Colorado

Write for CELDF

Jul 15, 2016

Ecowatch: Fracking Fight Continues in Colorado

Ecowatch: Fracking Fight Continues in Colorado

Coloradans advance a rights-based state constitutional amendment, empowering communities to strengthen protections set at the state and federal level for fracking – including banning it. In response, the oil and gas industry funnels over $6 million to defeat it.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 20, 2016

Daily Camera: John C. Lamb: Fracking decisions show the system is rigged

Daily Camera: John C. Lamb: Fracking decisions show the system is rigged

Colorado resident refuses to accede to the CO Supreme Court’s recent ruling that denies the people’s right to govern themselves and ban fracking. He calls on Coloradans to make real their right to local community self-government through a state constitutional amendment.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 10, 2016

The Tribune: Mailbox for May 10: Local Self-Government is needd

The Tribune: Mailbox for May 10: Local Self-Government is needd

The overturning of fracking bans in Colorado reveals corporations have more “rights” than people, and our government is here to protect those claimed “rights.” Coloradans are advancing a Community Rights state constitutional amendment to change that.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 14, 2016

Boulder Weekly: Community rights versus environmental destruction: Time to turn the page

Boulder Weekly: Community rights versus environmental destruction: Time to turn the page

In a state overrun by fracking, a Colorado leader in advancing Community Rights lays it out plainly: when democracy and fracking cannot coexist, one of them must always go. Through a state amendment initiative, Coloradans are working to make sure democracy is secured.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 11, 2016

Press Release: Colorado Supreme Court Rules Local Self-Government State Constitutional Amendment Can Advance to Next Stage Toward Ballot

Press Release: Colorado Supreme Court Rules Local Self-Government State Constitutional Amendment Can Advance to Next Stage Toward Ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court clears the way for residents to advance their Community Rights state constitutional amendment initiative to the November ballot. Oil and gas industry representatives had attempted to keep the measure from being voted on by the people.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Dec 11, 2015

Community Rights Papers #8: A Touch of Class

Community Rights Papers #8: A Touch of Class

While the state and the oil and gas industry work together to force fracking activities into communities, those same communities are working to reclaim their right to local, community self-government, just as the American Revolutionaries did against the British state in the 1700s.

Read More | Community Wires

Dec 4, 2015

Guest Opinion: Pushing for community rights

Guest Opinion: Pushing for community rights

Mary Russell of Carbondale, CO, advocates for community rights as a tool for the people to make self-governing decisions in their communities, and urges support in gathering signatures for the Colorado Community Rights Network’s rights-based ballot measure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 11, 2015

Oil & Gas Industry vs. Community Rights

Oil & Gas Industry vs. Community Rights

Coloradan Merrily Mazza distinguishes between frack ban efforts that neglect to address people’s community right to local self-government, and those that place that right as central to protecting communities from fracking and other harms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 20, 2015

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

As the fracking industry pushes into communities against the will of the people, growing numbers of communities across the U.S. are using community rights in their grassroots organizing to challenge our existing structure of law and bring democracy back to the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 1, 2015

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder, CO, resident Rick Casey urges discussion and exploration of community rights and the community rights state ballot initiative, heading for the November 2016 ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 23, 2015

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Spokane, WA’s Worker Bill of Rights asserts the right to community decision-making over corporate claimed “rights” to call the shots. And in Colorado, residents’ community rights state constitutional amendment asserts community decision-making over state claimed preemptive authority.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Coloradans advance their campaign for a statewide community rights state constitutional amendment for the 2016 ballot. Residents across the state refuse to remain resource colonies for corporate profits, and are working to codify their right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 22, 2015

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

Activists will take another crack at passing the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, a proposed ballot initiative designed to give localities a veto over corporate activity, starting with the oil and gas industry.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 19, 2015

The Leap: In Colorado, A Revolutionary New Coalition Stands for Community Rights

The Leap: In Colorado, A Revolutionary New Coalition Stands for Community Rights

In Colorado, local governments cannot raise the minimum wage, pass rent control laws, or ban fracking. A system of state “preemption”—a favorite tool of the fossil fuel industry—stands in their way.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 17, 2015

Denver Business Journal: Proposed Colorado amendment would give locals more say on fracking, wages (Video)

Denver Business Journal: Proposed Colorado amendment would give locals more say on fracking, wages (Video)

Community activists submitted the wording Monday for a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment that would allow local governments more power over oil and gas regulations and over the setting of a minimum wage.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 20, 2015

The World: Your View: Kudos from the other end of the LNG pipe

The World: Your View: Kudos from the other end of the LNG pipe

The people of Colorado express esprit de corps with and appreciation of the people of Oregon as both states advance community rights to stop fracking and its infrastructure and make real the promise of democratic self-governance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 18, 2015

Truthout: Colorado Communities Battle Energy Industry to Build Community Rights

Truthout: Colorado Communities Battle Energy Industry to Build Community Rights

As the oil and gas industry bears down on local Colorado municipal representatives to open their communities to fracking, those who refuse to cave are part of building a community rights movement that is rebuilding our structure of law and governance.

