As told by my friend Kwok ‘Ben’ Louie who now lives in New Mexico and spends time doing Habitat for Humanity builds. As Ben notes, their backyard in Hong Kong was a botanic garden. FYI – Back then, they still had biodiversity of wildlife and birds in parks. Sounds like a tough life growing up by many Americans’ standards. But obviously a good life. Now read on –
To your question of have I ever been poor.
I grew up until the age of 11 or 12 in a one room apartment, my parents, 3 sisters and me. My parents’ quarters consisted of a bed, two dressers at the corner of the room with a partition wall and a curtain that can be drawn to close off that area. A square table sat in the middle of the floor which acted as a table for homework for the four of us and a dining table comes meal time. There was no flushing toilet, no heat, let alone air cond. We had a radio but no TV, washer/dryer was unheard of. Cooking was done on 2 kerosene stoves in a shared kitchen away from the room.
We walked to and from school, often in those incredible tropical downpours. We so looked forward to our birthdays because on that day, the birthday boy or girl get to have corn flakes (such a novelty then) with real milk. Because we didn’t have a refrigerator till later on, evaporated milk was the staple.
My parents had to struggle to put food on the table, but we had no idea then. But incredibly, those were the happiest days of our childhood. Those were the days when my sisters and I built this immense bond that will last and sustain us for the rest of our lives. There were no toys, we invented our own games which were so much more fun and enjoyable than kids have these days. We lived about a 5 minutes’ walk to the botanical garden and that became our backyard. Thinking back, we never envied the folks who had plenty. Having been poor gives one advantages, it provides a balanced perspective on life, gives you strength to draw on in hard times and an appreciation of what we have and how to use them.
My dad saved enough money for my first year of college. I was dirt poor during my college years. Worked one and a half full time jobs in summer and part time during school. I’ve worked side by side with Mexicans picking cucumbers in the field under the blazing sun. My date was a walk through the campus and then treated my date to a DingDong/Snowball (her choice of course) for a quarter in the Student Union. I love my college days too.
Some of my highlights and I mean highlights to share with you.
The Sun article below profiles people who are living in an RV because they can’t afford a home.** As anyone who has read enough of the Sun could probably guess, the profile plays up the struggles of people who live in RV’s and, of course, details the horrible trials they go through. If the topic is of interest, give it a read.
What I want to touch on with this post is the question of whether or not you’re owed a particular way of life in a particular place. I would say you’re not, but the tone (and even words sometimes) of articles and people in this state make me wonder if perhaps others think you are.
Think about all the articles like the ones below that deal in how this or that could solve the housing crisis while allowing people here to live their best lives. Often, these solutions would also require some form of government intervention or help–either with money, relaxing rules, or suchlike.
As I sometimes do, I take the questions I have, the things I wonder about, and flip them inside out or turn them around in my head to look from a new angle.
Belmar Park West is the 412-unit multifamily project at 777 S Yarrow Street in Lakewood, Colorado on the east property line of Belmar Park at the Irongate office complex.
This post explains the significant loss of the tree canopy habitat at the Irongate multifamily property site next to Belmar Park.
As per page 7 of the developer’s site plan, 69 large trees requiring replacement will be removed.
It is not possible to replace such large trees with equally large trees. So thousands of small trees should be planted instead.
Key points:
Using 3-inch replacement trees, the current caliper inches tree replacement formula removes 84% of the existing tree canopy which is also a habitat zone!
At least 2,282 additional 3-inch trees plus the city’s recommended 433 3-inch trees are needed to scientifically replace the 69 large trees that will be removed at Irongate.
Lakewood’s zoning ordinance currently only provides 16% of the reasonably equivalent number of 3-inch tree replacements at the Irongate project.
City Council can amend the zoning ordinance to protect all of Lakewood’s trees.
The vast majority of the existing tree canopy habitat zone at the Irongate west office complex will be lost using Lakewood’s current zoning regulations.
Scientists have identified that habitat loss is the biggest overall driver of bird declines.
Half of the earth’s 10,000+ bird species are in decline and 1 in 8 faces extinction according to Wired.
The US and Canada have lost almost 3 billion breeding adult birds since 1970 according to Cornell University.
What can Lakewood do?
Lakewood City Council can fix the inadequate tree replacement formula by changing one word at 17.6.5.9(A) of the zoning ordinance to replace the caliper equivalent method with the basal area method and defining the basal area calculation.
