WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 20
$2
Amid budget crunch, Youth Advisory Council on chopping block BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
Ron Booth and other protestors demand to talk to Rep. Gabe Evans Friday.
MONTE WHALEY
Residents make demands of Evans Newly elected U.S. Rep. vows to hear constituent concerns, an aide says BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
About 50 protesters Friday demanded to talk to newly elected U.S. Representative Gabe Evans and ask him why he seemingly is standing idly by as newly elected President Donald Trump dismantles much needed federal services and protections. “There’s been not a whisper, not a word” from Evans, said Westminster’s Ron Booth. “He’s been silent as we quickly descend into fascism.” Booth and others gathered in a parking lot next to Evans’ office in Northglenn and called for him to come out and talk on Feb. 21. They also chanted “Where is Gabe! Where is Gabe!” Evans, a Republican, was
elected by a slim margin in November over incumbent Democrat Yadira Caraveo, to represent the 8th Congressional District. The 8th includes a wide swath of Adams County and a portion of west Weld County. Booth helped lead the signcarrying demonstrators to the front of the building where Evans and his staff members work. Police met the protesters and told them they could not gather on private property. The group then went into the building’s lobby where they met face-toface with two staff members. The staff members were given a list of 16 constituent demands including blocking billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk from illegally “rampaging” through private government files. The
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | CULTURE: PAGE 10 | BRIEFS: PAGE 16
group also asked: “Are you OK with him (Musk) decimating the VA’s workforce? Are you OK with the firing of National Park and National Forest workers?” Sydney Carabelos – an Evans field representative – took the list of the demands from Booth and said she would forward them to Evans. The congressman was enroute to Washington D.C. for several other meetings with constituents on Friday but was eager to hold a virtual town hall within the next few weeks. “I know the people here have concerns and the congressman is eager to hear them,” said Carabelos, who stood with the protesters for photos and to hear more about their unease with the new administration. Another group of protes-
tors gathered in front of Evans’ Northglenn office on Monday Feb. 24, urging Evans to oppose the Republican budget resolution that they say “will risk access to health care for 73,000 constituents in the 8th District. Evans, in a statement released on Monday, said he is looking forward to working with his colleagues in Congress to protect hard working families. “...This includes commonsense spending reductions that combats waste, fraud, and abuse, tax cuts for small businesses and working class families, and increase border security measures to deliver our neighborhoods from transnational criminal organizations and fentanyl.” SEE DEMANDS, P2
The Colorado legislature, as part of its efforts to close a budget hole of more than $1 billion, is planning to axe a nearly twodecade program that enlists teenagers from across the state to help draft and offer input on bills. Shutting down the Colorado Youth Advisory Council would save about $50,000 a year. That’s a relatively paltry amount, but it’s meant to send a message that costs must be trimmed wherever possible. The cut foreshadows the big, and often painful, line-item reductions the legislature will have to make in the coming weeks. Sidd Nareddi, who served on COYAC from 2022 to 2024 while he was in high school, said he was heartbroken to hear the program may be discontinued. Now a first-year student at Brown University, Nareddi said being a member of COYAC was one of the most formative experiences of his high school years. “It really was a personal development program for me,” he said. “It’s a very empowering process.” The Colorado Youth Advisory Council was created in 2008 and is composed of 40 junior high and high school students SEE CRUNCH, P14
2025
VOTING STARTS
NOW!
WESTMINSTERWINDOW.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA