Herald Englewood
ENGLEWOOD 1/17/13 January 18, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourenglewoodnews.com
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 92, Issue 49
Clarkson shutdown to begin next week
Hospital expansion results in permanent closure By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
Gov. John Hickenlooper gives his State of the State address Jan. 10 to a joint session of the Colorado General Assembly at the state Capitol. Photos by Courtney Kuhlen
Governor calls for gun checks State of State also mentions civil unions, marijuana, economy
Capitol
By Vic Vela
Report
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper acknowledged that “there are no easy solutions” to issues involving guns, but said a debate on how best to deal with firearmrelated violence is something “our democracy demands.” The Democratic governor, addressing the General Assembly during his annual State of the State speech Jan. 10, also proffered his opinion on one area of gun control that is certain to be one of the most passionately debated topics lawmakers will take up this legislative session. “Let me prime the pump,” Hickenlooper said. “Why not have universal background checks for all gun sales?” That suggestion certainly caught the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. “It is just completely unenforceable,” House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, said of Hickenlooper’s call for all sales of guns — including those involving personto-person transactions — be contingent on background checks. But Democrats applauded the governor’s stance. “He made some risky points,” said Rep. Tracy KraftTharp, D-Arvada. “He wasn’t afraid to jump into that.”
Gun control, one of many issues that legislators are expected to take up over the next five months of the session, was just one area that Hickenlooper addressed. Economic matters, civil unions and, of course, regulating the marijuana industry were also touched on during his 40-minute remarks.
Common ground sought
Taking on the issue of gun violence is a top agenda item for this Democratic-controlled General Assembly, especially on the heels of last year’s Aurora theater killings and the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. But just talking about guns has always been a dicey political issue, as the governor acknowledged. “Some point to guns, others to a violent culture,” he said. “Still others believe that the line between community security and individual freedom must be re-drawn.” In spite of those varying viewpoints, the governor urged action. “Surely, Second Amendment advocates and gun control
POSTAL ADDRESS
Daniel Kagan, the state representative for Englewood and Cherry Hills Village, stands and applauds during the State of the State address on Jan. 10. supporters can find common ground in support of this proposition: Let’s examine our laws and make the changes needed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.” Hickenlooper also sought “support for a comprehensive overhaul of our state’s mental health system,” something that he hopes can help mentally ill individuals get treatment before they commit gun crimes. Republicans said there is a bipartisan consensus on deal-
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ing with mental health issues, but that Hickenlooper’s calls for universal background checks on gun sales is problematic. Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, called such an effort “a regulatory regime” that won’t do anything to curb gun violence. “It makes people feel good, but it doesn’t do anything to solve the problem,” he said. Gardner also said that it’s unrealistic that “drug dealers on State continues on Page 17
Preparations get under way this week to let drivers know the 3400 block of South Clarkson Street will be closed to through traffic on Jan. 22. Craig Hospital requested the closure so the ground can be leveled, connecting the east and west buildings as part of a planned $90 million remodeling and expansion project. There were concerns and objections raised about the street closure in meetings and in the public hearing on the proposal but, late last year, the Englewood City Council approved the street closure request. The plans for the street include a temporary traffic turnaround to be built on Clarkson south of the Craig bridges over the street. The turnaround is scheduled to be completed and construction safety fencing erected around the north end of Clarkson by mid-February. Demolition for work on the north addition to the hospital is scheduled to begin about Feb. 18 and the remodeling and expansion project is scheduled to begin March 4. Ladd Vostry, Englewood traffic engineer, said issues to be addressed before the closure include with placing signs in the area announcing the closure, rerouting the Art Shuttle and establishing routes for vehicles going to the Swedish Medical Center emergency room. “Plans are to install visible message boards in the area, announcing the Jan. 22 closing of the 3400 block of South Clarkson,” he said. “City crews also plan to be installing the hospital zone signs, including establishing the 20 mile an hour speed limit along Hampden between Logan and Clarkson.” Since a new route along Emerson for vehicles to get to the Swedish Medical Center emergency room have been established, the city has installed no-parking signs along Emerson Street between Hampden and Girard avenues. Additional plans include eventual installation of electronic speed radar signs in the area plus rapid flashing lights at pedestrian crosswalks on the west side of the Hampden-Pennsylvania intersection, the east side of the Hampden-Pearl intersection and the mid-block crossing on Hampden west of Washington Street. The city will also install traffic cameras to monitor the Hampden/Logan and the Hampden/Clarkson intersections. The city and hospital representatives also are working on rerouting the Art Shuttle. The proposal is for the eastbound shuttle to go north on Logan, east on Girard where it will join the existing route at Clarkson and Girard. Tentatively, the stop on Hampden between Pennsylvania and a Pearl will be moved to the southwest corner of /Girard and Pennsylvania. Also, the Clarkson stop will be moved to the southwest corner of Clarkson and Girard. Kahm said Craig Hospital will pay for moving the stops and printing new route maps. Also, there will be advanced notices of the changes will be posted on the shuttle buses and at the affected stops.