NORTON

one of my very favorite things to read each day.

Here are a few ways that I am changing in my word choices when

Letters To The Editor

Misguided a ordable housing bill Senate Bill 23-213 is a 105-page jerrycan of gasoline ready to pour onto the re of housing shortages in Colorado. e bill’s title alone is 148 words long.

SB213 sets out to “diagnose and address housing needs across the state.” e Department of Local Affairs will manage “Several hundred million dollars for a ordable housing [that] will become available in the second half of 2023 due to the enactment of Proposition 123” (from the department’s website).

at measure, approved by Colorado voters last year, authorizes one-tenth of 1% on federal taxable income taxes to be spent on a ordable housing.

e approach being taken in SB213 is to displace local zoning rules with a statewide mandate to incorporate a ordable housing everywhere. is misguided worldview ignores the natural balance of market forces and neighborhood sensibilities. e real shame is that nothing in this 105-page radical masterpiece will resolve the actual housing troubles. Rather, it will simply move Colorado several steps closer to liberal utopia, which maintains an embarrassing track record of unsuccess.

Excessive housing costs, like so many other challenges that Coloradans face, are created by government meddling. We repeatedly hear from the Democrats that “we must do everything possible to x this problem.” And I repeatedly respond that they do not possess the humility administered by multiple water districts”?

We hear you and continue our work with county water providers as together we advocate for a solid, longterm water plan.

You may or may not be surprised by the analysis of our pollster, who noted for the second time since conducting the survey over two decades that partisanship was “pervasive and a driving force behind opinions with sharp breaks in many results along party lines,” and attributes this to “increased partisan rifts stemming from the divisive national politics.” is is particularly evident on questions regarding the “direction of Douglas County” where 49% chose “wrong it comes to showing gratitude, I am sure you have your own too, but feel free to put these to good use as well.

“ ank you very much.” “I appreciate you so very much.” “I am so grateful for you.” “I am so thankful that you are in my life.” “ ank you for being such a blessing to me.”

How about you? Is it time for new to “do everything possible.”

A study by the National Association of Homebuilders concludes that, “Regulations imposed by all levels of government account for 23.8% of the current average sales price of a new single-family home …” NAHB Chairman added that, “ is study illustrates how overregulation is exacerbating the nation’s housing a ordability crisis and that policymakers need to take bold steps to reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulations that will help builders increase the production of quality, a ordable housing.” e Colorado Legislature should “do everything possible” to address a ordable housing by weeding out costly regulations from the existing laws. en, watch the magic of free enterprise do what it has always done — respond to demand with attractive supply.

Adding to the cost of regulation is the $250% increase in lumber costs thanks to the Biden administration’s in ationary supply chain mess. is accounts for an additional $35,872 premium to the average house. If the Democrats were honest with themselves, they would direct their attentions to reducing in ationary housing regulations. But their religious devotion to government micromanagement concludes as it always does; treatments for the symptoms while clinging to the causation.

Mark Baisley State senator for District 4, including rural Douglas County Woodland Park track” versus 48% “right direction,” which is the lowest “right direction” recorded in Douglas County in more than two decades.

Our pollster tells us that other perceptions, such as the response to “Douglas County has good government” and “Douglas County listens to the people’s voice” questions, have been waning over three or four consecutive surveys beginning in 2017, an indication that these are not just a one-year phenomena and may combine to explain the growing sense that “things in the county are on the wrong track.”

On the other hand, high levels of satisfaction were recorded for: parks and trails (92%); motor vehicle registration (88%); sheri ’s o ce (88%); and elections management (82%).

And questions on which residents across all demographic categories agreed: Douglas County is a “good place to raise a family” (93%) and “a safe place to live and work,” (94%). Additionally, 88% agreed “property values are stronger than most” (88%); and 83% agreed Douglas County is a “friendly place.”

We recognize — just as you do — that we do not always agree with one beginnings in your own life? And would a new beginning have a better chance of success if you started with lling your gratitude bucket? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we remember to show our gratitude, even just a simple and sincere “thank you,” it really will be a better

Back assault-weapons ban Cavitation (noun): the formation of an empty space within a solid object or body. This is the mechanism by which the ammunition from an assault-style weapon penetrates another person’s body. If that person happens to be a child, like the 19 children slaughtered at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022; or one of the three 8- and 9-yearolds from the Covenant School in Tennessee on March 27; then the impact and penetration will essentially liquefy their organs. I challenge anyone reading this to find a reason why any American citizen who is not in the military has a need to possess a weapon that can liquefy the organs of a child with the pull of a trigger.

I’ll save you some time: we do not need access to these weapons. There is absolutely no reason to have unfettered access to these weapons. When the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, assault rifles had not yet been developed. I think we can easily assume that our Founding Fathers did not intend for the Second Amendment to be a free pass for untrained, average citizens to access firearms that are solely for the purpose of hunting and slaughtering other human beings, including children.

Voting to pass HB23-1230 and ban assault weapons in Colorado will send a number of crucial messages to Coloradans. It will tell us that our elected officials are dedicated to the safety of their citizens.

