The Lures of Lakewood
Guest post from Joan from Lakewood
So the progressive Leadership of Lakewood maintained its position after the November 7 election. Congratulations Mayor Strom. But there is a crack in the smooth surface in Lakewood. An unknown politically naive man with no name recognition or political history came in second with 30 percent of the vote. This was dismissed by the winning party as an awful MAGA uprise and not to be considered. But I contend it is the symptom of the growing anger of the citizens of Lakewood over policies that have ignored public input (see the Save Belmar Park people)
But consider this, Arvada has recently rejected the monies from the county to open a negotiation center in the city. And is not developing policies and programs that will attract the unhoused into their community. Meanwhile Lakewood takes 7 million of Jefferson County funds (funds from the Federal Infrastructure Act) to open a recovery/navigation center
And makes itself more welcoming to unhoused individuals by opening and celebrating new programs.
Editor’s note: It is unconfirmed if County/Federal money will be filtered through Lakewood or go directly to RecoveryWorks.
On November 29, there was a church/community meeting to roll out a “Safe to Park” program in the parking lot of Phillips United Methodist church at 1450 S Pierce St, This program will allow people living in their cars to have permission to park in 4 spaces on the church parking lot. This program is designed to work with the services of Lakewood and there is an MOU that was referred to by the church leadership.(This is similar to a program operated by Lakewood United Methodist Church) My main concern was the cars (no RVs or trailers) are required to spend 4 nights a week in their parking spaces. But must leave between 8am to 6pm and there is no access to running water. Where will they go during the day? And When I asked where would these people would shower, the church leadership stated they are working out an arrangement with the Lakewood Link Recreation center.
This policy was developed by a church homeless committee that passed its approval by a 4 to 3 vote. It is being put in place without a congregational vote. The reasoning is that the homeless are already here so we must do something.
I think the most profound statement during this meeting was from a young father with two young children that stated that he was worried that this would lure more people to come into the neighborhood and park and sleep in their cars on public streets around Lasley Park.
The next night, November 30, I attended an open house of the navigation center, located at 8000 West Colfax Avenue (Allison St and Colfax). This building is being developed in partnership with Recovery Works (a rent to own program) and will house 100 beds for those in need of housing. There were several government officials there and it was a general celebration of the opening of this the First Navigation Center in Lakewood. The mission would be supported by government services. There would be the DMV coming in once a month to help people get driver’s licenses. And medical services. As well as job counseling.
But I came to realize that this was more than a celebration. It actually was a fundraiser for Recovery Works. There was a long speech of how great this is but it is going to take money. Lots of money. And because the legislature in 2022 passed a bill (that allows 25 percent of private donations to homeless non profits to be used for a tax credit and one could donate up to $100,000 which would create a tax credit of $25,000 which could be used over a 5 year period.
This explained the crowd of lawyers and retired members of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. And the trays of Sushi.
And when asked to vote on the new name for the Center with the West Colfax Community Navigation Center being one of the suggestions. I wrote on a sticky “The Lakewood Lure”