Commerce City Sentinel Express April 4, 2024

Resources for people facing housing insecurity

BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

While the threat of eviction and rising rental costs loom large for numerous Coloradans, the combined e orts of legislators, government agencies, and nonpro t organizations o er hope for a more secure housing landscape in Colorado.

e Denver County court’s latest data from 2023 shows that nearly 13,000 Colorado households faced eviction last year, a new record.

According to a Colorado House Democrats release last month, evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more

likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes.

e Colorado General Assembly is looking to address that speci c issue by introducing an eviction bill, HB24-1098, which passed the Senate on Monday and bars landlords from evicting tenants unless they have su cient cause.

“Despite always paying our rent on time and following our lease agreement, my son and I were evicted after escaping my abuser, and our lives were turned upside down,” said bill sponsor and House Majority Leader Monica Duran, DWheat Ridge, after HB1098 passed in that chamber in February.

If the “For Cause Eviction” bill becomes law, landlords will face several new parameters before

putting an eviction in motion without cause.

Current Colorado law allows landlords to decide whether or not to o er a lease renewal each year, which is called a “no-fault eviction.” HB1098 would limit that ability to when the property is sold, substantial repairs or renovations are being made, or if the landlord plans to live at the property.

If a landlord fails to provide a cause, tenants have legal grounds to ght the eviction. While the bill’s passing would likely grant a signi cant number of renters lease extensions, landlords are still free to raise the rent at their discretion.

Volunteers scramble to help migrant families in Denver

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Volunteers were rescuing Venezuelan families with young children from sleeping outside as Denver has scaled back migrant services and the time people were allotted to stay in cityfunded hotel rooms expired.

e city, in response to complaints from volunteers that children were ending up outside, decided on a March afternoon to reopen a city building in Civic Center park to house migrant families with nowhere to sleep.

Denver Human Services o cials said they were rushing to reactivate the McNichols Building on Colfax Avenue, including sending sta and ordering meals.

e re-opening of the congregate shelter in a civic building meant for arts and culture was not part of the plan as the city scales down migrant services that have already cost $61 million. But Mayor Mike Jonhston and his sta have said multiple times that they would prevent kids from ending up on Denver streets.

“Nobody ever said this was going to be easy,” said Jon Ewing, spokesperson for Denver Human Services. “You are going to have families who haven’t gured it out yet. ere are a lot of factors competing against them. It’s not a problem of their own making.”

e city is in the process of decreasing the number of hotels it has used to house migrants to three from seven, closing about one each week for four weeks. e third one closed as a city shelter in March.

And after a pause on hotel room time limits, the city is sticking to the policy of allowing adults to stay 14 days in city-funded hotel rooms while families have 42 days.

Denver County court’s latest data from 2023 shows that nearly 13,000 Colorado households faced eviction last year, a new record. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

Co ee with the Community in April

e Adams County Health Department celebrates National Public Health Week, April 1-7, by hosting two “Co ee with the Community” events April 1 and 3.

e rst event was April 1 at the Cup Co ee House in Reunion. e second is from 8:30-10:30 a.m. April 3 at Greyhound Grounds Co ee House, 6230 Glencoe St. in Commerce City.

Join them to enjoy a free beverage (one medium drink per person) and talk about health topics relative to your community and ACHD’s available programs.

County seeks Healthy Farmers Markets input

Adams County is looking for feedback and opinions regarding the series of farmers markets they helped o er in 2023. Information from an

online survey, located at https://bit. ly/4879uzr, will help determine how the markets will operate in 2024.

In 2023, the Adams County Health Department and Human Services partnered to provide Healthy Farmers Markets for residents. e departments are planning to provide those again in 2024, and they’d like to hear from you.

e county helped schedule the markets on Tuesdays and ursdays at the Anythink Library Wright Farms and Huron Street branches.

e survey asks about location preferences, dates and timing preferences and what kinds of o erings and other services should be o ered.

Adams City ‘84 alums seeking missing classmates

Adam City’s class of 1984 is scheduled to host its 40th class reunion at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the 30/70 Sports

LEAP provides energy assistance to lower home heating costs.

LEAP proporciona asistencia de energía para bajar los gastos de calefacción.

Do you need help paying your utilities this winter? Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) may be for you. LEAP helps Colorado families, individuals, older adults and those with a disability to pay a part of their winter home heating costs.

UnitedWay-Weld.org/LEAP

1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435)

Bar and Grill, 18856 W. 120th Ave. in Westminster.

Organizers are trying to contact a few remaining missing graduates. If you attended ACHS with the class of 1984 or have a family member who did, please get in touch with Susan Zale Vanness (303) 513-1333 or vannessrealty@comcast.net or Tracey Snyder (303) 921-2114 tjsnyder07. ts@gmail.com

Alliance Business Assistance Center grants available

e Alliance Business Assistance Center is excited to announce that 2024 business grants are now available to support your business endeavors. Sta at the center can assist residents by helping to identify grants that align with their business goals and industry, providing guidance through the application process, ensuring that they have the best chance of success and providing other valuable resources for local business. To get started, visit our website at https://businessinthornton.com/ local-business/small-business-support-programs/business- nancialassistance.

