
October 8, 2021 Edition
Season 29 Episode 40 | 27m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Vaccine Requirements, Colorado redistricting, Downtown Denver Partnership and flavored tob
Topics include update on COVID vaccination requirements, the latest Colorado redistricting map, a new CEO at DDP and the debate over vaping laws. Hosted by Patty Calhoun
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Colorado Inside Out is a local public television program presented by PBS12

October 8, 2021 Edition
Season 29 Episode 40 | 27m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Topics include update on COVID vaccination requirements, the latest Colorado redistricting map, a new CEO at DDP and the debate over vaping laws. Hosted by Patty Calhoun
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Read INSIDE CIO THIS WEEK, a blog offering the latest highlights, insights, analysis, and panelist exchanges from PBS12’s flagship public affairs program.Providing Support for PBS.org
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"WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 8TH," "2021, EDITION OF ""COLORADO" "INSIDE OUT."""
I'M YOUR HOST PATTY CALHOUN.
SITTING IN FOR DOMINIC DEZZUTTI.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
COVID VACCINATION ISSUES REMAIN IN THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK.
AFTER ISSUING A MANDATE MAKING IT EASIER TO FIRE UNVACCINATED "EMPLOYEES, GOVERNOR POLIS'" ADMINISTRATION MIGHT SCALE BACK TO REQUIRING ONLY 90% OF EMPLOYEES BE VACCINATED TO ALLOW FOR OPTING OUT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.
"MEANWHILE, UC HEALTH INFORMED" PATIENTS THAT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WILL NOT RECEIVE ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.
SITTING IN MY FORMER CHAIR DAVID KOPEL.
>> I'VE BEEN ON THIS SHOW SINCE 1998 THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO SIT ON THIS CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TEMPORARY PROMOTION.
YOU CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF VIEW THAT IT DOESN'T GROW ON TREES.
WE WANTED SOMETHING WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF VOOIF VALUE.
THE PERSON NOT HAS DOUBLE THE CHANCES OF DYING FROM COVID.
THAT IS REASONABLE SO FAR.
WHAT THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING IS VERY ODD IS NATIONAL IMMUNITY.
A PARTICULARLY PERSON CAN REFUSE A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT IN SOMEONE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID AND HAS ANTIBODIES.
THERE IS A NEW STUDY COMING OUT IN ISRAEL WHERE THEY HAVE LOTS OF DATA AND LOTS OF VACCINATIONS.
WHAT THEY FOUND THAT NATURAL IMMUNITY IF YOU HAD A POSITIVE "TEST, THAT IS BASICALLY DOUBLE" TO PROTECTED VALUE OF THE ARTIFICIAL IMMUNITY CREATED BY VACCINE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE KICKING SOMEBODY OUT WHO HAS BETTER IMMUNITY THAN YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE VACCINATED.
>> THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN I HAVE SAID IN THAT CHAIR.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT POLIS' NEW VACCINATION?
>> IT IS ALMOST SURPRISING THAT WE SEE IN OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES.
PUSHING THE VACCINE MANDATE.
THEY ARE PUSHING 98% TO 99%.
THE EMPLOYER REQUIRES THE EMPLOYEES TO HAVE THEIR VACCINE.
THEY ARE SAYING YOU MUST GET A VACCINE.
MOST PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED.
THE BIGGER POINT HERE IS MORE AND MORE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES GETTING ON BOARD WITH IT HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO INCREASE THIS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE SAW THAT A WEEK AGO.
SAYING YOU CAN'T FORCE THIS MANDATE.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT TO JOE BIDEN'S MANDATE.
AS FAR AS POLIS GOES I'M JUST SURPRISED.
OTHER AGENCIES ARE GETTING IT.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED BY POLIS?
>> A LITTLE BIT.
HIS APPROACH WAS FOCUSED ON PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT APPROACH -- THE TABLES HAVE REALLY TURNED.
AND TO APOLOGIZE TO FRONT LINE WORKERS.
IT IS A REAL POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR 2022 ELECTION BASED ON HIS DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.
>> ROUNDING OUT OUR TABLE JESSE.
WHERE WE ARE IN COLORADO 90%?
>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE -- WORKERS THAT CAN'T FUNCTION.
IN RESPONSE TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
I AGREE THIS IS A HUGE POLITICAL ATTACK ON REPUBLICANS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL LAND VOTERS.
THE REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER.
>> THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME WE TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS.
>>> THE LATEST STAFF VERSIONS OF THE COLORADO SENATE AND LEGISLATURE MAPS WERE RELEASED BY THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION THIS WEEK.
