We’ve been told not to believe our eyes

Posted on by Katie Lehr

My nephew purchased and injected heroin yet died of a Fentanyl overdose. If he’d been in jail for only one of his crimes, he’d probably still be alive. ODs doubled in four years in Colorado, precisely coinciding with the passage of HB 19-1263 which decriminalized possession 4 grams of Class I/II drugs. Well done, Democrats.

Cartels market rainbow fentanyl pills with flavors to mimic candy and target children. In Colorado, we have had kids OD in school at their desk, OD in their parents’ homes and “unhoused folks” OD in tents. Property crimes have soared and we have been repeatedly lied to about the severity of the data which move in lockstep – drugs and property crime. Can we hope for an end to this horror show? 

I am running for HD 49, which includes parts of Larimer, Boulder, Clear Creek, and Gilpin. It is a diverse area unified by concern for the state’s decline. People have been asked to endure many hardships during Covid lockdowns yet it revealed a great deal about our state; failing schools, unresponsive and unaccountable school boards, town councils and boards of health and state leaders. The data documenting the avalanche of catastrophes has been collected and ignored by Polis and the Democrat legislators at the capitol. We have been told not to believe our eyes – 1 in 5 children are obese and academic test scores have plunged.

The path forward is not more of the same but a rejection of more of the same. I will pass a Parents Bill of Rights, lock up repeat offenders including those carrying less than 4 grams of Class I/II drugs because it is not compassionate to tolerate overdoses and addiction. I will expose the Polis “fees” and renew support for legacy industries including oil and gas. Let’s go, Colorado.

Step Denver Colorado is THE Model

Posted on by Katie Lehr

 

It was a beautiful night at the Gilpin Art Collective on September 16 and candidates were asked about their motive for running in the upcoming election. Mine was simple – HB 19-1263. The legislation which decriminalized, AKA legalized,  Schedule 1/2 drugs including heroin, meth, fentanyl and cocaine. This bill has done enormous damage in our state and I want it repealed. A doubling of overdose rates in Colorado in 4 years. 40% increase in fentanyl deaths in one year in Colorado. Yet the Progressives, including Phil Weiser, claim that this law has not increased drug use and homelessness and crime. Such astonishing denial.

Among the attendees last Friday was Peter Droege who was a key player in rebuilding Step 13, founded by Bob Cote,  now known as Step Denver. My question to folks in Colorado who share my alarm at the raging drug crisis – why are there not more Step Denvers? If indeed living on the streets and drug addiction are linked, who could deny this, why not a program which addresses both?

I can’t fathom the path forward for any addict without sobriety and recovery. Any public program which does not require recovery and sobriety will not work. I will say it again – without recovery and sobriety as the expected outcome, any other funds  spent supporting and continuing the addiction will be spent in vain.

Step Denver –

Our vision is simple: To help men find freedom from addiction. That’s why we’re working hard every day to serve more men throughout Colorado and beyond.

Why is not one Progressive on the City Council in Boulder or Jared Polis for that matter not singing the praises of Step Denver? Why is Step Denver not THE model for recovery and housing for people living on the streets?  What are we waiting for, Colorado?

inhttps://stepdenver.org/our-history/