Lawmaker aims to repair asset forfeiture law
Rep. Leslie Herod had no trouble getting her bill addressing civil asset forfeitures out of a House committee Monday. The Denver Democrat got a bill through last year's session restricting how local law enforcement agencies could pursue civil forfeitures, and report on the ones they do, over the complaints of some local governmental officials. Those officials, including some on the Mesa County Commission, complained that the new law unfairly cut into an important stream of re
Rep. Leslie Herod named lawmaker of the year by Colorado library group
Rep. Leslie Herod received the legislator of the year award from the Colorado Association of Libraries last weekend. Rosemary Marshall, president of the Denver Public Library Commission, presented the award to Herod at the Juanita Gray Community Service and biennial Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library last weekend. “We are grateful for Rep. Herod’s support of public libraries,” Marshall said. “She recogniz
Joint Budget Committee votes not to fund Colorado's civil rights offices
The Joint Budget Committee Thursday deadlocked over 2018-19 funding for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Division of Civil Rights, effectively killing the agency's funding beginning July 1 if that decision is not reversed. Republican state Sen. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud posted on his Facebook page that the decision on whether to fund the civil rights commission, which is embroiled in a U.S. Supreme Court fight over a discrimination case, is predicated on whether
Black History Month: Rep. Leslie Herod is an unapologetic champion
State Rep. Leslie Herod is my legislative spirit animal. Unapologetic about her work, yet fully committed to making things happen and willing to cross party lines to get the job done. She’s is a champion of the people. Crafting legislation that focuses on the folks who are often forgotten or mislabeled. Like many other Americans, she was raised by a single mother who was dedicated to her career as an OB/GYN and inevitably pushed a young Rep. Herod into becoming a caretaker. S
Why Denver Library's Central Branch Shouldn't Be Only Heroin Safe-Use Site
Yesterday, February 5, Democratic lawmakers reportedly withdrew a bill from a committee in the General Assembly that dealt with safe injection sites for intravenous drug users. That's no doubt a disappointment for Colorado House District 8 Representative Leslie Herod, whose recent tour of North America's first supervised injection site confirmed her belief that centers like it can be an important way for Denver, and Colorado as a whole, to address the growing heroin and opioi
‘Pads And Tampons And The Problems With Periods:' All-Male Committee Hears Arizona Bill On Femin
A sensitive women’s health issue came before the Committee on Military, Veterans and Regulatory Affairs on Monday: the price of pads and tampons in Arizona prisons. Not all the committee members were comfortable with the idea. “In our prison system,” Rep. Athena Salman said, addressing nine of her male colleagues, “a 16-count of Always ultra-thin, long pads cost $3.20.” “Rep. Salman, Can you keep your conversation to the bill itself? Please?” Rep. Jay Lawrence interrupted. “Y
Lawmakers to consider bill to allow legal site for drug injections in Denver
A plan to allow a legal injection site in Denver goes before lawmakers on Monday at the state Capitol. The idea would establish a place where drug users could legally shoot up under supervision and without fear of being arrested. A supervisor could step in and provide medical help if there is an overdose. Some lawmakers toured a legal site in Vancouver, British Columbia, a few months ago to see if that site could be duplicated in Denver. Those who are in favor of the idea bel
Rep. Leslie Herod says supervised injection bill still has a chance — with changes
A proposal that would allow supervised heroin use in Denver could still become law despite recent setbacks, according to Rep. Leslie Herod. Senate Bill 40 would allow for the creation of supervised injection sites, where people could inject narcotics in the presence of medical professionals. It was scheduled to be heard by a Senate committee today, but it has been delayed indefinitely. With opposition piling up, Democratic Rep. Jonathan Singer recently said that “the momentum
General Assembly Convenes: Is Compromise Possible?
The second session of the 71st Colorado General Assembly convened Jan. 10. As always, the key numbers are: 65 representatives, 35 senators and one governor in a maximum 120-day long gathering to determine the state’s future. The Democrats control the House (37-28), the Republicans the Senate (18 to 16 with one Independent) and the Governor’s Mansion is occupied by a lame duck. It’s an election year with all the representatives’ seats up for grabs and about half of the senator