BOTH MAPS SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE.
"MEANWHILE, COLORADO COMMON CAUSE" IS CONSIDERING JOINING LATINO GROUPS IN BATTLING THE CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP SENT TO THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT LAST WEEK.
HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?
>> THEY ARE NOT.
I'M A LITTLE SURPRISE WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM RIGHT NOW.
I'M GOING TO USE NUMBERS HERE.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MY COLLEAGUES DOING THOROUGH WORK ON THIS SO FAR.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEW -- CREATED 39%.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND STATE THAT IS A DISTRICT THAT AT LEAST 25% HISPANIC.
IT SURPRISES TO SEE YOU ARE NOT HEARING THE HISPANIC VOICE ENOUGH.
AND FRANKLY POINTS OUT THE PROBLEMS IN THIS WE THOUGHT WE CURED EVERYTHING NONBIPARTISAN COMMISSION.
WHAT WAS THE NONPARTISAN -- OTHERWISE HAD THE ABILITY TO -- I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE COURT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COURT IS GOING TO COME DOWN.
IT SEEMS TO ME IT SEEMS AN ODD LINE.
>> NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.
ALINA?
>> REALLY TRYING TO KEEP UP.
I THINK WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME AT THIS POINT IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE COURT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO NEW.
"ULTIMATELY, A LOT RIDES ON THIS" WHAT ACTUALLY SETTLES.
IF IT EVER SETTLES.
>> YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE STATE HOUSE.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE THERE?
>> SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF REPUBLICAN MIND SET.
DEMOCRAT WORRY WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL PASS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP TURNS OUT.
I THINK THE MAJORITY IS THERE.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.
THEY HAVE ARGUED THIS ISSUE BEFORE.
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
A LOT OF SUPPORT THERE.
HAVE A PRETTY GOOD REASON FOR CHANGES.
>> I KNOW YOUR STORY HOW DO YOU SEE THE REST OF IT WORKING?
>> ON THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP THE CHALLENGERS HAVE IN TWO WAYS WIN.
BOTH ARE VERY UNLIKELY.
ONE IS VOTER'S ACT.
IF YOU HAD A HISPANIC TOWN -- AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
THE ONLY ACTION REALLY COMPETITIVE SPEECH IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
THEY CAN ALSO TRY TO CONVINCE IN COURT THE MAP IS USED.
THE PEOPLE INSTEAD CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE DRAW.
THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO GET FAR ON THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE MANDATE.
THE REPUBLICANS WIN.
THE DEMOCRATS WILL STILL COMFORTABLE.
>>> OUR OWN ED SEALOVER BROKEN THE STORY THIS WEEK THAT THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP HAS "A NEW CEO KOURTNY GARRETT, WHO" IS CURRENTLY THE CEO OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
GARRETT TAKES OVER THE TAMI DOOR WHO HELD THE POSITION FOR 14 YEARS.
>> I TALKED TO YOU AND SOME OF COLLEAGUES THAT ARE FAMILIAR.
IT COMES ACROSS A REAL STAR.
BROUGHT A LOT OF GROWTH AND BOLDNESS TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
I THINK WHAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS STORY SHE IS COMING AT A CRITICAL TIME IN DOWNTOWN DENVER.
AND SO WHAT IS MORE IS DOWNTOWN SOME OF THE CITY'S -- INCLUDING VIOLATE CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS.
THE CEO THE RESTAURANT CHAIN SAID THEY CLOSE THEIR DOWNTOWN LOCATION DUE TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE AREA.
SO CLEARLY SHE WILL HAVE HER "HANDS FULL, THAT'S FOR SURE."
WHETHER THAT TIME IS COINCIDENT.
>> FOCUS ON INTO DENVER.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
>> I LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
THE ISSUE IS HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT.
AS THE REPUBLICAN A FEW YEARS AGO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW DEMOCRATS LISTEN TO THAT GROUP.
"YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING THIS" IS AS A DENVER RESIDENT EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO GET ME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGES?
>> I LOOK AT THE PARTNERSHIP.
WANTS TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT DALLAS IS CALLED TAX INCREMENT.
VOTE ON NEW GOVERNMENT DEBT.
SOMETIMES THAT IS DENYING THINGS LIKE STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
OTHER TIMES IT IS PAY THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THE DEVELOPERS.
I DON'T THINK DOWNTOWN IS THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS NOT TAXPAYER MONEY GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THE PROBLEM IS THE VIOLENT "CRIMINALS, THE MOBS."
THAT IS NOT A CORPORATE WELFARE PROBLEM.
>> AND ED SEALOVER TELL US WHAT YOU SEE?
>> A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE IN 15 YEARS.
THE IDEA OF BRINGING RESIDENTS BACK.
THE IDEA OF TRYING TO MAKE IT A MORE DIVERSE.
THE TRICK THOUGH THEY WERE NEVER PREPARED FOR A DOWNTOWN MASSIVE VACANCIES.
NOW REALIZE THEY CAN GET THEIR MONEY IN THE SUBURBS AND DON'T HAVE TO PLAY THE HIGH DOLLAR AMOUNT.
HOW DO YOU BRING THAT LIFE BACK DOWNTOWN?
ONCE YOU START BRINGING MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
"YOU WILL SEE A TURN IN CRIME, IN" SOME OF THE HOMELESSNESS AS MORE PEOPLE GET DOWN THERE.
BUT REALLY GOT INTO THIS NOW.
WHAT DO I DO TO RESET?
I THINK MOST WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OVER THE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF THE CHANGING DOWNTOWN DENVER.
>> WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE TOO.
>>> A PROPOSAL TO BAN FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS WAS KICKED BACK TO COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AFTER TWO HOURS OF HEATED DEBATE AT THE DENVER CITY COUNCIL.
PROPONENTS WANT TO CURB USE OF TOBACCO AMONG MINORS WHILE OPPONENTS QUESTION IF A BAN WILL BE EFFECTIVE SINCE THE PRODUCTS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FLAVOR TOBACCO ISSUE?
>> IT IS NOT A NEW QUESTION.
STAY LAWMAKERS HAVE CONSIDERED A BILL TO DO A SIMILAR BAN ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
SO IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A STATE BAN IT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
"OPPONENTS WILL SAY, LOOK, PICK" UP THE THINGS THAT ARE BAN ANYWAY.
ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED IN RECENT YEARS IS TOBACCO INDUSTRY STILL HAS A LOT OF PROBLEM IN COLORADO.
IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THESE THINGS COME UP WHAT KIND OF MONEY GETS SPENT.
"FACEBOOK ADS, DIGITAL ADS AND" THESE THINGS.
>> ONE OF THE LOBBY GROUPS IS THE HOOKAH INDUSTRY.
>> I HOPE WE CAN ALL GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE.
AND RIGHT SOME PEOPLE HOOKAH IS AFTER WORK.
AND THE TOBACCO FLAVORING IN THAT IS A BIG PART OF THINGS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF EIGHT GRADERS IN HOOKAH LODGE.
IT IS NOT FOR MINORS.
IT IS JUST BIGOTRY AND EXCLUSION FOR IT'S OWN SAKE.
"AS FOR TOBACCO, LET'S REMEMBER" CIGARETTES ARE MADE WHERE YOU SMOKE TOBACCO.
VAPING FLUID IS TYPICALLY DERIVED FROM -- IT CONTAINS "NICOTINE BUT MUCH, MUCH SAFER."
YOU ARE DISCOURAGING A LOT OF CRIME STOPPERS SOMETHING THEY MIGHT ENJOY BECAUSE OF THE FLAVORING AND REDUCE THEIR HEALTH RISK.
THE DENVER CITY COUNCIL IS AMONG OTHER THINGS.
">> EGGPLANT, I NEVER KNEW THAT."
WHAT CAN YOUR SHARE?
>> OTHER THAN THE INFLUENCE OF HOOKAH.
THE INTERESTING THING IS THIS DEBATE IS GOING TO -- HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS THIS GOING TO BE?
A RECENT STUDY SHOWED -- WHEN TEENS WERE AT HOME THEY WERE NOT GATHERING IN GROUPS.
IT HAS GONE AWAY ALL THE TIME.
VAPING IS NEWER.
THE QUESTION IS IT BAD ENOUGH?
I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT.
"B, IS THAT GOING TO ACCELERATE" THE CHANGE?
IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN NATURALLY.
MAYBE COMING AFTER SMOKING WHEN SMOKING ITSELF IS TENDING TO GO AWAY OVERTIME.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS -- THERE IS NO ANSWER THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT DENVER CITY COUNCIL HAS TO CONSIDER.
MAYBE IT IS TIME TO JUMP IN.
AS WE CONTINUE TO WATCH TRENDS.
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS WILL GO?
>> I THINK THERE IS -- THEY ARE GOING ON THE 27th TO HASH THINGS OUT.
BUT THE TWO ORDINANCE AREN'T SUPPORTIVE WHATSOEVER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SEE CHANGES.
THEY WANT TO ALLOW HOOKAH LOUNGE OR GIVE CONVINCING EVIDENCE.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE YOUTH VAPING ISSUE.
