Lakewood has 26% of Jefferson County’s overall population but has 50% of its homeless population. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHi) point-in-time data provide the homeless point-in-time data for Lakewood as well as Jefferson County.

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The most common explanation for the rise in homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. However, that explanation applies equally across the front range. So why does Lakewood have so many of Jefferson County’s homeless?

According to the Strategic Housing Study presentation, Lakewood has 1.2 more homes per job than economically growing areas like Denver. That pushes Denver employees to live in areas like Lakewood. Lakewood then becomes a so-called bedroom community to cities with jobs.

From a homelessness point of view, Lakewood may be so affordable and attractive that Denver employees are displacing local residents. But Lakewood is not uniquely positioned that way.

The Strategic Housing Study also pointed out that “housing value is not unusually high” in Lakewood.

So affordable housing cannot be cited as the reason that Lakewood has so much of Jefferson County’s homeless population.

Denver is also pushing its homeless to Lakewood. Lakewood homeless have said they needed to move because Denver got too dangerous. Lakewood’s position next to Denver could explain the higher population, especially along Colfax Avenue. The solution to this would seem to be increased enforcement along Colfax, a solution that residents along Colfax have argued is not occurring (see 10 min mark https://lakewoodspeaks.org/meetings/570)

Another factor commonly cited for high homeless populations is high overall population density. In other words, big city = big homeless. Lakewood is the largest city in Jefferson County, even though it only accounts for 30% of the population. Likewise, Denver has almost 70% of the metro area’s homeless despite less than a third of its total population.

If this is the problem the solution would be slower population growth or a shift to more jobs-based growth. This solution was rejected by Lakewood. In fact, the Strategic Housing study cites the possible goal of maintaining Lakewood’s status as the largest city in Jefferson County.

Prior to the affordable housing crisis, homelessness was attributed to a variety of other problems, such as economic difficulties, mental health and substance abuse.

In their 2019 report advocating for housing, the Colorado Coalition for Homeless cite a 1988 statistic that 71% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental illness or post-traumatic stress, and that 58% have substance abuse disorders. Presumably their experience shows that the 1988 statistic is still relevant, although a 2011 study of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) shows only 30-50% of chronically homeless have mental health or substance abuse problems. An SMI Advisor report cite a 66% number, saying it is “not surprising that 2/3 of surveyed homeless adults in the U.S. have mental health and/or substance use disorder.”

Mental health and/or substance abuse problems are also not unique to Lakewood.

The MDHi report shows the number one reason for being homeless was a “relationship/family breakup” or “unable to pay rent”. MDHi assert the reason for homelessness as lack of affordable housing but do not give relevant background research. The many reasons a person is unable to pay the rent/mortgage are unexplained although there are unrelated income statistics provided. This reason, again, does not explain the Lakewood disparity.

The MDHi report is “through the lens of racial equity and lived experience” and shows there are “historic funding opportunities” available.

These numbers suggest that reasons for the high rate of homelessness in Lakewood, such as affordable housing or substance abuse, needs to be examined from a policy perspective for what may be unique to Lakewood.

From Colorado Updates

“Adam Paul, the new Director of Regional Affairs, has over 20 years of public service experience. He is serving his second term as Lakewood’s Mayor, focusing on issues like affordable housing, homelessness, fiscal stability, and environmental sustainability. In his new role, Paul will work with various agencies and jurisdictions to improve communication and coordination.”

Read more…

Volunteer in Lakewood! On September 23, Serve Spot Lakewood is hosting the first Love Lakewood Day, a city-wide day volunteer day. Serve Spot partnered with the city, schools, and other organizations to engage the community in service. This year, there are project sites at schools, nonprofits, and a church. Volunteers will be packing food, picking up litter, painting, delivering food, and more from 9am to noon! Go to servespotlakewood.com for more information or sign up here!

If you have any questions or need help signing up, reach out to me at [email protected] or 720-378-4321. 

Serve Spot Lakewood is a nonprofit organization created to strengthen collaboration and leverage resources between three coalitions started by the mayor: the Lakewood Faith Coalition, the Lakewood Service Club Coalition, and the Coalition to End Hunger in Lakewood.

Many residents from the Belmar Commons area showed up at Lakewood City Council meeting to ask Lakewood to reconsider dense re-development without adequate street development or consideration for the park sanctuary. Lakewood has responded with additional information, including the fact that Belmar Park is not a bird sanctuary.

After the public outpouring, the Mayor responded that residents should continue to work on the issue with their Councilor. Attendees expressed their skepticism that any action would result from that conversation, as well they should since the Mayor already said no action could be taken by the Council. The response from city indicated that all of the resident concerns were unfounded.

