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Week of December 8, 2022
ADAMS & JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
VOLUME 78 | ISSUE 7
Old motels put dent in homelessness crisis Nonprofits get help in buying 3 sites BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
Denver’s five-year plan to reduce by half the number of people who are homeless and living outdoors
relies on a relatively new strategy — buying up old motels and converting them into housing. The city, through partnerships with nonprofits and thanks to federal coronavirus aid, has helped support the purchase of three motels in recent weeks, two along the city’s historic east-west artery Colfax Avenue and the other north of downtown. Other similar deals
are in the works. While the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless purchased a motel in northeast Denver in 2019, it was the pandemic in 2020 that pushed city leaders and nonprofits to focus on buying old motels as a long-term strategy to get people into housing. That spring, as shelters shut down and sleeping head to toe in crowded rooms was deemed risky, the city
Adams County, municipalities respond to Club Q shooting differently BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While Adams County issued a statement and action steps regarding the Club Q mass shooting and the City of Northglenn held a motion of silence at their city council meeting, Westminster and Thornton took different routes in honoring victims. “This weekend, a horrifying act of mass murder at the Club Q nightclub stole away five lives, injured more than 25 others, and left countless loved ones shattered,” the Adams County statement reads. During the week of Nov. 22nd, the county placed five LGBTQ+ flags in front of Government Center. Under each flag displayed the name, age and photo of every victim of the terror attack. “Adams will also continue to honor and celebrate the lives of these individuals who are and will always be part of pride flags that are waved at respective celebrations, parades, and gatherings,” the statement reads. Westminster, Northglenn and Thornton The City of Westminster decided to not make a statement regarding the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, though that’s protocol, ac-
and several nonprofits provided thousands of temporary motel rooms for people who had COVID or were at higher risk of negative effects from the virus. Now, some of the motel rooms that served as an emergency response during the pandemic will play a significant role in the city’s plan of SEE HOMELESS, P9
After month of free fares, many riders stayed with RTD Zero Fare for Better Air data analyzed BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN
Vigil outside of Club Q on Nov. 21.
cording to city officials. From emails obtained by Colorado Community Media, Mayor Nancy McNally asked City Manager Mark Freitag what the city would do regarding the shooting. Freitag said spokesperson Andy Le advised against doing so since the city doesn’t have a history of
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY LEES
making similar statements. As well, it opens up the question of future tragedies and how to address them. “...it opens up the question of where the event occurs—in the state, in the Mountain West, or in the nation. Finally, it opens up the question of what level of tragedy
After Colorado offered $28 million to make public transit free for the month of August — in an effort to ease air pollution when ozone levels are highest — many riders stayed, even after fares returned, new data from participating agencies across the state show. While ridership numbers dipped after the no-fare promotion ended, at least nine of the 14 public transit agencies that participated in the Zero Fare for Better Air program saw more riders in September compared with July, including the Regional Transportation District — which saw a 14% increase in its average weekday ridership from July to September, according to the agency’s final report on the program submitted to the state. The agency
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 18
WARM SPOT FOR WINTER PRODUCE
Packing container to brings farming downtown
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