"IN MAY, YALE FOUND THAT SAN" FRANCISCO LAW BANNING TOBACCO PRODUCTS MIGHT HAVE DOUBLED THE ODDS OF UNDERAGE SMOKING.
THINKING OF A SMARTER WAY TO GO ABOUT TARGETING UNDER AGE SMOKING TARGETING TO VENDORS WHO ARE SELLING TO MINORS.
RIGHT NOW CITY OFFICIALS ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS AREN'T SUPPORTIVE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THEY ARE FOR AN UPHILL BATTLE.
>> THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER BATTLE NEXT MONTH.
NOW THEY ARE COMING BACK TO PUSH BACK.
WE GOT A LITTLE TIME IF ANYONE WANTS TO WAIT ON THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO DISGRACE.
>> OUT OF AURORA STATE COUNCILMAN GLOBAL WARMING CALLED HIS -- THE MOST DANGEROUS GROUP IS THAT EVER EXITED ON PLANET EARTH.
I SUGGESTED RHETORIC APPROPRIATE MIGHT TRY READING A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
HE WARNED OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.
THE COMMUNIST COMMUNE COMES WITH MASS MURDER.
ALL OF THEM AND MANY OTHERS ARE IN FACT MUCH MORE VICIOUS THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THEY -- >> YOU JUST LEARNED MORE FROM DAVID THAN ME.
WHAT IS YOUR DISGRACE OF THE WEEK?
>> THIS WEEK THE U.S. VOTED TO PUT HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE SITUATION ON AFGHANISTAN.
WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING WAS THE THREE COUNTRIES WHO VOTED AGAINST IT.
"VENEZUELA, RUSSIA, AND CHINA."
ALONG THE LINES OF IRAN AND NORTH KOREA.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF AFGHANISTAN SHOWS THIS IS DANGEROUS.
WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT ALREADY.
SOME OF THE OTHER MOVES THEY HAVE TAKEN.
BUT SMALL THINGS LIKE THIS CAN REALLY NEED TO RAISE OUR ALARM.
WE GOT TO PREPARE FOR MUCH MORE.
>> ALAINA?
>> COLORADO IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO COVID.
OUR COVID IS HIGHEST SINCE JANUARY.
WE ARE ONLY ONE IN TWO STATES THAT SAW INCREASE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
>> I SEE BEDS DROPPING TOO.
JESSE WHAT IS YOUR DISGRACE?
>> I JUST CAME FROM COLORADO CAPITAL.
>> YOU ARE NOT REFERRING TO A SPECIFIC.
>> NO.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NICE.
"YOU GOT PLENTY OF TIME, DAVID."
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO BE CELEBRATING IN COLORADO.
A GREAT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONTROVERSY.
AN ITALIAN AMERICAN IN COLORADO BACK IN THE 1970s.
MORE PRECISELY.
THE ANTICOLUMBUS PEOPLE SOMETIMES MADE RIDICULOUS ARGUMENTS THE FACT LANDED IN THE WEST INDYS.
THE FACT HE WAS A GREAT NAVIGATOR OF ALL TIME.
THE INDIANS WHAT THEY CALLED THEM WERE MOVING PEACEFULLY AND HAPPILY.
THEY WERE A VICIOUS VIOLENT TRIBE.
"BUT THE FACT IS, COLUMBUS" ENCOUNTERED THE INDIANS WHO WEREN'T PEACEFUL AND NICE.
"FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT IS" ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE AMONG COLORADOAN.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME.
"ED, GO AHEAD."
>> YOU GAVE DAVE A LOT OF TIME.
>> I KNOW.
>> THE BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ARE RETIRING STEPPING DOWN IN MARCH.
I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE PART OF THE HEALTH INDUSTRY FOR YEARS.
HERE IS ONE OF THE MORE LEADERS THE NEXT STEP AHEAD.
HIS PRESENCE IS GOING TO BE MISSED BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES.
>> SOMETHING NICE.
>> I'M WISHING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RTD.
THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 27th ANNIVERSARY.
PROVIDING REAL SERVICES IN DENVER.
THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
MAYBE THEY ARE HERE.
>> THE BRONCOS LOOK IMPRESSIVE.
I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.
THEY DON'T LOOK BAD THIS YEAR.
I'M IMPRESSED.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TUNING IN.
SO BE GENTLE WHEN YOU SEE ME THIS WEEK.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT AT COLORADO TELEVISION.
I'M YOUR HOST.
"I'M PATTY CALHOUN, THANKS FOR" WATCHING.
THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AND GOOD NIGHT.

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