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One resident shared her public statement:

“My name Is Barbara Millman. I have lived in Lakewood for 30 years. Ward 2. “One of the true jewels of the City of Lakewood park system, Belmar Park, is a peaceful enclave in the center of town.” That is a direct quote from the city of Lakewood’s website describing Belmar Park. I agree. I visit it often because it’s my sanctuary away from the rush of city life and noise. The majority of people I encounter there are friendly and appear happy. I am happy walking my dog on its well worn paths, spotting at a pond’s edge turtles lined up on a log facing the sun, further away seeing Canada Geese parade down the center of Kountze Lake, nesting cormorants content on a little island, and a Great Blue Heron taking off for points unknown. The park – even during the pandemic – was never overrun with people. It actually helped get us through it. The park is indeed a “peaceful enclave in the center of a town.” Belmar Park must not become the backyard of a large development of 412 units and as many or more cars. The impact of this dense development adjacent to our park is unfathomable and very concerning to many users. Philanthropist May Bonfils Stanton purchased the land that is now Belmar Park in 1936 to protect wildlife on Kountze Lake and the rest of her property. That included 30 mule deer, many peacocks, ducks and geese. She had Colorado officials approve it as “State Licensed Preserve No. 557,” where “hunting, fishing or trespassing for any purpose” were forbidden. The grounds were patrolled by armed security guards. May Bonfils Stanton would be crushed to learn what direction her paradise is now taking. I urge you to preserve this sanctuary that as it is to make people happy and critters thrive. I urge you to Save Belmar Park.

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With regards to the park and bird sanctuary, Lakewood responded that “An environmental study is not required. Belmar park is not a bird sanctuary, though we are aware of the many species of bird that reside in and pass through the park.”

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Lakewood also says there are no safety concerns within the development. although the city does not have to have emergency plans, “West Metro Fire Rescue reviews new development proposals within the city to ensure that sites are designed in accordance with applicable fire codes, inlcuding emergency access condiserations and requirements.”

The traffic study was completed in June-July of 2021, which appears to be before the site design for the current development. Lakewood reports that “Transportation Engineering staff have determined that existing street infrastructure can accomodate the additional vehicular traffic.”

Despite the reassurances from Lakewood, residents have seen cause for concern where problems have developed with traffic and stormwater in areas where Lakewood has fully evaluated and approved development.

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Reader recommended business: Foothills Acupuncture

A discussion developed on nextdoor.com regarding Jefferson County dispensing needles in areas where residents experience problems associated with drug use and homeless. Zane Gordon responded with some of the most well-researched answers so we decided to go more in depth with an interview.

Part 1

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Part 2

Partial transcript and interview highlights:

GORDON: Why are you providing needles? To continue it. Right? I mean, that’s a very important point. And, I take a look at it from an economic view. Economics is the study of incentives. That’s really what it is. Ultimately, What drives human behavior and decision?
And so obviously, you don’t pay your taxes. Going to jail isn’t a very unfavorable aspect, right? That’s a negative consequence. There are something called nudges. This is behavioral.

There’s a study out there regarding providing small cash incentive. And what they see is that even with a small cash incentive had a strong positive influence on getting employees off cigarette use.

So the concept of nudging is like you’re just kind of nudging people to where you want to get them. Because you’re saying that there was a reason, they now they had a reason to perform in a certain way.

An incentive has to spur more use otherwise you take all of economics and you throw out the window. This is this is revolutionary in the concept of economics: Hey, we can provide a nudge to people and they won’t respond to it.

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MORGAN: The argument is that we’re talking about mental health and addiction and they can’t help themselves.

GORDON: So it will be happening no matter what. Absolutely. The idea is do you harm reduction?

The problem is you are nudging people to using it. Right, you’re making it easier. You’re not disincentivizing.

Marketing is a type of nudge. We banned a certain character from tobacco. Joe Camel? Because of this very concept. Joe Camel wasn’t handing out cigarettes to kids. To get them addicted to smoking. Cigarettes. All he was was a cool character. It’s cooler than Mickey Mouse is what they always would say and the the kids.

And that was enough to get a whole segment of marketing banned. Well, now we’re physically doing something. I feel for people that are addicted. We need to help them. Not enable it. Well isn’t this helping them?

You’re helping them stay safe. They will live longer because they have a safe. I am Narcan life saving drugs.

And I don’t believe that necessarily the case. And there’s many multiple reasons why. Okay, so first of all, these people can’t help themselves. They’re looking for their next hit. They will forego anything. Kids, family. Food, right? They’re homeless, many of them, because they’re addicted and they’re spending all the resource, whatever they can find.

