Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Author : Lakewood News from Karen

Emergency Citizens’ Town Hall

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

UPDATE: Venue changed to 1626 Cole Blvd., Bldg 7, 4th Floor, Lakewood, CO 80401, 6:30-8:30 pm Guest post from The Concerned Citizens in Lakewood Date: Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 3:57 PMSubject: Citizen Town HallTo: <CityCouncilMembers@lakewood.org>Cc: <wstrom@lakewood.org>, <jshahrezaei@lakewood.org>, <gsinks@lakewood.org>, <sguerrero@lakewood.org>, <icruz@lakewood.org>, <rstewart@lakewood.org>, <rlow@lakewood.org>, <rolver@lakewood.org>, <drein@lakewood.org>, <jlabure@lakewood.org> Mayor Strom, Chief Smith, and Lakewood City Councilors, We understand that the City of Lakewood is in discussion with the City of Denver and considering a vote to make Lakewood a Sanctuary City to allow migrants to be bused into our beautiful city. We also understand that the intent is for them to occupy the now vacant Jeffco Schools buildings at the expense of Lakewood taxpayers. Lakewood has hundreds of citizens that are very concerned with this. We invite you to come and listen to concerns, share what you know about these plans, and how you see this playing out in our city. In addition to the serious concern of Denver making their problems ours, there are significant concerns about the ramifications and impacts this will create in our neighborhoods and greater community – crime and safety, infrastructure, local business, and much more. We realize it is short notice, but please let us know if you can attend on Tuesday evening, so we can both acknowledge you and plan for you on the agenda. Informational flyer is attached with details on the event. Sincerely, The Concerned Citizens in Lakewood concernedcitizensinlakewood@gmail.com

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No State of the Court Presentation

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Lakewood Courts got a little less transparent in 2023. The Lakewood Municipal Court holds an annual presentation for City Council and the public on the State of the Court. In 2022 we learned that Lakewood was focusing on compassion and opening an Outreach Court to clear warrants and provide resources. Unfortunately, in 2023 there was no update on this or any other subject. Judge Nicole Bozarth presides over the Lakewood Municipal Court. In 2022 it was reported that the number of service calls to police was up but the number of court hearings was down. Why? Is it still down? In 2023, Lakewood started the Outreach Court. How was success measured? Future plans? What is the state of the court?

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Colorado schools adjust to influx of migrant students in the classroom

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Cross-post from Denver7, by Kristian Lopez Note: Slater Elementary school is in Lakewood From the article… “The influx of migrants has boosted enrollment at schools across the Front Range. Jeffco Public Schools said it has been serving an additional 335 students this school year. Slater Elementary has seen around 50 new students this school year.” Read more from Denver7 …

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Lakewood City Council votes to help Denver with influx of migrants

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Cross post from CBS news, reporting by Karen Morfitt “Council members want to hear from the public and say this is just a first step. The vote simply symbolizes a willingness to “be a good neighbor,” to the city of Denver, one councilman said.” https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/lakewood-city-council-votes-to-help-denver-with-influx-of-migrants/ A video report featuring Karen Morgan from the LakewoodInformer. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a contributor. Click here to take a survey on the issue.

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SURVEY: Homeless and Migrant Policy

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Updated to show questions, 25 Jan 2024 The homeless and migrant situation is an ongoing concern for everyone. People want to help but disagree on what that help looks like. From tough love to complete care, what do you think? Let’s start the discussion at the beginning by answering a few basic questions. What would you like to see and how would you vote with your wallet? Please take the survey below and we will share the results next week. https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7687498/What-is-Your-homeless-policy Thank you for your time. Any suggestions for future surveys are welcome by email!