The basal area calculation is a simple calculation based on the area of a circle (r2 x π) that would be done for each tree that is removed. The developer has already provided the tree Diameters at Breast Height (DBH) measurements needed.
Here is the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Change to 17.6.5.9(A):
“Trees that are removed following the standards outlined in Section 17.6.5.8.C.4 shall be
replaced at a rate of 100 percent of the total caliper basal area of trees removed from the site. Basal area is defined as follows:
Basal Area is the tree radius squared times pi or r2 x π
Tree radius is tree diameter at breast height (DBH) divided by 2. Pi=3.14
The Tree Replacement Calculation Lakewood Uses Today:
The multifamily project will remove 69 large trees with a combined caliper of 1,299 inches.
To simplify, that is an average caliper of 18.8 caliper inches per tree.
‘Caliper’ is a forestry term for the diameter of a tree. The project developer has already measured the diameter, or caliper, of each tree at breast height (DBH) and meticulously plotted the tree sizes and locations on their site engineering drawings. Well done on the part of the developer.
Lakewood then sums the caliper inches of each tree to be removed to derive one number representing the total caliper inches of all condemned trees combined. As long as the total caliper inches of the replacement trees equals the total caliper inches of the removed large trees, Lakewood is happy.
So what’s wrong with using caliper inches to determine tree replacements?
Let’s assume Lakewood runs a pizza parlor and you ordered an 8-inch pizza. Lakewood could tell you they are out of 8-inch pizzas but can give you two 4-inch pizzas because the caliper of the two 4-inch pizzas is equal to 8 inches. Is that a good deal? No. It is a huge rip off.
An 8-inch pizza has 50.24 square inches of pizza surface area. A 4-inch pizza only has 12.56 square inches. Two of them only have 25.12 square inches. So you would be getting half of an 8 inch pizza. That is also the method Lakewood uses today to calculate the number of replacement trees.
Today, Lakewood ignores the cross-section area of the tree also called the basal area which is similar to the area of a circle or round pizza.
So, if a developer had cut down one 8-inch diameter tree, he would be allowed to plant two 4-inch caliper (diameter) replacement trees which would be half what is needed.
Here’s how Professor Kim Coder of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia and author of over 500 technical publications and articles and President of the International Society of Arboriculture explains it:
“The immense scale of values, benefits, and functions from a large tree can require many trees in replacement to reach some semblance of equivalency and value return to the owner and/or society.
Do not accept “pennies for dollars lost” when big trees are removed. Maintaining tree asset values and their appreciation over time is key to great communities.
Another more ecologically accurate means of determining the number of replacement trees with a given size is based upon removal tree cross-sectional area (sometimes referred to as a “basal area”). Each square inch of removed tree cross-sectional area is replaced by a square inch of a replacement tree cross-sectional area.
Because removed tree trunk size was proportional to its crown, and because a tree crown provides many values, crown replacement as estimated by basal area is appropriate to use in replacing tree values and functions lost.”
-End quote
So, the average basal area of those 69 removed trees is 278 square inches per tree or a total area of 19,182 basal square inches. (1299 caliper inches/69 trees =18.83 avg diameter/2=9.41 radius x9.41×3.14= 278 sq in x 69 trees = 19,182 total basal sq inches)
In their letter of June 5, 2023, Lakewood Planning will allow either 650 2-inch trees or 433 3-inch trees to replace the 69 removed trees. Either scenario equals the 1299 caliper inches of the trees being removed.
433 3-inch trees only provide 3,059 sq inches of basal area. (3/2=1.5;1.5×1.5=2.25×3.14=7.065×433=3,059)
Basal Area of a 3-inch tree = 7.065 sq in
Using 3-inch trees leaves a deficiency of 16,123 sq in of basal area. (19,182-3,059=16,123 )
At least 2,282 additional 3-inch trees are required to make up that basal area deficiency.
Planting thousands of small replacement trees seems like a big ask. But protecting and preserving our environment is much easier to do now than fixing it later. It may not be possible to fix later.
Losing biodiversity is more expensive in the future than protecting it now.
The collective choices of city councils can make the difference.
Can we blame developers for habitat loss?
If developers are ethical and do everything that is asked of them by complying with all regulations, it is difficult to blame them. Developers could be proactive and plant the additional trees as a gift to their kids and grandkids but that is not the norm.
