Seats for four City Councilors and the Mayor are all up for grabs in November’s election as the race to fill those seats kicks off.

Terms for Mayor Greg Mills and for City Councilors Jan Pawlowski, Ann Tadeo and Peter Padilla are all due to expire in January.

Voters in Ward 1 will also elect a new City Council representative. That seat has been vacant since Matt Johnston stepped down in April.

City Council nomination packets will be available starting August 5, according to a news release dated July 5. The nomination packets are available at the City Clerk’s office on the fourth floor of City Hall, located at 500 S. 4^th Avenue.

The City of Brighton will hold elections for mayor and one city council member from each ward on Tuesday, November 4. Residents in each ward will vote for a council member; the candidate with the most votes wins. The entire city of Brighton elects the mayor. The winners will serve four-year terms. 

Candidates running for Mayor and Council must return their petition with the names of 25 qualified electors from their specific ward by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25.  Petitions must be filed with the City Clerk by 5 p.m.

The City Clerk draws lots for council member candidate placement on the ballot on Aug. 26 and the council is scheduled to certify the ballot at their Sept. 2 meeting.

Election Day is Nov. 4.

For more information on the 2025 election, visit brightonco.gov/elections.  

The post Race for the Brighton City Council begins August 5 appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit in coordination with more than 20 other states Monday against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully freezing approximately $80 million in federal education funding intended for Colorado schools.

The freeze, announced June 30 by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education, has thrown local school districts, including Jefferson County, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools, Weld RE-8 and 27-J Schools, into disarray just weeks before the new academic year begins.

The lawsuit contends that the freeze violates the U.S. Constitution and multiple federal laws by blocking funds that Congress had already appropriated.

Weiser called the move “disruptive and reckless,” saying it forces school leaders to rework budgets, staffing and programming on the fly.

“I have heard directly from Colorado school superintendents how disruptive and reckless this arbitrary freeze of federal funding is to them,” Weiser said. “Schools deserve to be treated fairly, and this administration’s lack of regard for the impact of this lawless decision is appalling.”

Funding pulled with one day’s notice

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes grants by July 1 so states and districts can budget for services that support students and educators.

The funds typically cover programming for English learners, migrant students, after-school and summer learning, teacher training, technology access and school climate initiatives.

Until this year, the money had arrived on schedule.

This summer, state agencies received notice just one day before the new fiscal year that the Department would not be obligating any funds for these programs, despite previously approving state plans.

A June 30 email from the Department stated that decisions had not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for the upcoming academic year due to “a review of the programs’ consistency with, among other things, the President’s priorities.”

According to the lawsuit, this eleventh-hour notification left states without time to address what it calls “a momentous fiscal vacuum.”

The complaint describes the freeze as “unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional,” and states that the Department of Education and OMB have no authority to withhold the congressionally appropriated formula funds for discretionary review.

Local districts scramble to respond

The fallout has been immediate.

Jefferson County Public Schools estimates a $3 million shortfall directly tied to the freeze. Programs supporting multilingual learners, professional development for educators and community engagement are now at risk. Because of federal supplanting rules, the district cannot legally use general fund dollars to fill the gap, even if funding is eventually released.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools also faces budget uncertainty, but Superintendent Chris Gdowski said that, based on careful budget planning, families and staff will not see disruptions this year.

However, he warned that if the federal government does not release the funds soon or cuts them again next year, the district may not be able to sustain the affected programs long term.

According to reporting from KUNC, summer youth enrichment programs offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver rely on nearly $1 million in federal funding now threatened by the freeze. 

Weld RE-8, a smaller district serving Fort Lupton and surrounding communities, is bracing for the possibility of reducing support staff and postponing student services. 

In 27-J Schools, Superintendent Will Pierce said the district is using contingency funds for the 2025-2026 school year but will have to make adjustments if the funds remain unavailable long-term.

Constitutional clash over spending authority

Weiser emphasized that only Congress has the authority to decide how federal money is spent. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration overstepped by holding back education funds that Congress had already approved and the President had signed into law.

At stake, Weiser said, is not just the money, but the principle that education budgets shouldn’t be used as political leverage.

According to the complaint, the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to control spending. The lawsuit argues that the administration is ignoring its legal obligations by refusing to release money that has already been allocated.

“Yet that is exactly what Defendants are attempting to do here,” the lawsuit states.

Weiser is co-leading the lawsuit with attorneys general from California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The attorneys general of more than a dozen other states, along with the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, have joined the legal challenge.

Broader impact extends to red states

While the lawsuit was filed by states led by Democratic governors, the impact of the funding freeze is especially severe in Republican-leaning states. Red states are, on average, more dependent on federal education dollars than blue states.

They receive roughly 17% of their public school funding from federal sources, compared to just 11% in states that voted for President Harris. The freeze affects critical programs, including Title I-C for migrant education, Title II-A for professional development, Title III-A for English-learner services and Title IV programs for academic enrichment and after-school activities.

Rural districts in red states are among the hardest hit, with Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas receiving over 22% of their education funding from federal sources.

States like Wyoming and Alabama have already warned of potential teacher layoffs and program cuts. The situation underscores a growing contradiction between political rhetoric about federal overreach and the practical reliance many red states have on federal dollars.

