LAKEWOOD INFORMER

In response to news about the letter from the Metro Mayors (see explanation here) Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom said she was passionate about the issue and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this letter.  At the February 26 Council meeting, Strom said she hopes it amplifies the voices of the Denver Metro area since we have seen so many migrants. She did not mention the voices of Lakewood, Colorado residents who have also been vocal about the issue. Strom went on to talk about the importance of planning, rather than the perception that this migrant crisis might be used as an opportunity to push for reform at the expense of border security. Strom acknowledged all the problems coming to the city, including overwhelmed non-profits and the conflicts between homeless and migrants. However, she said those problems are here and the city must deal with them while also addressing the needs of our residents. Again, Strom did not address solutions involving border security or removing sanctuary status, showing that although the letter might be bipartisan, it is not comprehensive and may not represent Lakewood resident viewpoints. The dialogue once again skirted the issue of who pays. The Metro Mayors letter asked for federal funding while Lakewood Mayor Strom said this was something Lakewood could do that didn’t cost money. However, Lakewood residents still pay federal taxes and removing state sanctuary status would also cost no money. This package of federal funding, new laws and fast track work authorizations...

The recent purchase of the Mountain View Inn by RecoveryWorks caused some readers to question where the money came from. The Director of RecoveryWorks, James Ginsberg, responded that the “funds came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through the State Division of Housing’s Transformational Affordable Housing Grant.  RecoveryWorks applied for the funds through a statewide competitive process.” These funds are completely separate from the recent Navigation Center purchase.  

Cross Post from SaveBelmarPark.com Comments from Lakewood Attorney Kenley Brunsdale regarding the Belmar Park West major site plan review process: I spent my life as a lawyer working in administrative law arena. And so some thoughts come to mind. These negotiations took place in secret and quiet. Who knows what the city gave away for nothing. But this has been a really classic case of of that game that developers play and that should be eliminated. Click/Tap to read the rest of his comments

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...

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