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This is Proposal 005-15: Endorsing Colorado Cummunity Rights Amendement.Please read the proposal and keep comments on the topic of the proposal only.Designate your vote by using the following terms: AGREE, BLOCK, or STAND ASIDE. Any blocks will require a vote of the council Per Section 4.3 of the GPCO Bylaws, "to endorse or oppose an ballot initiative or referendum, or to take a stance on a public issue, shall require consensus or a vote of at least 60% of the membership present at the state meeting and/or council".There are currently eight ( 8 ) active voting chapters in the Green Party of Colorado. A vote of at lease 60% quorum requires at lease one response from five ( 5 ) chapters.Active ChaptersAdams/JeffersonArapahoe CountyDenverDouglasGreater BoulderPikes PeakSan MiguelSouthwestThe floor is now open for one week of Agreement Seeking (ending July 10, 2015).Thank you and Happy Fourth,Brittany Hoover, Council Facilitator1. Basic InfoDate proposed: 6/25/15Name of the sponsor(s): Andrea Merida, co-chair Denver Greens; Harry Hempy, co-chair Greater Boulder Greens; Lawrence Dunn, co-chair, Adams-Jeffco Greens2. Title: GPCO Endorses Colorado Community Rights Amendment (Amendment 75)3. Proposal: Resolution of Support for the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, the Right to Local Community Self Government Whereas: The Sixth Key Value of the Green Party of Colorado calls for the right of local communities to protect the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” And Whereas: The Colorado Constitution states, “All political power is vested in and derived from the people; all government, of right, originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.” And Whereas: Legitimate government is instituted to secure the inalienable rights of all persons, and that if government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government. And Whereas: Under the current structure of the law, Colorado communities are denied their right to local, community self-government, and local laws created to protect the health, welfare, and safety of our communities are being routinely overturned by corporations using legal privileges afforded them by state and federal law. And Whereas: These state preemptions and corporate “rights” serve the financial interests of the offending corporations at the cost of people, community and environments; and result in communities being unable to ban projects and activities harmful to them. And Whereas: The Green Party of Colorado agrees that the citizens of Colorado must be able to secure their rights in the most immediate and important locations, that is, in the communities where they work, raise their families, and live. And Whereas: The Green Party of Colorado believes that when corporate interests conflict with the health, welfare, and safety of Colorado communities, that local laws enacted to protect the rights of the community should be elevated above claimed corporate powers, and that communities must have the authority to curtail, define, or remove the corporation’s powers in that community. Therefore Be It Resolved: That The Green Party of Colorado supports the principles and powers established by the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, and its recognition of the people’s right to local, community self-government. And Therefore Be It Resolved: That The Green Party of Colorado endorses the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, will promote it, and will assist the Colorado Community Rights Network campaign for a ballot initiative in 2016.4. Background: From the cocrn.org website: On a state level, we are advancing constitutional change through the campaign for ballot initiative #75, the Colorado Community Rights Amendment. This historic effort, now working its way into the petitioning stage, asserts that people’s rights are fundamental and superior to court-conferred corporate “rights.” If enacted, it would enable local governments to define fundamental rights and prohibit activities that violate those rights. It would give local communities “the power to enact local laws establishing, defining, altering, or eliminating the rights, powers, and duties of corporations and other business entities operating or seeking to operate in the community.” It would bar the State of Colorado from forcing unwanted corporate projects onto unwilling communities. This binding amendment will begin the fundamental legal changes we see as necessary to build genuine democratic community rights and ensure Colorado’s sustainability.5. Justification/Goals: Supporting Amendment 75 will cement the party's position as the true progressive, community-based voice. This Amendment falls directly in line with the GPCO 1st Key Value: Grassroots Democracy.6. Pros and Cons: Pro: Benefits include furthering the GPCO brand among allies who support Amendment 75, which would help tie us to progressive initiatives.Con: might be that we're associated with losing legislation.7. Alternatives to the proposal: Taking no action.8. Supporting statements: Members may visit cocrn.org for more information.
Colleagues, we're encouraging your support on this. It was a robust, collaborative effort! Thank you.
Andrea, I'll be sending out a mass email today to make sure everyone is aware that a new Proposal is up. Maybe that will jumpstart voting.
AGREE. Harry Hempy, Co-chair Greater Boulder GreensGreens from Boulder, Gilpin and Broomfield Counties canvassed for the Colorado Community Rights Amendment last year. Canvassing was suspended when Jared Polis started an inferior, but similar, local rights initiative and hired people to collect the signatures. You may remember that Polis then refused to submit the signatures to appease Gov Hickenlooper and the Colorado petroleum industry. Boo!
Agree!! And about time!!
Agree!! By my count, seven days has passed, but the bill indicates July 10th so let's roll with that for now, unless someone objects.
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