Schools urge swift resolution 

Some districts say they’ll face impossible choices before the first bell rings. The 2025–26 school year begins in a matter of weeks, and many schools are preparing contingency plans in case the funding isn’t restored.

“Our schools need stability and support,” Weiser said. “Instead, they’re being forced to undo months of planning because of a decision that is both unlawful and indifferent to the needs of our students.”

The lawsuit also highlights how essential programs from English learner services to teacher training to adult education and reentry programs are now at risk. 

“The abrupt freeze is wreaking havoc on key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs,” the complaint states.

A hearing date has not yet been scheduled, but the coalition is asking the court to declare the freeze unlawful and block any attempt to withhold or delay the funding.

The post Colorado sues Trump administration over $80M freeze in school funding appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

The 2025 Littleton general election is approaching and two nonprofit groups have come to the forefront of the conversation concerning Littleton’s future.

Rooted in Littleton is a 501(c)(4) that got its start in January 2025, previously known as Save Old Littleton. The group aims to “protect the natural charm, livability and beauty of our core neighborhoods by advocating for thoughtful, community-first planning — and pushing back against unchecked high-density development,” said Erica Jagger, Rooted in Littleton’s public relations and marketing manager.

Vibrant Littleton is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2020. Its goals include “educating and advocating for Littleton policies which support safer streets, attainable homes, thriving public schools and strong nearby businesses,” said Patrick Santana, the group’s executive director.

While both Rooted in Littleton and Vibrant Littleton are nonprofit entities, each holds different statuses that impact how the groups can or cannot engage in political actions, such as campaigning. 

Rooted in Littleton is permitted to participate in political activities, including lobbying and endorsing candidates, so long as it is not the main purpose of the organization, according to Inside Philanthropy. 

In contrast, Vibrant Littleton’s status does not allow for it to engage in political candidate races, fundraising or campaigning, and the organization must remain nonpartisan.

Both organizations spoke with the Littleton Independent about the upcoming November election, their funding and vision for the future of housing in Littleton. 

Editor’s note: The Littleton Independent organized the Q&A responses by alphabetical order, with Rooted in Littleton falling first alphabetically, followed by Vibrant Littleton. 

What is your goal for Littleton and the upcoming election?

Rooted in Littleton: Our top priority is passing the charter amendment on this November’s ballot. This amendment will ensure that any plans to increase density in Littleton are backed by thoughtful planning and meaningful community input. This amendment gives us time to assess whether we truly need more than the 6,500 new housing units projected in the city’s Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan.

Our broader goal is to return power to the people of Littleton. Too often, major decisions have been made without adequately reflecting the will of our residents. We’re working to change that.

Vibrant Littleton: Our goals are educating and advocating for Littleton policies which support safer streets, attainable homes, thriving public schools and strong nearby businesses. In this upcoming November election, Vibrant Littleton seeks to help Littleton citizens better understand the implication and impact of upcoming ballot measures, such as increasing the city’s debt limit and a proposed referendum to restrict residents’ land use options, increase city operating costs due to costly mailings, and which could potentially involve the city in litigation.

How will your approach affect housing affordability and the availability of homes for different income levels — young families, seniors and essential workers?

Rooted in Littleton: Our primary goal is to preserve the small-town charm and beauty of Littleton for future generations, not just for today. Knee-jerk reactions to current housing issues won’t lead to thoughtful, long-term solutions. That’s why we are advocating for a more inclusive process — one that genuinely represents all voices in Littleton, not just the few who have secured positions of power. 

We’ve personally knocked on hundreds of doors and invested our own resources to conduct a professional survey to better understand what the people of Littleton truly want. Our survey showed that while most residents support finding solutions to housing affordability, they are strongly opposed to widespread upzoning that could damage neighborhood character and fail to provide real affordability.

Vibrant Littleton: We are people who know firsthand why it’s important to have a quantity and diversity of housing options in our city.

We view efforts to allow additional uses like backyard cottages, duplexes, condos and townhomes – often referred to as missing middle homes – in our residential neighborhoods as being well-aligned with our community’s stated housing goals.

The years-long discussions with stakeholder groups, planning commission and city council around missing middle homes was titled Neighborhood Housing Opportunities (NHO). The primary intent was to provide more diverse housing options; NHO was not proposed to resolve housing affordability, though additional housing options can provide some relief. Affordability is a complex question, affected by many factors. Council has targeted this issue using other ordinances, such as the 2023 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. 

If diverse home options do not exist, then they can’t be attainable, so permitting them is an essential first step. The counter-approach, which would not permit varied residential uses, reduces the diversity and availability of housing options, a direct contradiction to our Comprehensive Plan’s stated housing goal. 

What evidence or data supports your position on whether increasing or restricting housing density will improve or worsen affordability in Littleton?

Rooted in Littleton: Neither the mayor nor the city council have presented a concrete plan specifically aimed at increasing affordable housing in Littleton. Instead, during city council meetings, their proposals have focused on increasing housing density, which they claim could potentially lead to more affordable options in the future. They also acknowledged in these meetings that Littleton’s current practice of allowing missing middle homes to be demolished and replaced with duplexes — often priced about 50% higher — does not improve affordability. 

