Colorado hasn’t had a Republican governor in 15 years, but if voters give Jared Polis just five more years in office, he pledges to take Colorado from the 39th safest state in the union, to like, somewhere in the top 10.
Polis can only serve a four-year term, but that’s totally besides the point, which is this: He really wants to be reelected governor this fall.
If it weren’t for Nevada cutting Colorado off at number 40, we would be in the top 10 unsafest states in the nation.
So Polis held a hastily called press conference Thursday on the steps of the Capitol to announce his support for the Democrat-controlled legislature to do something to make him look good without actually arresting and prosecuting criminals.
As Rudy Gonzales, executive director of Servicios de La Raza explained during the event, the “governor knows the failed policies of the past don’t work, like being tough on crime.”
At Polis’s “comprehensive public safety” press conference, the Executive Director of Servicios de la Raza commended the Governor for opposing a “tough on crime” agenda#copolitics #coleg pic.twitter.com/gIuszROgcD
— Compass Colorado (@CompassCOorg) February 10, 2022
It was all downhill from there.
Does this say what I think it says @jaredpolis?#copolitics #coleg pic.twitter.com/O9UCsvHw20
— Kyle Kohli (@CompassKyle) February 10, 2022
The state’s largest law enforcement groups declined to participate in Polis’s PR stunt, which even 9News admitted looked remarkably like a campaign event.
This is where the line is often blurred between an official office statement and what could be seen as campaigning from the office. #copolitics
— Marshall Zelinger (@Marshall9News) February 10, 2022
The reason crime is soaring across Colorado is because of Polis’s past proposals, which the Democrat legislature has already passed, the police groups said.
From Colorado Politics:
“We ask that elected officials, such as yourself and state legislators, recognize how recent legislation and policy changes have directly contributed to rising crime rates and struggles to recruit and retain officers,” said the letter signed by Gregory Knott, president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, Stephen Schulz, president of the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police and Amy Nichols, executive director of County Sheriffs of Colorado.
It was all kind of embarrassing. A reporter had to prompt Polis after opening remarks were completed, that he should probably say something about …
In his prepared remarks announcing his ‘comprehensive’ public safety plan, @GovofCO did not mention the words fentanyl, drugs, overdose, or addiction once #copolitics
— Matt Connelly (@MattConnelly) February 10, 2022
Polis reminded the reporter he already talked about fentanyl that one time this year when he delivered his State of the State speech on Jan. 13.
Polis and the Democrats assured us they could prevent crime from even happening by spending $1 billion on the Democrats’ plan to make repairs on affordable housing and put in solar panels and other climate saving gadgets, while making millions more in loans to build even more shittier affordable housing.
They’re also going to spend millions on a new “safe streets” grant that will literally improve infrastructure, put in new lighting and improve trash collection.
Boom. Crime problem solved.
No wonder Polis couldn’t get anyone to turnout and support him at this absurd event.
A number of Ds conspicuously absent from Polis’s public safety press conference media advisory…
Including CO’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Phil Weiser.#copolitics #coleg pic.twitter.com/ADJ5KZIXdm
— Kyle Kohli (@CompassKyle) February 10, 2022
Kyle Kohli, executive director of Compass Colorado called the press conference a complete disaster.
“Colorado is less safe today because of Polis and his soft on crime record. The Governor’s refusal to take responsibility for his contributions to Colorado’s historic crimewave exhibited a stunning lack of leadership,” Kohli said.
“If the Governor really wants to address public safety, he needs to acknowledge his administration’s mistakes and introduce reforms that keep dangerous criminals in prison and allow law enforcement to do their jobs.”