Read More | Uncategorized

Mar 19, 2015

Windsor Now: Community rights discussion takes root in Windsor

Windsor Now: Community rights discussion takes root in Windsor

Residents of Windsor, CO, work to place a rights-based Charter Amendment on the ballot for a vote by the people, to secure and protect community rights, and ban fracking as a violation of those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 28, 2015

Huffington Post: ‘Supreme Court Five’ Unleash Government Of, By and For the Oligarchs

Huffington Post: ‘Supreme Court Five’ Unleash Government Of, By and For the Oligarchs

The Supreme Court makes decisions that are benefiting corporations and harming democracy, while communities are working to adopt Community Bills of Rights that codify people’s rights to local self-governance and sustainable communities – banning those corporate activities that violate those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 25, 2015

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?

While ALEC and other pro-corporate entities attempt to decrease worker rights,CELDF partners in Colorado and Spokane, WA, begin working on Community Bills of Rights to protect workers’ rights, building on the “floor” of rights established at the state and federal levels.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 19, 2014

Daily Camera: Letter-to-the-Editor: Let the revolution begin

Daily Camera: Letter-to-the-Editor: Let the revolution begin

The idea that advancing and enforcing people’s fundamental rights, while directly challenging the power of corporations and the state to override community rights, is somehow an act of government overthrow says more about our current political/legal system than it does about the Colorado Community Rights Network.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Nov 19, 2014

Truthout: Amending Colorado’s Constitution: Do Communities Have Right to Clean Air and Water?

Truthout: Amending Colorado’s Constitution: Do Communities Have Right to Clean Air and Water?

As voters last week banned fracking in regions from Ohio to Texas to California, Colorado citizens are meanwhile attempting to reclaim their own right to a safe, healthy environment by enacting the Colorado Community Rights amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 17, 2014

Colorado Community Rights Network Launches Fundraiser for State Ballot Initiative

Colorado Community Rights Network Launches Fundraiser for State Ballot Initiative

The COCRN calls for support to advance the Colorado Community Rights Amendment for the state wide ballot in 2015. Check out their fundraising video on INDIEGOGO.

Read More | Uncategorized

Aug 21, 2014

The Colorado Statesman: How Congressman Jared Polis and Food and Water Watch sold out Colorado

The Colorado Statesman: How Congressman Jared Polis and Food and Water Watch sold out Colorado

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey calls out the blatant sellout of Coloradans by a Congressman who had claimed to support communities banning fracking, and a non-profit’s abandonment of helping protect Coloradans from fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 21, 2014

EcoWatch: Colorado Town Sues State, Gov. Hickenlooper and COGA to Protect Right to Ban Fracking

EcoWatch: Colorado Town Sues State, Gov. Hickenlooper and COGA to Protect Right to Ban Fracking

Lafayette, CO, residents file a preliminary injunction to protect their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2014

Daily Camera: Lafayette group files motion to block oil and gas industry’s lawsuit, enforce local fracking ban

Daily Camera: Lafayette group files motion to block oil and gas industry’s lawsuit, enforce local fracking ban

With 60% of Lafayette, CO, residents adopting a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking last November, residents file a motion for a preliminary injunction against the State and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) to enforce their ban.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 19, 2014

Press Release: Lafayette, CO, Residents Seek Injunction Against State & Oil and Gas Industry for Violating the Right of Local Self-Government

Press Release: Lafayette, CO, Residents Seek Injunction Against State & Oil and Gas Industry for Violating the Right of Local Self-Government

Lafayette, CO, residents seek a preliminary injunction against the State of Colorado, the Governor, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association to enforce their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking – adopted overwhelmingly by residents last November.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 12, 2014

Daily Camera: Opinion – Home Rule — On the ‘rights’ side of history

Daily Camera: Opinion – Home Rule — On the ‘rights’ side of history

Boulder County, CO, resident urges support for advancing communities’ rights over corporate claimed “rights” through Home Rule local self-governance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 4, 2014

Longmont Daily Times Call: Boulder County home-rule charter proponents haven’t yet turned in petitions

Longmont Daily Times Call: Boulder County home-rule charter proponents haven’t yet turned in petitions

The Boulder County Community Rights Network in Colorado has gathered more than 10,000 signatures to place a home rule charter question on the ballot for May 2015. Residents are considering a home rule form of government to advance Community Rights and protect themselves from fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 26, 2014

Longmont Daily Times-Call: Boulder County charter proponents launch petition drive

Longmont Daily Times-Call: Boulder County charter proponents launch petition drive

The Boulder County Community Rights Network in Colorado is gathering signatures in the first steps towards creating a Community Rights Home Rule Charter for the County. Supporters want to protect the County from fracking using Community Rights to local self-governance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 25, 2014

Longmont Daily Times-Call: Boulder County home-rule charter proponents hope to gain spot on fall ballot

Longmont Daily Times-Call: Boulder County home-rule charter proponents hope to gain spot on fall ballot

The Boulder County Community Rights Network in Colorado gathers signatures to create a Home Rule Charter Commission, intending to enact a Home Rule Charter built on a Community Bill of Rights that would codify Boulder County’s right to ban fracking and other harmful activities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 10, 2014

Boulder Weekly: Petition for home rule circulates Boulder County

Boulder Weekly: Petition for home rule circulates Boulder County

Boulder County, CO, residents gather signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot. The measure is the first step in creating a Community Rights Home Rule Charter for the County that would elevate communities’ rights over corporate claimed “rights.”

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 15, 2014

Daily Kos: New Civil Rights Movement

Daily Kos: New Civil Rights Movement

A diary from occupystephanie draws parallels between Community Rights and other rights’ movements, and describes CELDF’s work with municipalities across the U.S. to leverage those rights to protect ourselves and the natural environment from corporate harms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 25, 2014

Huffington Post: Colorado Communities Could Ban Fracking Under New Proposed Amendment

Huffington Post: Colorado Communities Could Ban Fracking Under New Proposed Amendment

A proposed amendment to Colorado’s constitution that would give municipalities the power to ban or restrict fracking and other industrial activities would be the first of its kind nationwide if it passes.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Jan 21, 2014

Press Release: Colorado Community Rights Network Files Constitutional Amendment To Secure the Right to Community Self-Government Free from State Preemption

Press Release: Colorado Community Rights Network Files Constitutional Amendment To Secure the Right to Community Self-Government Free from State Preemption

Denver, Colorado, January 20, 2014 – The Colorado Community Rights Network (COCRN) has submitted to the state for review and comment the language for a Community Rights Constitutional Amendment to be placed on the 2014 ballot.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Dec 5, 2013

Local Officials Standing Up to Protect Their Communities from Fracking

Local Officials Standing Up to Protect Their Communities from Fracking

As Mora County, NM, and Lafayette, CO, face oil and gas industry challenges to their Community Bills of Rights banning fracking, we are re-posting an article from the Center for Effective Government on CELDF’s work in providing support to communities through Community Rights.

Read More | Uncategorized

Dec 4, 2013

East Boulder County United statement on COGA’s lawsuit against Lafayette’s Community Rights initiative

East Boulder County United statement on COGA’s lawsuit against Lafayette’s Community Rights initiative

Faced with the loss of four democratic votes against oil and gas development across the Front Range this November, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association announced yesterday that it is filing lawsuits against two more Colorado communities, Lafayette and Fort Collins.

Read More | Uncategorized

Nov 7, 2013

Ohio and Colorado Voters Adopt Community Bills of Rights

Ohio and Colorado Voters Adopt Community Bills of Rights

On Election Day, voters in an Ohio and a Colorado community enacted Community Bills of Rights to
secure the right to local self-government and to protect the right to clean air, pure water, and the rights
of ecosystems to exist and flourish. By a margin of 70.56%, voters in Oberlin, OH, approved their
citizen-initiated ordinance. In Lafayette, CO, where citizens petitioned to amend their city home rule
charter, the winning margin was 60.16%.

Read More | Uncategorized

Nov 6, 2013

Press Release: Ohio and Colorado Voters Adopt Community Bills of Rights

Press Release: Ohio and Colorado Voters Adopt Community Bills of Rights

Lafayette, CO, and Oberlin, OH, residents ban fracking as a violation of rights with strong majority wins.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Jul 8, 2013

July 2013 CELDF Update

July 2013 CELDF Update

Updates and news from CELDF communities across the country.

Read More | Uncategorized

Sep 11, 2012

Anti-fracking group threatens ballot measure

Anti-fracking group threatens ballot measure

Colorado Springs residents launch campaign to put Community Bill of Rights on ballot to protect themselves and their community from fracking.

Read More | Uncategorized