However, city council members have asserted that over time, market forces of supply-and-demand will drive down the prices of these new, initially more expensive homes. According to this view, the increased housing supply will eventually lead to greater affordability in Littleton. Yet, this has not been the outcome in other neighborhoods near downtown Denver, where similar price increases have fueled widespread gentrification and displaced many longtime residents, as seen in areas like Five Points, Whittier, Highlands and others, according to articles by the Denver Post and Westword. 

Studies have shown that upzoning can raise land values and home prices. Research from MIT found that upzoning in Chicago increased housing prices, rather than lowering them. Our survey also reflected skepticism from residents about whether proposed density increases would result in meaningful affordability gains.

Vibrant Littleton: As covered in detail by the Colorado Sun, restrictive zoning regulations contribute to worsening housing affordability. Large minimum lot sizes are one culprit. In Littleton, for instance, 39% of residential land has a minimum lot size of at least two acres.

The lack of smaller missing middle home types such as condos and townhomes is another data point cited in the (Colorado Sun) article: “In April, the median condominium or townhome sold for around $400,000, according to the Colorado Association of Realtors. That’s $200,000 less expensive than the median single-family home sold that month.” 

Littleton’s current zoning rules prohibit condos and townhomes across the vast majority of residential districts. So we, like other Colorado communities, are subject to this negative housing price impact cited in this data point.

More homes reduce housing costs, as seen in Austin and Minneapolis, where zoning reforms allowed missing middle homes. This also increases housing options without accelerating neighborhood change, offering new families access to previously unaffordable areas.

What is your stance on local versus state control over zoning and housing decisions, and how should conflicts be resolved?

Rooted in Littleton: We support maintaining Littleton’s home rule authority over zoning decisions. While we recognize the state’s goal of addressing housing shortages, we are concerned about one-size-fits-all state mandates like HB24-1152 that allow ADUs by right without sufficient local input. We believe conflicts should be resolved through collaborative efforts that respect both local voices and state-level housing objectives.

Vibrant Littleton: We recognize that housing challenges are not limited to a single neighborhood, a single city or a single region. Most of the 887 new employees of Littleton’s new Costco are likely people currently residing outside of Littleton, but who would prefer to have a home near where they work. A radiologist currently living in Morrison who works at Littleton Adventist Hospital might seek a home in Littleton for nights when she’s on-call. A young couple with a 3-year-old child currently renting a Commerce City apartment might want a condo or townhome in a Littleton neighborhood for its excellent school district. 

Vibrant Littleton supports efforts by elected officials at every level of government to address housing challenges. As an organization, we look at specific housing policies and regulations — be they local, county, state or federal — and consider whether these measures help or hinder solutions. The academic question of who has jurisdiction is far less important than the real-world question of: will said policy help or harm? People want good outcomes from government actions and they especially want policies which expand their options and lower their costs. We don’t want to see leaders trying to score points about political jurisdiction. Rather, citizens expect civic officials to deliver solutions and positive outcomes — regardless of what level of government those solutions originate.  

How do you envision Littleton meeting its housing needs over the next 10 to 20 years?

Rooted in Littleton: According to the city’s comprehensive plan, Envision Littleton,  we are way ahead of our 20-year plan to build 6,500 new homes by 2040. We envision meeting future housing needs through a combination of preserving the character of existing neighborhoods, encouraging ADUs in appropriate areas, and focusing new development in underutilized commercial zones and along transit corridors. This approach balances growth with infrastructure capacity and neighborhood quality of life.

Vibrant Littleton: When Littleton was first platted by Richard Little in the 1870s, no one knew what the future would hold. In the early 1940s, Littleton had a community of 2,244 people, and by 1960, Littleton would quadruple in size to over 13,000 residents. By the year 2020, Littleton’s population had tripled again to 45,000 residents – and at every stage of this journey, people would describe our city as a small town and a wonderful place to live. These figures show that there’s no magic number of residents that make a city a great place to live. 

What matters is that our city and its leaders effectively help Littleton solve the challenges of its time, whether that time is 1885, 1955 or 2035. It’s not about Vibrant Littleton’s envisioning, or predicting the future. Our organization focuses on ensuring that our community and its leaders have the tools they need to solve the challenges of their time — be those housing, transportation or fiscal challenges. We oppose measures which handcuff our leaders and our community by locking us to some fixed point in time or single, simplistic solution – forever. We question the hubris of anyone claiming to know precisely what’s needed for our city’s future.

What data, studies or real-world examples inform your position on the effects of increased density or preserved single-family zoning?

Rooted in Littleton: Our March 2025 Littleton housing survey found that a majority of residents are concerned that indiscriminate upzoning could decrease neighborhood livability without providing true affordability. Nationally, the MIT Chicago study and outcomes from cities like Minneapolis have shown mixed results when it comes to affordability gains from upzoning.

Vibrant Littleton: Littleton has always been a city composed of diverse housing types. Our oldest residential structures are duplexes and four-unit homes, dating from the late 19th century. People in Littleton lived clustered around our core downtown and Main Street on small parcels, with daily needs easily traversed on foot, bike or horse, enlarged with transit connections to Denver by street car and locomotive passenger trains. The small-town character of our community continues to draw upon the richness of this kind of diversity of home types, transportation options and walkable accessibility. 

