Sentinel Lakewood
LAKEWOOD 2.14.13
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 89, Issue 27
February 14, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Debate about Wiechman continues Residents speak out on incident By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com The actions of Ward 4 Councilman David Wiechman continued to be an item of discussion at Monday’s regular city council meeting. During the Feb. 4 council study session, Wiechman issued an apology for an image that inadvertently appeared on his iPad screen when a city staff member was helping him with his city e-mail. The name of the staff member has not
been released to protect his or her identity. During the public comment session of the meeting, Lorna Fox said that the incident has been discussed a lot by residents, and shows poor judgment on Wiechman’s part. “Wiechman offered a rather weak apology, and has said through his attorney that the issue should rest with his constituents,” she said. “Since he probably won’t choose to resign, hopefully his constituents will speak loudly and clearly about workplace decency and employee protection. Our city deserves no less.” John Fox also spoke about the issue, and advised that council should create some new rules to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
“It was clearly upsetting enough for employee that she reported it to her supervisor, and according to city resources manager the image was ‘fully exposed nude, pornographic, explicit and vulgar,’” Fox said. “If it is correct that no City Council rules were broken, City Council should come up with rules that address iPads and other behavioral issues that reflect negatively on council.” Wiechman also had residents who spoke on his behalf, including Greg Kelly, who alleged that council was using the incident for political reasons. “The incident with Wiechman’s computer, is unfortunate, but I don’t think what issue is about. I suggest to people of the city they look closely — it’s a political issue, with the desire to get Wiechman out of the way,”
Kelly said. “He’s apologized about this, and it’s unfortunate, but I believe council is taking advantage of situation. I ask you step up and move past this issue.” Wiechman did not respond to any of the comments, and Ward 5 Councilman Tom Quinn was the only council member during the meeting to respond. “We have an obligation on council to protect our employees from inappropriate conduct, and I make no apologies whatsoever about that,” he said. “The employee’s story differs dramatically from that of councilor Wiechman. We cannot simply walk away from this, and just forget about the whole thing. It was clearly inappropriate conduct and I make no apologies whatsoever for bringing up this issue.”
Jeffco takes stance on gun control Commissioners vote 2-1 to oppose any new gun control By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Rick Yaconis stands against a pillar inside ongoing construction of The Edge Theater in its new location at 1560 Teller St. Friday, Feb. 8, in Lakewood. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Edge on verge of move Theater now part of 40 West Arts By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
T
he Edge Theater has become one of Lakewood’s premiere cultural spots, and is setting up a new location in the 40 West Arts District. The theater left its location of two years at 9797 W. Colfax Ave. and moved to 1560 Teller St., headquarters and gallery for 40 West Arts, which will give it a larger space to work with, and more exposure to those interested in the arts. “From both the 40 West and Colfax Business Improvement District’s perspective, The Edge is a real community asset,” said Bill Marino, executive director of 40 West and the business improvement district. “We’re very excited for what it means for us and The Edge.” The theater is still under construction, and Rick Yaconis, executive producer and artistic director of The Edge, said he hopes that construction will be completed by the end of February so they can start on the sets for their next production, David Mamet’s “Race.” “So far we’ve been rehearsing at the di-
‘This will give us the ability to provide the community and other performing artists to have a place to perform.’ Bill Marino, executive director of 40 West and the business improvement district rector’s house,” Yaconis said with a laugh. “We’re really excited to get started here because people are so excited about the area, and it’s great to be a part of it.” The Edge’s previous space was just around 2,000 square feet, and that included a small lobby area, and now they will have around 3,000 square feet, not including a separate lobby that 40 West has and The Edge can use. “We’re going to have seats on three sides of the stage, but we’re trying to create a really flexible stage,” Yaconis said. “If we can do that, we can roll it out and do theater in the round, which would be a lot of fun.” Theater in the round is when the stage is in the center of a space and the audience sits on all sides of it. Yaconis said that the new space will
allow the Edge to do shows with bigger casts, and will provide more lighting options since there aren’t such low ceilings to contend with. Another benefit of the new partnership between 40 West Arts and The Edge is that 40 West will now have access to a theater on its property that can be used. “This will give us the ability to provide the community and other performing artists to have a place to perform,” Marino said. “We could do an acoustic night or comedy show. Once we have the venue, the possibilities are endless.” The Edge is planning on a March 15 opening ceremony. To learn more about the theater, visit www.theeproject.org, and visit www.40westarts.org to learn more about the arts district.
The national debate between gun control proponents and Second Amendment defenders came to Jefferson County last week when commissioners debated the wording of a resolution on the issue. A line of 52 area residents spoke before the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners at the Jan. 5 regular meeting. After three hours of testimony, the three-member commission voted 2-1 to approve a resolution that strongly urged that the U.S. Congress and state Legislature should not “entertain consideration of any new legislation that would infringe on constitutionally protected rights under the Second Amendment through any means.” The majority of the speakers, including women and retired military, gave their support for the resolution, and gun rights in general. Among them was Jared Gates, who was a student survivor of the Columbine High School massacre. “Gun control does not work,” Gates said, adding that the Columbine assailants would have likely focused on killing more with the bombs they had brought, even without guns. Tom Mauser, who lost his 16-year-old son in the Columbine High School massacre, was among the speakers who opposed the resolution. He said the country has the easiest access to guns of industrialized nations, and the weakest gun control laws. “And we also have the highest homicide by firearms rate of any of them. This is no coincidence, commissioner,” Mauser said. Golden City Councilwoman Saoirse Charis-Graves also spoke in favor of gun control measures. The Golden council passed a resolution last October supporting efforts to close loopholes and improve background checks for gun purchases. Commission Chair Donald Rosier proposed the resolution “in support of the Second Amendment” at a staff briefing a week prior. At the Jan. 5 meeting the resolution was placed on the regular County Commissioner’s regular meeting business Gun Control continues on Page 4
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