Submit names for new park

Commerce City is accepting recommendations for the o cial name of Oasis Park, one of two new parks. Based on these recommendations, city sta will compile the list of names, and the Parks, Recreation, and Golf Advisory Board will recommend them to the City Council.

e Oasis Park site is located within the natural setting of Second Creek Open space, just west of the Bu alo Highlands neighborhood on the south side of E. 96th Avenue. e park has open space for informal recreation, relaxation, and commu-

nity gatherings; a children’s playground with shade structures, public restrooms, an embankment slide, and an overlook plaza.

To learn more and submit your recommendation visit c3gov.com/ SCFOasis.

‘Taking No Chances’

e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, o er free, 10-week programs to families of Adams County teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills. Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-2922811.

Commerce City seeking Snow Guardians

Commerce City Code Enforcement is introducing the new Snow Guardians program to help residents be good neighbors by o ering free snow removal services to residents who qualify.

Snow Guardians assist residents who are not able to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice to comply with the municipal code due to age, disability, or some other condition. Commerce City municipal code requires property owners are responsible for clearing public sidewalks adjacent to their property of snow and ice within 24 hours of the last snowfall.

Contact Code Enforcement to apply to keep you in compliance with the code and help keep our sidewalks safe!

To qualify, you must be a resident with limited nancial resources and be unable to shovel due to age, disability, or other conditions. Learn more about the program and apply at c3gov.com/CodeEnforcement.

to the refused tenant.

The National Council for Credit Counseling (www,nfcc.org) says, “The general rule of thumb is that housing costs should be no more than 30% of your gross income This includes rent or mortgage payments; homeowner association fees; and utilities like gas, electricity, water, and internet.”

The bill in question, SB23-184, is titled “Protections for Residential Tenants.” It states that “A landlord may not require a prospective tenant to have an annual income that exceeds 200% of the annual cost of rent.” That’s another way of saying 50% of one’s annual income. And that figure does not include utilities in that 50%.

A violation is also an unfair housing practice subject to enforcement by private persons, the attorney general, and the Colorado Civil Rights Division. A violation carries an initial penalty of $50 payable to the applicant, and failure to cure (i.e., accept the tenant’s application) carries a $2,500 penalty, again paid

This new law not only has small landlords upset, it also has some tenant advocates upset. They point out that HUD doesn’t allow renters to be “rent burdened” over 30%. HUD says on its website that the 30% rule is “meant to protect low-income households from extreme rental costs. High housing costs and high prices for basic necessities place a greater burden on poor households living in metropolitan areas. Measures of affordability should be reassessed to ensure that policymakers are decreasing rental burdens for poor households.”

Public housing authorities nationwide are prohibited from charging more than 30% of a tenant’s income for rent under federal fair housing laws.

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver bases mortgage payments on 30% of the homeowner’s annual salary at time of applying for a Habitat home and does not increase the payment if and when the homeowner’s income increases.

On its website, HUD acknowledges contrary opinions about the 30% rule, noting that 30% of a $500,000 income leaves sufficient funds for other household costs, whereas 30% of a $20,000 annual income does not.

Rather than measuring affordability using a rent-to-income ratio, Michael Stone of the University of Massachusetts Boston recommends a residual income approach, which measures cost burden by calculating the money a family has left for housing after other expenditures such as food, clothing, and medical costs are taken into account.

SB23-184 has other landlord-tenant provisions. It prohibits charging more

than twice the monthly rent for a security deposit, and it allows an existing tenant subject to an eviction action, irrespective of the percentage of income paid in rent, to assert as an affirmative defense that the landlord violated fair housing laws by evicting him/her.

I have no opinion about whether SB23-184 was a good idea. There will probably be more debate about it in coming months. What’s your opinion?

Houzz Report Shows Increase in Home Renovation Spending

With sellers and buyers both sitting on the fence more than usual, thanks to increased mortgage rates, it’s not surprising that both are investing in improvements of their current home, and that’s reflected in this year’s home renovation trends report from Houzz.com.

Here are some of the key findings in their 2024 report published last week based on 32,615 website users, including 17,713 home renovators, who participated in a survey regarding their 2023 spending.

The median amount spent on renovation in 2023 was up 60% from 2020 to $24,000. The median spend in the 90th percentile was up 77% to $150,000.

In just one year, the percentage who financed their project using credit cards surged 9 percentage points to 38%.

Distressed Commercial Real Estate Loans a Red Flag for Residential?

It’s no secret that commercial real estate has been in trouble with the shift to at-home work following the pandemic’s abatement. The vacancy rates in office buildings is still too high for some landlords to meet their financial obligations.

The numbers behind that trend were released last week by Bloomberg, which wrote about stressed collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) which bundle debt that would be considered too speculative for conventional mortgage-backed securities (MBOs). You may recall that MBOs full of sub-

prime loans were central to the collapse of the housing market in 2008, triggering the “great recession.”

Below is a chart published by Bloom-

Distressed Commercial Real Estate CLOs

We proudly provide free use of this moving truck to our sellers and buyers, along with free moving boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper.