The real world examples of the positive effects of this traditional Littleton approach, or pre-1960’s zoning, are all around us to see. Especially in the parts of our city where we experience the deepest sense of small-town charm: our old downtown with its wonderful mix of townhomes, duplexes, backyard cottages, rooming houses, businesses on the ground level — none of them burdened with seas of asphalt parking lots surrounding them, with transportation options like the rail and bus routes that connect through this area. 

We don’t need anything more than our own experience of this to know the positive effects of re-legalizing what created the heart of small town Littleton: A diversity of home types near businesses accessible by foot, bike or train. 

How are you fundraising? Is there a specific dollar amount set as the fundraising goal?

Rooted in Littleton: We’re currently raising funds through our website, where supporters can contribute at any level. While we haven’t set a public fundraising target, every donation — large or small — directly supports our outreach, education and advocacy efforts. It’s a grassroots movement, and every dollar helps us keep neighbors informed and engaged.

Vibrant Littleton: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Vibrant Littleton is funded via fully tax-deductible contributions from individual donors and, very occasionally, small foundations. 

As reported on our IRS Form 990, Vibrant Littleton has annual revenues less than $50K. Far less, in fact. To date, the largest donation Vibrant Littleton has ever received from an individual donor was $110. We have received only two foundation grants — one grant for $500 and another grant for $226, which helped fund our Mailchimp account for one year. 

Vibrant Littleton’s total operating budget for 2024 was less than $1,500. We do not have a fundraising goal for 2025, and we don’t generally set fundraising goals. Vibrant Littleton doesn’t have paid staff, doesn’t use paid consultants and has no assets — and never has had any of these. 

Will you plan on endorsing any candidates this November?

Rooted in Littleton: Yes. We plan to endorse candidates in the coming months who are deeply committed to serving Littleton’s residents, prioritizing transparency and preserving the small-town charm that makes our city unique. We’re excited to support leaders who listen, lead with integrity, and are focused on long-term, sustainable solutions for our community.

Vibrant Littleton: No, Vibrant Littleton has never, cannot, and will not endorse candidates in any election. Unlike political partisan 501(c)(4) organizations, Vibrant Littleton is not allowed to support or assist campaigns for elective office. Vibrant Littleton has no intention of doing so – now or in the future.

The post Competing visions: How two nonprofits may influence Littleton’s 2025 election appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is facing the potential loss of nearly $3 million in federal education funding after the U.S. Department of Education announced a freeze on key grants intended to support the 2025–26 school year. 

Superintendent Chris Gdowski said the district is working to protect critical programs and vulnerable students, at least for the coming school year, as the Trump administration’s decision to halt $71 million in federal education grants to Colorado ripples across the state.

“We had a good, solid plan A in place to deal with these kinds of potentialities that should allow us to manage for this next year,” Gdowski said. “But it just makes the following year more difficult, because those funds are spent, and you might be without those funds for a lot more years down the road.”

Where the cuts hit

According to Gdowski, the federal freeze affects four major funding streams for Adams 12, totaling just shy of $3 million. The district had planned to use these dollars for teacher training, support for English learners, academic enrichment and after-school programs serving hundreds of low-income students.

The largest chunk, $1.15 million, was earmarked for educator professional development, specifically to support a new middle school literacy curriculum. 

Another $511,000 was allocated for services to support the district’s English language learners, who make up 16–18% of Adams 12’s 34,000 students. 

“Supporting them is an important legal requirement,” Gdowski said, emphasizing that many students need help developing English reading, writing and speaking skills because it’s not the primary language spoken at home.

Title IV funds, approximately $463,000, were allocated for technology, gifted and talented programs and STEM learning resources to help close academic gaps and accelerate the progress of advanced students.

Perhaps most visibly, $852,000 in 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding is now in limbo. That money supports after-school and summer enrichment for roughly 800 students at the district’s six Title I schools.

Gdowski explained that these are programs that do not just provide academic help but also help pay for support for robotics, sports and healthy snacks for children who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

“There’s lots of work that we have planned for this coming year that’ll be essential to continue, even if these funds don’t make their way to us,” Gdowski explained. “We believe that we need to move forward with these initiatives, regardless of the funding uncertainty.”

Short-term planning, long-term uncertainty

While the freeze does not currently affect Title I funding for high-poverty schools or funding for special education, the loss of these other federal streams could have a ripple effect throughout the district. 

“We did worry that there might be a reduction in some federal funds,” Gdowski said. “We had a fairly high level of confidence that Title I and IDEA funds (IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) would not be reduced. And so we set aside some money as part of the budget plan that if these things were reduced, we could sustain the programs at least for the 25–26 school year.”

That means families and staff will not see disruptions this year. 

“We’re going to be able to deliver to our families what we committed to them to do in the spring,” he said. “And we’re going to be able to do that with the staff that we hired and not make layoffs.”

But if the federal government does not release the funds or cuts them again next year, the programs may not be sustainable. 

“If the government withholds these funds for the entire school year, and cuts them for the 26–27 school year, it will place further strain on our already limited resources,” Gdowski said.

Other vulnerabilities: Medicaid and the state budget

Gdowski warned that Medicaid reimbursements could also be in jeopardy. Adams 12 receives between $6 and $8 million in Medicaid funding, which helps pay for more than 80 employees who serve students with disabilities.

