Steve Pomerance

I want to acknowledge Colorado state Representatives Elizabeth Epps (D-Denver) and Bob Marshall (D-Highlands Ranch) for starting a process that may have huge benefits in reducing the polarization of our political processes. Last week, according to The Denver Post, they filed suit against the Colorado House of Representatives and its leaders and caucuses of both parties for violations of the state’s Open Meetings Law. The alleged violations include closed caucus meetings and the use of electronic messaging apps that auto-delete to secretly communicate. Bringing this lawsuit required enormous courage from these first-year representatives. And, critically, they hit on a problem that I think is, in many ways, responsible for the kind of positionality and buzz-word politics that many of us find so appalling.  It appears that when a subset of the legislators decide among themselves behind closed doors what they want to do, their ability to then listen to their constituents who see issues...

The Boulder city council is considering putting the current General Fund 0.15% sales tax, which expires at the end of 2024, on this November’s ballot for renewal. There seems to be a general agreement among council members that they need the money. However, a citizen group gathered enough signatures for a ballot measure dedicating this tax renewal to the arts. The council authorized a survey to be done, allegedly to determine what level of support there is in the community for the renewal as undedicated funds. City staff hired a California firm to design and perform the polling. It was sent out in June via email and text.  I received the text and was concerned that it was spam, because the text just said it was from “the City.” So, I asked, and city staff said it was legitimate. But before I got started, someone read me some of the questions. The questions made it sound like the survey was a “push poll,” an attempt to influence the voters, as I believe occurred some months ago on o...