by OnSight | Feb 2013 | CLBA, politics
“Craft beer bill” faces opposition from Republicans, Democrats and craft brewers.
Colorado’s unique liquor laws enable independent businesses to offer a wide selection of products, services and experiences.
DENVER _ A bill that would make alcohol more accessible for minors, threaten Colorado jobs and harm craft beer brewers was panned Friday by Republican and Democratic legislators, craft brewers and local small businesses.
House Bill 1178, introduced Thursday with just a single sponsor, is the latest attempt by out-of-state chain stores like Safeway, 7-Eleven and Circle K to put local retailers out of business by offering full-strength beer in gas stations.
“This is the same bill Coloradans have rejected over and over because we value local jobs and we don’t want alcohol where kids buy candy,” said Kim Schottleutner, who owns DTC Wine and Spirits. “It is guaranteed to hurt local stores like mine and that effects jobs just as we are recovering from the recession.”
Year after year an army of lobbyists descend on Colorado’s Capitol to put a fresh disguise on the same bill the legislature has overwhelmingly rejected time and again. This year’s gimmick is an attempt to entice craft beer brewers who have been thriving under our current system. But local brewers aren’t taking the bait. The Colorado Brewers Guild has opposed HB-1178.
“HB-1178 is not in the interest of Colorado craft beer,” said Todd Usry, the brewmaster and general manager of Breckenridge Breweries. “It would begin to dismantle one of the best craft beer markets in the nation, compromising Colorado jobs in the process. Colorado craft beer is a bright spot in an otherwise cloudy economy. The current system of retail beer sales works well offering opportunity for entrepreneurs.”
Colorado’s current system of more than 1,600 independent, family-owned retailers plays a significant role in the success of the craft beer industry. Upstart brewers are able to walk into a local store, speak to the owner, and reach a deal to get their product on the shelf in days. That can’t happen if out-of-state corporate offices are making the purchasing decisions.
HB-1178 has been assigned to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee where it faces strong bipartisan opposition among committee members.
“The bill would have devastating impacts on family-owned stores across Colorado and increase access to alcohol for teenagers,” said Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver who chairs the Business Affairs and Labor Committee. “Republicans and Democrats oppose these changes because we need to be working to create jobs not destroy them, and we need to be making our communities safer, not less.”
Legislators overwhelmingly agree that there is no sense in messing with a system that creates jobs, satisfies the consumer and puts a premium on safety.
“Our current system has helped make Colorado the ‘Napa Valley of Craft Beer,'” said Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, who also serves on the Committee. “As an advocate for small businesses, I don’t want to change what makes us the envy of the nation, created tens of thousands of jobs and built one of Colorado’s strongest and fastest growing industries. It’s a bad idea.”
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![We [Heart] Infographics](https://onsightpublicaffairs.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Screen-Shot-2013-01-25-at-10.36.20-AM.png)
by OnSight | Jan 2013 | Branding, Graphics, Print Communications, Trends
So much data! Such a beautiful map!
Infographics are no fad: the ability to pack a lot of useful data in a small amount of space, and make it fun to learn something or visualize complicated concepts in a fresh way is eternally useful.
Here’s a roundup of some great infographics we’ve encountered recently:
Warby Parker’s fun, informal, and informative annual report is an innovative approach to the often stuffy formality, and also provides information you never thought you cared about in a dynamic web interface.
Cute and fun: Drake Martinet’s marriage proposal.
Sometimes infographics are less design challenges than data ones. Here’s an example of a ton of data integrated into a map, making a tool that is useful and visually impressive at both the macro- and micro-level.
Infographics can pack tons of personality and information into what might otherwise be unremarkable promotional pieces.
And if you’re a Pinterest user, there’s a never-ending waterful of amazing infographics to peruse and get inspiration from. Here’s a good place to start.
Let us know if you’ve got a challenge that creative visualization might be able to tackle.
by OnSight | Jan 2013 | OnSight News, Strategy, USA Pro Cycling
OnSight’s Ben Davis participated in live-blogging of the Lance Armstrong confession last night.
One of the most-recognized names in sports has been much in the news the last week, as word of Lance Armstrong’s confession to ongoing use of performance enhancing drugs during an exclusive Oprah interview was publicized.
Part I of the two-part interview aired last night, and OnSight’s Ben Davis took part in a live-blog conversation on VeloNews, of the nation’s premier cycling news magazines, to give a Public Relations perspective to Lance’s performance.
Reactions to last night’s revelations were fairly tepid; will Part II tonight begin the long process of repairing the damage to Lance’s name, storied history, philanthropy, and the legitimacy of professional cycling at large?
Tune in to the VeloNews live blog tonight at 8 to find out…
by OnSight | Jan 2013 | Graphics, Web Communications
2013 marks the launch of Conservation Colorado’s new web site.
New Year, new non-profit, new web site.
January 1, 2013 is a major landmark for Colorado Environmental Coalition and Colorado Conservation Voters, as it marks the launch of their merged organization: Conservation Colorado.This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in protecting Colorado’s air, land, water and people.
The new web site is a robust, highly-customized WordPress installation, which makes it easy for the non-technical types to edit and add content, but showcases a contemporary, dynamic site for visitors to interact with.
Every nook and cranny of the site features a rotating background gallery of stunning landscape images that highlight the natural beauty that makes Colorado’s environment so worth protecting.
The site is jam-packed with information about Conservation Colorado’s work, and makes it easy for visitors to find the information they’re looking for and get involved in issues they care about.
Large databases of legislators, bills, and organizational press releases, blog posts, podcasts, maps, and other media are not only easy to find, but also interact dynamically with the site: viewing a page about “Water” will automatically provide the latest water-related media and opportunities to get involved, allowing visitors to easily find basic information, but also to engage on a more in-depth level with the issues.
Social media engagement opportunities are front-and-center, encouraging users to share information and actions, increasing the portals through which interested citizens can find out about Conservation Colorado and become supporters of its work.
Check out the new site and let us know what you think!