Ok, I’m looking for my next tip. I don’t feel like walking 2 blocks. Where am I going to use that drug? Where I’m sitting. Now, you’re assuming that you know, simultaneously, The needles are going to incentivize more use, cause you’re your make needles more readily available.

The other thing is you’re going to concentrate.
The cops have to Stop. Enforcing certain laws around these consumption. The Alberta Study from March, twenty- indicates that.

This facility, the only way it can be successful is if you don’t arrest the clients. The people that are addicted. If you arrest people, word gets out. They scatter. The facility is without clients. Okay, so you have to stop and forcing things like your possession.

So the cops have to kind of back off in that regard. But here’s the thing is that they’re not mobile, not generally speaking, right? But if they’re hanging around the safe consumption site. They need somebody to bring their supplies. So the unlicensed pharmacists. The drug dealers have to come into that area. Right to supply. The addicts and the client, the facility clientele.

So now possession and sale has to be unofficially not enforced.

The Alberta study talks about people’s feelings and what they’re seeing. It also takes a look at police calls within 500 meters of each of the radius around the facility, the neighborhood and the city at large. Generally speaking, on overall prime goes up in that 500 meter versus the rest of the city.

The New York Post reports that open air drug markets. Drug is that the cops can’t enforce the laws. So then it’s openly used. It’s openly traded and sold. It’s reported in the news and it’s reported in the study.

And logically it has to be that way for the facility to even have clients. So you can’t you can’t refute it in any way that I can think.

Can providing needles ever decrease drug use?
How can it reduce drug? That would be that’s blowing up the entire history and the entire field of economics. You’re incentivizing people to consume more and you get less often. That would be revolutionary. In economics. That would that would be that would be the Nobel Prize in economics.

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On Harm Reduction

GORDON: Now, the desire to reduce harm. There’s a noble one. It’s rooted in compassion. You’re trying to help people.

There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who is absolutely set on their righteousness of their activity and wants to help. That’s what the Crusades were. What the Spanish Inquisition was. People who believe they’re righteous and want to help do some really bad things. Not because they don’t want to help, but because they’re blinded to the harm that they’re causing.

That’s what would be happening here. Providing a needle to somebody isn’t solving the problem. It’s trying to cover up a symptom of the call. Let’s focus on solving the problem

Enabling isn’t compassion. It’s hate.

The discussion continues by examining programs that work, such as the Denver Rescue Mission, how the programs start with grants and discussing if grants are really “free” money.

Lakewood Informer will be hosting a candidate forum for Lakewood’s Mayoral Candidates. It will be a recorded conversation posted by 10 am on October 4th.

Cathy Kentner and Don Burkhart have both agreed to participate. Wendi Strom is unable to join us.

If you have questions, please submit them to [email protected] for consideration.

Thank you, candidates, for your participation in this new setting that will be available to all Lakewood residents.

Lakewood Informer will be hosting a candidate forum for Lakewood’s Mayoral Candidates. It will be a recorded conversation posted by 10 am on October 4th.

Cathy Kentner and Don Burkhart have both agreed to participate. Wendi Strom is unable to join us.

If you have questions, please submit them to [email protected] for consideration.

Thank you, candidates, for your participation in this new setting that will be available to all Lakewood residents.

from Guest Commentator Tom Dearth

Belmar Commons is a small 45-unit patio home development on Yarrow Street near Alameda and Wadsworth. It is across from the Belmar Library and the Beautiful Belmar Park/Bird Sanctuary. 

There are plans to begin construction on a 5-story, 412 unit apartment building on Yarrow, a narrow curved street with only 2 emergency exit routes to Wadsworth. The emergency evacuation issues have been ignored and the people currently living in the area had no idea this was going to be built until it was “a done deal!”

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Issues:

• If there were ever a Marshal-type fire or Lahaina, Hawaii fire from the overgrowth in the park west of Yarrow street, we would not be able to evacuate the area and the first responders would not be able to get in. With 500 or more additional cars on that 3-block curved street, we would not stand a chance of evacuating. When this concern was brought up at a city planners meeting, the response was that the new building would have sprinkler systems, an answer that seems to suggest there will never be an emergency.

• The REAL concern is that if there were hundreds of cars on Yarrow Street during an evacuation, there would be no way for any emergency vehicles to get in or out of the area. The residents of Belmar Commons would not be able to use their only exit onto Yarrow Street. That scene would resemble the after effect of burned-out cars in Lahaina, HI. We were told by the fire department that fire trucks need 28 feet to move freely. With our parking situation and the new overflow of cars from the apartment, emergency vehicles would not be able to get through to us.

• The narrow street cannot currently accommodate an 18-wheeler truck and simultaneous oncoming traffic.

• Traffic on Yarrow Street is already heavily used daily by fast moving delivery trucks and trash collectors serving a small two-story office building. That building is slated for demolition and that site is where the apartment building is scheduled to be built. The number of new trucks on Yarrow would increase by a large factor. After a winter snowstorm or when there are special events at the Heritage Center just south of the building site, Yarrow Street is already tightly congested.  

• The street department said they did a traffic study on Yarrow Street, but it was done during the Covid19 shutdown when the library was more than likely closed. The need for a traffic study is itself unlikely when the impact can be readily deduced. The streets were only developed for the minor traffic of a small business, not a huge residential use.

• In the community there is a blind person and another who is confined to a wheelchair. Their safety and wellbeing are a major concern for the community. Their access to the park would cause them great danger if the traffic were increased by a large factor. The majority of other residents are senior citizens.

• The community was told by the police officers who attended our Neighborhood Night Out meeting, that crime rates do go up when the density of people and cars goes up. This building would change the number of people living on Yarrow Street from approximately 70 to close to 600. (These are guesses – not facts)

• The Park/Bird Sanctuary site for which the new building is slated, is a pristine natural habitat for numerous species of birds. If you have never been to Belmar Park, it would be a wonderful experience for you to visit.

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The city has not responded to requests for more information at the time of this posting.

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from Guest Commentator Tom Dearth

Belmar Commons is a small 45-unit patio home development on Yarrow Street near Alameda and Wadsworth. It is across from the Belmar Library and the Beautiful Belmar Park/Bird Sanctuary. 

There are plans to begin construction on a 5-story, 412 unit apartment building on Yarrow, a narrow curved street with only 2 emergency exit routes to Wadsworth. The emergency evacuation issues have been ignored and the people currently living in the area had no idea this was going to be built until it was “a done deal!”

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Issues:

• If there were ever a Marshal-type fire or Lahaina, Hawaii fire from the overgrowth in the park west of Yarrow street, we would not be able to evacuate the area and the first responders would not be able to get in. With 500 or more additional cars on that 3-block curved street, we would not stand a chance of evacuating. When this concern was brought up at a city planners meeting, the response was that the new building would have sprinkler systems, an answer that seems to suggest there will never be an emergency.

• The REAL concern is that if there were hundreds of cars on Yarrow Street during an evacuation, there would be no way for any emergency vehicles to get in or out of the area. The residents of Belmar Commons would not be able to use their only exit onto Yarrow Street. That scene would resemble the after effect of burned-out cars in Lahaina, HI. We were told by the fire department that fire trucks need 28 feet to move freely. With our parking situation and the new overflow of cars from the apartment, emergency vehicles would not be able to get through to us.

• The narrow street cannot currently accommodate an 18-wheeler truck and simultaneous oncoming traffic.

• Traffic on Yarrow Street is already heavily used daily by fast moving delivery trucks and trash collectors serving a small two-story office building. That building is slated for demolition and that site is where the apartment building is scheduled to be built. The number of new trucks on Yarrow would increase by a large factor. After a winter snowstorm or when there are special events at the Heritage Center just south of the building site, Yarrow Street is already tightly congested.  

• The street department said they did a traffic study on Yarrow Street, but it was done during the Covid19 shutdown when the library was more than likely closed. The need for a traffic study is itself unlikely when the impact can be readily deduced. The streets were only developed for the minor traffic of a small business, not a huge residential use.

• In the community there is a blind person and another who is confined to a wheelchair. Their safety and wellbeing are a major concern for the community. Their access to the park would cause them great danger if the traffic were increased by a large factor. The majority of other residents are senior citizens.

• The community was told by the police officers who attended our Neighborhood Night Out meeting, that crime rates do go up when the density of people and cars goes up. This building would change the number of people living on Yarrow Street from approximately 70 to close to 600. (These are guesses – not facts)

• The Park/Bird Sanctuary site for which the new building is slated, is a pristine natural habitat for numerous species of birds. If you have never been to Belmar Park, it would be a wonderful experience for you to visit.

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The city has not responded to requests for more information at the time of this posting.

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from Complete Colorado

Whether the hideous hoax Proposition HH passes or fails at Colorado’s November ballot, local governments including towns, cities, special districts, and schools must lower their 2023 mill levy this fall to avoid taxpayer suffering in January 2024 when tax bills are sent out.

In each Colorado local government, there are elected members. Those local elected representatives set and vote on the mill levy for their respective districts in October or November each year. When the elected bodies meet to set the mill rate, they take public comment. I would suggest reaching out to your elected representatives before the meeting. After the body votes, they notify the county assessor of the tax rate by December 15, 2023 and that’s what gets charged on the January 2024 property tax bill.

Read more…