WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 19
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King Soopers strike ends with vow to work on deal BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
ACLU RALLY IN WESTMINSTER
to the post. He has worked as a youth pastor focusing on marginalized communities as well as bringing together churches, governments and nonprofit, according to his website. Garcia, a resident of Ward 1 for 17 years, said his history of collaboration and building relationships will help his efforts in rebuilding that part of the city. “I have an in-depth understanding of the challenges we face daily,” Garcia said via email. “From concerns of crime and traffic safety to blight remediation, revitalization, stronger code enforcement and the creation of more community gathering spaces for residents to enjoy, I am committed to addressing these challenges head-on,” he said. “My dedication to making South Thornton a safe, vibrant, and thriving place to live, work, and play remains unwavering. The residents of this community deserve strong leadership— leadership that can bring about real change through building relationships with residents, collaborating with City staff, and working alongside fellow Council members to improve our neighborhoods and move our city forward.”
More than 10,000 supermarket workers involved in a two-week labor walkout will return to their jobs at King Soopers stores Feb. 18 after the labor union and the Colorado grocery chain reached an agreement late Monday to stop picketing and get back to work. There’s no new contract yet, but the two sides plan to resume negotiations to work out their differences. They agreed to a “100-day period of labor peace, ensuring negotiations continue in good faith and without further disruptions,” according to King Soopers officials. The strike ended at midnight, two days earlier than the planned two-week walkout. “We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike,” said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, in an emailed statement. “This strike was about thousands of everyday grocery store workers, collectively standing together and facing one of the largest corporations in America and saying ENOUGH. Our strike was just the beginning of this effort and elevated staffing in grocery stores to a national level with more workers and allies joining together.” Joe Kelley, president of Kroger-owned King Soopers, called workers “the heart of King Soopers” and said the goal is to reach a “fair agreement that honors their hard work while ensuring we continue to provide fresh, affordable groceries for the families who rely on us.”
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SEE STRIKE, P4
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Cherish Salazar is running for Ward 1 seat. COURTESY CHERISH SALAZAR
Tom Mollendor is running for Thornton City Council in Ward 1. PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
Eric Garcia is running for City Council in Thornton’s Ward 1. COURTESY ERIC GARCIA
Three for Thornton’s Ward 1 Each candidate says they can best lead revitalization efforts
THORNTON MULLING MUSHROOM RULES P5
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT P10 FOR LA STORIA
2025
VOTING STARTS
MARCH 1!
BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The three candidates vying to fill the Ward 1 seat on the Thornton City Council are focused on key issues surrounding the southern stretch of the city including the redevelopment of the vacant Thornton Shopping Center, affordable housing, and environmental cleanup. Community activist Cherish Salazar, former councilmember Eric Garcia and longtime resident Thomas “Tom” Mollendor are running for 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. The election’s results could set up a face-off of sorts between Salazar and Mayor Jan Kulmann. Salazar filed a lawsuit against Kulmann and the City of Thornton in 2021 in Adams County District Court. That suit claimed a violation of term limits that after serving 1.5 terms as a councilmember, Kulmann should not
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have been eligible to serve as mayor, a post she was elected in 2019. Crime, blight top issues
Each of the three candidates say they are the best choice to lead Ward 1, especially in efforts to clean up and revitalize a sagging south Thornton. Mollendor, an Air Force veteran who was born and raised in Thornton, said an immediate makeover is needed to overcome the blight that has settled into some part of south Thornton’s streets and sidewalks. “There are some days I can’t walk my dog in a circle in my neighborhood it’s so overgrown with shrubs,” said Mollendor. “You can’t maneuver a wheelchair in some parts…the sidewalks are so overgrown.” Mollendor said the city does not need more apartments at the shopping center site nor fast food outlets. “We need a couple of good restaurants. And no more fast food,” Mollendor said. “We just need some commonsense ideas for that area.” All three candidates said the resurrection of the old Thornton Shopping Center is key to helping Ward 1’s fortunes. Garcia served on the Ward 1 seat from March 2022 to December 2023, after he was appointed
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