Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser conducted a Town Hall meeting at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, with State Senator Tammy Story and Gilpin County Commissioners. He said this is the 64th in-person visit he has conducted in counties throughout the state.

Tammy Story represents Colorado State Senate District 16. She lives in Conifer and has been fighting for Colorado’s students, parents and teachers for more than two decades.

Weiser has been the State’s 39th Attorney General since January 2019. Weiser has dedicated his life to the law, justice and public service.

Before running for office, Weiser served as the Hatfield Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, where he founded the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship and co-chaired the Colorado Innovation Council.

He also served as a deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice and as senior advisor for technology and innovation in the Obama Administration’s National Economic Council. He served on President Obama’s Transition Team, overseeing the Federal Trade Commission and previously served in President Bill Clinton’s Department of Justice. He had also clerked for Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Meeting with the Attorney General Colorado Attorney General Phis Weiser, center, conducted a Town Hall meeting at the Gilpin County Fair Grounds on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, with members of the County Commission, including Chair Linda Isenhart, far left, Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick, next, and Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, behind. On the right is Commissioner Web Sill and Sheriff’s Officers Greg Demo and Sean Wheeler. PHOTO BY JOHN SCARFFE[/caption]

During the Town Hall meeting, Weiser announced that $400 million will be coming to Colorado to fight the opioid overdoses and addiction that have devastated families and communities throughout Colorado. This crisis poses a serious threat to the state’s public health, safety, and economy.

To combat this crisis, Colorado is suing pharmaceutical firms and distributors that contributed to the epidemic through deceptive marketing and other practices, and seeking monetary damages that can be used to support urgently needed drug treatment and recovery programs.

The office just announced a groundbreaking framework for distributing nearly $400 million in opioid settlement dollars throughout the state for addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.

Weiser asked if the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department uses Narcan. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Officer Greg Demo replied that they do. Officers have six bottles with them and the other night they needed to use three to assist someone.

Weiser suggested doing a joint bid with Clear Creek or Jefferson county for storage.

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Weiser said he noted that the casinos are requiring everyone to wear a mask, and he thought that was a good idea. Demo said that there have not been any problems in that area, and they have had zero cases in the jail.

Gilpin County Commission Chair Linda Isenhart said there is no clinic up here, so the County tries very hard to help people be safe. They require masks in County buildings.

Weiser said, “This has been a challenge for all of us.” Demo said that court is being held a lot now via computer, and Weiser said that will become the way of the future. “It underscores how we are all in this together. We have to look after one another’s health.”

The DA’s office is also working on telephone and text scams. They are trying to help people learn about them in advance. Calls can be fraudulent. “If you don’t know the number that is calling, don’t answer it,” Weiser said.

He suggested having two-factor authorization for web links because one password is easy to break. Criminals can steal data and compromise a major company, as well as steal identities.

Regarding wildfire preparedness, Hollingsworth said that the County has two watersheds, and the Fire Department has determined that building permits will not be issued unless the site has water. Several businesses are on hold because of lack of water, Hollingsworth said.

“We are a tinderbox. We are not prepared by a major fire,” Hollingsworth said.

Senator Story said she has been having a series of meetings with all the agencies involved in fire mitigation. They need to do front-end fire mitigation. The state has also received funding for a new helicopter that can hold 1,000 gallons of water and can refill in 45 seconds. “We hope we can fund more,” she said.

After a photograph of all attendees on the bleachers at the Fairgrounds, the meeting ended at about 5:40 p.m.