Non-profits and community organizations also put lots of free miles on it!

berg, which wrote: “In just the last seven months, the share of troubled assets held by these niche products surged four-fold — rising by one measure to more than 7.4%. For the hardest hit, delinquency rates are in the double digits. That’s left major players in the $80 billion market rushing to rework loans while short sellers ramp up attacks on publicly-traded issuers.”

Many leveraged properties can’t be sold for what they owe their lenders.

Gen Xers edged out Baby Boomers, as they did last year, with a median spend of $25,000 vs. $24,000. When it came to big projects, the top 10% of Gen X renovators had a median spend of $180,000 compared to $131,000 for Baby Boomers.

The most commonly renovated room continued to be the kitchen, followed by guest bathroom, primary bathroom and living room — 29, 27, 25 and 21 percent respectively. The median kitchen project cost $24,000 (up 20% over 2022), and median bath project cost $15,000 (up 15% over 2022).

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

Over the past two decades this column has appeared in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline and downloadable with a single click, at www.JimSmithColumns.com

get an Aeronautics grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation CDOT $500,000 aimed at improving its runway infrastructure, according to a March 22 press release.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant and continue our long partnership with CDOT Aeronautics to upgrade our ramp and taxiway infrastructure, which is essential

would improve the pavement on its existing heavily used taxiways and ramps through ongoing maintenance, such as crack sealant, a seal coat application, and new pavement markings.

“We would not be able to be so successful without the continued support of Colorado’s Civil Aeronautics Board, Dave Ulaine, the Director of Aeronautics for

to see this money being spread out

Denver International Airport. It is a good partnership with DIA, and we appreciate the good work they do because without their involvement, we would not be seeing the amount of money available,” said Commissioner Charles “Chaz” Tedesco. “I sit on the Colorado Aeronautical Board, and I see how the partnerships we’ve developed have been extremely helpful, and I’m grati ed

According to o cials, with the grant allotment from CDOT, the spaceport will also contribute $55,555 to the project, which will cost $555,555 in a 90/10 partnership.

e repairs and maintenance will reduce the chance of foreign debris that could be airplane safety hazards upon taking o and landing. e project is planned to begin in spring 2024.

Planes parked at the Colorado Air and Space Port with construction work beyond on a runway.

Caraveo secures funding for 15 community projects

BY JACKIE RAMIREZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

After a long process of overcoming funding challenges unique to Colorado, such as navigating the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which limits the amount of funds for infrastructure investments, ignored needs are now being acknowledged through U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s e orts to secure funding for 15 project proposals in Adams, Larimer and Weld counties.

“Today, I’m proud to say that I secured over $16.1 million in federal funds that will help maintain strong public services in the Front Range and Northern Colorado,” Caraveo said in a press release from her o ce.

La Ciudad spoke with the congresswoman to discuss the process behind securing these funds and the decision in choosing which projects and needs to address. Recently the appropriations minibus passed the Senate and the House and was signed by President Biden on March 23. Aside from discussing the new revenue stream for investing in community projects, Caraveo also shared with La Ciudad her rst-year experience as a congresswoman and how

AIR SPACE

she is preparing to defend her seat as this election year plays out. is interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Colorado Community Media: Please tell us about the process for pushing for federal funding on these 15 community projects. Was there public input or did you visit each of these areas to

“ is investment demonstrates the commitment shared by both the State of Colorado and Adams County in CASP and its important role as one of three general aviation reliever airports in the Denver area and Colorado’s only horizontal launch spaceport,” Kloska said.

“By investing in infrastructure at Colorado Air and Space Port, we are paving the way to economic growth in the I-70 corridor,” said Adams County Commission Chair Emma Pinter. “ is $500,000 grant will enhance our airport, ensuring safer and more ecient operations. On behalf of the board, I’d like to commend the sta at CASP for their work to obtain this grant to upgrade their facilities.”

In 2011, Adams County started pursuing a spaceport operating license at Front Range Airport in Watkins through the FAA o ce. e space port received its operator license in 2018 for a reusable horizontal take-o and landing passenger space plane. Once the airport received its license, it changed its name to Colorado Air and Spaceport. According to o cials, future spaceplanes would y above the earth’s atmosphere, sitting in zero gravity for up to 10 minutes. As the earth rotates, the spaceplane could y back down, landing in Paris within 60 to 90 minutes.

“With these funds, we’ll be able to ensure our aircraft pavement surfaces are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition for all aircraft users of CASP. With this project, we reinforce our commitment to o ering world-class services as a general aviation airport with convenient access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains,” Kloska said.

determine what was needed most?

Rep. Yadira Caraveo: It all comes from input from communities. is is a brand new district and I’m new to o ce, so we started up this process very quickly last year. It’s been a long process since then, with the fact that we’re not passing 2024 appropriations un-

til now, but what my sta has done is set up a way for leaders from local communities to say, “ ese are the unmet needs that our city or county has that we would love federal funding for.”

en we kind of went through a process of sta considering things and then ultimately input from a number of people

of (where)… we thought, “Where we can make the most impact?” and what we were likely to get funding for, because there are very strict parameters that the Republican Party, since they’re in the majority, set up around what they are willing to fund.

So with that, we ended up with all of these di erent projects that we submitted and each one got some level of funding, even if it was not the entire amount that they asked for.

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U.S. Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, Democrat representing Colorado’s Congressional District 8. COURTESY

SEE PROJECTS, P8

Financial help for renters

e rising cost of rent can also push renters out of their homes. Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs recently launched a Temporary Rental Assistance Grant initiative to provide $30 million in temporary rental assistance to folks facing eviction or housing insecurity.

Pre-applications open on the 15th of each month and close on the 20th. DOLA then selects qualifying individuals to complete a full application. e limit per household is $10,000 in assistance and it is not recurring.

Applicants at risk of eviction are

prioritized. e $30 million in funds must be spent by June 30. Applicants are not required to disclose their immigration status, and Spanishspeaking sta is available.

People who have already received rental assistance within the past year are not eligible for the program; for those who need more, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available, but only if they have already received a court summons.

“If people have questions on whether they qualify, we urge them to visit our care center,” said Chynna Cowart, DOLA press secretary. “We provide applications in Spanish and English and are here to help anyone facing housing insecurity or eviction. Even if you don’t qualify we can point you in the right direction to other resources. We want to con-

sider the needs of all constituents.”

DOLA also provides assistance on landlord-tenant mediation services. While not all evictions can be avoided, Cowart explained that they do everything in their power to help keep an eviction o people’s records.

Adams County resources

Another resource for folks living in Adams County isBrothers Redevelopment Inc. e nonpro t o ers tenant-landlord mediation services, housing counseling and more.

“In a nutshell, we’re basically a huge resource center,” said J Simms, a spokesman for Colorado Housing Connects, the statewide housing helpline for the nonpro t. “We provide rental assistance programs both inside and outside of Denver county. We help set people up with

a ordable housing, x tenant-landlord issues, and educate renters on their rights. ings likeWarranty of Habitability, tenant and landlord responsibilities and tenant protection laws.”

ey also help with providing electronic links that can be used to le complaints such as mold and other safety or health hazards tenants might be facing, and walk folks through the process of ling.

“A lot of these things would take forever to gure out by Googling and trying to gure it out on your own, so we make it accessible and free to anyone who needs it,” he said.

For folks with children, a resource speci cally catered to families isGrowing Home. ey o er a food pantry, parenting education classes and nancial literacy classes.

CultivatingCommunityHeath&Wellness

Sustainability committee grows in Commerce City

BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In initiatives both large and small, sustainability is growing in importance for Commerce City’s Latino community.

Rocio Franco, the associate director of the grassroots organization Cultivado, gathered with 18 other health advocates as part of Promotoras de Salud, a meeting to learn more about government sustainability programs at the Civic Center in Commerce City.

Bilingual communication specialist Alondra Gonzalez Carrillo reminded participants to keep informed of government programs through the city’s publication: Commerce City Connected, a monthly newsletter with information about events and various opportunities.

Elizabeth “Libby” Tart, Senior Environmental Planner with 18 years of experience in local government, welcomed the attendees and said the department was established as a response to community requests.

e Commerce City Division of Energy, Equity and Environment, or “E3 team,” aims to spearhead initiatives outlined in the Sustainability

Action Plan to enhance community well-being and mitigate environmental challenges. e Environmental Policy Advisory Committee, which is responsible for creating the plan for the city, is looking for two new board members. Applications are out until mid-April, Tart said.

Sustainability Associate Olivia Quagliani passionately spoke about the team’s sustainability e orts. rough collaboration, she said, “ ey are hoping to create a resilient and thriving community for present and future generations.”

Quagliani explained how residents can access incentives for energy upgrades, tap into resources for renewable energy installation, and use xeriscaping to conserve water.

e community can also apply for equity-focused grants in Commerce City, such as the Small Business Equity Fund Program.

Attendees also asked how to access funds to improve homes and gardens. Marleny Blanco shared how di cult it has been for her to keep her garden growing and her desire to plant trees in her neighborhood.

“Being able to plant is important for us, but we need help to know

what to plant and how to conserve water because the land is very dry here” Blanco said.

Blanco attended the meeting with her children, 12-year-old Eli and 14-year-old Andrew. e Blanco family has become passionate advocates for environmental stewardship after learning about recycling and sustainable practices, and they were eager to share their learning with others.

“I envision a future where our children can experience the vibrant beauty of nature, not just a world marred by pollution and environmental degradation,” Eli said.

“We are not just ghting for our-

selves; we are ghting for future generations. It’s time for everyone to join together and make a lasting impact on the world,” Andrew said.

Eli and Andrew enthusiastically extended an invitation to an Earth Day event organized by Cultivando: Our Health > Cheap Gasoline / Nuestra Salud > Gasolina Barata.  It will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., April 22, in the Community Commons at the University of Denver on 2055 E. Evans Ave. e documentary “Las Promotoras” will be screened, and attendees can learn more about supporting Cultivando’s environmental justice efforts.

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PROJECTS

CCM: How many projects were originally proposed? Were there any projects that were initially rejected by anybody?

Caraveo: ere were a few that were submitted to the o ce that we didn’t go forward with. ere’s a lot more requests than the amount of money that we can give, even as the federal government, but each of these projects that we submitted, as an o ce, each one of them got some amount of money.

CCM: How often does the government do a minibus bill? How does it help aside from securing funding?

Caraveo: With every year, there is an appropriations process that usually takes less time than this, but theoretically, this happens once a year. For a while now, there’s been communityfunded projects that each single representative can put in through the appropriations process. en that goes to the appropriations committee, who writes the budget for the country overall and they either fund these projects or don’t.

ing to be part of a bigger investment or bigger collection of funds that they have to do, so (those) will be dependent on when they can get the remainder of their funding because we’re not paying for an entire construction project, for example. It really is dependent on each project itself, some of them will happen very quickly and some of them might take a few years.

CCM: How does it feel to be able to give back to the community that you serve? is is a great accomplishment!

Caraveo: It’s really neat to be able to see an investment being made in the community where I grew up. Growing up in Colorado, I’ve seen the stressors that the state has gone through with its growth overall and I grew up in an area that doesn’t always receive a ton of investments.

unique tax process in Colorado, with being the only place that has a Taxpayer Bill of Rights, that is really limited in the amount of funds that we can use from state income tax to invest in infrastructure. We have a huge backlog in terms of investments that need to be made in roads and bridges and sidewalks and everything else that the people interact with on a daily basis.

being a doctor, where I really tried to make people’s lives better every single day.

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Being able to go back to a place like Commerce City, that probably has paid more into federal taxes than what it’s really gotten back in terms of investment in infrastructure, is one of the best things that I can do as a representative, to call attention to a community that really needs investment and that hasn’t always gotten attention and that now can because they have somebody who grew up there and understands their needs, representing them in Congress.

I think the constant thing that you can talk about in small talk with another Coloradan is how terrible the roads are, right? Being able to bring back some federal funding to be here and to say ‘Commerce City, Adams County, and the 8th District need this investment,’ because overall it’s been ignored for some time and we have some very serious infrastructure needs because of it, is something that I take very seriously here in Congress. I hope to continue to do it for many years to come.

CCM: We would like to get a sense of what it’s been like to be a rst-year congresswoman in a term that has been fraught with division and in ghting on the other side?

It’s been frustrating to kind of be in the middle of that environment, but I think it’s important for people like me and many of the other people in my freshman class who have come in with this idea of public service and trying to change the institution to really re ect what our communities need and not political sites.

CCM: As we get through this election year, what are you doing to defend your title and how are you preparing to do so?

CCM: For these projects, is there a predicted timeframe for completion? Will there be an order in which these projects are completed? If yes, how is the order determined?

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Caraveo: It really is individual to each project. ere are de nitely some that are shovel-ready, as we call them, so as soon as the money comes through, they can immediately start with the process of construction or investment in a particular program or project. For some, (the funding) is go-

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CCM: Is there anything you would like our readers to know about this new funding for projects or anything related to you?

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Caraveo: I think that Colorado has some very unique challenges in how we’ve been able to invest in infrastructure. We’ve overall been at what’s called a donor state, where we send in more federal taxes than what we get back in investment in terms of infrastructure, and then we also have a very

Caraveo: at’s a great question. It’s been frustrating, right? I think we all intellectually know that Congress has had its issues and is not always the most functional place in the world, but being here in a year where we couldn’t pick a speaker of the House and then we ousted the Speaker of the House and they still couldn’t pick somebody. Where it’s taken well over close to a year to get basic funding done, which is really the one responsibility that Congress has, and to just see that in ghting and the things that get focused on that are not helping our constituents is very frustrating. Especially coming from my background of

Caraveo: I think the biggest thing is centered on results. In the most do-nothing Congress of all, we only passed 27 laws last year, and mine was one of them, tackling the Fentanyl crisis and really the next generation of that, because I understand what my community needs. I have three bills that are going to go through the committee process this week. Two of them were passed out of committee yesterday as well as a resolution that’s important to the Agriculture Committee. I’ve been really involved in the process of advocating for the 8th District with the Farm Bill and making sure that I’m focusing legislation there and what the needs are of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties overall.

I really hope that that will speak for itself and that it will cut through the political noise and whatever games the other side plays with this re-election because what I’m really focused on is the results. I hope that the people of the 8th District will see that and acknowledge the work that it takes to do that and the fact that I’m committed to doing that again next time if they send me back.

VOLUNTEERS

e number of migrants in cityfunded hotel rooms is now about 940, down from more than 4,500 in January. Hundreds of families have left hotels in the past month, and many have moved into apartments with nancial help from nonpro ts.

Multiple families were stranded throughout Denver as they had to vacate hotel rooms.

e families sat in hotel lobbies, hoping that nonpro ts or Denver Human Services outreach workers would tell them where they could go. Hours passed, and the families began to panic, in some cases sending requests for help on Facebook pages created by grassroots volunteers.

Lydia Flynn runs a Facebook group to help migrants in northeastern Denver. She had 40 followers when she started it in October. Now, she has 1,400.

Flynn found a volunteer to pick up two of the families in di erent hotels, then drive them and their belongings to a McDonald’s, where she met them and bought them dinner.

“We are talking about 9 p.m.,” she said. “It’s late. It’s cold. ese kids haven’t eaten.”

One family includes a 7-year-old and a pregnant woman. e other is a couple with a 3-year-old, and the father was just released from the hospital and his leg has an infection, Flynn said.

With no help from nonpro ts or the city, Flynn ended up paying for

two hotel rooms. “I am eating spaghetti for the rest of the week,” she said. Flynn was advised by one local organization to take the families to an encampment, but she refused.

“I am not putting a pregnant mom in a tent,” she said. “I’m not putting kids in a tent.”

e only bright spot is that the families became fast friends and are now hoping to nd an apartment or a basement to rent together. What they want most are work permits, so they can legally nd jobs in Denver, Flynn said.

While Flynn was helping those two families, a city outreach worker was working late into the evening to nd temporary shelter for seven other families.

e city occasionally uses the McNichols Building as an emergency shelter for the chronically homeless population, including last week when Denver received about a foot of snow. e city also used the building as a shelter when it cleaned up a giant migrant encampment near Speer Boulevard and Zuni Street in January, o ering people in tents to hop on buses for a ride to the congregate shelter.

In late March, city outreach workers were trying to move about 50-60 people out of a migrant encampment in a parking lot at Elitch Gardens. Tents are lined up in the shadow of a roller coaster, and the amusement park is scheduled to open in April.

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

An encampment filled with migrants lines a sidewalk at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park on March 21, 2024. City outreach workers are trying to move the camp before the amusement park opens next month. PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN / THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

Brighton gears up for SPEAK week

Youth Council o ers suicide prevention program April 29-May 4

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In 2011, Brighton High School senior Joshua Dillion, ended his life; his classmates on the Brighton Youth Commission struggled with the loss of a dear friend. But that loss encouraged them to start SPEAK week in Brighton in

2012. e acronym stans for Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness and Knowledge.

e youth-led Brighton Youth Commission is hosting its 13th annual SPEAK week from April 29 through May 4. SPEAK is a week of events to educate youth and the community about the warning signs of suicide with local resources for those who need help.

Cynthia Donlucas is a Brighton High School senior and the Brighton Youth Commission chair.

“ is is my fourth year with the Brighton Youth Commission doing SPEAK, but it’s my rst year as

Chairperson taking the lead in planning SPEAK,” said Donalucas. “It warms my heart to know that many people are impacted and need help. Even if we help at least one person, I know it’s already a good cause.”

Brighton Youth Commission participates in many community projects.

e Brighton Youth Commission was formed to help develop policies for youth and introduce them to the City Council on issues that matter to youth.

SPEAK Week has grown yearly since 2012, involving many schools and o ering numerous activities for

students and the community. e proceeds from the public’s participation will go toward future SPEAK projects.

According to o cials, participating schools will be able to be involved in several di erent activities to accommodate student schedules. ose include QPR Training, o ered by the youth council, which encourages friends and family to Question, Persuade, and Referral for those that need help and o ers teaching techniques and tools for handling someone in a crisis.

Improve Air Quality For Your Family and Community With A Mostly Free Electric Mower

By Regional Air Quality Council

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is the Front Range’s lead air quality planning agency. We create plans for the state to improve air quality and meet goals set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The RAQC also runs programs that work to reduce air pollution and improve public health in the greater Denver metro.

Sometimes, when an industrial facility faces fines, we receive those monies to put back into the community. As a result, this summer is your chance to upgrade your gas-powered lawn mower to a clean, quiet, electric option — and help improve the health of your family and community.

Gas-powered mowers have an oversized negative impact on our air quality. They contribute especially to the formation of ground-level ozone, which you cannot see or smell, but is bad for you to breathe. In fact, operating a gas-powered mower for just an hour contributes the equivalent air pollution of driving a car from Denver to Utah. When you use a gas mower, you also breathe in high levels of harmful air pollutants that are released right next to you. But you can improve the air quality in your backyard this year, almost for free.

Utilizing industrial fines, the RAQC is hosting events for residents of targeted communities to trade in old gas-powered equipment for a new electric mower. By also using a new Colorado state discount, you can receive an electric mower that

retails for over $400 mostly free –you will only need to pay the tax. This is usually less than $40 for a $400 mower.

There will be multiple models of electric mowers available at these events available for just the tax. If you prefer to purchase a higher end model mower, you just pay the difference after the discounts provided.

This program is open to residents of the following zip codes: 80022, 80024, 80221, 80640, 80229, 80260, 80216, 80205, 80211, 80207, 80238, 80239, 80249.

Greater Park Hill News readers: check out the zip codes above because if you’re reading this paper, you likely qualify!

You don’t need to sign up in advance. Simply show up at one of the events we’re hosting with locally owned Ace Hardware stores with your old gas mower, with the ability to bring home a mower. Electric models are about the same size and weight as your old gas equipment. While you must live in one of the zip codes listed, you do not need to live in the specific community of the event. Please bring an ID, utility bill, or other proof of your residency in one of the specified zip codes.

Please also note you do need to bring a gas-powered mower for us to recycle to participate. All events are 9am – 1pm, while supplies last!

•April 13, 2024: Commerce City

Ace Hardware, 6900 Eudora Dr, Commerce City, CO 80022

•April 20, 2024: Mile High Ace Hardware & Garden, 2700 W 104th Ave, Federal Heights, CO 80234

•April 27, 2024 – Chambers Place

Ace Hardware, 4830 Chambers Road Denver CO 80239

•May 4, 2024 – IF NEEDED: Location TBD near Globeville or Sunnyside neighborhoods in Denver*

*Please visit mowdownpollution. org for updates on times and locations. This program utilizes one-time funding, and this offer is only available as funding permit. If funds are exhausted in the first

in half! Plus, electric mowers are much quieter, require less maintenance, and you will no longer have to buy or handle gas. Upgrading your personal lawn mower from gas to electric can make a really big difference for air quality in your community, as well as for the health of you and your family.

Please visit mowdownpollution.org and select “residential program” or email mowdownpollution@raqc. org for more information.

Paid Advertisement by the Regional Air Quality Council. This project was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

gas-powered mowers and cars, can help cut the ozone causing pollution on the Front Range

Training will be held at Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave, on April 29, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and May 1, at 6 p.m.

e council also produces a video that promotes valuable access to mental health, suicide prevention, and community support. It’s viewable during SPEAK Week on www.speak5k.org and live on YouTube.

e council also encourages participants to wear yellow to support the color that raises awareness for suicide prevention.  ey also o er activities that focus on self-care, su ering

from mental health, and reducing student stress. e list of activities and resources is at www. speak5k.org.

e week will end with a 5K walk/run at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern Street, on May 4. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., and the 5K will follow at 7:15 p.m.

Participating in the 5K is $20 for adults and $15 for students. e fee includes a candle, T-shirt, and swag bag). All proceeds will go towards future SPEAK projects. To register, visit www.speak5k. org.

For more information about SPEAK Week or how to get involved, visit www.speak5k.org or contact Youth Services Manager Tawnya Russell at trussell@ brightonco.gov.

Brighton Youth Commission members lead a walk at a previous year’s SPEAK Week. Particpants learn about preventing suicide. COURTESY PHOTO

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Legals

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

NOTICE OF VACANCY

PURSUANT to Section 32-1-808(2)(a)

(I), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that a vacancy exists on the Board of Directors of Sand Creek Metropolitan District. Any eligible elector of the District who is interested in appointment to the Board may contact the District’s attorney, Ronald L. Fano, via e-mail: rfano@spencerfane.com. The Board of the District may fill said vacancy 10 days after the date hereof.

By: Ronald L. Fano, Counsel for the District

Legal Notice No. CCX1312

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice

NOTICE OF INCLUSION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the South Adams County Fire Protection District No. 4 of Adams County, Colorado, will consider for adoption a resolution for the inclusion of property into the boundaries of the District. Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all interested persons and to any municipality or county which may be able to provide service to the following described property to appear at the public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at South Adams County Fire Headquarters, 6050 Syracuse Street, Commerce City, Colorado, and show cause in writing, if any they have, why such resolution should not be finally adopted.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any owner of real property within the proposed inclusion area may file a request with the Board of Directors of the District requesting that such real property be excluded from the proposed inclusion. Such request shall be filed no later than ten (10) days prior to the date of the above-referenced meeting. The District Board shall not be limited in its action with respect to exclusion of property based upon the request. The maximum mill levy that may be imposed by the District on the property, if included, is currently 14.75 mills. The property to be considered for inclusion is generally described as a parcel of land located in the Southeast ¼ of Section 28,

Township 2 South, Range 66 West of the Principal Meridian, City of Commerce City, County of Adams, State of Colorado, Denver International Airpark Filing No. 2. A detailed legal description can be obtained by contacting the District’s legal counsel, Ronald Fano, Spencer Fane, LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver, CO 80203; 303-839-3820.

SOUTH ADAMS COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 4

By:/s/ RJ Fernandez, Board Secretary

Legal Notice No. CCX1313

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

WINDLER

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY

WINDLER –Neighborhood F

Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 11:00 AM local time on April 19, 2024, for:

WINDLER - Neighborhood F

This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Furnish and install 8-inch water line with appurtenances; 8-inch sanitary sewer line with appurtenances; and water and sanitary services in over 1 mile of residential streets and alleys. Also, furnish and install 18-inch storm sewer pipe with appurtenances and install over 1 mile of street improvements and concrete alleys. Bidders may bid on Part A (grading), Part B (utilities), and/or Part C (roadway). Neighborhood F is located southeast of 56th Ave and Denali Street.

Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@ merrick.com, beginning March 21, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED. REPRODUCTIONS ARE PROHIBITED.

Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.

Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.

The Work is expected to be commenced within thirty (30) days after the Date of Contract.

Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.

The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.

The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.

For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.

Legal Notice No. CCX1308

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April4, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Non-Consecutive Publications

Public Notice

WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY

WINDLER –Neighborhood C

Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on April 19, 2024, for:

WINDLER - Neighborhood C

This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Furnish and install 8-inch water line with appurtenances; 8-inch sanitary sewer line with appurtenances; and water and sanitary services in over 2 miles of residential streets and alleys. Also, furnish and install 18-inch to 48-inch storm sewer pipe with appurtenances and install over 2 miles of street improvements and concrete alleys. Bidders may bid on Part A (grading), Part B (utilities), and/or Part C (roadway). Neighborhood C is located southeast of 56th Ave and Denali Street.

Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@

merrick.com, beginning March 21, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED. REPRODUCTIONS ARE PROHIBITED.

Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.

Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.

The Work is expected to be commenced within thirty (30) days after the Date of Contract.

Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.

The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.

The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.

For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.

Legal Notice No. CCX1307

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Non-consecutive Publications

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and read aloud.

Sand

Legal

First

April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice

INVITATION TO BID

Date: April 4, 2024

Sealed Bids will be received by the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District acting by and through its South Adams County Water and Sanitation District Activity Enterprise (Owner); Attn: Dawn Fredette at 6595 East 70th Avenue, Commerce City, Colorado 80022 until 2:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, for the project entitled “2024 SACWSD Water Systems Removal and Replacements.” At said place and time, and promptly thereafter, all Bids that have been duly received will be publicly opened

The project generally consists of replacing existing 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch water lines with new 8-inch water mains and replacing existing water service lines with new services and appurtenances, with service line sizes ranging from new 5/8inch to 1-1/2-inch, for the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District in Commerce City, Colorado. The project area is located on several different streets in the same general area. The main project area is bound by E. 74th Place to the north, E. 74th Avenue to the south, Quebec Street to the east, and Oneida Street to the west. In addition to the main project area, this project will also include work to be completed on Newport Street bound by Highway 2 to the north and E. 74th Avenue to the south, Garden Lane loop off E. 74th Place, and Garden Court loop off E. 74th Avenue. The project is comprised of a Base Bid and one bid alternate. The Base Bid consists of installing approximately 5,200 linear feet of 8-inch water line and replacing and transferring a total of 113 water service lines, installing new fire hydrants, and associated asphalt removal and replacement. Alternate No. 1 work area is located on the Oneida Drive loop bound by E. 74th Avenue to the north and consists of installing approximately 690 linear feet of 8-inch water line and replacing and transferring a total of 11 water service lines, installing one new fire

hydrant, and removing and replacing the existing street asphalt. It is the Owner’s desire to award a Contract for the Base Bid. If easement acquisition and/or permissions from property owners on Oneida Drive allow, the Owner may choose to add Alternate No. 1 to the Contract.

All Bids must be in accordance with the Contract Documents on file with the owner, South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, 6595 East 70th Avenue, Commerce City, Colorado 80022; and at the office of Muller Engineering Company, Inc., 7245 West Alaska Drive, Suite 300, Lakewood, Colorado 80226.

Electronic files of the Bidding Documents for use in preparing Bids may be obtained from Muller Engineering Company. Bid documents will be available on Friday, April 5, 2024, at no charge. Please contact Steve Hibbeler - shibbeler@mullereng. com - for questions and to obtain electronic copies of the Bidding documents. No printed copies will be provided unless a specific request is made for a hard copy of the plans.

Bids will be received on a unit price basis. Bid security in the amount of 5 percent of the total Bid must accompany each Bid. It is anticipated that the Contract Agreement will be signed and the Notice to Proceed will be issued in late May 2024.Construction shall be completed and ready for final

payment within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days.

The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Construction Performance Bond and a Construction Payment Bond as security for the faithful performance and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the contract.

The Bid and Bid Security will remain subject to acceptance for 77 calendar days after the Bid opening, or for such longer period of time that Bidder may agree to in writing upon request of Owner.

The District reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities, and to reject non-conforming, non-responsive, or conditional Bids.

By: Vicki Ennis Secretary

South Adams County Water and Sanitation District acting by and through its South Adams County Water and Sanitation District Activity Enterprise

Legal Notice No. CCX1315

First Publication: April 4, 2024

Last Publication: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel

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State lets some migrant students skip tests

Colorado Department of Education issues guidance

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Some students who are new to the U.S. and enrolled in Colorado schools after the o cial October count will not have to take any standardized tests this spring.

at’s according to new guidance issued recently by the Colorado Department of Education.

e department changed the guidance as school districts are seeing

unprecedented numbers of new students who are new to the country. Teachers have described various challenges they’ve faced trying to educate migrant students, and the students are unlikely to do well on standardized state tests given in English. As of February, the Denver, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Greeley, Adams 12, Je co, and Mapleton districts told Chalkbeat they had enrolled more than 5,600 newcomer students after October count.

Denver Public School leaders told their school board this week that in their case, the majority of students new to the country will fall into that category to be exempt from testing.

Colorado students who are identied as new to the country and have no or limited pro ciency in English already are exempt from taking standardized English reading and writing tests for at least their rst year of school. Before the new guidance, they were expected to take standardized math and science tests with accommodations.

is spring, if students are new to the country, have no or little English uency, enrolled after October count, and had limited or interrupted schooling before arriving, they can also skip the math and science tests.

Limited or interrupted schooling includes not attending school for six

consecutive school calendar months prior to Colorado enrollment or having two or more years of missed schooling compared to similarly aged students in the U.S. Students who had limited school options in their home country because of war, civil unrest, or needing to travel a long distance to an available school could also qualify for that designation.

Students who have not had interrupted schooling will still be expected to take math and science tests with accommodations. eir participation will count toward overall participation rates, but their scores will not be factored into school ratings for state or federal accountability systems.