WEEK OF APRIL 17, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 26
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Colorado businesses seek tariff certainty Leaders at local companies say they just want some accurate information BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
As yet another round of higher tariffs began and then were paused on Wednesday, Sandi Moilanen over at the World Trade Center was certain about one thing. “Right now, the biggest need is accurate information, not speculative information,” Moilanen said. “Our role is to disseminate information … and help them cut through the noise.” The local World Trade Center’s client base tends to be small-to-midsize companies trying to navigate the world of global trade. Building a manufacturing plant in the United States isn’t a financial possibility. Many already searched for a closer manufacturer but due to the high cost to make goods here or the specialized nature of their products, the search sent them to other countries where they found a way to build on their business. World Trade Center staff found themselves responding to the same questions for the past several days — were the new tariffs in addition to existing ones (yes, in most cases), what countries added retaliatory tariffs (staff can pull that up for clients) and what are ways to minimize fees (foreign trade zones might be an option). But finding answers in an everevolving trade war has been challenging with the abrupt policy switcharoos. Reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% started April 9, before President Donald Trump changed course and said around noon that day that he was lowering reciprocal tariffs to 10% on all countries for 90 days except for China. SEE TARIFF, P6
Cherish Salazar was sworn in as the newest Ward 1 council member at the council’s April 8 meeting .
COURTESY PHOTO
Salazar sworn in as newest Thornton councilor Ward 1 representative seeks post office return, shopping center work BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Newly elected Thornton city council member Cherish Salazar was sworn in this week to begin her term as Ward 1 council member. Presiding Municipal Judge Tiffany Sorice administered the oath April 8 prior to the city council’s official meeting. Sorice noted Salazar’s previous work as a well-known community activist in Thornton. “You have done this for many years… serving the city of Thornton in many ways,” Sorice said. Salazar won the Ward 1 seat vacated by Kathy Henson. Henson left the council in November after she was elected to the Adams County Board of Commissioners.
Thornton voters set up the March 25 election for the Ward 1 seat after they approved a ballot initiative requiring a special election in case a council member vacates the council with more than a year left on their term. Salazar defeated former council member Eric Garcia and Thornton resident Thomas “Tom” Mollendor for the Ward I seat. A former girl scout volunteer and a grandmother, Salazar touted her community work during her campaign. She said she has long fought for affordable housing in south Thornton as well as lobbying for small business growth. She is among those on the ground working on the shopping center redevelopment and pushed the city to address water contamination in Niver Creek, she said. Salazar was also endorsed by Adams
County Commissioners Henson, State Rep. Jacque Phillips and current Thornton Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bigelow. “My campaign has worked very hard every single day since January 1,” said Salazar via email last week. Salazar said during the campaign that people in Ward 1 wanted a post office back in the 80229-zip code. “That was something I heard over and over again, and I agree. Also, people want to see the Thornton Shopping Center redeveloped, which I will support in every way I can,” she said in a recent email.“Crime and affordability are also on people’s minds. Most of all, people want a representative who shows up for them – someone who is accessible, relatable, and not in anyone’s pocket.”
County convenes discussion on EV charging stations County, cities launch survey, plan gathering STAFF REPORT
Adams County drivers are being asked for their opinions regarding electronic vehicle charging stations and where they should be located. “More and more people are turning to electric vehicles for a variety of reasons, including environmental concerns, fi-
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | CULTURE: PAGE 10 | PUZZLE: PAGE 13
nancial viability, and more,” said Commissioner Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners. As part of Adams County’s Sustainability program, the county has partnered with the cities of Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn, and Westminster to form a regional cohort to hear from the community about where newchargers would best serve residents. The group, led by the county, has established a short community survey along with an interactive map where residents can drop pins in locations where they
would like to see future EV charging stations with an explanation why those spots would be useful. With this data and information from the community, Adams County and partner cities will work together to better understand where residents want to see expanded EV infrastructure to help inform grant applications, future partnerships, and next steps to make their requests a reality. SEE CHARGING, P2
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