Citizens Project

Happy New Year!

31st December, 2009

I always work on the last day of the year. There are plenty of administrative details to see to, and there are usually several active projects for Citizens Project in late December, so there’s enough work to keep me busy. But there’s another reason I work on the last day of the year and I want to share it with you: gratitude.

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Take Action: Vote for Plus One in Colorado Springs!

18th December, 2009

Our Plus One city employee health benefits proposal is in the news again today and the Gazette has posted an online poll about it. A strong showing of support in the poll and on the letters page of the Gazette could make the difference in showing City Council that there is enough public support to pass the plan. PLEASE ACT NOW!

• Vote for Plus One in the Gazette’s online poll (click here and scroll down, in the right-hand column).

• Forward this and ask your friends and colleagues to do the same.

• Write to the City Council and ask them to pass Plus One. Click here for a list of City Council Members and contact information. You can also email all council members at allcouncil@springsgov.com.

• Write a letter to the editor and post on online comment voicing your support for the plan. Send to opinion@gazette.com.

City Council members pay attention to these, so your letters and vote MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Read the story and take the poll here:  http://www.gazette.com/articles/city-90978-employees-href.html

You can find some talking points in Barb Van Hoy’s comment posted in the Gazette’s online comment section, reprinted here:

“The “Plus One” policy being proposed by Citizens Project would allow all city employees to buy into the city’s employee health insurance plan for one family member, if they are not already eligible for benefits for a spouse or dependent children. It is not really accurate to call this a “same-sex benefits” plan because that is only one of several types of qualifying family members. Employees could add an adult dependent child, a dependent parent, a domestic partner, or dependent grandparent. The employee would pay the full premium, rather than be subsidized by the city as current family members are (and as the 2003 policy did for same-sex couples that cost the cit $6,000). That’s one reason it is budget-neutral (the premium covers the full per-participant cost in the health plan.) The other reason it is cost-neutral is that the demographic population as a whole that is projected to buy in is not expected to increase the overall costs (based on the analyses of benefits experts).

Now is the time for Colorado Springs to begin catching up to the private sector, as well as the most successful cities across the country by adopting better, more inclusive employment practices. Whatever your personal opinion on same-sex couples, or single mothers or 35 year-old kids living with mom & dad, the fact is that our society includes a huge diversity of families. Competitive employers do right by their employees by adopting more inclusive plans, and our city should to. Attracting the best employees will get the best use out of our limited tax dollars. In addition, it is not government’s role to enforce a religious view of relationships on its employees, so arguments labeling some people’s families as “immoral” are moot. Government should treat all citizens equally. The Plus One plan doesn’t get all the way there, but it is an improvement, expands access to health care, treats all employees more equally, makes the city a more competitive employer, and won’t cost taxpayers a dime. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.”

Houston voters reject anti-gay message and elect city’s first gay mayor

13th December, 2009

Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.

Houston Chronicle

Give! and get rewards

5th November, 2009

There’s no better reward than the great feeling that accompanies giving time or money to a cause you care about. But we also know that a few really cool incentives never hurt anyone!

Citizens Project is proud to have been selected as one of 29 great organizations in the Pikes Peak region as worthy of your support, and we’re honored to invite you to participate in the inaugural Colorado Springs Independent Give! Campaign.  Learn more from our most recent action alert or visit the Give! site.

Whether you’re a current CP supporter or a new donor, your donation may qualify you to receive rewards!  So go ahead… unleash your inner philanthropist.  Give!

City Budget Cuts – by News Channel 13

15th October, 2009

Here’s a good story about city budget cuts.

(Moral of the story: Yes on 2C!)

Watch it here.

Ready, set, vote!!

8th October, 2009

That’s right!  Citizens Project staff and volunteers have been working day and night to bring you all the election information you could possibly want!

Start by reading our newest Freedom Watch Online, and don’t forget to check out our Voter Guide for the City of Colorado Springs and School Districts 11, 20 and 49, our candidate survey for School District 2, and our election information page!

Still have questions? Let us know!

Fall 2009 Election Info Page

1st October, 2009

Citizens Project’s

2009 Election Info Page

gives you everything including the kitchen sink about this election in the Pikes Peak region: ballot measures, sample ballot, school board candidates, news articles, election forums, and more.

Citizens Project's Kristy Milligan Tells All (about CP on the Better Business Bureau's radio program)

30th September, 2009

Kristy joined Katie Carrol, host of the Better Business Bureau’s INSIGHTS, a weekly public affairs radio show, to talk about Citizens Project.

Listen here!

Kristy Milligan

Katie Carrol

Action Alert: Election Forums

29th September, 2009

Get Informed and Get Your Vote On!

View and share our Action Alert featuring a huge list of opportunities to learn about:

• Colorado Springs & Manitou Springs Ballot Measures

• School Board Candidates in

Harrison District 2
Colorado Springs District 11
Manitou Springs District 14
Falcon District 49

• Manitou Mayor & City Council Candidates

And don’t miss our 2009 Election Info Page