The Transportation Legislation Review Committee met last Wednesday to firm up our legislative agenda. We also heard from several departments and organizations on a variety of topics ranging from the repairs underway in Glenwood Canyon, to how local governments are using their American Rescue Plan Act funds. Click HERE to view the committee documents and presentations, as well as the legislation our Committee agreed to sponsor.

The most interesting presentation was from the Colorado Automobile Theft Prevention Authority. We learned that Colorado ranks second per capita in the nation in auto thefts, and the Denver Metro area ranks third. In particular, catalytic converter thefts rose greater than 520% in 2020, and the City of Denver saw a 1,600% spike in catalytic converter thefts during the pandemic. These converters contain trace amounts of precious metals, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which in early March of 2021 hit nearly $30,000 per ounce. As the value of precious metals contained within the catalytic converters continues to increase, so do the number of thefts.

In Colorado, law enforcement and AAA Colorado have teamed up to launch the first catalytic converter anti-theft program in the nation. Over the summer, local police departments, such as Wheat Ridge, hosted a crime-prevention program where they chemically-etched a serial number containing the owner's information onto the catalytic converter, so that if it is stolen the victim can contact police and the theft will be traced more easily. While I am not aware of any programs scheduled for our area, AAA Colorado has some suggestions on how to find a participating shop. To prevent catalytic converter theft, here are some tips from the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators:

Lastly, if you are a victim of a catalytic converter theft, please know that clean air regulations have recently changed with regard to the replacement of this emissions control device. There was a good article in The Colorado Sun that chronicles these changes. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, "replacement catalytic converters must be original equipment from the manufacturer (OEM), or a new aftermarket catalytic converter certified as meeting California's Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards." If you have questions about the regulations and how to determine whether your replacement part qualifies, go to the CDPHE website.

A friend reached out to me last week about a very dire situation that has cropped up with regard to Mission Arvada, a program through The Rising Church focused on assisting the poor, unhoused, and other marginalized people in our community. Due to various factors, they have run dangerously low on food donations.

Mission Arvada provides breakfasts and lunches daily to the unhoused and marginalized people in our community. They also host a food bank on Saturday mornings that is open to all. In addition, they maintain a "Blessing Box" that they fill with self-sustaining items for folks in need.

Mission Arvada is seeking donations of canned goods and other pantry foods. They can also make use of cash donations, which they can leverage with the help of Food Bank of the Rockies, or purchase Walmart cards to purchase fill-in items. Even $5 goes a long way, and any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Here are three ways you can help:

For questions or to learn more about Mission Arvada programming, please feel free to contact Susan Shirley at susanfoxshirley@hotmail.com. I hope you will consider supporting a valuable program that is doing good work in supporting vulnerable community members who need our help. Thank you for your consideration!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I wanted to share with you some information about this important topic that affects so many across Colorado.

Did you know that on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States? During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

So what can you do to help? First, I suggest you check out Family Tree. They work with survivors across the Denver Metro Area to not only provide shelter, but they also provide an array of services to prevent and overcome the interconnected issues of domestic violence, child abuse, and homelessness. Second, consider wearing the color purple on October 21, as a way of highlighting this important issue. And third, if you know of anyone that might be experiencing domestic violence, they have a local 24-hour confidential hotline (303-420-6752) that can help connect them with services that Family Tree offers.

To learn more about what you can do, especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit www.thefamilytree.org/dvam.

Here are the latest press articles that touch on legislative issues from the past few weeks. You can view the full list on my website by clicking HERE.

Chalkbeat Colorado: Minimum $40K teacher salary? A Colorado proposal would set that.

Colorado Politics: Duran, Soper and Zenzinger receive Laws for Paws awards

Western Slope Now: New opportunity to reskill, upskill, or complete a current degree

The Colorado Sun: Democrats poised to keep control of Colorado legislature under latest draft redistricting maps

Please join Sen. Zenzinger, and Representatives Titone and Daugherty, for a legislative town hall meeting featuring information on the statewide and local ballot issues that will appear on the November 2 ballot. The meeting will take place in person at the Standley Lake Library on Saturday, October 16 at 10:30 am. Click here for details.