Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood officials often describe the negative impacts of their policies as unintended consequences. But recent examples show something far more troubling: the deliberate use of government processes to build support for residents and businesses to accept favored policy outcomes.
Jeffco and Colorado are now net emigration but Lakewood is still concerned about growth.
By Aldo Svaldi, asvaldi@denverpost.com
Colorado’s economy will continue to crawl along next year, with GDP growth strengthening but job gains remaining sluggish as some of the state’s highest-paying sectors shed jobs, according to the 2026 Colorado Business Economic Outlook from the University of Colorado.
From Ramey Johnson’s newsletter
When I served on the Lakewood City Council (2010–2020, Ward 1), we voted on changes to the zoning ordinance in 2012. That process required months of resident input and several citizen committee meetings before it ever reached the council for a final vote. It ultimately passed 8–3. I voted no.
Under normal procedure, city staff—typically the Director of Planning or Public Works—presents updated versions of ordinances to the council for consideration.
However, council is not made aware when new language is inserted into ordinance drafts that shifts additional authority to the Director of Planning (currently Travis Parker).
From GoFundMe – Following the terrible apartment complex fire in Lakewood which displaced 30 people, many are turning to GoFundMe to ask for help finding a new place to call home. Four fundraisers have been started to help those affected by this fire. The links to all four of those fundraisers are below.
Discount Tire is giving drivers incredible Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals on tire and wheel purchases from Thursday, 11/20 through Wednesday, 12/3. Below are a few highlights and more information can be found online at Discount Tire’s website.
Lakewood’s City Clerk has determined that the first two zoning petitions had enough signatures to meet initial sufficiency requirements. That means that City Council must now decide whether to repeal the ordinances or send the question to the ballot.
This was a herculean task for a small group of people to accomplish in a very short period of time. But the recurring theme heard while gathering signatures was that residents didn’t know about the new zoning. The more people learned, the less they like it. And petitioners seemed to know that.
Gathering signatures gathered steam as time went on because of resident dissatisfaction and petitioners’ tireless efforts.
The petitions are still subject to protest and verification for another 10 days. During this time, the number of valid signatures may change.
Every Lakewood candidate recommended by the Progressive Voters Guide won the 2025 race in all five ward districts. The Progressive Voter Guide also identified Wendi Strom, Isabel Cruz and Glenda Sinks as progressive candidates in 2023.
Under progressive leadership, Lakewood’s quality of life has declined while Council focuses on issues that residents consider secondary. With progressive ideology dominant, those with differing opinions have been run off, such as liberal-leaning Rich Olver and Anita Springsteen, and conservative-leaning Mary Janssen.
All candidates except Bill Furman ran on climate issues, even at a time when even Bill Gates has said that past investments in climate change have been misplaced. Bill Furman only wrote three little paragraphs on issues, saying the least of all candidates.
A recent ethics complaint was filed against a group of Colorado Representatives, including Lakewood’s Rep. Rebekah Stewart. The complaint alleges Representatives received gifts in the form of food, beverages and lodging in Vail for a lobbyist retreat. The main donor was One Main Street, a nonprofit of the same name as heavy political donors to Wendi Strom’s campaign for Lakewood Mayor in 2023. No matter the outcome of the ethics complaint, these dark money ties are being exposed in Lakewood and throughout Colorado.
As reported by the Colorado Sun: “Ethics complaints were filed Wednesday against several Democratic state lawmakers alleging they violated Colorado’s prohibition on elected officials receiving gifts when they attended a retreat last month in Vail where they mingled with lobbyists at a ritzy hotel. The complaints were filed by Colorado Common Cause, a liberal-leaning nonprofit that advocates for an open government.“
Residents are discovering the truth behind years of planning to consolidate Lakewood’s recreation centers. Despite denials from City Council, the documents speak for themselves. Recent discussions on nextdoor.com show that most residents are unhappy with the idea of closing down any rec centers.
Lakewood resident Steve F points out that the plan included automatic steps forward on rec center consolidation but officials now claim those are not being carried out. He writes, “They are REQUIRED by what they voted on to move forward.” He goes on to quote from the document: “NEXT STEPS: Upon approval, the goals and recommendations of the plan will be pursued by delegating each plan action to a staff representative along with a timeline for completion.” Assuming there is no one working on the consolidation, as staff and Council Members claim, Steve asks, is there even a functioning city government in Lakewood?”
Jeffco Schools is not disclosing how much the district will lose on the Emory Elementary deal. And curiously, no one knows when the Board met or voted on selling the closed school.
Lakewood Informer reached out to school officials and could find NOTHING. How is Lakewood selling the property when the purchase has not been completed through Jeffco? Has it been completed and everyone missed it?
