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Will Lakewood remember problems when finally issuing permit

woman speaking at public comment — Get the background before Lakewood makes a decion on a Navigation Center permit

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Art+Ag: A Family-Friendly Celebration Where Art Meets Agriculture

September 12, 2025/

Art+Ag: A Family-Friendly Celebration Where Art Meets Agriculture Fleischer Family Farm (2005 S. Zephyr Ct., Lakewood Co.) in conjunction with the Tenet Podcast presents the 4th annual Art + Ag event on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10 am -4 pm. This year showcases a tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month. Founded in 2022 by Todd Pierson, Wes Brown, Paul Fleischer, and Chelsie Fleischer, Art+Ag invites families and community members to experience the vibrant intersection of art and agriculture. This free, unique celebration offers guests the opportunity to explore the inner workings of an urban farm, discover innovative farming methods, learn about sustainable eating practices, and engage with the local food system—all while enjoying fresh, locally grown food and flowers from the farm. Visitors will also have the chance to connect with artists whose work is inspired by the intimate relationship between art and agriculture, creating a dynamic environment where creativity and sustainability meet. Art+Ag encourages hands-on learning, immersive experiences, and meaningful connections for guests of all ages. “Our goal with Art+Ag is to create a space where families and communities can come together to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the intersection of art and sustainable farming,” said Wes Brown, co-founder of Art+Ag. “We believe that by connecting people to their food and the creative process, we can inspire a deeper understanding of how art and agriculture shape our lives.” Artists pay tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month Latinx artist Ken Trujillo—a commercial photographer, an artist, a father, and a Colorado native with roots deeply planted in the soil of the...

Colorado Christian University Ranks #10 for Faith Based Accelerated Nursing Program

September 11, 2025/

Colorado Christian University Ranks #10 for Faith Based Accelerated Nursing Program From registerednursing.org Colorado Christian University’s Faith Based ABSN program ranks #10 on RegisteredNursing.org’s annual list of the best in the United States for 2026. ABSN stands for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As described by the registerednursing.org website: “These spiritual programs integrate compassionate care principles with rigorous nursing curriculum, preparing students to serve communities with both professional excellence and deep personal commitment. Faith-based ABSN programs often emphasize ethical care, cultural sensitivity, and a whole-person approach to healthcare that goes beyond traditional medical training. By combining religious values with advanced nursing education, these programs produce graduates who are not just technically skilled, but also deeply empathetic healthcare professionals dedicated to serving others with genuine compassion. Learn more about our ranking methodology.” Visit the CCU website here Further information from registerednursing.org:

Letter to the Editor: A Few Reasons Why I Don’t Spend Money in Lakewood

September 11, 2025/

Letter to the Editor: A Few Reasons Why I Don’t Spend Money in Lakewood by Christina Suzanne One way we can support our communities is to shop at local businesses and hire local serviceproviders. But when a “business district” is chaotic, joyless, uninspiring, and dangerous,people may think twice about spending their disposable income there. Colfax: Here’s how I described Colfax to a friend in Los Angeles…”There are Porsche and Audidealerships but also a plasma center, several tattoo parlors and pawn shops…no ice creamparlors or bookstores. There are lots of motels that are halfway houses and you have to becareful when driving because people may randomly run into the street.” While the Natural Grocers is staffed by really nice people, I still approach it with caution afterwitnessing a person hide a rather large knife behind dry goods on one of the shelves. “He likesto do that every night,” an employee told me. Wadsworth: Driving South on Wadsworth a few weeks ago, to the right was a homeless campwith strung-out people milling about. To the left, an urgent care center with boarded upwindows. I then realized I could not continue the arduous journey to BelMar Whole Foods, sit inthe left-turn lane by Alameda, and pretend not to notice the beggars and windshield washers. For the record, I think it’s cruel and inhumane to support people living and using drugs inpublic spaces when they need medical attention and professional care. The only place anyoneshould see beggars is at a Renaissance Festival where it’s...

Colorado Supreme Court finds Lakewood unconstitutionally expanded phone provider tax

September 11, 2025/

Colorado Supreme Court finds Lakewood unconstitutionally expanded phone provider tax Reposted from Michael Karlik, on ColoradoPolitics.com The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Lakewood improperly expanded the scope of a 1969 tax ordinance twice to encompass cell phone providers without holding the popular vote the state constitution requires. A Jefferson County judge previously determined the city’s actions failed to comply with the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which generally requires voters to approve any new tax or tax rate increase. Lakewood appealed to the Supreme Court with a policy argument: Local governments need to be able to reinterpret their laws to encompass emerging and unforeseen variations on things that are already taxed. But the justices brushed aside that contention, noting the city’s modifications swept in new entities who would not otherwise be subject to the tax specifically intended to cover traditional telephone providers. “The Lakewood City Council could have drafted the 1969 Ordinance to enact a tax on the business and occupation of providing telecommunications services, but it did not do so,” wrote Justice Richard L. Gabriel in the Sept. 8 opinion. Read the full article…

Recreation Centers Could Be Closed and Consolidated

September 7, 2025/

Recreation Centers Could Be Closed and Consolidated Your neighborhood recreation center could be closed and consolidated to be replaced by a “destination”, “regional”, or “multi-use” center. Closures have already been identified. Combine this knowledge with proposed zoning changes that would allow warehouse-sized distribution centers in any area, or high-density housing anywhere, and it is hard not to speculate what will happen to current rec center properties. For example, why is Lakewood buying Emory on behalf of the Action Center when beloved, large lot, city property may be destined to face the same fate as closed schools? No definitive plans have been made public. The details below come from several sources, much like the initial details that emerged about Lakewood purchasing Emory Elementary. When asked about Emory, for months, Lakewood officials would answer that there were “no current plans” or that Lakewood “had no direct control” over school buildings. All the while, backroom discussions were taking place. Only time will tell when and what will happen to Lakewood recreation centers. Lakewood says a centralized center is years away. Historical Planning Timeline: In 2022, Lakewood began asking residents whether they were interested in a new recreation facility. Residents said yes, not knowing that meant giving up their current facilities. More people were interested in improving existing facilities than starting new ones. In May 2023, City Council approved the Imagine Tomorrow! Parks and Recreation Plan as presented by staff. The recommendation to close and consolidate was not presented or discussed. So, unless you...

Safety Committee for Some

September 7, 2025/

Safety Committee for Some Previously deprioritized investigations got a slap in the face after City Council made a new police oversight committee to serve only the LGBTQ+ community, rather than providing oversight for all residents. Instead of learning a lesson from a member of a vulnerable community, Lakewood is now marginalizing others. The new committee is “to ensure Lakewood police achieve the goal of serving LGBTQIA residents and other marginalized communities with integrity, intelligence, and initiative.” City Councilors Shahrezaei and Isabel Cruz made the motion, which ultimately passed unanimously. However, creating a police oversight or public safety committee is a big step that has been declined several times before. The committee, as envisioned, would potentially involve granting subpoena powers. Giving political appointees special powers could lead to the political weaponization of the justice system. Download Repeated calls for police oversight have been made over the years. So why is this special committee needed now? Why is it serving only one sector of the population? Is City Council suggesting Lakewood Police do not serve ALL LAKEWOOD with integrity, intelligence, and initiative? Are they calling all Lakewood Police homophobic? Or are they suggesting that Lakewood Police are just incompetent to begin with? What is the exact problem? Shahrezaei said that action was necessary because for weeks there was “a packed house”. Public from all over the Front Range asked for oversight in the case of Jax Gratton, who was found dead of unknown causes. Jax’s death was a tragedy. Many people came...

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