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Lakewood Paying for RTD Lights

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , ,

Fixing the bridge lights for RTD on the 6th Avenue overpass is an $800,000 budget item for Lakewood… to fix RTD property. The large line item caught the attention of Council Member Olver at the time. How did this get to be in the budget with no prior public discussion? Why isn’t RTD paying for their own repairs? A series of open-records requests reveal not a single communication in 2023 between RTD and any city official discussing the details of how the project came to be. Not who would pay or for what, not what they think the problem is, or why RTD cannot pay for it…. Nothing. As seen in the highlighted screenshot below, open-records requests revealed an email between the RTD point of contact and Council Member Shahrezaei. Shahrezaei responded that she would speak over the phone. Phone conversations increase communication but cannot be provided through open records requests. As the Council representative to DRCOG, Councilor Shahrezaei is in frequent contact with regional boards like RTD. The city shared that this project was submitted to the budget by the Public Works Department during the 2024 budget process. No communications came up between staff and RTD on this topic but the city says they have been in discussion about the project for years. No Council Discussion but Presumed Permission According to the city, this budget item aligns with City Council Goal 3, “Beautiful and Sustainable City.” Normally, setting goals is admirable but this statement reveals the public policy disparity with the City Council setting goals. Public and City Choose Different Bridges These bridge lights will be beautiful – if they can stay lit. Unsubstantiated sources suggest that the lights cannot remain functional through the train vibrations that displace electrical wiring. In the bigger picture, there was public outcry in 2023 for a different bridge. Public wanted to keep the use of a pedestrian bridge in Ravines Open Space park. 290 residents signed a petition to keep a bridge that will now be lost. For the price of the lights that are RTD property, the city could have kept the city beautiful a different way. Now those park users will have an unusable pipe-hanger while RTD gets bridge lights that will, certainly, be enjoyed by all. Footnote: then-Counselor Janssen did not receive any answers to her questions before Council voted to approve this budget.

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Correction: Services, Not Shelter, to Move to Jeffco School

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Correction to https://lakewoodinformer.com/2023/12/29/lakewood-to-propose-a-homeless-shelter-in-public-school-building/ An unnamed, closed Jefferson County school may act as a new location for the Jeffco Action Center rather than as a shelter. The Action Center offers hardship services and is valuable resource for many unhoused. The move would also increase housing for the homeless. Plans are not final, but discussions have been started. More details have not been brought before Council yet. Per City Manager Hodgson, December 18 City Council meeting, “We recently worked with RecoveryWorks… and opened the first phase of the Navigation Center. Now we are talking about a partnership with the Action Center to move them [Action Center – not Navigation Center] to one of the schools that’s been closed…. then Lakewood would have a presence in the existing two buildings of the Action Center to complete the navigation concept and allow to for more housing for our homeless population….”

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Lakewood to Welcome Migrants and Increase Shelter Options

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , ,

Despite cities across America seeking to reduce the flow of migrants, Lakewood is moving ahead to officially welcome more. On January 8, 2024, Lakewood City Council voted unanimously to move as quickly as possible to figure out how to help with Denver migrants (Note: Councilor Olver absent). A separate motion was passed for a study session on increasing service of the extreme weather shelter for the homeless, acknowledging that this will serve the migrant community as well. Unless the recommended actions impact the municipal code, further actions could be taken as soon as February 12. For example, mention was made of Lakewood being a “good neighbor”. Denver is seeking to make “good neighbor” agreements with surrounding cities to agree to take their migrant population. Lakewood’s former Mayor, Adam Paul, plays a key role in these agreements with Denver. These are unusually speedy decisions for Lakewood City Council. Generally, Council Requests for Legislative Action generate discussion and get deferred to another committee. It’s rare to have to direct action scheduled at all, let alone so quickly. Residents supporting Save Belmar Park have been asking City Council to take action for months with no results. One City Council Legislative Request was denied by the Council majority because no action was possible until new objectives were set at the annual retreat. In this case, the Council has not set ANY objectives for the year and it already has major policy decisions scheduled to be made in the February 12 meeting. The quick passage shows Council can act, direct staff, and schedule study sessions, when it wants to. As a result of these motions, the February 12 meeting will include a study session at 5:30 pm on increasing shelter options. During the Executive Report in regular meeting on the same night, Lakewood City Manager Hodgson will relate what immediate actions can be taken to help migrants, and what actions may need further study. Council Members expressed their belief that the majority of Lakewood residents would support both of these measures. Councilor Mayott-Guerrero said she believes “…progress is possible now in a way that it wasn’t even three years ago.” Lakewood city staff report they can find no proclamation that Lakewood is a sanctuary city. However, Jefferson County is a sanctuary, so an official offer to help or house people, would increase the migrant population, as seen in other cities like Denver.

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