Goodbye and Thank You from the Berkshire

To our friends and family of NE Denver,

Thank you so very much for all of your support over the years! Right up until the last bottomless mimosa, you welcomed us as part of your community for almost 13 years and supported The Berkshire with the utmost vigor.

In 2007, right before the great recession broke, and as a rookie small businessman opening my first restaurant at the age of 32, I opened the doors to The Berkshire and tried to give you all a unique, fun and, above all, welcoming neighborhood restaurant that you could call your own. Being from Boston, I grew up on the show Cheers and I always strove to own a bar and restaurant “where everybody knows your name.”

We are so honored to have been a part of this community and eternally grateful for all of the wonderful friendships that we have made over the years. I want to especially thank all of the wonderful staff members we’ve had throughout the years.

Andy & Krissy, Susan & Sasha, and The Berkshire Staff

SB93 Would Protect Coloradans from Unfair Arbitration

How would you feel if you had been sexually harassed or discriminated against at work and were railroaded into a secret court and there is no chance to appeal? That’s exactly what happens to employees who have unknowingly signed a forced arbitration agreement hidden in the fine print of their new-hire paperwork

There are several problems with arbitration in Colorado:

–Few ethical standards for arbitrators like judges

––No public records of arbitration, so patterns of bad behavior are buried.

–Terms in employment contracts dissuade people from bringing their claim forward.

The state legislature is considering Senate Bill 93 to level the playing field for everyday Coloradans trying to resolve disputes with corporations. It would:

–Establish ethics and conflicts of interest standards.

– Create transparency requirements so corporations can’t conceal bad behavior or protect serial predators.

– Make terms that dissuade people from bringing their claim forward unenforceable.

I urge our elected officials to vote yes on Senate Bill 93 to protect employees’ rights to hold employers accountable for sexual harassment or discrimination.

Rachel Ellis lives in Stapleton and is the owner of Livelihood Law Firm