Notified — A maybe mayor for Pueblo, PROPuebloCO’s debut & all that wind
March 31, 2017 | Is all this wind normal? Kind of.
We can definitively say it is much less windy today than it was a week ago. But how is the month shaping up in general? We wondered because it’s been, like, blow-the-roof-off-the-Pueblo-West-library windy. We asked the professionals. That story is after the jump.
Also important, developing news: Pueblo is attempting to bring in a mayoral system again. We’ll start with that.
Is it time Pueblo gets a mayor?
Some think so. Pueblo attorney Nick Gradisar is heading up a group that will campaign for a mayoral system of government in the Steel City, which has had its current form of government since the 1950s. That government being a city council and city manager.
We’ll continue to cover this issue in the coming months, as it’s in early stages of moving forward. But here’s the need-to-know so far:
- Pueblo voters decided against a mayor in 2009, but Gradisar says public opinion seems to have shifted since then. Why? Perhaps because Pueblo still faces the same issues it did in 2009. The addition of a mayor in Colorado Springs could also convince the move is worth while.
- The annual salary for the proposed mayor would be around $150,000. IT may seem like it’s not in the budget, but the mayor would replace the city manager. There would be addition costs that come along with the mayor’s office. To what extent is TBD. Gradisar points out that city council as it is now is a part-time governing body. The salary is set high to attract somebody who would not need another job.
- A term would be four years — except for the first year, which would be five. That’s just because the first election would land during a year out of sorts with municipal elections.
- This measure would be voter approved. City council may vote by April 30 whether to put it on the ballot. If they don’t, the group could gather signatures to put the measure on the ballot. But so far, council approval for the ballot looks promising.
ProPuebloCO — For Pueblo, against what?
The fourth floor of Pueblo’s main library was packed Wednesday afternoon. A new “pro Pueblo” group made itself officially known to the public. While already pegged as another anti-cannabis group, the group’s de facto leader, former Pueblo Economic Development Corporation president, started the presser by saying the group is not anti-marijuana, but marijuana does play a role in Pueblo’s problems.
There are three major tiers to Pueblo’s woes the group points out on their website and was at the center of the news conference: crime, a growing drug culture and vagrancy.
While the group did focus on those issues, they were woven with the narrative that it’s all in part because of marijuana.
Posada director Anne Stattelman spoke of vagrancy, which is up, she said, because of medicaid expansion “and/or” the marijuana industry. Local businessman Ryan McWilliams said it’s near impossible for construction companies to hire because of all the failed drug tests.
Other topics were covered too, heroin addiction, an overcrowded jail, and emergency room doctor Brad Roberts, who has penned anti-marijuana editorials, said it’s an exciting time to be in the medical field with the potential uses of cannabinoids.
Many in the PROPuebloCO group met with Chieftain editorial board in October to voice their support of Propositions 200 and 300, which aimed to rid the city and county of the recreational marijuana industry.
Members of PROPuebloCO are: Andrea Aragon, Mike Baxter, Louie Carleo, Mike Cafasso, Boney Cosyleon, Dan DeRose, Paula McPheeters, Ryan McWilliams, Brian Moore, Donald Moore, Jack Rink, Michael Salardino, Anne Stattelman, Keith Swerdfeger, Burnie Zercher.
Local business men that met with the Chieftain editorial board were: Fritz Anzlovar (A-VAR Electric), Bonifacio Cosyleon (Cosyleon Construction), Ryan McWilliams (International Engineering), Dan DeRose (DD Marketing), Jack Rink (former Pueblo Economic Development Corporation CEO), Keith Swerdfeger (former legislator and K.R. Swerdfeger Construction)and Burnie Zercher (Industrial Construction Managers).
** Brian Moore and Mike Baxter, CEOs of both Pueblo hospitals, were also outspoken about their opposition to the marijuana industry in Pueblo. Paula McPheeters was active with Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo.
It’s been windy, but only slightly above average
Despite a few recent high wind storms in Pueblo, historically this time of year used to be even windier.
PULP’s Ashleigh Hollowell looked into it.
“You’re going to have stronger winds in the spring and winter months. In Pueblo, the average wind speeds pick up in March and April through about June with April being the month with highest average wind,” said Michael Nosko, a hydrometeorological technician for the National Weather Service.
Currently, according to Nosko, March’s average wind speed is 9.1 miles per hour and April’s 10.3 miles per hour. This month is on track to be slightly windier than normal.
“Right now we’re looking at 9.8 average speed for March,” Nosko said.
Protesting Gorsuch’s nomination
A group took to Sen. Michael Bennet’s Pueblo dowtown office Thursday afternoon to oppose the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
You can watch a short encounter here:
But the most interesting part was after the protestors confronted the office staff and from next door emerged state public utilities commissioner Frances Koncilja. Her brothers run the firm.
“They’re not doing this in Denver,” she said, while snapping a photo.
