DENVER WEEKLY NEWS
Montbello, NE
neighborhoods
put fight back
in motion over
“Disastrous”
DPS school
‘Turnaround’
Plans
Special to the
Denver Weekly News
By Roger K. Clendening
Residents representing neighbor-
hoods in Northeast and far North-
east Denver last night called on
Denver Public Schools (DPS) to
put the brakes on “disastrous turn-
around” plans for Montbello High
School and northeast feeder
schools or face a rebellion from
citizen-taxpayers that could in-
clude a boycott of DPS schools.
Black, Hispanic and Anglo resi-
dents, from Montbello, Green Val-
ley Ranch, and neighborhoods in
northeast, southeast and southwest
Denver, met for hours Wednesday
night at the Denver Broncos Boys
& Girls Club to craft strategy and
tactics in the war to stave off what
many of them maintain is more
than an educational plan they see
as “disastrous” for current and fu-
ture residents.
Using millions in taxpayer-fi-
nanced but Obama administration
“turnaround” dollars, DPS says it
will shut down Montbello High
School’s comprehensive configu-
ration, replacing it with a 9-12
grade collegiate prep academy for
150 to 200 students per grade that
will grow one grade per year; co-
locate a new Denver Center for
International Studies 6-12 grade
magnet school within the build-
ing; and add a “high tech” early
college.
Shut Montbello down “disas-
trously,” just like what DPS did at
Manual High School, one neigh-
borhood leader remarked, adding
that fellow taxpayers committed
to progressive rather than “disrup-
Continued on page 4
Volume 39 Number 36 October 21 - 27, 2010
Election Day 2010
What's on your ballot?
This year's election day falls on Nov.
2 but early voting began locally on
Monday at 13 service centers in the
Metro area, three of which lie in north-
east Denver: the Blair Caldwell
African American Research Library,
2401 Welton St.; Hiawatha Davis Rec
Center, 3334 Holly St. and the Mont-
bello Rec Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave.
Voters will decide on a number of pro-
posed amendments, propositions and
ordinances in addition to choosing
amongst candidates running for sev-
eral state offices.
The most high profile race is that for
the governor's seat, sought after by the
top three contenders: Denver Mayor
John Hickenlooper (Democrat), Tom
Tancredo (American Constitution
Party) and Dan Maes (Republican).
Other races of note include: the U.S.
Senate seat with candidates Michael
Bennet (D) and Ken Buck (R). Con-
gressional District 1: Diana Degette
(D) vs. Mike Fallon (R); Dist 6: Mike
Coffman (R) vs. John Flerlage (D)
and Dist. 7: Ryan Frazier (R) vs. Ed
Perlmutter.
In state races, Senate seat Dist. 33
has two Democrats, Mike Johnston
and write-in candidate Renee Blan-
chard running against Republican
Lisa Rangle. Dist. 34: Lucia Guzman
(D) vs. Derec Shules (R). House of
Representatives Dist. 7: Angela
Williams (D) vs. Pauline Olvera (R);
Dist. 8: Beth McCann (D) vs.
Therese-Marie O'Sullivan (R); Au-
rora's Dist. 42: Rhonda Fields (D) vs.
Sally Mounier R) and running in the
RTD Dist. B Director's race: Barbara
Deadwyler, Miller Hudson and
Melvin Bush.
Ten measures also appear on this
year's ballot, each summarized in the
2010 State Ballot Information Book
(SBIB). NOTE: Voters are encour-
aged to read the SBIB booklet for
themselves and consider the pros and
cons of each measure prior to casting
their vote.
By Adeeba Folami
Amendment P: Regulation of
Games of Chance: If passed would
amend the state Constitution to allow
legislators to choose the Department
of Revenue to handle administration
of bingo games and raffles conducted
by non-profit organizations. The Rev-
enue Dept. currently oversees casino
gambling and licensing and operates
the state lottery.
Amendment Q: Temporary loca-
tion for State Seat of Government
– will allow temporary relocation of
government headquarters in cases of
extreme emergency.
Amendment R: Exempt Posses-
sory Interest in Real Property – will
eliminate property taxes for people or
businesses which use government
property for private benefit which
amounts to $6,000 or less. Property
taxes fund local services related to ed-
ucation, public safety, maintenance of
streets, highways and bridges, recre-
ation centers, parks, hospitals and li-
braries. Government owned
properties are exempt from taxation
but any income (referred to as Pos-
sessory Interest [PI]), a person or busi-
ness receives from the property is
subject to tax. If passed, starting in
2012, this amendment will make PI
tax exempt if the amount does not ex-
ceed the above stated limit.
Amendment 60: Property Taxes –
Changes or reduces property tax pay-
Obama to
Black Press:
"I still need
your help."
ments to school districts, counties,
special districts, cities and towns. Cur-
rently, state school districts and coun-
ties receive 77% of the total amount
of property taxes collected. Per SBIB,
some school districts have a property
tax “for operating schools and a sepa-
rate property tax to repay loans.” This
amendment would require that all dis-
tricts “cut their 2011 property tax rate
for operating schools in half by 2020.”
The loss of financial assistance from
the tax will be replaced each year with
funding from the state.(Voting "yes"
indicates your approval of these prop-
erty tax reductions.)
Amendment 61: Limits on State
and Local Government Borrowing
– Starting in 2011, the state govern-
ment no longer can take out loans “in
any form” and local governments
may only do so with voter approval.
Currently, such approval from resi-
dents is not required. The law would
also require a reduction in taxes after
the full repayment of current loans and
at today's rates, this would result in a By J. Coyden Palmer
$200 million reduction statewide and NNPA - Chicago Crusader -After
$940 million in local areas. Per SBIB, nearly two years in office and his sup-
the state averages $2.9 billion in loans port within the Black community still
yearly and spends $2 billion to repay. high but dropping, President Barack
Local governments average $4.9 bil- Obama held his first press conference
lion in borrowing and spend $4.3 bil- via telephone with Black newspapers.
lion to repay. Additionally, the The 25-minute teleconference on Oc-
measure requires that repayment of tober 18 gave the nation’s first African
new loans take place within 10 years, American president the opportunity to
whereas the term limits on existing speak to the demographic that sup-
loans fall between 20 and 30 years. ported him the most during his 2008
(Voting "yes" indicates your approval victory. Obama used the time to cam-
that there should be limits or a restric- paign for support in the upcoming mid-
tion on future loans taken out by state term elections, tout the
and local governments.) accomplishments that have been made
thus far by his administration and listen
Amendment 62: Application of to a few of the concerns the Black
the term Person – Controversial due community has raised about his ad-
to its possible impact on abortion ministration.
rights, this measure would make it law Obama began by speaking to the phi-
to acknowledge “that a new human losophy of his campaign, “Change,”
life is created at the beginning of bio- saying it is important for the same en-
logical development” and the law ergy that swept the community during
Continued on page 3 Continued on page 7
State | Local News
Betty Five Points Sustainable Main
Funderburke
is
Streets Initiative Funds Received
DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter on April, signing an executive order

