This episode on Local Level Left, it’s all about poop . . . kind of. Our topic is public health in the US and our recent experiences in that system. Based on the current outbreak of explosive diarrhea causing bacteria, you know the poop jokes will be flowing. So, welcome back after a couple weeks off due to vacation and illness, and thanks for sticking around.  

References:

https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/health-equity-cuban-style/2021-03

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This episode on Local*Level*Left, we bring you a special episode directed at the Colorado June 30th Democratic Primary. If you are wondering who we’re voting for, this is the episode for you. We go through race by race down our ballots and shout out to our favorite candidates and bash on One Main Street as often as possible. Enjoy, and make sure to turn in your ballots to a drop box before 7:00pm on June 30, 2026.

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This episode on Local*Level*Left, we are talking about appointments made to seats in Colorado that should be elected but are not. We talk about the tension these appointments have caused, how crappy the Opportunity Caucus and One Main Street are (again), and why cascades of elected officials are bad. 

References:

Public Transit Studies: 

https://www.apta.com/advocacy/advocacy-resource-center/economic-impact-public-transit/

https://govfacts.org/housing-infrastructure/transportation/public-transportation-transit/the-case-for-investing-in-public-transit/

https://www.apta.com/advocacy/advocacy-resource-center/economic-impact-public-transit/

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Ep. 17:  We Do Not Say Snuffleupagus.

This episode on Local*Level*Left, we talk about decorum in politics in general and how it has been weaponized recently to shield politicians from hearing from angry constituents and to silence anyone who doesn’t agree with the people in power. So, if you’re a politician, just remember:  Don’t be a little bitch. 

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Ep. 16:  What Do We Expect People to Do?

This episode on Local*Level*Left, we talk about people burning down warehouses. We don’t condone the destruction of property on this podcast, but the reasons why people are doing it across the Country are easy to see. We feel those reasons every day with nearly everything we buy and it doesn’t have to be that way. The wealthiest in this Country take advantage of our labor every day, take a vast majority of the profits from that labor, and don’t pay their workers a thriving wage, so what did they expect . . . 

Recommendations / References:

Property Tax Data by State and County: 

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/property-taxes-by-state-county/

Costco is one of the largest pizza chains in the US and sells more hot dogs than Major League Baseball:

https://www.thedailymeal.com/1487474/costco-largest-pizza-chains-world/

https://www.aol.com/costco-sells-more-hot-dogs-131700970.html

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This week on Local*Level*Left, we discuss what we consider a “fun” topic in Tort Reform. If you are older than 35, you may remember this being a huge talking point in the 90’s among Republicans. Like all things Republicans seem to do these days, it was for nefarious reasons. We do have a couple simple solutions, though, that would fundamentally change how corporations function. We nerd out on the law in this episode, so fair warning, and we’re missing Aly this week, but we hope you’ll enjoy it anyway. 

Recommendations / References:  

The American Museum of Tort Law:  https://www.tortmuseum.org

Northern Europe Income Based Speeding Tickets: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/finnish-businessman-hit-with-121000-speeding-fine

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We’re back after being too busy with politics to record. It’s that wonderful time of year when Democrats have to do the party thing and get on the primary ballot. So, this week we bring you an episode on just how predatory gambling has gotten and how pervasive it is in areas it really shouldn’t be in at all. AI then plays a trump card and piles more shit on top. If it’s one thing we’ve learned about capitalism in our lives; it can always make things shittier. 

On part two of our look at housing all our neighbors, we talk about our personal experiences with the Aurora Navigation Center, which is anything but a well and properly functioning navigation center. The weirdest part about this episode is we know the solution to this problem, it is tried and proven to work, and it is the cheapest option, but our political leaders refuse to implement these strategies. Cruelty must be the point, because it’s the only logical reason left. 

Recommendations / References:  

Aurora Colorado Point in Time Counts for people experiencing homelessness: 

https://www.auroragov.org/residents/community_development/homelessness_in_aurora

Pres. George W. Bush’s administration pushed Housing First: 

https://www.bushcenter.org/catalyst/the-fix/homes-for-the-unhoused-solving-homelessness-problem

Treatment First is not really a thing:  

https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Housing-First-Evidence.pdf

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We told you we would talk about enshittification again, but we lied . . . unintentionally. We pivot this week to Aurora’s failed attempt to solve our housing problem. We know the solution and how to do it, but so far Republicans have refused to do the smart thing . . . go figure. This is part one of at least two parts where we first explore the history of Housing First policies, so next episode we can talk about how Aurora failed on purpose and Aly’s experience in our very own work first, more expensive, and less affective so called “Navigation Center.” 

Recommendations / References:  

Sam Tsemberis Ph.D. books referenced:  

https://www.amazon.com/Housing-First-Manual-Homelessness-Addiction/dp/1592859984

https://bookshop.org/p/books/housing-first-ending-homelessness-transforming-systems-and-changing-lives-founder-and-ceo-sam-tsemberis-ph-d/e14c654269cd4d11?ean=9780199989805&next=t

New York Times Article on Houston, TX’s Housing First Model:  

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/headway/houston-homeless-people.html

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Ep. 11:  Enshittification - Show Notes

This week, we’re finally back from being sick. The four of us passed around a cold from hell that made it impossible to record, so sorry for the unplanned week long absence. 

We pick it back up talking about Enshittification in digital platforms, how it was originally intended, but also in other places we see it. We don’t have a ton of solutions for this one that aren’t “reform the system as a whole,” but the connections to the people that ruined the things we loved for so long are kind of amazing, so you won’t want to miss this one.

Recommendations / References:  

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth

https://bookshop.org/p/books/doughnut-economics-seven-ways-to-think-like-a-21st-century-economist-kate-raworth/c567b77a6aa8a1bf?ean=9781603587969&next=t

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