75 CENTS
DECEMBER 15, 2016
CHRISTMAS CRAFT: Local
breweries debut their winter beers P16
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Urban renewal authority survives Littleton City Council repeals three of the four plan areas, but keeps Columbine Square BY KYLE HARDING KHARDING@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
GIVING BACK: Seniors are helping
homeless veterans bundle up this winter P6 IN TRAFFIC: Arapahoe faces Lakewood in tight game P28
CHRISTMAS IN 3D: Adventure to Santa arrives at Southwest Plaza P4
With a 4-3 vote at the Dec. 6 city council meeting, Littleton kept its urban renewal authority, although three of the city’s four urban renewal plan areas were repealed. The meeting went into the early morning hours and included public comment from members of the government watchdog group Sunshine opposing the authority, Littleton Invests for Tomorrow. Supporters of LIFT also spoke. LIFT opponent John Watson mocked the oft-repeated slogan of LIFT supporters that urban renewal is “a tool in the toolbox.” Addressing the audience as “fellow taxpayers,” Watson said, “Sometimes tools are just too expensive.” The authority had been on the chopping block for months, with an ordinance to abolish it first being proposed in March. In that time, the council has discussed the matter at length in several meetings, including joint meetings with the LIFT board. Councilmember Jerry Valdes, who has SEE LIFT, P9
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“At this time of year, some people drink a fifth and then take the Fifth. I listen to Beethoven’s ‘Fifth.’ ” Craig Marshall Smith, columnist | Page 12 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 25 | SPORTS: PAGE 28
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 128 | ISSUE 21