Absolutely Wednesday announced a new

$1.28 million federal grant that
directing state agencies to pool re-
sources to help Five Points, Rifle,

Articulate
will help four Colorado commu-
nities revitalize their downtown
business districts through the Sus-
tainable Main Streets Initiative.
The funds will help renovate his-
toric buildings and improve
downtown walkways in the Five
Points neighborhood of Denver,
the City of Rifle on the West
Slope, the City of Monte Vista in
the San Luis Valley and the Town
of Fowler in the southeast.
“Vibrant downtown business dis-
tricts are the mark of successful
communities,” Gov. Ritter said.
“These funds will help Colorado
communities improve their central
business districts and create a
Monte Vista and Fowler address
needs in their downtown corri-
dors. The initiative focuses on
finding solutions that meet the
unique needs of these communi-
ties and incorporate sustainability
and energy efficiency. The effort
has been led by Lt. Gov. Barbara
O’Brien and Susan Kirkpatrick,
executive director of the Colorado
Department of Local Affairs.
The grant funding is from the
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development and the De-
partment of Transportation. The
announcement was made during a
news conference at the Blair-
Caldwell Library in Five Points.

B
etty Funderburke, an Aurora
businesswoman, has been
awarded Toastmaster Inter-
national’s highest achievement, Dis-
tinguished Toastmaster (DTM). The
award is the culmination of her four
years of participation as a member of
a number of Aurora local toastmas-
speak up and help others as key fac-
tors that have made an impact on my
life,” says Funderburke who works
as a Host Home provider for devel-
opmentally and mentally challenged
adults.
The sassy sisters are members of 5
local clubs including the Absolutely
brighter and more sustainable fu-
ture. Thank you to the federal
government for supporting Col-
orado communities.”
Gov. Ritter launched the Sus-
tainable Main Streets Initiative in
Five Points Business District
president Will Alston said his of-
fice will announce -next week-
how funds will be allocated and
used in the Five Points area.

