Littleton Independent 031022

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Week of March 10, 2022

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

LittletonIndependent.net

VOLUME 133 | ISSUE 33

Metro cities propose a ‘navigation center’ to address homelessness But what does that mean? BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With homelessness on the rise throughout the Denver metro area, a task

force made up of the cities of Littleton, Englewood and Sheridan, along with local and regional nonprofits, are forging ahead on solutions outlined in a 2021 action plan to mitigate an everpresent crisis. Among the laundry list of items: the creation of a physical space to central-

ize services and resources for people who are unhoused, which the cities have dubbed a “navigation center.” “The navigation center would be kind of a one-stop shop that’s actually meeting people on the street and bridging some of the gaps, sending them off to

the services that are going to be right for them and making their experience of homelessness as short as possible,” said Mike Sandgren, a task force leader who heads Change the Trend, a regional network of nonprofits, churches, schools and agencies working on homelessness solutions.

Littleton’s Harley-Davidson closes after 43 years Family-owned dealership leaves a legacy of community BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For store owner Kathy Yevoli, Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson was more than just a dealership. “We really did establish a way of life for our customers, and our staff and our community,” Yevoli said. “It wasn’t about how many motorcycles we sold.” Now, Yevoli is reflecting on her time running the Littleton business, which closed its doors for good on Saturday, Feb. 26 after 43 years in business. “It’s sad that we had to close the store, not of our choosing,” Yevoli said. The store, which was Colorado’s longest family-run dealership for the iconic motorcycles, joins others like it across the country that have closed as a result of corporate consolidation by the Harley-Davidson company. “The small, independent stores are being absorbed,” Yevoli said, who broke the news in a Facebook SEE BUSINESS, P9

By connecting those who are unhoused with a social safety net, task force leaders hope to address the root causes of homelessness while making it easier for people to exit that life. But fundraising efforts, while in the early stages, SEE HOMELESS, P5

Council restores funding to immigrant resources center 5-2 vote is inverse of decision to defund facility just months ago BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A sign on the dealership’s front doors. “It’s sad that we had to close the store, not of PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN our choosing,” said owner Kathy Yevoli.

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 18

Littleton’s City Council, in a push led by newer councilmembers, voted 5-2 March 1 to fully restore funding for the Littleton Immigrant Resource Center (LIRC) just months after a previous council voted to defund it. But even after the restored funding was approved, the vote faced defiance from District 2 Councilmember Jerry Valdes, who attempted to reverse that decision through a motion that was ultimately deemed improper by the city attorney. The LIRC’s full $196,000 in funding was part of a litany of other amendments to the 2022 budget for the city’s general fund, which council SEE COUNCIL, P10

BRUNCH IS BACK

Combining breakfast and lunch is back on the menu at several locations P14


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