February 18, 2025 • 9 mins
DANIELLE JURINSKY HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT And it has nothing to do with bad things in Aurora, it's anything but. She joins me at 2:30 to chat.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, daniel Welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Amy, thank you for having me. Well.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I saw today on social media, So without further ado
announce what you're announcing today.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I am officially running for re election in Aurora, Colorado.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Danielle, you have had quite the first term. Okay, let's
mean hol it cow. A lot of people jump into
politics and then they get elected and then they spend
a few years sort of getting their feet under them.
Not you. You just put your face right in the
wood chipper. So let's talk about why you want to
continue to represent Aurora on the city council after everything
(00:37):
you've been through in the first you.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Know term, Well, you know that's easy, Menny. Aurora is
my hometown and I did jump in head first, I
mean completely seven weeks into public office. I went after
the police chief at that time, and the decision was
easy for me. I have been through a lot. Everybody knows,
(01:00):
you know, or has heard of the situation I went
through with DHS, everything I've gone through with this Venezuelan
prison gang and standing up to our own governor, standing
up to the media. It hasn't been easy, but you
know what, it has fired me up even more Mandy,
because now I know. Now I know how truly ugly
and dark politics really are, and how many politicians don't
(01:23):
care about people. So for me, I'm going to keep fighting.
If they didn't beat me when they tried to take
away my son, if they.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Didn't beat me when they tried to, you know, smear
my name and call me a liar and tell me
that I was crazy over this Venezuelan prison gang. If
they haven't beaten me doing all.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Of that and throwing all of that at me, they're
not going to now. It's not going to start now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Well, and I admire that because a lot of people
probably would have backed down from a fight. But how
did you become a woman? You're not only a member
of the Aora City Council, you're a small business owner.
You're in an industry that is just tough, in the
restaurant bar industry. What made you tough? Danielle, Tell me
a little bit about how you got to be the
person who decided you were going to stand up to
(02:07):
a Venezuelan prison game.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah. Well, a lot of that goes back to my childhood.
I was raised by my father, Vietnam era marine, and
he raised me and my dad. My dad is tough
and a lot of that, A lot of that comes
from him, and then a humongous sense of wanting to
make him proud, but growing up just with a single father.
(02:30):
And then you know, joining the military. The military also
helped instill some toughness in me. And then you're right.
I mean, the bar business is one of the toughest
industry right there there are, and I went into office
owning four bars.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Uh So I think.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I think what I don't mean to sound like a
commercial for a certain car company, but I was built up.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yes, Well, let me let me ask you, so you
did what inspired you to get into politics in the
first place? And was it the lockdowns of COVID? What
got you into that? I know that we talked when
you ran the first time, but I honestly don't remember
what you said, because I probably talked to one thousand
candidates right before that. So what did you decide? What
drew you to politics? After everything else you have going on?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well back in twenty twenty, so media was the entire
year of twenty twenty. And what I tell people is
I didn't get into politics. Politics got into me. The
Democrats knocked on my door. I had a newborn at
the March of twenty twenty, I had a newborn at home.
When I had to go shut down all of my
bars and restaurants. I couldn't believe it. There was no
(03:39):
science behind it, couldn't make it make sense. If you tried,
Costco could be packed, Walmart could be packed. But if
you go to get your hair done, your nails done,
go to a bar, or go to a gym, you're
just automatically going to die from COVID. So there was
no sense, there was no common sense behind any of that.
That's how it started. Then you remember it was the
Summer of love. What happened in Aura with all of
(04:00):
the riots that broke out. They smashed out all the
windows on our city hall. Our city hall was completely
boarded up. They broke into the courthouse, that trash cands
on fire, and then they had that standoff. They trapped
seventeen police officers in the District one police building for
seven hours and taunted them with gas cans and not
police chief at that time who I charged after as
(04:20):
soon as I got into office, told everybody to stand down,
would not let anybody and because of that that year alone,
we lost one hundred and twenty seven officers in the
police department because of her, because of her actions and
allowing these police officers to be trapped. The final straw
came when we were shut down the second time. My
businesses were shut down the second time in twenty twenty.
