Jeffco Transcript 0723

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July 23, 2020

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

JeffcoTranscript.com

VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 2

Jeffco to follow statewide mask order County order removed to avoid confusion BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

stories of alleged incidents like sexual harassment, discrimination and other issues like mental health, Lujan and his friend Elyza Berry started the Instagram page @timesupjeffco, or TimesUpJeffco. The page, launched on July 5, provides Jeffco Public Schools students the opportunity to anonymously share their alleged stories of being bullied, racially profiled, targeted because of their sexual orientation and more. As of July 16, the page has 1,670 followers with more than 300 posts of students sharing their stories throughout Jefferson County.

Just two days after it issued a public health order requiring people in Jeffco to wear a face mask, JCPH has rescinded that order to let the county be governed solely by the face covering order issued by Gov. Jared Polis on July 16. A statement JCPH indicated the decision to rescind the county order resulted from the agency’s desire to avoid confusion because the two orders were “substantially similar, though not identical.” One significant difference between the orders was that the state applies to those over 10 while the county order was for those five and over. The state order also applies only to those entering “public indoor space” while the county order applied to situations where six feet of social distancing could not be maintained, including outdoor situations. According to the statement, “all individuals and businesses within Jefferson County should follow the face covering requirements set forth in the state’s EO D 2020 138.” JCPH Executive Director Mark B. Johnson said on July 14 that he felt Jeffco needed a mask order because of recent increases in COVID-19 cases in

SEE STUDENTS, P12

SEE MASK ORDER, P10

Joshua Lujan and Elyza Berry hold out their phones, displaying the TimesUpJeffco Instagram page. As of July 16, the page has 1,760 followers with over 300 posts of students sharing their stories. JOSEPH RIOS

Jeffco student Instagram page chronicles bullying, discrimination and more TimesUpJeffco lets Jeffco Public Schools students anonymously share their stories BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Lakewood High School senior Joshua Lujan identifies himself as queer and said he has experienced homophobia since he was in elementary school. Lujan, who previously attended South Lakewood Elementary

and Creighton Middle School, said being targeted because of his sexuality is distracting and affects him even though he’ll act like it doesn’t. “What makes it harder is the lack of help for kids themselves. I’ve definitely asked for help or went to (Creighton Middle School) to address the issue,” said Lujan. “Having them present no solution makes me feel like I am not listened to or heard by my own school. And it definitely makes me not feel safe.” After being inspired by the Instagram page @timesupjd, an account that allows Instagram users at Jamesville-DeWitt Schools in New York to anonymously share their

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 18

PARK SPARK

PERIODICAL

Specialty parks around the metro area can offer something exciting and new for children

P18


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Jeffco Transcript 0723 by Colorado Community Media - Issuu