“We’re not quite sure where we’re going to land with Medicaid,” he said. “I’ve had others say the Medicaid funding that the bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) affects is only for adult Medicaid services, and they don’t feel like it will necessarily reduce funding for students and for children in our care.”

Gdowski also flagged another issue the district is watching closely. 

A special legislative session could take place in August to address state-level revenue concerns. 

“There may be some implications from the big, beautiful bill… that may reduce some of the state revenues,” he said. “It may also have impacts for Medicaid and some of their obligations.”

Advocacy and response

Adams 12 is not a party to any lawsuits over the freeze. 

Still, Gdowski said the district is actively lobbying Colorado’s congressional delegation, including Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Brittany Pettersen and Gabe Evans, to push the Department of Education for a quick resolution. 

“We feel like using political channels…is the fastest and best way,” Gdowski said, noting that legal battles could drag on for years.

So far, the district hasn’t fielded a flood of questions from parents, which Gdowski noted is likely a result of the timing, as many families are focused on summer holidays rather than the upcoming school year. 

Adams 12 plans to communicate first with staff in affected programs, assuring them that jobs and services are secure for now, before reaching out to families as the start of school approaches.

The post Adams 12 schools work to shield students from federal grant freeze appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Tim and Kara Norick of the Littleton area adopted their second-youngest son of six children, Malakai, from China in 2016, when he was almost 3 years old. 

Malakai was found on a bridge in China at just days old in dire medical condition and was rushed to a hospital in Shanghai, where he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, organ failure and other complex medical conditions.

After almost three years in an orphanage, Malakai was adopted and brought to join his new family near Littleton.

After being treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Malakai was diagnosed with Opitz G/BBB Syndrome — a rare condition affecting the entire midline of his body. 

“Think about anything that crosses through your midline like your digestive system, your trachea, your lungs, even your eyes and your nose, are all impacted by the syndrome,” Tim Norick said.

Now almost 12, Malakai has undergone several surgeries and treatments, and even received a custom-built larynx, or “voice box.”

The Noricks have private health insurance to keep up with Malakai’s medical costs and use Medicaid, or government issued health insurance, to supplement.

“Children’s Hospital gave us a caseworker off the bat and we were very grateful for that because they were able to do a lot of the front work (setting up) Medicaid support (which) we’ve had since the very beginning,” Kara Norick said.

Medicaid helped cover costs for Malakai’s growth hormone medication, something the Noricks’ private insurance wouldn’t pay for.

Additionally, Kara Norick said their primary insurance paid for feeding tubes, but not for Malaki’s Malone tube, a small tube that empties bowels. Medicaid paid for Malakai’s Malone tube equipment.

Because of the several times Medicaid was able to cover costs for Malakai’ health, the Noricks are avid supporters of preserving Medicaid.

As part of Children’s Hospital Association’s Family Advocacy Day, the Norick family recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with 60 other patients and their families to advocate for preserving Medicaid amid the potential cuts being debated in Congress. Kara Norick said she was impressed with how legislators spoke with Malakai and made him feel valued.

“It was a breath of fresh air to see how truly bipartisan things can be,” she said.

Medicaid under the ‘big, beautiful bill’

The budget consolidation bill, H.R.1, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was introduced by House Republicans. It aims to “reduce taxes, reduce or increase spending for various federal programs, increase the statutory debt limit, and otherwise address agencies and programs throughout the federal government,” according to the bill’s language.

Ranging from tax cuts to implementing new work requirements to qualify for Medicaid and SNAP, Congress passed the bill on a 218-214 vote on July 3 and President Donald Trump signed it a day later.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that H.R.1 would decrease federal Medicaid spending by $793 billion because of new work requirements that the office said would cut insurance coverage for 10.3 million people nationwide.

According to WhiteHouse.gov, the bill will strengthen “the integrity of Medicaid by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.”

Kara Norick said she worries about keeping Malakai on his necessary medications as he gets older. 

“We are proponents of trying to be as independent as you can,” Kara Norick said. “But unless I am making (the medicine), administering it, doing everything, it’s seen as: ‘oh, he’s independent, he doesn’t need it.’”

The local Medicaid battle

For Doctors Care, a nonprofit clinic in Littleton, the cuts to patients’ Medicaid coverage could cost the clinic thousands. The organization is currently losing $20,000 per month in Medicaid funds from the now-ended Public Health Emergency’s Continuous Coverage Unwind that was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The clinic doesn’t turn away anyone who can’t afford a visit and uses a sliding fee scale, for which the price of services and medication are adjusted to what a patient can pay. Currently, 30% of Doctors Care’s patients are uninsured.

“We’re going to see another 5-to-15% of people who will become uninsured, and that just places so much pressure on the overall healthcare system,” said Bebe Kleinman, CEO of Doctors Care.

Elizabeth Hockaday, Doctors Care’s development and marketing director, said while the clinic will continue its mission of serving all patients regardless of insurance status, the lack of income has pushed the facility to rely on donations.

“Charitable giving can be just as volatile sometimes as whatever is happening in politics and the stock market,” Hockaday said.

Kleinman said Doctors Care’s partners with other nonprofits that offer resources for food, housing and community engagement are also in a vulnerable position.

