Venezuelan Gangs in Aurora and Preventing a Legislative Supermajority

On December 10, 2024, Danielle Jurinsky and Rebecca Kelty joined the show. Aurora City Councilwoman Jurinsky details her role in exposing Tren de Aragua gang activity in apartment complexes, her meetings with President Trump and Tom Homan, and the NGOs responsible for placing migrants in Aurora Newly elected State Representative Kelty discusses her recount victory in House District 16, which prevented a.

Exposing Venezuelan Gang Activity in Aurora

Start listening at 34:00 – Hour 1

Danielle Jurinsky, Aurora City Councilwoman and chair of the Public Safety Committee, describes the events that led to her exposing the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan prison gang operating in Aurora apartment complexes. The situation began in June 2024 when approximately 5,000 Venezuelans gathered at a Target shopping center, committing multiple crimes including shooting guns in the air, assaulting employees, and ransacking stores.

Police officers began approaching Jurinsky directly with information about dangerous conditions at several apartment complexes. When she raised concerns at committee meetings, officials dismissed the situation as code enforcement violations. The breakthrough came when Fox 31 reporter Vicente Arenas connected her with residents Cindy and Edward Romero, who had documented armed gang members in viral video footage.

Jurinsky personally helped evacuate residents from dangerous situations before the video went public. The story reached President-elect Trump, who visited Aurora to meet with Jurinsky, Tom Homan, and Congressman Chip Roy. Governor Jared Polis initially called the situation “a feature of my imagination,” though his position has since softened.

“I am so far beyond their status because I have witnessed actual human suffering. We have allowed actual, real, third-world country suffering on American soil. And everyone sat by. Everyone sat by and did nothing. So I went in alone. But I’ll tell you, I have no regrets.”

– Danielle Jurinsky, Aurora City Councilwoman

The situation traces back to Denver’s sanctuary city policies and Colorado’s Office of Newcomers, which funneled migrants through NGOs like Vive Wellness and Papagayo. These organizations placed migrants in Aurora apartment complexes, then abandoned them. Some buildings have gone into court receivership, while others face criminal nuisance proceedings.

Recount Victory Prevents Legislative Supermajority

Start listening at 15:00 – Hour 1

Rebecca Kelty, newly elected State Representative for Colorado House District 16 covering Colorado Springs, discusses her nail-biting election victory. After a recount and Canvas Board review of improperly assigned ballots, Kelty emerged as the winner. Her victory is significant because it prevented Democrats from securing a supermajority in the Colorado House.

Kelty will be sworn in on January 8th, the first day the state legislature convenes. She plans to focus on reviewing existing legislation that has created unintended problems rather than rushing new bills through the process. She emphasized the importance of constitutional principles and keeping money in citizens’ pockets rather than expanding government.

“This election was an all-hands-on-deck election. It wasn’t just a Rebecca Kelty win. This was an entire state of Colorado win. That right there motivates, should motivate everyone, every Republican in the state, that we do have a voice. We have a choice. And when we put our heads together, we can win.”

– Rebecca Kelty, State Representative-elect, HD16

Economics in One Lesson: Unions and Wages

Start listening at 10:00 – Hour 2

Kim hosts a roundtable discussion on Henry Hazlitt’s classic work “Economics in One Lesson” with Producer Joe, Susan Kochevar of 88 Drive-In Theater, and Yvonne Paez of Perspectives 101. The group examines Chapter 20, “Do Unions Really Raise Wages,” and Chapter 21, “Enough to Buy Back the Product.”

The discussion explores how forced wage regulations disproportionately affect small businesses compared to large corporations. Susan Kochevar shares how union rules at her preferred plumbing company made their services unaffordable. The group discusses the evolution of unions from their original purpose of improving workplace conditions to their current focus on wage control without understanding economic balance.

Key insights include treating oneself as a “small business” rather than relying on unions for advocacy, the importance of productivity and merit over seniority, and how top-down wage control suppresses innovation and economic growth.