It is up to policymakers to set the rules.
When all the birds are gone, developers will simply say they did everything they were required to do.
Belmar Park West is the 412-unit multifamily project at 777 S Yarrow Street in Lakewood, Colorado on the east property line of Belmar Park at the Irongate office complex.
This post explains the significant loss of the tree canopy habitat at the Irongate multifamily property site next to Belmar Park.
As per page 7 of the developer’s site plan, 69 large trees requiring replacement will be removed.
It is not possible to replace such large trees with equally large trees. So thousands of small trees should be planted instead.
Key points:
Using 3-inch replacement trees, the current caliper inches tree replacement formula removes 84% of the existing tree canopy which is also a habitat zone!
At least 2,282 additional 3-inch trees plus the city’s recommended 433 3-inch trees are needed to scientifically replace the 69 large trees that will be removed at Irongate.
Lakewood’s zoning ordinance currently only provides 16% of the reasonably equivalent number of 3-inch tree replacements at the Irongate project.
City Council can amend the zoning ordinance to protect all of Lakewood’s trees.
The vast majority of the existing tree canopy habitat zone at the Irongate west office complex will be lost using Lakewood’s current zoning regulations.
Scientists have identified that habitat loss is the biggest overall driver of bird declines.
Half of the earth’s 10,000+ bird species are in decline and 1 in 8 faces extinction according to Wired.
The US and Canada have lost almost 3 billion breeding adult birds since 1970 according to Cornell University.
What can Lakewood do?
Lakewood City Council can fix the inadequate tree replacement formula by changing one word at 17.6.5.9(A) of the zoning ordinance to replace the caliper equivalent method with the basal area method and defining the basal area calculation.
The basal area calculation is a simple calculation based on the area of a circle (r2 x π) that would be done for each tree that is removed. The developer has already provided the tree Diameters at Breast Height (DBH) measurements needed.
Here is the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Change to 17.6.5.9(A):
“Trees that are removed following the standards outlined in Section 17.6.5.8.C.4 shall be
replaced at a rate of 100 percent of the total caliper basal area of trees removed from the site. Basal area is defined as follows:
Basal Area is the tree radius squared times pi or r2 x π
Tree radius is tree diameter at breast height (DBH) divided by 2. Pi=3.14
The Tree Replacement Calculation Lakewood Uses Today:
The multifamily project will remove 69 large trees with a combined caliper of 1,299 inches.
To simplify, that is an average caliper of 18.8 caliper inches per tree.
‘Caliper’ is a forestry term for the diameter of a tree. The project developer has already measured the diameter, or caliper, of each tree at breast height (DBH) and meticulously plotted the tree sizes and locations on their site engineering drawings. Well done on the part of the developer.
Lakewood then sums the caliper inches of each tree to be removed to derive one number representing the total caliper inches of all condemned trees combined. As long as the total caliper inches of the replacement trees equals the total caliper inches of the removed large trees, Lakewood is happy.
So what’s wrong with using caliper inches to determine tree replacements?
Let’s assume Lakewood runs a pizza parlor and you ordered an 8-inch pizza. Lakewood could tell you they are out of 8-inch pizzas but can give you two 4-inch pizzas because the caliper of the two 4-inch pizzas is equal to 8 inches. Is that a good deal? No. It is a huge rip off.
An 8-inch pizza has 50.24 square inches of pizza surface area. A 4-inch pizza only has 12.56 square inches. Two of them only have 25.12 square inches. So you would be getting half of an 8 inch pizza. That is also the method Lakewood uses today to calculate the number of replacement trees.
Today, Lakewood ignores the cross-section area of the tree also called the basal area which is similar to the area of a circle or round pizza.
So, if a developer had cut down one 8-inch diameter tree, he would be allowed to plant two 4-inch caliper (diameter) replacement trees which would be half what is needed.
Here’s how Professor Kim Coder of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia and author of over 500 technical publications and articles and President of the International Society of Arboriculture explains it:
“The immense scale of values, benefits, and functions from a large tree can require many trees in replacement to reach some semblance of equivalency and value return to the owner and/or society.
Do not accept “pennies for dollars lost” when big trees are removed. Maintaining tree asset values and their appreciation over time is key to great communities.
Another more ecologically accurate means of determining the number of replacement trees with a given size is based upon removal tree cross-sectional area (sometimes referred to as a “basal area”). Each square inch of removed tree cross-sectional area is replaced by a square inch of a replacement tree cross-sectional area.
Because removed tree trunk size was proportional to its crown, and because a tree crown provides many values, crown replacement as estimated by basal area is appropriate to use in replacing tree values and functions lost.”
-End quote
So, the average basal area of those 69 removed trees is 278 square inches per tree or a total area of 19,182 basal square inches. (1299 caliper inches/69 trees =18.83 avg diameter/2=9.41 radius x9.41×3.14= 278 sq in x 69 trees = 19,182 total basal sq inches)
In their letter of June 5, 2023, Lakewood Planning will allow either 650 2-inch trees or 433 3-inch trees to replace the 69 removed trees. Either scenario equals the 1299 caliper inches of the trees being removed.
433 3-inch trees only provide 3,059 sq inches of basal area. (3/2=1.5;1.5×1.5=2.25×3.14=7.065×433=3,059)
Basal Area of a 3-inch tree = 7.065 sq in
Using 3-inch trees leaves a deficiency of 16,123 sq in of basal area. (19,182-3,059=16,123 )
At least 2,282 additional 3-inch trees are required to make up that basal area deficiency.
Planting thousands of small replacement trees seems like a big ask. But protecting and preserving our environment is much easier to do now than fixing it later. It may not be possible to fix later.
Losing biodiversity is more expensive in the future than protecting it now.
The collective choices of city councils can make the difference.
Can we blame developers for habitat loss?
If developers are ethical and do everything that is asked of them by complying with all regulations, it is difficult to blame them. Developers could be proactive and plant the additional trees as a gift to their kids and grandkids but that is not the norm.
It is up to policymakers to set the rules.
When all the birds are gone, developers will simply say they did everything they were required to do.
The Lakewood City Council voted 6 – 3 in favor of the new Developer Reimbursement Agreement.
Yet, the discussion between council members and staff told a story that would give reasonable residents pause to wonder “why”.
[Video inserts from meeting provided]
But the Adam Paul group insisted this was just between developers and there would be no cost whatsoever to the residents of the homes built in these developer “reimbursement areas”.
We are planning an in-person community planning meeting next Tues. Oct. 17 at 6:30pm at Phillips United Methodist Church at 1450 S Pierce St, Lakewood, CO 80232.
Please join us and help us plan to introduce a motion to adopt the resolution at next City Council meeting on Oct. 23.
Bonus Action Item: We also need to lobby at least 3 more council members to vote yes on this motion for resolution, sponsored by Ward 3 City Council Member Anita Springsteen. Let your city council rep know your support.
Please come and we’re excited to brainstorm and keep this momentum going, trying to stop or properly mitigate this development at 777 S Yarrow St from happening!
We CAN do amazing things when we come together for a common cause.
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00 pm Council Chambers & Zoom, 480 S Allison Parkway, 80226 View Map
City Council Meeting goal:
As many Save Belmar Park members as possible should attend in support of a resolution to be presented by Ward 3 City Council Representative Anita Springsteen for a vote of city council.
Councilor Springsteen has submitted an agenda request for the meeting. More Save Belmar Park members in attendance means more political pressure on city council members to do the right thing.
The resolution directs that Lakewood City Council requires the proposed development at 777 S Yarrow St adjacent to Belmar Park to include the following mitigations:
Large trees cannot be removed. The building and overall project design must work around the trees.
Instead of 542 parking spaces, 2 parking spaces per unit must be provided to reduce the amount of on-street parking and resulting congestion and emergency access restriction.
Open space as per the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance must be provided instead of paving over part of Belmar Park for a parking lot.
Council Member Mary Janssen is among city council members who have already expressed support to vote for our 777 S Yarrow St resolution. Thank You Councilor Janssen!
Councilor Janssen also invites everyone to please support her proposal to reduce Lakewood’s property tax mill levy which will also be on the agenda at the same Oct 23rd city council meeting. Councilor Janssen invites everyone to please offer public comment in support of her property tax relief measure.
