes, recount ordered

From Colorado Politics, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has ordered a recount for the state House District 16 race, as required when the vote differential is within half a percent of the winner’s total.

Republican Rebecca Keltie defeated incumbent Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs, by just six votes, according to the results submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.

El Paso County will work with a bipartisan canvass board to complete a logic and accuracy test on its tabulation equipment and begin recounting ballots.

You can read more from CoPo here.

On education…Amid fear, trans students and families plan for Trump’s second term.

As reported by Chalkbeat, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, ban gender-affirming care for minors, investigate whether such care should be available even to adults, roll back the Biden administration’s Title IX changes that gave transgenders students more legal protections at school, and punish schools that teach what Trump calls “left-wing gender insanity.”

“Teachers are wondering: What resources will I be able to use to keep kids safe? And that’s not just LGBTQ kids, but all students,” said Scott Miller, co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus of the National Education Association.

You can read more from Chalkbeat here.

From Washington DC…Loyalists, competing ideologies and government skeptics.

Via The Washington Post, Donald Trump entered the White House eight years ago with a Cabinet full of people with traditional conservative credentials, tapping some he barely knew to help him learn his way around Washington.

Now the president-elect has rapidly assembled a different kind of team for his second term — enlisting people deeply critical of the agencies they will lead, bucking conservative orthodoxy with some of his picks and, above all, rewarding his most loyal allies.

You can read more from WaPo here.

More from Washington DC…Trump vow to impose stiff tariffs at odds with anti-inflation campaign message, Dems say.

According to Colorado Newsline, President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he would impose harsh tariffs on the United States’ closest trading partners will work against his pledge to bring down consumer prices, Democrats in Congress and economists are warning.

In a pair of posts to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday evening, Trump said on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China until those countries stopped the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S.

“Thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

From Congress…Angling for open Appropriations seats set to ratchet up.

Via Roll Call, a bumper crop of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are attempting to secure open slots on the House and Senate Appropriations committees, coveted perches that will be in the center of the legislative action in the 119th Congress as part two of the Trump era begins.

If House Republicans retain the same margins from this Congress, there would be four vacant positions on their side of the dais, and six open seats for Democrats following retirements and electoral defeats.

Over in the Senate, it’s not clear what committee margin Republicans will go with as they move back into the majority, though there will be at least one opening for Republicans, and likely more. With one Democrat and two independents who are aligned with the Democrats leaving the committee, it is also likely that there will be room for at least one new Democrat.

You can read more from Roll Call here.

On the transition…Trump team signs a key transition agreement with Biden White House.

From NPR, After a significant delay, the Trump transition team has signed a key agreement with the Biden White House to ease the transfer of power.

“This engagement allows our intended cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” Susie Wiles, chief of staff to President-elect Donald Trump, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The memorandum of understanding was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1 — along with a second MOU with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would provide funding, office space and technology. The deadline and process is set out in a law called the Presidential Transition Act.

You can read more from NPR here.

An upcoming court battle…X claims ownership of Infowars accounts.

As reported by The Hill, X, the social platform owned by Elon Musk, is getting involved in the pending bankruptcy sale of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s Infowars to the satirical newspaper The Onion.

In an objection filed Monday, X said its terms of service (TOS) prevent Jones’s X accounts from being sold off without the company’s approval. The platform does not oppose the other aspects of the sale.

You can read more from The Hill here.

And around the country…Cities cut red tape to turn unused office buildings into housing.

Via Colorado Newsline, nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate that’s expected to keep growing.

Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers.

“Cities need to focus on making conversions feasible by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers,” said Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

You can read more from Colorado Newsline here.

That’s all for now. Have a wonderful holiday!

Best,