(04:41):
The Awara City Council at that time brought forward an
ordinance for a twenty dollars an hour minimum wage.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
In anything just for Aura while our businesses were shut down.
So that's why I say I didn't get into politics.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Politics got into me. The government treaded on me and
the Democrats knocked out. They've been just knocked on my
door Meuni, they kicked it in. So they brought me.
They brought me here the first time, and it's going
to be because of them that I went the second time.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Well, let me ask you this, what have you learned
in your first term that you think is going to
help you all in the city council in a second term.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Well, what I have learned is in this ugly game
of politics, certainly not everybody is your friend, and some
people that you think may be your friend, they're also
not your friend. So the only one that's truly going
to have your back is you. And I stick to
my principles. I stick to you know, my beliefs, and
I just dig my heels in and I don't stop
(05:35):
even if I'm standing alone, because in politics, you are
the only person that is truly going to look out
for yourself and the people you represent well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And Daniel, what do you what do you want to
see happen in Aura? I'm watching with great interest the
Homeless Navigation Center. I'm really excited and interested to see
that get up and running and see how that can
make a real impact in Aurora. What are your thoughts
on what needs to happen and what the city council
needs to focus on should you get.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Re elected, Yeah, we do need to focus on that
on homelessness, and I am so I also am watching
with great interests right what we've kind of put into
motion here.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It's a work first model to help. I don't know
that anybody is going to completely ever solve homelessness a
five percent, but I think that this is going to
make huge strides. I can't wait to see that through.
I want to see We're currently we put together an
infrastructure task force. I want to see that through. Aura
is in dire need of a new animal shelter, we
(06:36):
need to fire stations. There's a lot of infrastructure that
we're lacking. I want to see that through the past
two years. The crime rate in Aurora, if you can
believe it or not, and even this is this comes
straight from the governor himself, the past two years in Aurora,
the crime rate has been declining. I don't think that's
any coincidence Mandy that I've been the chair of the
Public Safety Committee for two years in Aura. No coincidence
(07:00):
at all, Governor of pull Us. But I want to
see that it's still too much. It's still too much.
That means our crime rates were so high for us
to be in decline for the past two years, even
with the Venezulun prison gang and everything else going on,
that means it's waste. It's still way too high. So
I want to see that through as well. We have
a new police chief now and I want to see
(07:21):
our crime rates continue to decline.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Do you feel like it's a new police chief, Chief
Todd Chamberlain, how do you feel like he's doing so far?
I've you know, I have a few people in the
Aura Police Superman. They send me emails every once in
a while and they've sort of taken this so far
so good stance. But they're still cautious because those officers
have been through a lot in the past five years,
(07:43):
especially six years, if they've been around that long.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean the Aurora Police Department, auroral police officers.
They have not had a voice in years in this city.
They have not had someone looking out for them in
four years in this city. I would say, I'm this.
I like the direction that the department is going. I
do believe that crime is being fought. I do believe
police officers are policing again. But again, I am also
(08:12):
cautiously optimistic. You know, you've seen what happened in Aurora
after we got rid of Vanessa Wilson. It's been turnover
after turnover, and from police chiefs who are also no good.
So you know, I'm still cautious. I'm very cautious, and
I am I stand ready at any minute to be
the voice for the men and women of the Aurora
Police Department should something take a turn.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well, you've gotten to coming up a kickoff, if you
will tell me about that. If people want to participate.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, So Saturday March eighth, from four to six pm
at JJ's place in Aurora. You can get more information
about the kickoff event or how to donate to my
campaign or how to get involved be a volunteer. My
website is Danielle for Aurora and that's fr Danielle for
Aurora dot com.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Danielle Drinsky, I appreciate your time today. I wish you
all the best in your re election campaign. I think
that you know people may disagree with your methods, Danielle,
but I always say the same thing. I never doubt
that you love the city of Aurora and you want
to help everyone who lives in Aurora have the best
(09:19):
life possible. And you know, we can quibble about methods
all day long, but I never doubt your love for
the people that live there and your love for the city.
So I hope you win. I'm just gonna say it.
I think you've done a great job for the citizens there.
Even if you've ruffled a few feathers in the process, Well.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
It's been worth every bit of it, and I'm here
to ruffle with fe you more. Mandy, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
All right, Danielle, have a good Win. That's Danielle Drinsky
Hello, daniel Welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Amy, thank you for having me. Well.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I saw today on social media, So without further ado
announce what you're announcing today.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I am officially running for re election in Aurora, Colorado.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Danielle, you have had quite the first term. Okay, let's
mean hol it cow. A lot of people jump into
politics and then they get elected and then they spend
a few years sort of getting their feet under them.
Not you. You just put your face right in the
wood chipper. So let's talk about why you want to
continue to represent Aurora on the city council after everything
(00:37):
you've been through in the first you.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Know term, Well, you know that's easy, Menny. Aurora is
my hometown and I did jump in head first, I
mean completely seven weeks into public office. I went after
the police chief at that time, and the decision was
easy for me. I have been through a lot. Everybody knows,
(01:00):
you know, or has heard of the situation I went
through with DHS, everything I've gone through with this Venezuelan
prison gang and standing up to our own governor, standing
up to the media. It hasn't been easy, but you
know what, it has fired me up even more Mandy,
because now I know. Now I know how truly ugly
and dark politics really are, and how many politicians don't
(01:23):
care about people. So for me, I'm going to keep fighting.
If they didn't beat me when they tried to take
away my son, if they.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Didn't beat me when they tried to, you know, smear
my name and call me a liar and tell me
that I was crazy over this Venezuelan prison gang. If
they haven't beaten me doing all.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Of that and throwing all of that at me, they're
not going to now. It's not going to start now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Well, and I admire that because a lot of people
probably would have backed down from a fight. But how
did you become a woman? You're not only a member
of the Aora City Council, you're a small business owner.
You're in an industry that is just tough, in the
restaurant bar industry. What made you tough? Danielle, Tell me
a little bit about how you got to be the
person who decided you were going to stand up to
(02:07):
a Venezuelan prison game.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah. Well, a lot of that goes back to my childhood.
I was raised by my father, Vietnam era marine, and
he raised me and my dad. My dad is tough
and a lot of that, A lot of that comes
from him, and then a humongous sense of wanting to
make him proud, but growing up just with a single father.
(02:30):
And then you know, joining the military. The military also
helped instill some toughness in me. And then you're right.
I mean, the bar business is one of the toughest
industry right there there are, and I went into office
owning four bars.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Uh So I think.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I think what I don't mean to sound like a
commercial for a certain car company, but I was built up.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yes, Well, let me let me ask you, so you
did what inspired you to get into politics in the
first place? And was it the lockdowns of COVID? What
got you into that? I know that we talked when
you ran the first time, but I honestly don't remember
what you said, because I probably talked to one thousand
candidates right before that. So what did you decide? What
drew you to politics? After everything else you have going on?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well back in twenty twenty, so media was the entire
year of twenty twenty. And what I tell people is
I didn't get into politics. Politics got into me. The
Democrats knocked on my door. I had a newborn at
the March of twenty twenty, I had a newborn at home.
When I had to go shut down all of my
bars and restaurants. I couldn't believe it. There was no
(03:39):
science behind it, couldn't make it make sense. If you tried,
Costco could be packed, Walmart could be packed. But if
you go to get your hair done, your nails done,
go to a bar, or go to a gym, you're
just automatically going to die from COVID. So there was
no sense, there was no common sense behind any of that.
That's how it started. Then you remember it was the
Summer of love. What happened in Aura with all of
(04:00):
the riots that broke out. They smashed out all the
windows on our city hall. Our city hall was completely
boarded up. They broke into the courthouse, that trash cands
on fire, and then they had that standoff. They trapped
seventeen police officers in the District one police building for
seven hours and taunted them with gas cans and not
police chief at that time who I charged after as
(04:20):
soon as I got into office, told everybody to stand down,
would not let anybody and because of that that year alone,
we lost one hundred and twenty seven officers in the
police department because of her, because of her actions and
allowing these police officers to be trapped. The final straw
came when we were shut down the second time. My
businesses were shut down the second time in twenty twenty.
(04:41):
The Awara City Council at that time brought forward an
ordinance for a twenty dollars an hour minimum wage.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
In anything just for Aura while our businesses were shut down.