Media Coverage
In case you have not seen the media coverage of our community action, here are some recent stories:
This email is to clarify various aspects of City Council meetings including possible misunderstanding regarding agenda setting:
There is no mandatory Order of Business for Lakewood City Council meetings. Addendum 1 of the Policy and Procedures Manual offers an ‘Example Regular Meeting Agenda’ but there is apparently no policy that states a required Order of Business or even a default Order of Business. Even if there is a required Order of Business stated elsewhere, under Robert’s Rules, it could still be changed as explained below.
Lakewood City Council Policy 05.08 requires compliance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
“For a proposed agenda to become the official agenda for a meeting, it must be adopted by the assembly at the outset of the meeting.
At the time that an agenda is presented for adoption, it is in order for any member to move to amend the proposed agenda by adding any item that the member desires to add, or by proposing any other change.
It is wrong to assume, as many do, that the president “sets the agenda.” It is common for the president to prepare a proposed agenda, but that becomes binding only if it is adopted by the full assembly, perhaps after amendments as just described. [RONR (12th ed.) 41:62; see also pp. 16–17 of RONR In Brief.]” END QUOTE https://robertsrules.com/frequently-asked-questions/
That process from Robert’s Rules should be followed and the Parliamentarian of the meeting should support that. If the Parliamentarian does not support Robert’s Rules on the matter, then his/her interpretation and whatever alternate authority is relied upon should be requested to be reflected in the meeting minutes.
The City Council Policy and Procedures Manual page 26 describes an agenda setting procedure in Policy 05.7 Agenda Setting that among other features “informs staff’s work assignments and council agenda items” and is “under direction of the council”. The authority for this policy is cited as the “adoption of the Policy and Procedures Manual” which is, of course, adopted by City Council. So as per the Policy, agenda setting is clearly under the control of city council and council adheres to Robert’s Rules. The policy only ‘informs’, does not control the agenda or have any language that precludes an elected city council member from introducing new business or new agenda items.
This is to remind that Article 7.1 of the Lakewood City Charter states: “The City Council shall act by ordinance, resolution, or motion.”
City Charter Article 3.3: POWERS AND DUTIES. The City Manager shall be responsible to the City
Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City placed in the City Manager’s charge.
That Title 2.06.060(B) of the Lakewood Municipal Code states:
The City Manager shall have the following additional functions and duties:
B. To be responsible to the City Council for the administration of all departments of the city, save and except those departments confided to the supervision of other city officers by law or ordinance; and to cooperate with and supervise the administrative functions of such departments to the extent requested or delegated by the city officers having primary responsibility for the operation of such departments;
POLICY 05.9 MOTIONS Page 29 – “Any council member may make or second a motion to approve, amend, table or continue any matter before the council.” So if the meeting is open for new or ‘General’ business, a member can arguably make a motion to introduce a resolution that another member could second.
Motions and seconds shall be made in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order/Parliamentary Procedure.
POLICY 05.14 Page 34 Passage or adoption of resolutions (and motions) shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of
Council members present and voting.
Code of Conduct: At City Council Meetings, City Council Members shall: Avoid interrupting Council members who have the floor and withhold questions until the speaker yields the floor.
For example, the presiding officer should not interrupt a council member even for the noble purpose of denying a motion that has not yet been fully stated by the member who has the floor.
Lakewood woman to chain herself to a tree Saturday to protest planned gigantic apartment building bordering treasured Belmar Park
As condo and apartment construction runs rampant around metro Denver, leaving its citizens feeling disgusted and helpless, a group of Lakewood residents have declared they are “mad as Hell and…not going to take this any more.”
“I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!”
from Paddy Chayevsky’s play and screenplay Network.
They are protesting a planned 412 unit high rise luxury apartment building (see image below) bordering the east side of their beloved Belmar Park, a magical and serene home to birds and wildlife and visiting humans. For humans, it’s a sweet and calm oasis from the frenetic urban world they inhabit.
On Saturday during Lakewood’s Cider Days at 801 S. Yarrow, longtime Lakewood resident Lorraine May Springer will chain herself to a tree in the park (at the northwest corner of Ohio and S. Yarrow) from 11 am to 2 pm to protest the plan to cut down 69 mature trees to make way for the development.
The 72 year-old grandmother said, “I am sounding an alarm to friends and neighbors to speak out against Lakewood’s short-sighted, unconscionable approach to development at the Lakewood City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, October 9 at 480 S. Allison.”
Others in the group have researched how the city is ignoring its own ordinances and plans that declare it to be a leader in sustainability.