“In previous years when budgets have been in crisis, there might be one partner that is in a dip,” she said. “But what we’re seeing now is that there’s really no part of the community safety net that isn’t under attack. That’s very impactful to the patients we serve.”

Since H.R.1 would also seek to decrease federal spending on SNAP, Kleinman said she is worried about people losing food resources, which would affect the health of many. Patients who have access to nutritious food, have housing and are employed are easier to care for than when they wait too long to see a doctor due to medical costs and become very sick, according to Kleinman. 

Hockaday said the stress put on the healthcare system then impacts nurses, doctors and other hospital staff who become quickly burned out from treating an influx of sick and diseased patients. 

Colorado Access is a nonprofit public sector health plan that exclusively serves public programs like Medicaid and children’s health insurance. Colorado Access CEO Annie Lee said the company acts as a connection point between the state, Medicaid providers and its members.

“The work requirements in the reconciliation bill is a huge concern,” she said. “This is a big administrative burden to be placed on states.”

Lee said in 2023, when the Public Health Emergency Unwind ended, 800,000 Coloradans lost Medicaid coverage. According to the Urban Institute, at least 120,000 Coloradans are expected to lose coverage due to the introduction of Medicaid work requirements alone, with more likely mistakenly disenrolled.

“When people can’t access health care, they’re getting sicker until they get care, usually at the emergency department … people shouldn’t wait until they’re terribly sick to get care — and when it’s the most expensive care,” she said.

The cost of expensive medical intervention that is not compensated begins a ripple effect on the healthcare system, Lee said.  

“Having our members lose coverage is painful and it’s also painful to know that our providers will not be able to access the kinds of revenues that they need in order to stay afloat to continue serving their communities,” she said.

Both Lee and Kleinman said they are “weathering the storm of uncertainty” each day, waiting to see if the bill passes and how soon changes will be ordered.

They addressed the perception that Medicaid is an abused welfare resource.

“Medicaid saves lives,” Kleinman said. “We judge what self-sufficiency looks like and most of us are not in a position to be judging others.”

Lee echoed the importance of Medicaid for children: “We know cases of kids born with severe developmental delays and diseases that are very difficult and expensive to treat, and if not for Medicaid, they wouldn’t be able to go on and live their lives.”

For Malakai and his parents, Medicaid fills in the gaps that primary insurance can’t. 

“Medicaid can provide life-affirming care that Malakai would not have otherwise,” Tim Norick said.

The post Fighting for Medicaid in Littleton appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Celebrating the freedoms that we Americans normally enjoy is just around the corner. Taking the time to contemplate and fully appreciate what this date means in our country’s history is most significant this year, given all that is happening at the national level.

Our Constitutional freedoms are under attack both directly and indirectly and there isn’t much we can do about it. Yes, we can protest in gatherings and marches throughout the land. While that will demonstrate the opposition many of us have to President Trump’s policies and actions, it will hardly stop what he is ordering to be done. While he talks about a “regime change” in Iran, such a dramatic action is not in the cards for America during Trump’s tenure.

What is in the cards for us is the mid-term election of Congressional members. The current slim margin of Republican control in both the House and the Senate makes the Republican position quite vulnerable. Democrats need to get their act together, reorganize and run solid candidates focusing on victory in November 2026. It is the best opportunity “we the people” have to overthrow the tyranny and lack of recognition of our Constitutional rights.

In the meantime, we must be vocal and protest by contacting Republican members of Congress seeking their opposition to not only the “Big, Beautiful Bill” but also other ill-conceived legislation that compromises our rights.

Funding for the 73rd Avenue Tavern, aka Barque Restaurant

For better or worse, the almost $4 million funding from Westminster taxpayers’ taxes has been approved by the Westminster City Council via a councilor’s bill to rehabilitate the former Rodeo Market into a tavern (both food and beer). The vote was 6-1, with Council member Ireland voting no.

Subject to the council passing the ordinance on second reading, WCG Construction, Inc. will be awarded the Construction Management/ General Contractor contract for the rehab project at a net cost of $3,966,375. This does not include the previous $900,000 spent on the building for numerous years.

In two separate city surveys, they have highly favored a restaurant in this building. While the business operator is not planning on a restaurant per se, they see such a use as an economic stimulus for the 73^rd Avenue commercial area and bringing vitality back to the area.

Points to ponder on the Barque Restaurant decision

I would venture to say that the decision on investing approximately $4 million of city money in the Rodeo Super Market building is one of the toughest decisions this city council has faced. However, I would speculate on how much influence the November election had on those who are either seeking election or re-election.

Yes, the city owns the building and has not been a responsible landowner/landlord. Why the city chose to purchase the building in 2004 is not clear to me, but the city has irresponsibly treated the building and site.

OK, that all is history. Now, let’s look at the deal with Barque Restaurant.

Councilmember Ireland was right on with her remarks that the parking problem has not been solved. Other developments don’t get away with a “we will fix it in phases as problems come up.”

The site plan calls for five off-street parking spaces yet the city’s parking requirements call for 42 spaces. When the Rodeo Supermarket was in operation, there were approximately 40 spaces available to customers. There was no detailed return on investment study done on this deal.

