On this Martin Luther King Day, the Minneapolis communities who are showing up for their neighbors peacefully and firmly are inspiring me. If you want to join local resistance movements and find your people, connect with groups such as Democracy Now DougCo (you can also go to Indivisible.org to find more events, protests, and groups) and Douglas County Activism Task Force. If meeting in-person doesn’t work for you, sign up for their emails which are full of good info. I interviewed the leaders of these groups in Episode 25 and Episode 32.Today I am joined by community organizer Angela Thomas to discuss a long-term, democratic solution to better county governance: expanding the Douglas County commission to five members. In Part 1 of this conversation, Angela talks about why structural reform is a better option than a recall, how five commissioners would improve representation and transparency, what it would cost, and what it would take to get the measure on the 2026 ballot. Part 2 comes tomorrow!

Show your interest in the 5 commissioner effort by filling out Angela’s form.

What does a county commission even do? Listen to Episode 4 of this podcast, County Commission 101.

Email me anytime, I’d love to hear from you: emilysuyat@gmail.com

Sources:

Denver Post: Douglas County sheriff, DA sue Colorado over visa process for crime victims (Gift link)

9News: DougCo postpones votes on theft ordinance that would fine businesses that don’t track shoplifting, DA George Brauchler removes support

New VIP area? Velvet ropes for the commissioners on the dais.

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