I read the story in the Jeffco Transcript about my resignation from Lakewood City Council. I would like to further correct/clarify part of that story. I’ll only address the part about the Council meeting on April 22, 2024. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-jYTekLBEs
This was the meeting where the Hamas supporters came in and spent over 1.5 hours of public comment (for the second time) asking Council to pass a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza, and the end to U.S. military support of Israel. In that meeting shortly after my turn to speak started, Councilor Jeslin Shahrezaei interrupted me to make a motion to end the meeting. At which point she said “We’re through with you, Councilor Olver.”
In your story you cite Jeslin as saying that she made the motion because she didn’t feel safe. Really? She didn’t feel safe when they were her people talking in support of Hamas? (A couple of them had thanked her in their comments for meeting with them). She didn’t feel safe with two armed uniformed Lakewood Police Agents in the room? We knew that the protesters were coming in that night, so there was extra security. If anyone should have felt in danger that evening, it was me. In fact, the Lakewood Police offered to escort me to my car, and did. No, I think she made the motion to cut off my defense of Israel.
Furthermore, she said that people were approaching the dais. Not that I saw. Not that our Police Agents saw. Not that’s on the video (although the video doesn’t show all angles at all times).
She also said that I left the dais to confront the terrorist sympathizers. Utter malarkey! Why would I confront agitated extremists alone? Especially since I was wearing a T-shirt that said “I stand with Israel.” There were at least 50 Hamas supporters there, shouting “From the River, to the Sea.” I wasn’t about to jump into that hornets nest.
These are the facts. I feel that Jeslin has adopted Alternate Facts. It’s one of the reasons that I can’t belong to either the Left or the Right anymore. They both make stuff up, when reality doesn’t suit their narrative. Not my cup of tea.
Rich Olver, Lakewood
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I am appalled by the actions of Jeslin Shahrezaei. She is intolerant of views that do not fall in line with her radical social justice agenda. In one brief email interchange with her on the subject of the short term rental (STR) ordinance soon after she introduced an amendment to allow corporate ownership of STRs, as soon as she realized we were of opposite opinions, she abruptly ceased communication (so much for community engagement). She eventually had to back off that amendment due to overwhelming public blowback. Soon after that, in a Ward 1 meeting, I asked her what civic good was she trying to promote with the amendment, and how much support it had among the voters. Her first answer was some nonsense about a survey. I challenged that by pointing out that the so-called survey was of questionable use because of its self selecting nature and limited numbers. Strike one. When she realized that the survey argument wasn’t holding any water she came up with some more nonsense about receiving many emails in support of STRs. Again, and on the same grounds, I pointed out the questionable use of that as a means to gauge public sentiment. Strike two. Finally with her back to the wall, she admitted that the city was hesitant to enact a strong anti-STR ordinance because such an ordinance had been challenged in federal court (Fifth Circuit). Finally (a little dribbler out of the infield) we had a believable answer, but it was too late. No runs, one weak little hit, and two big errors. Shahrezaei indicated that the city would rather govern out of fear rather taking a firm quality of life position and duking it out in court if need be. She also showed the citizens the depth of her disrespect for us by making up a lot of unscientific drivel about surveys and such. Shahrezaei’s elitist attitude is unacceptable. We deserve a representative who respects us and really listens to us, and to her peers who don’t see eye to eye with her. Honesty, humility, comity, courtesy and considerate behavior toward others are characteristics she is severely lacking. Her chances of redemption have been exhausted, and she is already in the minor leagues. It’s time for her to find another sport.