Staff did point out in the staff memorandum that it would take a projected 22 years to recover approximately $1,392,552 in rent and $2,319,196, which is close to the $3,966,375 to be invested in the building. No bank would have even come close to making such a loan.

A final point to address is the historic value of the building and the importance of this investment in giving the 73^rd Avenue a “positive shot in the arm.”

Believe me; I want the 73^rd Avenue commercial area to survive. I have friends who have businesses in Historic Westminster. However, I don’t think this deal is the solution to the area’s needs. It’s bigger than any one business.

I hope Barque Restaurant is a huge success and I will be a customer there. Let’s hope it can beat the odds of still being in business in five years.

The possibility of selling Western States public lands

The Republican-controlled Congress is seriously considering selling off various public lands in our Western states, including Colorado. The motivation is to help pay for the huge tax break to very wealthy people, dramatically increase funding for immigration control and increase military spending.

The Senate version of the bill revives and expands a public land sale proposal which had been in the initial House version, but was dropped thanks to pressure from Western states’ representatives.

Specifically, the Senate version would require the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to sell between 0.5% and 0.75% of the 438 million acres the two agencies manage across the West. The upper end of that range is nearly 3.3 million acres or more than 5,100 square miles – about 12 times the land area of our beloved Rocky Mountain National Park.

The pretext of the public land sales is to increase the opportunities to build affordable housing. I can hardly keep from laughing when Republicans came out with that justification. The whole reason is to raise money to help fund the huge tax cut for the friends of the King.

The Senate version would exempt lands that include national monuments, wilderness areas, national conservation areas, national parks and national recreation areas. Public lands with grazing, mining, drilling or timber leases would not be sold.

The public land sales portion of the “One big, beautiful bill” needs an all-out attack to delete it like what happened in the House version. Our public lands really do not need to be sold off to wealthy people who want to pick prime land sites for their 3^rd or 4^th summer home. These lands are a part of what makes America so special. Let’s not lose these assets!

But there is good news! The Senate Parliamentarian ruled on June 23 that the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management property falls OUTSIDE the scope of the rule for the drafted reconciliation bill. This means proponents of the sale of land must either attempt to rewrite the provision so it fits Senate rules or drop it from the budget bill.

It’s a temporary reprieve. I bet the Republican Senators will modify the budget bill to include such land sales. We will see.

Exciting possibilities for the City of Northglenn

It’s always exciting and energizing to plan for the future. The Northglenn City Council is currently involved in the third phase of its Civic Center visioning. Earlier phases have included their recreation center and Parsons Theatre and their dynamic city hall.

This segment focuses on the city-owned land for private development. Recently staff and planning consultants presented two development scenarios for the total site. As a reminder, their 2017 master plan goals and objectives for the entire site included the following: enhance stronger community identity; integrate a vibrant mix of land use; evaluate the best location and design of municipal facilities; provide public gathering places; leverage the success of adjacent development and strengthen connections.

Two scenarios were presented and analyzed. Both concepts included townhomes, apartments, live-work and commercial/retail.

A part of the difference in the two has to do with where the commercial/retail is placed – either fronting on Community Center Drive or tucked in the southern area adjacent to City Hall.

Other differences were the mix and location of townhouses to apartments/condos and dropping the live/work space in Scenario two. Also, there are 60 extra parking spaces in Scenario #1 versus 132 spaces in Scenario #2 for the recreation center.

The city plans a community outreach program over the summer. Ultimately, the real test of this thorough planning and analysis will be the master developer’s reaction to the plan. Staff had noted the need for some flexibility to give the developer some “wiggle room.”

It will be fun to see what the process produces.

Bill Christopher is a former Westminster city manager and RTD board member. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media. You can contact him at bcjayhawk68@gmail.com.

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A new political committee has formed in Littleton.  

Formed by former city councilmember Amy Conklin, Littleton Grows Together has a vision to keep Littleton a forward-looking community. It intends to accomplish this by supporting affordable housing, transportation improvements and prioritizing the environment and community building, Conklin said. 

“Littleton Grows Together is committed to ensuring that competent, passionate, qualified people get elected to serve on Littleton’s City Council,” Conklin said. “The candidates the committee supports will understand the broader issues impacting our community and want to forge a path forward into the future; respecting the past without being confined by it.”

Conklin served as a Littleton councilmember from 2003 to 2007, after she served on the city’s Planning Commission from 1992 to 2000. She was a founder of the Littleton Leadership Academy and is now is co-chair of the Littleton Community Retreat, which is a nonprofit that holds educational events for residents to learn about the city and the issues it faces. She recently helped draft Littleton’s Environmental Action Plan while serving as a member of the Environmental Stewardship Board. Conklin also has owned a water consulting company for 17 years.

While Conklin is the face of the committee, she works closely with the other volunteer members to run the group.

The 2025 Littleton City Council election has already kicked off with Mayor Kyle Schlachter and councilmember Pat Driscoll  already announcing their run for mayor and two individuals running for District 3,  Amanda Henderson and Curtis Samuelson.. 

Conklin said she is particularly concerned about Rooted in Littleton’s petition that she said would make Littleton more exclusionary and negatively impact the city’s economic viability. 