So that's why I say I didn't get into politics.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Politics got into me. The government treaded on me and
the Democrats knocked out. They've been just knocked on my
door Meuni, they kicked it in. So they brought me.
They brought me here the first time, and it's going
to be because of them that I went the second time.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Well, let me ask you this, what have you learned
in your first term that you think is going to
help you all in the city council in a second term.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Well, what I have learned is in this ugly game
of politics, certainly not everybody is your friend, and some
people that you think may be your friend, they're also
not your friend. So the only one that's truly going
to have your back is you. And I stick to
my principles. I stick to you know, my beliefs, and
I just dig my heels in and I don't stop
(05:35):
even if I'm standing alone, because in politics, you are
the only person that is truly going to look out
for yourself and the people you represent well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And Daniel, what do you what do you want to
see happen in Aura? I'm watching with great interest the
Homeless Navigation Center. I'm really excited and interested to see
that get up and running and see how that can
make a real impact in Aurora. What are your thoughts
on what needs to happen and what the city council
needs to focus on should you get.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Re elected, Yeah, we do need to focus on that
on homelessness, and I am so I also am watching
with great interests right what we've kind of put into
motion here.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It's a work first model to help. I don't know
that anybody is going to completely ever solve homelessness a
five percent, but I think that this is going to
make huge strides. I can't wait to see that through.
I want to see We're currently we put together an
infrastructure task force. I want to see that through. Aura
is in dire need of a new animal shelter, we
(06:36):
need to fire stations. There's a lot of infrastructure that
we're lacking. I want to see that through the past
two years. The crime rate in Aurora, if you can
believe it or not, and even this is this comes
straight from the governor himself, the past two years in Aurora,
the crime rate has been declining. I don't think that's
any coincidence Mandy that I've been the chair of the
Public Safety Committee for two years in Aura. No coincidence
(07:00):
at all, Governor of pull Us. But I want to
see that it's still too much. It's still too much.
That means our crime rates were so high for us
to be in decline for the past two years, even
with the Venezulun prison gang and everything else going on,
that means it's waste. It's still way too high. So
I want to see that through as well. We have
a new police chief now and I want to see
(07:21):
our crime rates continue to decline.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Do you feel like it's a new police chief, Chief
Todd Chamberlain, how do you feel like he's doing so far?
I've you know, I have a few people in the
Aura Police Superman. They send me emails every once in
a while and they've sort of taken this so far
so good stance. But they're still cautious because those officers
have been through a lot in the past five years,
(07:43):
especially six years, if they've been around that long.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean the Aurora Police Department, auroral police officers.
They have not had a voice in years in this city.
They have not had someone looking out for them in
four years in this city. I would say, I'm this.
I like the direction that the department is going. I
do believe that crime is being fought. I do believe
police officers are policing again. But again, I am also
(08:12):
cautiously optimistic. You know, you've seen what happened in Aurora
after we got rid of Vanessa Wilson. It's been turnover
after turnover, and from police chiefs who are also no good.
So you know, I'm still cautious. I'm very cautious, and
I am I stand ready at any minute to be
the voice for the men and women of the Aurora
Police Department should something take a turn.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well, you've gotten to coming up a kickoff, if you
will tell me about that. If people want to participate.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, So Saturday March eighth, from four to six pm
at JJ's place in Aurora. You can get more information
about the kickoff event or how to donate to my
campaign or how to get involved be a volunteer. My
website is Danielle for Aurora and that's fr Danielle for
Aurora dot com.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Danielle Drinsky, I appreciate your time today. I wish you
all the best in your re election campaign. I think
that you know people may disagree with your methods, Danielle,
but I always say the same thing. I never doubt
that you love the city of Aurora and you want
to help everyone who lives in Aurora have the best
(09:19):
life possible. And you know, we can quibble about methods
all day long, but I never doubt your love for
the people that live there and your love for the city.
So I hope you win. I'm just gonna say it.
I think you've done a great job for the citizens there.
Even if you've ruffled a few feathers in the process, Well.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
It's been worth every bit of it, and I'm here
to ruffle with fe you more. Mandy, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
All right, Danielle, have a good Win. That's Danielle Drinsky
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