It will also tell us that they hold another and may also have di erent viewpoints from those we serve. We think this leads to healthy debate and better outcomes. anks to all who participated in this survey. We encourage you to stay engaged with us — as a volunteer on our boards and commissions; as a participant in our live town halls, business meetings and public hearings; and we encourage you to subscribe to receive county news directly. is column was provided by Douglas County Commissioners Lora omas, Abe Laydon and George Teal. than good life. a great respect for our Founding Fathers, our Constitution, and the Second Amendment — as its original intention was not, in fact, to give citizens the right to weapons of war. And finally, most importantly, it will send the message to those who have survived the abject terror of being targeted by an assault weapon — that they matter, and everything will be done to prevent it from happening again.

We are united in our belief that your opinion is valued. Survey ndings inform and guide our present and future decisions regarding services, communications and public engagement opportunities, spending priorities and planning. We hope you know our focus as stewards of the public trust is rst on the lives and livelihoods of all Douglas County residents and taxpayers.

We encourage you to seek additional information on survey methodology, margin of error, resident outreach, and engagement details on the county’s website at https://bit.ly/3Gwqlkv.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

To my fellow Coloradans reading this: get on Twitter, get on social media, and start sending emails to your elected officials. We deserve better. Let’s show our neighbors in Tennessee who are currently outraged with their lawmakers about inaction on this issue; that we know how to organize and hold lawmakers accountable to protect their constituents.

Gina M. Myers Castle Rock

Stop smearing Thomas

I have received two anonymous mailings regarding Lora omas, Douglas County commissioner. is person stated that “Lora omas is dividing our party from within.” e anonymous person is a coward and should come out of the shadows and defend their accusations. is is a “smear” campaign and needs to stop. My hope is not to see any more of these mailings in the future. My personal opinion is Mrs. omas is doing a good job as commissioner in a very di cult environment.

Barbara Chapman Highlands Ranch

Warm Hearts Warm Babies serves hospitals, agencies across Colorado

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Surrounded by colorful fabric patterns, handmade baby items and frequent laughter, volunteers of the Warm Hearts Warm Babies nonpro t went to work on a Friday morning to put together layettes for organizations who need them.

e nonpro t has a list of roughly 40 agencies it delivers items to throughout Colorado, said Kathleen Williams, the nonpro t’s grant coordinator. e list includes the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Platte Valley Medical Center and Denver Medical Center.

“Warm Hearts is totally made up of volunteers,” said Sandi Powis, president of the board of directors. “Everyone’s volunteering with their heart and skills to make things for newborn (babies), preemies to help them get a good start in this world.”

Volunteers sew, knit, crochet and quilt items such as bibs, burp pads, jackets, hats and blankets. e items are assembled into a layette, which is a collection of clothing and accessories for newborn infants.

Each layette contains a quilt, two receiving blankets, bibs, burp pads, clothing and a goodie bag containing items such as a bottle, some diapers and a small toy. ese items are delivered in a handmade tote bag.

“All these items are made with love,” Powis said. “We don’t connect to the individuals personally. We deliver the layettes to hospitals, birthing centers, food banks — anyone that can help us help the newborn.” e nonpro t also o ers items for the neonatal intensive care units at hospitals in Colorado, such as positioning roles that are used to help support the infants.

A number of the mothers who receive these items are experiencing homelessness, sometimes living in shelters or in their cars, Williams said.

“We also provide clothing for babies that don’t survive, from tiny little babies to full-term babies,” Williams said. “We have clothing for them that we hand out at the hospitals.”

Included in those burial layettes is a cloth-made envelope intended for the parents to hold important items and memories, Powis said.

“It’s sad, but it’s so important,” Powis said. “And to know that a mom wouldn’t have to go out, or send her mom or her sister to go out and nd things for her precious one that has passed — that it can be given to them and that’s not a worry for them.”

How it began

e nonpro t’s origin dates back to 1996, when a woman named Victoria Swain gave birth to a stillborn infant, according to the nonpro t’s website. e hospital she was at could not provide a blanket or clothes for her infant, prompt- ing Swain to look into how she could help donate these types of items.

After recruiting some volunteers and spending a few years working through a di erent organization called Newborns in Need, in 2000, Swain and the other board members decided to create their own nonpro t: Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

Powis estimated the nonpro t currently has about 200 volunteers and 12 work groups throughout the state including in Arvada, Brighton, Littleton and ornton.

Powis is part of the work group in Conifer, where she lives. She joined the organization roughly six years ago.

“I’ve been doing things for babies for many years, donating to other groups, but they were all missing something. ere was no social connection with anyone else making things,” Powis said. “I found that they had a local organization up here in Conifer and it was like, that’s it — that’s one I can link up with. I can meet people right here in our community.”

Williams learned about the nonpro t through a quilt show, as representatives of the organization had a table at the event. Living in Aurora at the time, she initially joined the Aurora group. Since then, she has moved to Colorado Springs

SEE IN NEED, P15