I am deeply troubled by the unfortunate events that occured in Charlottesville last week. The resurgence of neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups disturbs me. My heart goes out to the victims and families of the deceased, and I condemn the heinous act of terror that took Heather Heyer's life.
During the legislative session, I proudly joined a bipartisan effort in passing House Bill 1188 concerning bias-motivated harrassment. This bill sends a clear message that intolerance and violence toward people--regardless of race, color, sex, ethnic origin, age, ability or sexual orientation--will not be tolerated in Colorado!
I believe this is a defining moment in America. We can either move forward, united as a community, and reject racism, or we can ignore this malignancy of hate, and tumble further into darkness. I hope, especially for my children's sake, that we choose to stand together, embrace our diversity and reject expressions of hatred.
With Rep. Alec Garnett and candidate
Alan Kennedy-Shaffer at the unity rally in City Park
District Discovery Tour: Arvada business community
During the second week of August, we kicked off our
District Discovery Tour series by visiting with the Arvada business community. We began by visiting with the
Arvada Young Professionals chapter of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce
, where we discussed workforce development and healthcare.
The Arvada Young Professionals group
Our next stop was
Olde Town Arvada where we visited with the owners of
Paw 'n Play,
Vouna and the
Olde Town Flower Shoppe. These retail shops were mostly concerned about the significant delay of the
Gold Line. They also noted how it would be better for business, in general, if we could attract more retail shops and fewer bars, coffee shops, etc.
Outside Paw 'n Play with Nathan Bishop, Mark McGoff, Bob Corman (owner), and Kami Welch
We ate lunch at
Steuben's Arvada and discussed workforce and staffing issues with the owner, Josh Wolkon. Afterward, we headed to
Colchin Automotive to chat with Todd Colchin about challenges and opportunities his business is facing. We heard again about the difficulty of finding skilled labor, and we learned about their new Apprenticeship program.
Learning about the automotive industry from
Josh Ingram and Todd Colchin
We wrapped up the tour at SomePlace Else Brewery where we sampled some fantastic brews and chatted with one of the co-owners, Tori Miller, about what it's like to operate a brewery in Arvada.
I'd like to thank
Kami Welch of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce for organizing the tour. We also want to thank City Councilor
Mark McGoff and
HOTA/BID Director Nathan Bishop for joining us. Thanks, most especially, to the Arvada businesses for taking the time to meet with us!
Get ready for the Eclipse!
According to the
Colorado Department of Transportation, tr
affic around the state has been moving well without major increases. But, we are still expecting a lot of folks headed to Wyoming and Nebraska to view the eclipse. CDOT will keep you updated with anything major here. Be safe and be prepared!
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. Previously, she served in the same capacity during the 2014 legislative session. She is a member of the Senate Education Committee, Transportation Committee, Statutory Revision Committee, Student Safety and Youth in Crisis Committee, CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee, and the School Finance Interim Committee.
District Discovery Tour: Westminster businesses
Last week we headed to the north end of the district to meet with businesses in the city of Westminster. We kicked off the tour with a gathering of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce at Zoe's Coffee House. Special thanks to the owners, Judy and Vaughn, and their staff for hosting us.
Staff at Zoe's Coffee House
Next we headed to Ball Corporation, a company known for providing metal packaging for beverages, foods and household products, as well as aerospace and other technologies. The company employs up to 600 employees in Westminster. We discussed their need for more skilled technicians and sustainability issues.
We ate lunch at Chuy's, a new Tex-Mex restaurant that recently opened at the Westminster Promenade. This is their first location in Colorado. We were impressed by how they make their food from scratch, including their tortillas and corn chips!
Touring Zimmer Biomet
We concluded our tour at Zimmer Biomet, a leading medical device manufacturer of orthopedic medical devices. They also deliver training to surgeons on their medical implant devices. They employ approximately 250 people in Westminster.
We wish to thank Juliet Abdel of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chairman Bryan Head, for organizing such an incredible tour. We also want to thank Mayor Herb Atchison and City Councilor Alberto Garcia for joining us. Westminster is a great place to do business!
Arvada/Westminster Legislative Town Meeting
We had a great time at our most recent town hall meeting learning about marijuana tax policy. We are grateful to Rep. Jonathan Singer for delivering the presentation after our scheduled speaker fell ill at the last minute.
Next month we will be hosting the Jefferson County School Board candidates. This will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about the candidates, why they are running, and ask them questions.
Details:Saturday, September 16, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St, Arvada, CO 80005.
Tracking your Senator
On August 9, I met with
Colorado Succeeds to discuss my STEM bill implementation... On August 10, we conducted our
Arvada Business Tour... On August 11, I met with Matt Cook of
CASB (Colorado Association of School Boards)... On August 12, we participated in Westy Fest... On August 13, I participated in the Peace March from City Park to the Capitol in response to the violence in Charlottesville... On August 16 we conducted our
Westminster Business Tour... I also attended the ribbon cutting for
Rose Stein International School... On August 18, I attended the
Arvada Chamber's 3rd Friday breakfast... I also attended the
Senior Lobby Summer Social and Annual Meeting... On August 19, we hosted our
Legislative Town Hallmeeting, where we discussed marijuana tax policy... Also, I attended the
Golden Jubilee of the Arvada Community Garden.
With Arvada Gardners celebrating the Community Garden's Golden Jubilee
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
Can you help us with a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with SD19 voters. Your contribution helps pay for brochures, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANKS!
