This Season to Share — no matter how you celebrate the holidays — has us thankful for so much but especially our readers.
You only need to see the past results of The Denver Post’s annual Season to Share campaign to know our readers support their communities. The Denver Post Community Foundation is so grateful to live in such a generous community – our subscribers are making a difference for our neighbors in need with their donations. More than 50 metro Denver nonprofit organizations focusing on children and youth, health and wellness, homelessness, and hunger will benefit from this year’s campaign. If you are able to share, donations will be accepted through December 31.
Our community also supports The Post’s commitment to journalism by subscribing and participating in our opinion forums by writing letters and guest commentary submissions.
Dedicated journalists across this city work to inform readers on the issues that most affect Coloradan’s lives. Recent projects include regional VA hospital workers reporting issues of delayed or canceled care for veterans, and the ongoing in-depth coverage of the Colorado River’s shortage and its effects on agriculture, recreation and growth.
From crime to education, The Denver Post’s reporters and editors work with passion and commitment to keep the state informed.
When Denver Post reporter Meg Wingerter notified the public that about a dozen kids were waiting at Children’s Hospital for a pediatric liver transplant, readers did not disappoint. The hospital credits Wingerter’s story almost exclusively for inspiring selfless Coloradans to step up despite the hurdle of having a portion of a vital organ surgically removed. Every child in need will receive a transplant this year.
“We have just been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Denver community,” Dr. Amy Feldman told The Post. So are we.
Reporters worked over the weekend alongside lawmakers to report on a special session to solve the looming property tax crisis when the 30% to 40% average increases were estimated for Colorado homeowners’ property values. From the failed Proposition HH ballot issue to local officials examining mil levy rates, it is good to see that the hardship is recognized as being more important than the flood of tax dollars pouring into government budgets.
Democrats did a good job of crafting legislation that immediately reduced property taxes. We appreciate the effort to also bring tax relief to those who are less likely to own property via an expansion of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit and an equalizing of TABOR refunds.
However, Democrats could have worked across the aisle — acknowledging instead of rejecting almost immediately some of the good ideas Republicans offered — for a smoother three days of work. Republicans, had they been offered a token of participation, would have been far less likely to use delay tactics to stretch the session into the Thanksgiving week.
A small but important example was the bipartisan legislation to increase a property tax break called the Homestead Exemption for seniors, disabled veterans, and the surviving spouses of veterans with disabilities. The expansion would not have been cheap — the fiscal note estimated it would cost almost $100 million a year — but lawmakers made a similar expenditure with the Earned Income Tax Credit and the $30 million provided to rental assistance programs. Thank you, Rep. David Ortiz and Rep. Ron Weinberg for setting a good example. And especially to Ortiz for his service to this nation in the U.S. Army.
Denver’s Imam Muhammad Kolila and Rabbi Joseph Black wrote a commentary for our pages together, uniting during the devastating Israel-Hamas war to show there is no limit to love and service in the name of peace.
If these two faith leaders can call for unity and peace today, we know no issue is too intractable. We urge everyone to read their words.
There is so much to be grateful for in this state and nation — our generous communities, our freedom of the press, our veterans, our liberties, and our peace and tolerance. Nothing is beyond our ability as long as we unite for a common cause.