“The intent and wording of the petition seems problematic for our community as city council discusses in its May 27 study session,” Conklin said. “The intent also conflicts with all of the work this council and previous councils have done on developing housing policies that have been incorporated in our Comprehensive Plan after lengthy community engagement.” 

Conklin said since Littleton’s birth in 1890, the town has gone through numerous shifts that were once resisted, but met the evolving needs of the community.

“Littleton has met the challenges of a changing world and thrived because of sound, forward-thinking leadership through the years. Littleton Grows Together supports candidates who are open-minded, who build wide community support through proper engagement with all who live here, and not primarily funded by small, specialized interest groups with a hidden funded agenda,” Conklin said.

Some notable changes that Littleton made that Conklin highlighted was the then-controversial addition of the Regional Transportation District’s light rail in the city in 2000. Conklin said she recalled people who argued that no one would use it, but it turned out to be an asset for locals.

She also noted that another positive change was when Littleton signed a service agreement with Denver Water after the flood in 1965, and when the city built its own museum and library in 1965 and 1970 respectively, something she said took strong, brave visionary leaders to complete.

Littleton Grows Together hasn’t yet announced any endorsements for this upcoming election as its members are interviewing Littleton City Council candidates. 

When it comes to deciding which candidates the committee will endorse, Conklin said the committee will inquire about the candidates’ vision for the city and policy, including their understanding of the regulations the city faces and how the council operates. 

“We’ll also want to know if they have what it takes to receive and process feedback from the diversity of people that make up Littleton,” she said.

Conklin said. “Because we live in a representative democracy, where we elect people to learn about the complicated issues in our community, rather than voting on every issue directly, I think it’s important to ensure that thoughtful candidates capable of understanding our complex times are supported.”

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Hundreds lined the sidewalks on either side of the intersection of 120th Avenue and Sheridan Saturday morning as part of the “No Kings” protest of President Donald Trump’s policies.

The rally, which kicked off at about 10 a.m., continued about 16 blocks south at noon with a companion rally along Sheridan Boulevard in front of the Westminster City Park Recreation Center.

Many of the people who showed up admitted they have never protested against anything, but President Trump’s conduct and policies since he took office in January drove them to pick up a sign and voice their displeasure with him.

“I am just a middle-aged lady, but I’ve got to get out there and do something,” said Laura Webb of Lafayette. “I don’t want to tell my grandchildren that I didn’t do anything during this time we are going through.”

“We are just normal people, but we have to stand up,” said Webb, who stood with a group of protestors using whistles to draw attention to their protest.

Portia Buchanan, whose sign said “Resist, Persist and Insist,” said she wanted people to come together at a time when the country is so divided.

“This is crazy, and it has to stop,” Buchanan said.

She said she was heartened by the response to the protests. “There have only been a couple of middle fingers. I take that as a good sign.”

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People in Douglas County communities on June 14 joined in on the nationwide “No Kings” protests through local participation. Being described as a “day of defiance,” the protests drew demonstrators to voice opposition to the Trump administration’s policies. In Parker, more than 100 people stood along Parker Road for about two hours holding homemade signs and American flags. As the cars passed by, some honked and some gave a thumbs up, and others waved President Donald Trump flags. Among the local “No Kings” protestors were elected officials and a variety of community members ranging from a chairman for Rocky Mountain PBS to families with children. Overall, the local “No Kings” protestors described the event as “reenergizing.” 

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Morrison Trustee Paul Sutton is moving with his wife to Tasmania next month, and he’s not shy about sharing his reasons.

“My wife and I are both shocked and disappointed we live in a country where the president denies the possibility of climate change and a huge portion of the population denies COVID was real,” he said. “The judiciary isn’t stepping up. Republicans are just being cowed. He’s (the president) intimidating the media.

“We don’t feel comfortable here. It’s a little too weird. So we’re out of here for at least four years. We might be gone forever.”

Sutton is serving his second term on the board, which is set to expire in Nov. 2026.

Sutton, who recently worked as a geography and environment professor at the University of Denver, has lived in Morrison since 2010. His wife, Sharolyn Anderson, until recently a scientist with the National Park Service, has also served with the town as a member of its now-defunct planning commission.

As a professor, he specializes in sustainability science, ecological economics, and population geography. He’s served on several international expert panels and working groups including the United Nations Global Environmental Outlook. 

“I’m somebody who’s really concerned about sustainability, the loss of biodiversity and income inequality,” he said. “I’d rather live in Australia where they have a livable minimum wage.”

When President Trump was re-elected, Anderson retired from her park service job and began searching for employment in Australia. Sutton said she secured one as a climate change coordinator, working with both the public and government agencies.

“She’s happy to work for a country that believes we have a climate change threat,” said Sutton, who has previously worked in Australia. “My university offered a buyout to everyone over 55 with 20 years of service. I took it and I fly to Tasmania July 6.”

Sutton’s last town board meeting will be on July 1.

In light of his departure, Town Manager Mallory said the town has three options. A town charter amendment passed in fall 2024 states that if a vacancy arises, the board can operate with fewer trustees until residents can choose the next trustee in a regular election. Nassau said the board could decide to follow that recommendation and leave the seat open until the November 2026 election, appoint someone to fill Sutton’s seat, or hold a special election. The board has not yet determined how it will proceed, she said.

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