Cross post from Ramey Johnson It’s important to share what I am seeing and hearing from our community. One popular Colfax business can no longer hang the American flag outside their door. The homeless living nearby take it down and shred or burn it. The employee I spoke with assumes they burn it to stay warm. He often finds foil with burn marks from illegal drugs near their area. Generally, they leave when he asks them to. A small business owner told me, “There is nothing that anyone can do.” He seemed resigned that the situation would not change. He showed me a counterfeit $20 bill and was waiting for the police. Normally, when he asks the homeless to leave, they do, but not always. Their barred glass door has been broken twice. One successful business owner who came from India 17 years ago is still waiting for citizenship. He is proud to be becoming an American citizen legally but frustrated with how long it takes. Pawn shop owners tell me people pawn personal items to pay for rent, food, and gas. He estimates that probably 10% pawn personal items for illegal drugs. A Day Labor employee told me that men come to work but likely spend money on drugs in the evening. A small business owner shared with me that he pays over $24,000 in property taxes (“real estate taxes”). He’s not sure how much longer he can make it. Lastly, the manager of a small business who immigrated...
Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
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The Planning Commission presented evidence of health and environmental harm from fueling stations and car washes. No evidence from the other side was presented. With only one side represented, it is no surprise that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended to restrict gas stations in Lakewood, while at the same time increasing electric charging stations. Council comments generally reinforced that view and city staff will be drafting new ordinances to implement these recommendations. The Planning Commission discussed the issue at three public meetings. In the presentation, this sounds like all sides were heard. However, inviting comment or being open to comment is not the same as researching or actually hearing the other side. No industry representatives made comment or presentation and no information was brought forth to represent their side. Only one person made comment on LakewoodSpeaks to support the market economy. This led to a one-sided, forgone set of recommendations from the Planning Commission. An example from the presentation of what the Planning Commission found to be a compelling argument: “Within 10 years 80% of all fueling stations will be unprofitable (due to the switch to EV cars), leaving stranded assets that will need environmental remediation” – cited by Planning Commissioner Kip Kolkmeier Does Lakewood have a profit standard for businesses to open? No. Does Lakewood bear any responsibility for environmental costs if remediation is needed? No. Is EV car use on track to eliminate gas cars? No, not without government force. None of that was mentioned. Planning Commission recommends...
Shared by a Lakewood resident Cross post from CBS Colorado, Karen Morfitt reporting Authorities in Colorado are warning the public not to use the blue USPS out door mailboxes after many reports of theft and a Boulder man was taken into custody.
A Lakewood resident forwarded the following article from Denver7 pointing out that Lakewood’s push for electrification will cause more problems for an electrical grid that is already going down several times a week. Cross-post from Denver7.com, By Jaclyn Allen Xcel Energy customers in west Denver metro area report frequent, longer outages LAKEWOOD, Colo — Just blocks away from the Colorado Mills Shopping Center, a suburban Lakewood neighborhood had three power outages in five days last week, with one lasting almost 24 hours. “This stuff has to get thrown out,” said Pat Warling as she sorted through a freezer full of spoiled food Wednesday. “This summer’s been horrible. It’s been going out at least once a week, and last week was three times.” Next door, Maryann Lamar has been keeping track of the nights she has been left in the dark on her calendar. Read more… Reader Recommended Business: MK) Ranch
Lakewood’s offer to buy Emory Elementary School was turned down by Jefferson County. Lakewood City Manager Kathy Hodgson reported offering in-kind services in return for the school property. City Councilors expressed concern in July meetings at the concept of market-rate pricing but there is nothing the city can do. At the June meeting on the Glennon Heights Elementary School disposition meeting, residents were told that the developer, Cardel Homes, was looking at purchasing multiple school sites for residential use. No word on what kind of residences would be built in an area that doesn’t have a neighborhood school. Narrative Change Confirms False Front The comments from multiple Council Members bemoaning the inability of the city to purchase the school property shows a change in narrative. This change confirms the city was, in fact, trying to buy the property, most likely in concert with the Action Center as previously stated by the City Manager. However, when asked about the purchase in the past, the city narrative from the Manager, Mayor and some Councilors, was that the city “had no direct control over school property.” This was not a denial. It was misdirection that made residents feel ignorant and foolish for asking when it was true. This is proof of lack of transparency from the City Manager and Mayor. The city narrative changed from: No matter what the story, Lakewood has not been transparent since they started working on a plan in 2023. Win-Win This may be a win-win for residents. Since...
Submitted by Joan from Lakewood On July 26, 2024 , there were at least 20 individuals attempting to wash windows at the Wadsworth and Alameda intersection. Since both Denver and Arvada are addressing this issue, I believe the individuals are coming to a more friendly location. Very sad. Just four blocks from the City Council building and the police station yet no response. After submitting this story to City Council, not one member responded but someone did forward the email to city staff to address. The response is below. Why does City Council not feel the need to respond to legitimate concerns? Is responding as Lakewood “always has” enough? City Staff Response: “Thank you for expressing this concern regarding people trying to clean windows, we are examining all possible response options. We have also heard concerns of increased loitering at various businesses, panhandling, and issues like this relating to traffic safety, it’s important for us to acknowledge these valid community concerns. I’d like to offer some context regarding the legal and procedural changes that have occurred, which may shed light on the police responses observed in recent years in Lakewood (and across Colorado). In the past, the City of Lakewood had ordinances addressing aggressive panhandling and panhandling in certain locations. However, a significant legal precedent was set on September 30, 2015, when Judge Christine M. Arguello of the United States District Court issued a decisive order in Browne v. City of Grand Junction. This ruling specifically targeted panhandling ordinances similar...
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