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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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Lakewood Violates TABOR Promises to Voters

February 3, 2026/

There is no dispute that the City of Lakewood must comply with a recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling requiring repayment of illegally collected Business and Occupation taxes. However, the way Lakewood is paying that refund has raised concerns that voters were misled about how their TABOR money would be used. City staff and Council presented the TABOR Fund as the only option available. However, the TABOR Fund is a Lakewood-created accounting mechanism, not a requirement of state law or the court decision. Lakewood could have paid the refund from the General Fund. Instead, on January 26, 2026, City Council voted to take money from the TABOR Fund that had been explicitly promised to voter-approved purposes.

Dark money donations allowed in Lakewood

February 1, 2026/

New campaign finance rules for Lakewood define non-profits and corporations as people. The change allows large donations without individual disclosures. This is commonly referred to as dark money. The rule change follows 2010 changes at the federal level known as the Citizens United v FEC decision. Shahrezaei and Councilor Bill Furman were beneficiaries of this change during the 2025 election. Each received $400 from the Metro Housing Coalition through the Metro Housing Coalition Political Action Committee.

Photo Courtesy of ARTEFFECT/Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.

Lakewood Student’s Award-Winning Art Showcased at Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

January 30, 2026/

Gabrielle Van Allen won an award from ARTEFFECT in 2018, while attending Green Mountain High School. Now her artwork has once again been chosen for a new display at Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington D.C. - a Best New Museum by USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards.

Lakewood Withheld Financial Information While Spending on Controversial Projects

January 30, 2026/

On September 8, 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against Lakewood in an important court case against Metro PCS. As a result, Lakewood now owes around $42 million in tax refunds to Metro PCS and other cell phone carriers. That was big news, but what happened after the court decision is just as important. Lakewood withheld the financial ramifications of the Metro PCS court decision during crucial budget planning. Although Lakewood didn’t know the total amount involved, the staff was aware that they would have to refund millions of dollars to the cell phone companies. Yet there was no public presentation of possible impacts during the crucial September and October budgeting months. Instead, Lakewood spent millions on controversial projects as soon as they could. Millions that could have gone toward the mandated refund.

Special Election Set for April 7

January 27, 2026/

Lakewood City Council unanimously decided to put the zoning code up for a vote on a special election on April 7, 2026. Both pro-zoning and anti-zoning advocates requested the special election. Both sides believe they have the support of the people. The decision to put the zoning code on the ballot was not about the zoning code. The issue was whether City Council would listen to the people. City Council rushed to approve a new zoning code without a public discussion of the underlying densification decision. The actual changes were a different discussion than the broader Comprehensive Plan or “affordable housing” discussion. Once people started to understand zoning densification impacts, there was a rising number of complaints. City Council Members discounted these voices as a “small minority.”

Top Causes of Crashes on Lakewood Roads

January 26, 2026/

A close look at data from Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) shows the top causes of crashes on Lakewood roads: Careless driving Failed to yield Followed to closely Failed to stop at signal Lane violation

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