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Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom supported new migrants becoming “proud workers and residents of Colorado” by approving a letter from the Metro Mayors Caucus. A copy of the letter itself was provided by the Caucus, not by Lakewood, and is shown below. Unlike other legislative positions, this letter was not discussed in public and was not subject to Council committee vote. However, the letter does specifically state that it represents community members, not just the Mayor’s personal opinion. The letter requests three things: fast-tracked work permits, legal services, and federal funding.  Border enforcement is not mentioned, nor is removing Colorado’s sanctuary status.  Read the letter below. Work authorizations and federal funding are parts of what people know as “immigration reform” rather than what people know as “border security”. Recent community meetings show that Lakewood residents are very interested in the migrant issue and would like a say in these decisions. However, instead of publicly discussing the issue, Mayor Strom approved the letter while residents were conducting their own community meetings in preparation to hear what actions Lakewood planned on taking on February 12. Resident voices are being signed in support of this federal issue, whether they approve or not, with no public explanation from their local representative. The letter itself is not available on the Metro Mayors Caucus nor Lakewood’s website. When asked for the letter, Lakewood responded that the letter and associated emails would cost $134 to provide. Fortunately, the Metro Mayors Caucus released the letter to Kim Monson, host of the Kim Monson Show, who heard about the letter directly from Strom. The letter is only signed by the Mayor of Golden, as representative of the Metro Mayor Caucus. Only 26 of the 38 member communities needed to approve the letter on behalf of them all. Which communities voted yea or nay is not listed but Mayor Strom’s email shows that she joined in “signing on to the letter…. in support” of these actions on behalf of Lakewood. Note: If you are not in Lakewood, ask your representative if they voted in favor of these measures This letter of support was not mentioned on Lakewood’s website regarding migrant misinformation. There is no other webpage on migrant information. The letter was not mentioned during the February 12 meeting when residents were assembled to hear news about Lakewood, Colorado migrant actions. Read the letter for yourself below.

Cross post from Karen Morfitt, CBS Colorado From the article… “They purchased the former motel- as they work to build a continuum of services in the area and is just a piece of the strategic plan the county has been shaping for years. “When people are left languishing on the street, they are kind of in survival mode. It’s hard to pull yourself out of that homelessness,” Ginsburg said. The location, which is close to RTD, and other services is why many already struggling to find affordable housing were paying weekly to live in the motel. Amos Apencer has a month or so before it will no longer be an option.” Read more from CBS Colorado… Read more from the original posting: Recovery Works Secures Former Motel in Lakewood

After the February 12 City Council meeting, Lakewood City Council Member Rebekah Stewart sent out a campaign email, saying “Despite extremist attempts to bully and intimidate us out of investing in this critical resource, I stood up with my colleagues for our community and our shared values.” Who are these extremists who would bully and intimidate Lakewood City Council? Does she mean the hundreds of residents who came to the meeting and the many who spoke? Is everyone who disagrees with Council decisions extreme? Which ones are not? Are all these Lakewood residents bullies? Can we assume these people are not extremists since they are included in her email: Is your voice being heard in Lakewood? Read Stewarts campaign email here for full context.

Community Organizer Regina Hopkins is asking for your attendance at the upcoming Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting DAY/DATE: Wednesday, Feb 21, 2024 TIME: 7:00PM LOCATION: 480 S. Allison Parkway (Lakewood City CouncilChambers) Click for AGENDA **URGENT CALL FOR ACTION** Your presence and voice are urgently needed at this week’s upcoming Planning Commission meeting. We ask all local community members to attend in person, as this is the only way you can verbally express your public comments. The meeting is scheduled for Wed.Feb. 21 at 7:00pm at 480 S. Allison Parkway (Lakewood City Council Chambers). Recent developments have brought to light profound concerns about the handling of certain processes within our community, notably concerning the proposed development at 777 S. Yarrow St. This development,which includes plans for a monster apartment building adjacent to Belmar Park and the bird sanctuary, has sparked alarm among residents. The current approach, largely driven by decisions made by staff without any public engagement process, has resulted in many community members feeling blind sided and voiceless in a decision that directly impacts our cherished crown jewel park. We have conveyed our concerns to City Council, and now we turn to the planning commissioners – who hold a pivotal role in zoning he land in our city, among other duties. The upcoming Planning Commission meeting will provide us with a crucial opportunity to voice our opinions,express our concerns, and advocate for a more transparent and inclusive process. During the meeting, each attendee will have 3 minutes to address the planning commissioners. This is our chance to articulate why we believe they play a vital role in reviewing unilateral decisions made by administrative staff for the entire Lakewood community. Planning commissioners serve as an essential part of the checks and balances process within our community, and we look to them for oversight and improvement. We’ve seen examples from other communities in Colorado where processes have been enhanced to be more inclusive and transparent. It’s time for Lakewood to follow suit. One of the primary topics of discussion will be the preservation of Belmar Park and the planning decisions surrounding 777 S.Yarrow St. Your presence and advocacy are critical in safeguarding this essential community asset. I urge each and every one of you to prioritize attending this important Planning Commission meeting. Together, we can ensure that our community’s concerns are heard and addressed, fostering a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter,and I look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Regina Director of Save Belmar Park