They have found that Lakewood has reneged on its pledge to:
Increase the acreage of functional and healthy natural ecosystems.
Increase tree canopy coverage of 30 percent by 2025. The tree canopy of the 69 trees is a habitat for various life forms including birds and insects which it seeks to protect.
Protect and enhance habitat for 230 bird species that have been documented at Belmar Park including those protected by the Migratory BirdTreaty Act. Belmar Park is in the path of the Central Flyway, a critical element of the natural environment used by migratory birds and which Lakewood intends to be protected and enhanced. Also, human-induced disturbance can have a significant negative effect on breeding success by causing nest abandonment and increased predation.
Additionally:
The site plan does not provide any affordable housing.
The site plan ignores the effect that increased traffic will have on the area’s only exit, South Yarrow Street, which is not even wide enough to acquire a middle stripe.
How to Connect to Provide Public Comment: By Computer: https://lakewood.zoom.us/j/84957320840 By iPad, iPhone, or Android device on the Zoom App, enter webinar ID: 849 5732 0840
By Telephone: 720-707-2699 Webinar ID: 849 5732 0840 # Participant ID: # (just type #) Press *9 to Request to Speak, you will be prompted when to speak. Press *6 to Unmute
Profound thanks to all our candidates for giving us a choice and a special thanks to Cathy Kentner and Don Burkhart for supporting the little people in this informal forum.
Part 1
Minute 5:20 – People are voting for a mayor to help them solve problems. We’ve seen residents come in overwhelming numbers to talk about problems but City Council has to jump through hoops to get anything on the agenda before they can even talk about it. Do you think there’s a better way for Council to take action or get things on the agenda?
Minute 9:30– Lakewood hired a new Police Chief this year who is implementing the “21st Century Policing” methods developed under President Obama. One immediate affect is this year’s plan to reduce police officers and convert those positions to civilian community resource positions. Do you believe this will be effective in Lakewood?
Minute 14:38 – Lakewood is building a new homeless shelter on Colfax for long-term and short-term supportive needs of the unhoused. If you were able to choose, would you provide supportive resources with or without contingencies? By contingencies I mean any kind of “if you do this, then you get that”, such as medical care, work hours, etc.
Minute 20:00 – Sustainability is the number 2 priority for the city. The latest proposal from city staff is benchmarking policies that lead to eliminating gas powered systems in favor of electricity. The goal is to cutdown on greenhouse emissions but according to this graphic, the proposed standards are to the left of Boulder and California. Are we on the right track?
Minute 27:00– Lakewood recently opted-in to Proposition 123, which will provide state funds for affordable housing. As this graph shows, according to the City’s report for Strategic Housing, Lakewood needs housing that costs under $875/month more than anything else. So in a needs-based model, Lakewood would serve this population first, which is equivalent to someone making under $31,000 annually, while someone making over $31,000 would not benefit, because that’s not the biggest need. Do you believe these Prop 123 funds should all go to this lowest income group or would you distribute them based on another model? Or bigger picture, do you think there should be any model for spending money and should that discussion be public?
Minute 36:00 – 36:30 Ultimately the City Manager is in charge of solving all these problems, not City Council nor the Mayor. Resident satisfaction is going down yet the City Manager got a bonus this year. How will you enforce accountability?
Part 2 – Randomly selected questions to fill the remaining time
Over twenty questions were submitted by residents, which were answered randomly to fill the remaining 15 minutes.
Minute 00:39 – What is the City of Lakewood going to do to rejuvenate the Colfax corridor? Our current Colfax looks like the old East Colfax. Back in the day, Lakewood was the envy of nearby communities. Clearly, that’s no longer the case. I would like to have each candidate explain how they will help bring Lakewood back to the beautiful city it once was.
Two crime questions were submitted but candidates did not have anything further to add since that was discussed.
Minute 7:30 – There is a narrative that claims that Lakewood needs more affordable housing to get more jobs. Yet a number a communities with significantly more expensive housing, such as Boulder and Golden, have far better economic development progress. How do you explain this?
The tenants of the Squire Plaza are coming together to offer a fun family Halloween Celebration on Saturday, October 14th from 10am-7pm.
Lakewood small businesses from the Squire Plaza will each be offering their own special way of celebrating Halloween. From safe trick or treating, costume contests, and more. Adults can also treat themselves with the many discounted services being offered that day:
