Week of September 1, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
Addressing homelessness is hindered by community opposition Officials hope for compromise
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 39
Voters to decide on open space tax, broadband
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Ballot measures approved
Douglas County has under 100 people who are unhoused and hundreds more in precarious housing, but county leaders say community stigma has so far hindered efforts to provide year-round shelter locally. Concerns about safety and funding were reignited at the Aug. 11 meeting of the Douglas County Homelessness Initiative, where a plan to expand the existing winter shelter network hosted by a variety of churches to a year-round program faced resistance from public commenters. One commenter said she only supported helping the people who want help, but not with a shelter. “I don’t want to see this beautiful area that we live in and we choose for this reason to have homeless to have drugs, to be downtown infiltrated,” the woman said. “We do not want to invite homeless into our area. I am very, very opposed to this.”
BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
SEE HOMELESS, P9
heads back to Washington D.C. for the final legislative push, he said. “I love these very much. I get as much out of these as I hope you’re gonna get out of it today,” Crow said. “But I’m really excited for this one in particular because
Douglas County voters will decide whether the county will extend its open space tax and whether it will have the option to fund broadband throughout the community after the board of commissioners approved both ballot questions Aug. 23. The questions, which will be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot, were both approved unanimously. The Open Space Sales and Use Tax, which funds acquisitions and maintenance of county open spaces, trails, parks and historic sites, is part of the county’s 1% sales tax. In 2017, the fund was used to purchase Sandstone Ranch, a 2,038-acre property now available to the public for hiking, biking and equestrians. The ballot language would ask voters to approve an extension — not an increase — to the 0.17% sales and use tax, which was first approved in 1994. The tax is currently scheduled to sunset in January 2024. If the proposed ballot language is approved in November, it would be extended until 2039, or 15 years. The county has had several meetings with the Douglas County Open Space Initiative, a citizen committee created to seek commissioners’ support for the extension, to discuss the matter. The board’s hearing room filled with supporters during the Aug. 23 special meeting to discuss the open space tax extension. Commissioners
SEE CROW, P2
SEE BALLOT, P9
Commissioner Abe Laydon answered questions from the attendees during the June FILE PHOTO 22 town hall on homelessness in Douglas County.
Rep. Crow discusses Inflation Reduction Act, other issues Hosts special town hall BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The recently passed climate change, tax and health care bill, gun reform, national security and
the need for respect in politics were among the topics discussed during an Aug. 22 town hall with Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District. Crow spoke to about 165 people at Koelbel Library in Centennial. It provided an opportunity for him to hear resident feedback before he
BOND MEASURE APPROVED
School district looks to voters to approve funding P6
SECOND HAND LOVE
Finding prizes at unique thrift shops P14