RTD unveils route options if union strikes in March
In the event of a strike by RTD drivers and mechanics, the transit agency would operate a much-reduced bus schedule and eliminate light-rail service, 16th Street Mall shuttles and nearly all express, regional and skyRide bus service, agency officials said Tuesday.
The Regional Transportation District and Local 1001 of the Amalgamated Transit Union are in contract negotiations. The existing contract expires Feb. 28, and March 1 is the earliest day transit workers could strike, RTD said.
One of the transit agency’s strike-contingency plans calls for its three private bus contractors to operate about 45 percent of RTD’s fixed-route bus schedule during a strike, including high-volume local routes such as the 0 service on Broadway and routes 15 and 16 on East and West Colfax Avenue.
RTD also unveiled an alternate plan that calls for two private contractors to operate about 26 percent of the district’s bus service during a strike by RTD employees if workers for a third contractor, First Transit, also strike. First Transit workers are unionized and are working under an expired contract.
Under either strike scenario, the only skyRide service to Denver International Airport would be route AS service between the Stapleton park-n-Ride and DIA.
The last strike by RTD workers was in 1982.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Brents victim sues former prosecutors
A 30-year-old victim of Brent J. Brents filed a civil lawsuit Monday against the former 18th Judicial District attorney and the chief deputy district attorney who was in charge of child-sex cases.
The plaintiff is identified only by her initials, R.B., in the case that asks for unspecified damages and alleges the DA’s office was reckless in failing to obtain an arrest warrant for Brents in a timely manner, allowing him to escape from authorities and attack at least 14 women and children. The warrant sat unsigned for 54 days.
The woman who filed the lawsuit was one of four who recently reached a $240,000 settlement with the city of Aurora. The DA’s office has said it has no money available for the victims.
“She’s not doing very well,” attorney Jim Miletich about his client. “She … is going to need therapy for much longer than what she has funds to pay for.”
EDGEWATER-LAKEWOOD
Cops say shooting of girl, 16, gang-related
A 16-year-old girl was shot, apparently in the leg, Tuesday in what police believe was a gang-related shooting on West 20th Avenue near Lamar Street, said police spokesman Steve Davis.
The victim was one of four people in a black Volkswagen that was eastbound on 20th about 3:40 p.m. when the car passed a young man walking on the south side of 20th, also eastbound, Davis said. Gang signs were flashed between the pedestrian and those in the car, he said.
The car then turned around to come back west, apparently to take someone in the car home, Davis said.
“We don’t know if he (the pedestrian) thought they were coming back for him,” Davis said, but the young man opened fire, shooting at least three times before running from the scene.
One shot hit the girl in the car, Davis said.
DENVER
Comedian Chappelle at Paramount Feb. 22
Comedian Dave Chappelle on Tuesday announced he will appear at the Paramount Theatre as part of the promotional tour for his movie “Block Party,” due to open in Denver on March 3. Chappelle’s Feb. 22 show, his second in Denver since a November run at Comedy Works, will include performances by two unspecified bands from the film.
Tickets for the all-ages show cost $55. They go on sale today at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 303-830-8497. Earlier this month Chappelle told Oprah Winfrey his abrupt departure from “Chappelle’s Show,” his popular Comedy Central program, was due to work-related stress.
COLORADO
Two Muslim groups condemn cartoons
Two Colorado Muslim organizations on Tuesday condemned the publication of political cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad.
The Colorado Muslim Council released a statement by Sheik Jamaal Zarabozo, a Boulder scholar, saying that mutual respect, understanding and peace can never come from “defamation, ridicule and insult.”
In an apparent reference to violence that has broken out in the Muslim world, Zarabozo wrote that Muslim scholars should emphasize that Muslims should never be so angered by the actions of non-Muslims that they “do something that contradicts the Law of Islam.”
The Colorado chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also issued a statement saying, “While we certainly uphold and respect the idea of freedom of expression, we also emphasize that this freedom is not without degrees of responsibility, respect, or decorum.”
THORNTON
Suspect arrested in dealership break-in
A 23-year-old man apprehended in a field early Tuesday behind a Thornton Pontiac dealership was arrested for investigation of smashing showroom cars and lighting the building on fire, authorities say.
Joshua Randy Abeyta, 23, was being held in the Adams County Detention Facility on $10,000 bail on charges of first-degree arson and second-degree burglary, said Matt Barnes, Thornton police spokesman.
A Federal Heights police officer saw heavy smoke coming from the Grand Pontiac Buick dealership, 2000 W. 104th Avenue, at 1:43 a.m. Tuesday, Barnes said.
Investigators were assessing the damage, which was extensive, he said.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Molotov cocktails placed in ex-wife’s car
Authorities arrested a 38-year-old man they say left a threat along with two Molotov cocktails in his ex-wife’s car on Valentine’s Day.
Anthony L. Rolfe, 38, was arrested Tuesday for investigation of manufacturing or possessing an incendiary device after the bottles with a note were discovered at Saddle Ridge Village apartments, 22959 E. Smoky Hill Road, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.
Deputies responding to the 7:20 a.m. emergency call evacuated the apartment building closest to the car, Robinson said. Arapahoe County Bomb Squad members removed the Molotov cocktails from the car.
Rolfe’s ex-wife told deputies that she and her ex-husband had been in Arapahoe County District Court on Monday and a judge had granted her request to move to Texas with her two children, Robinson said.