Hundreds of Lakewood residents raised concerns over supporting migrants and stopped City Council from taking immediate actions at the Council meeting on February 12.  The Council did not even have a discussion on migrant support after the City Manager provided her report on meeting with Denver. Previous Council meetings clearly suggested further discussion and action was anticipated so the abrupt absence substantiates the city’s “misinformation” campaign but does not explain why Council changed directions. Comments later in that meeting show that Lakewood will open city and city-connected non-profit homeless services to migrants. As a new way to support migrants, Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom has signed Lakewood’s support to fast-tracking work authorizations. Media coverage of the February 12 meeting is listed below. The City Manager’s report of her discussion with Denver is available online. However, Council had previously promised a discussion at the February 12 meeting to decide what further actions they will take. Councilors Roger Low and Isabel Cruz stated that they hoped the City Manager’s report was only the first step.  “Quickly” was the buzzword the City Manager repeated. Not just listening quickly, but acting quickly. The lack of discussion following the executive report was notable not only because of this previous promise, but because it was apparently coordinated. Mayor Strom did not open the floor to comments and no Council Member tried to open a discussion at this time. Also notable was that six Council Members were wearing butterflies as a sign of solidarity with migrants. This visible support in combination with an apparent coordinated lack of discussion led two members of the public to wonder aloud whether there was any point to making public comment. Are Council Members listening with an open mind if they come in solidarity with a position? Migrant support was also discussed when the city approved funds to open a county-wide homeless shelter and support center, otherwise known as a navigation center. Denver’s failed homeless policies and influx of migrants have pushed Denver’s homeless into Lakewood. So by approving a new center, Lakewood is supporting Denver’s failed policies and two displaced populations. And as one public commenter said, Lakewood itself is adopting the same failed “housing first” strategy that Denver has tried. The navigation center was approved by a vote of 10-1. Scorecard: Approve Lakewood Navigation Center Strom: Aye Shahrezaei: Aye (wears butterfly) Sinks: Aye (wears butterfly) Mayott-Guerrero: Aye (wears butterfly) Cruz: Aye (wears butterfly) Stewart: Aye (wears butterfly) Low: Aye (wears butterfly) Olver: Nay Rein: Aye LaBure: Aye Nystrom: Aye Non-Profit Coordination Lakewood will continue to work with non-profits to “navigate”, or coordinate, migrant support. Council Member Sophia Mayott-Guerrero stated that “of course both the Housing Plan and the Navigation Center and any other social resource may in fact support people who have immigrated here.” Mayott-Guerrero has said that she herself volunteers with the Venezuelan migrant population. Many Lakewood residents seemed to be saying there is no “of course” about it. They want to stop enabling a population that may not have come here legally and they want Lakewood to have a discussion, not just assume there is only one way to do it. For example, Lakewood’s unofficial policy of migrant support is in stark contrast to cities like Colorado Springs which has declared itself NOT a sanctuary city. According to the Colorado Sun, Colorado Springs has seen approximately 24 migrant families compared to Denver’s 40,000 migrants. Lakewood residents driving popular intersections such as Colfax or Alameda and Sheridan will see migrants looking for work, suggesting Lakewood’s migrant numbers are already more than Colorado Springs, despite Colorado Springs being the larger city. What is bringing more homeless and migrants to Lakewood than to Colorado Springs? According to the Colorado Sun piece, the Springs and El Paso County are encouraging non-profits to NOT provide services to migrants because it is not compassionate to signal there are services available when that may not be financially feasible. The majority of Lakewood residents speaking against migrant support echoed this worry about financial resources, especially during a time when personal finances are stretched thin. Supporters of migrant support felt there was enough to go around, especially when federal funds kicked in to provide free money. The Navigation Center will not require an ID or any legal verification for service. Lakewood Encourages Fast-Tracking Work Authorizations Lakewood is not taking a backseat to providing migrant support. According to the Kim Monson Show, Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom signed a letter of support from the Metro Mayors Caucus in support of three things: fast-tracked work permits, legal services and federal funding for migrants. This letter is not yet available. Media Coverage of the Meeting Lakewood, Colorado, residents urge city council not to help neighboring Denver with migrant crisis, by Lawrence Richard, Fox News Lakewood residents pack meeting about migrant rumors, FOX31 Denver Lakewood tries to dispel migrant rumors, 9News Lakewood residents are right to be skeptical about migrant agreement with Denver, Colorado Peak Politics Lakewood residents protest as Denver spends millions on new immigrants and tensions grow over what to do,  by Rachel Estabrook, CPR News Denver suburb residents outraged over migrant crisis, America’s Newsroom, FOX News

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7716846/Would-you-vote-like-City-Council-on-Feb-12 Answer these questions at the survey link above: