Sentinel Lakewood
August 22, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 90, Issue 2
City center construction begins Parking, Cultural Center access affected By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com Visitors to the Lakewood Civic Center will have fewer places to park during the first phase of construction to make the area easier to navigate and access. Phase one of construction started Aug. 12, with work focusing on the drive aisles across from the Cultural Center and adjacent to the Civic Center. “We’re trying to make the parking area there more user-friendly for school buses, so kids can be dropped off right at the Cultural Center,” said project manager Jerry Goldman. The project should cost about $1,199,199, Goldman said. He said he hopes the project will be completed in November, but there is a chance it could stretch into spring 2014, depending
on how work progresses. According to information provided by the city, several areas will be closed during this process: The north end of the upper parking lot and adjacent sidewalks next to the Cultural Center are closed; the north entrance to underground parking is closed, but the south entrance remains open; the outside elevator at the pedestrian bridge is closed. An alternative elevator is available inside the Cultural Center, or when the center is closed, sidewalks can be used along the south end of the upper lot for access between the upper lot, Allison Parkway, underground parking and bus stops. Access to the RTD bus station at Lakewood Civic Center will not be affected. During the day, parking is available in the upper parking lot above South Allison Parkway, in the upper parking lot from the south only (roundabout near Belmar Library) and on the upper deck of the Public Safety Center to the west of Allison. During the evening and weekends, residents should use South Allison Parkway from either direction to access the under-
Construction is under way on the first phase of an effort to make the city center area more accessible and safer. The first phase is expected to finish in either November or Spring 2014, depending on progress. Photo by Clarke Reader ground garage. From there, look for the turquoise wall to find the elevator to the Lakewood Cultural Center Lobby. Parking is also available in the upper parking lot above South Allison Parkway. Enter the upper parking lot from the south only (round-
about near Belmar Library). Work is progressing well, Goldman said. The next phase will be a redesign and reCity continues on Page 19
Fransua charged in hit and run death Man claimed he struck a deer By Clarke Reader creader@ourcoloradonews.com
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson speaks in support of a school finance act tax hike during an Aug. 15 rally at Lakewood’s Green Mountain High School. Photos by Vic Vela
Governor touts school-finance reform tax hike Rally brings out supporters, detractors of possible ballot measure By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper gave a fullthroated endorsement of a school-finance reform tax hike at a Lakewood rally on Aug. 15, marking the beginning of a campaign behind what’s expected to be the most significant ballot question voters will decide this fall. Hickenlooper was joined by other education-reform advocates at a Green Mountain High School rally that drew more than 100 supporters of an initiative that will create $950 million in new taxes that will fund an overhaul of the Colorado school-finance system. “I refer to this all the time as the single most comprehensive education-reform initiative in the history of the United States,” Hickenlooper said. “With this initiative, we’re building a public-education system that’s going to serve as a model for the rest of the United States.” By passing Initiative 22 this fall, taxpayers would fund full-day kindergarten for all Colorado children and would provide more support for at-risk students and English
A woman who opposes Initiative 22 holds a sign that reflects her views, as she stands across the street from Green Mountain High School in Lakewood on Aug. 15. learners. The initiative also aims to reduce class sizes and provide greater funding equality for school districts across the state. Hickenlooper was joined at the rally by other supporters of the Colorado Commits to Kids campaign. They included Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson, who said that “an additional 3,000 5-year-olds
will have free full-day kindergarten” in the county, and that at least 1,000 at-risk Jeffco children will have access to free preschool, if the initiative passes. Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia echoed Stevenson’s call to pass the ballot measure, saying, “We know that not all kids enter school on equal footing.” “But if we want all kids to graduate and all be ready for higher education we need to be sure we can provide the level of individualized support that not all districts can afford to offer,” Garcia said. Initiative 22 would raise taxes on all Colorado taxpayers. The two-tiered proposal would raise income taxes to 5 percent on everyone earning $75,000 or less. Those who earn over that amount would pay 5 percent on the first $75,000 in taxable income and 5.9 percent on taxable income above $75,000. Colorado’s current income tax rate is a flat 4.63 percent, regardless of income level. Hickenlooper said that Colorado is one of the lowest-taxed states in the country and will remain so, even if the initiative passes. But opponents of Initiative 22 were quick to jump on Hickenlooper’s comments. “I think it’s interesting that the governor
Tax continues on Page 19
Derrick Lawrence Fransua, 21, of Denver, has been charged in the death of 15-year-old Gerard Julien. On Aug. 12 Fransua was in Jefferson County District Court, where he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death’ vehicular homicide, tampering with physical evidence, speed contest, reckless driving, Fransua failure to obey traffic control device and false reporting to authorities. Fransua is being held on $10,000 cash bond. His next court appearance will be for his preliminary hearing on Sept. 12. On July 20, the Colorado State Patrol responded to a call in the area of South Kipling and West Asbury to investigate a hit-and-run crash involving life-threatening injuries to a teenager. That teenager, Julien, died from his injuries. According to court records, Fransua was driving a PT Cruiser in what appeared to be a speed contest when he hit Julien, who was crossing the crosswalk, and then drove away. According to information provided by the office of District Attorney Peter Weir, Fransua returned to his parents’ home in Denver. He allegedly told his parents, and
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