ters clubs. To earn the DTM (the
highest designation awarded by
Toastmasters International), Betty had
to give 40+ speeches and executed a
number of leadership projects. Two
of her favorite speeches were “An-
gels” and “Creation.” While serving
as District Secretary in 2009-2010,
she and her sister, Elinora Reynolds
co-sponsored a new toastmasters club
in Aurora – Absolutely Articulate
Toastmasters Club # 1272692.
Proudly joining her younger sister,
Elinora Reynolds who earned her
DTM in 2009, these sassy sisters con-
tinue to stand out in the Aurora com-
munity as role models and leaders.
“I credit God, my parents, and our
good family rearing in Kansas City,
Missouri where I was encouraged to
Don’t keep your business
a secret ... advertise it!
Call DWN at 303-292-5158
Articulate Club, Aurorators Club, Or-
biting Toasters Club, Simply Speak-
ing Club and Toast-a-Matics Club.
After joining Toastmasters Interna-
tional in 2003, Elinora encouraged
her sister, Betty to join 3 years later.
In 2009, Elinora (a local event planner
and grant writer) was named Area
Governor of the Year and in 2010,
Betty was named Toastmaster of the
Year in her home club.
Toastmasters International is a non-
profit educational organization that
teaches communication and leader-
ship skills through a worldwide net-
work of clubs. Absolutely Articulate
Toastmasters Club meets on the 2nd
and 4th Saturday of every month at
8:45 am at the Life Care Center of
Aurora
“Disastrous”
DPS school
‘Turnaround’
Plans
Continued from page 1
tive” DPS school changes need
to remember the history of Black
and Brown citizens around the
country who often had to resort to
boycotts as an effective way to get
what they deemed was the most
equitable public education serv-
ices for their children and grand-
children.
Moreover, “This is not just about
education,” insisted Ron Bush, a
long-time DPS employee who
also owns real estate in Montbello
and Green Valley Ranch. “It’s
about gentrification and capital-
ization,” he explained.
Pay attention to shifting and
often declining values of homes in
Montbello and Green Valley
Ranch, and how folks will “still”
be getting offers for thousands
more than their homes are ap-
praised, Bush warned. Already, he
noted, there are examples of
homes getting sales offers of
$150,000 more than their ap-
praised value.
Remember, he said, who owns
Green Valley Ranch. “Oakwood
Homes,” his neighbors chimed in.
Why do you suppose Oakwood
Homes “adopted” Montbello High
School years ago, one neighbor
was heard to ask rhetorically.
In an interview with DWN after
the meeting, a DPS employee who
requested anonymity out of fear of
retribution by DPS, spoke, too, of
the real estate issues related to
DPS plans, and said she would an-
swer that question this way:
“Because these disastrous DPS
changes – part of larger plans to
privatize public education by busi-
nesses who will recapitalize with
our school tax dollars – will better
enable DPS and business to
cleanse those schools, and these
neighborhoods, of Blacks and
Browns steered years ago to
Montbello and Green Valley
Ranch from Five Points and Park
Hill to help gentrify those neigh-
borhoods.”
Students, teachers, parents, and
other residents committed to pro-
gressive, transformative changes
in DPS schools, rather than the so-
called “turnaround” plans for
Montbello and its feeder schools,
were urged to speak out at up-
coming DPS meetings:
➢ DPS’s “final report” to the
community on these proposals is
set for 6:00pm on Oct. 26 at
Rachel B. Noel Middle School,
5290
Kittredge St. in Denver.
➢ DPS Board, 900 Grant St. -
November 8 - Special Public
Comment on Turnaround Recom-
mendations (Note: No time listed
on
the DPS website. Call 720-
423-3210 to get the time of this
“Public Comment on Turnaround
Recommendations”) meeting
➢ DPS Board - November 15 -
Work Session 4:30 - 8:30pm
➢ DPS - November 18 - Regular
Meeting 5:00 - 6:30pm Public
Hearing 6:30 - 7:30p
(This is the meeting during
which Board is scheduled to vote
the Turnaround Recommenda-
tions for Montbello and others
schools “Up” or “Down.” To get
your name on the roster to speak
at this meeting “for” or “against”
the recommendations, you need to
call the DPS office at 720-423-
3210 no later than 5:00pm on Fri-
day, November 12)

Denver Weekly News Thursday, October 21, 2010 Page 4