South Platte Independent 112521

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November 25, 2021

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

SouthPlatteIndependent.net

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

VOLUME 77 | ISSUE 3

Littleton councilmembers sworn in; Panel pushes solutions mayor pro tem chosen to youth mental health crisis

Gretchen Rydin, new at-large rep, to serve as second to mayor BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Littleton’s new city council officially formed on Nov. 16 after three new councilmembers, along with an incumbent who won reelection, were sworn in. The night also saw the departure of two councilmembers whose terms had expired. Kyle Schlachter, who defeated former councilmember Carol Fey and former pastor Jon Buck in the 2021 election, was sworn in as mayor, succeeding Jerry Valdes, who now serves as a councilmember representing north west Littleton’s District 2. Schlachter’s election marked the first time in decades that Littleton voters directly chose their next mayor. In the past, the position has SEE COUNCIL, P8

Children’s Hospital Colorado, partners unveil playbook BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

time by independent commissions created through the 2018 passage of Amendments Y and Z. The court separately approved the new U.S. House map Nov. 1. The court’s approval of the state Senate and House maps allows the Colorado Secretary of State’s office and county clerks to redraw precinct lines to fit the new maps. It also provides clarity for incumbent lawmakers and prospective candidates who have been waiting for approval to make decisions about the 2022 election.

Not letting up on federal and state lawmakers, Children’s Hospital Colorado held another roundtable discussion to push the message that action needs to be taken immediately to address growing mental health crisis for young patients. In June, Children’s held similar discussions, officially declaring a state of emergency due to a rise in youth suicide attempts and emergency rooms filling up with young psychiatric patients awaiting proper treatment. The most recent roundtable, held virtually Nov. 16, continued discussions about the growing crisis, and this time, the Aurora-based hospital system — with campuses in Highlands Ranch and Broomfield and facilities across metro Denver — came equipped with solutions, as it unveiled its “Children and Youth Mental Health Playbook.” In creating the playbook, Children’s collaborated with Healthier Colorado, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Colorado Education Association, Partners for Children’s Mental Health and Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care. Jake Williams, executive director of Healthier Colorado, said suicide

SEE MAPS, P10

SEE ROUNDTABLE, P6

Kyle Schlachter is sworn in as mayor on Nov. 16. Schlachter is the first mayor in dePHOTO BY ROBERT TANN cades to be elected directly by Littleton voters.

Colorado legislative maps get final approval Maps appear to favor continued Democratic majority BY THY VO THE COLORADO SUN

The Colorado Supreme Court has unanimously approved new state Senate and House maps, the final hurdle the redistricting plans needed to clear before being adopted ahead of the 2022 election. The Independent Legislative

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Redistricting Commission followed the Colorado Constitution’s requirements for redistricting and didn’t abuse its authority in deciding how to apply them, Justice Richard L. Gabriel wrote in the Nov. 15 ruling. “Under our constitution, our review is a limited one,” Gabriel said. “It is not our task to determine whether other plans could have been adopted.” Approval by the state Supreme Court is the last step in this year’s once-a-decade congressional and legislative redistricting process, which was overseen for the first

TAPPING TALENT

Artists help to define local beer scene

P14


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