I call Wheat Ridge “home” because my house is literally in Wheat Ridge and because it’s where I feel like part of a community. Grocery stores, coffee shops, trails, schools, restaurants, recreation, activities, and most importantly, social connectivity are all right here. I value the small town feel with the metro area amenities which is
When I bought my house in 2011, the home inspector noted that the hot water heater was 15 years old and operational but at the end of its “functional lifespan.” He encouraged me to budget $1500 for replacement including additional expenses to bring my basement up to code. With a lengthy list of projects to
I had a hard time writing this article. As a local elected official, I’m struggling with what feels most important, most relevant at this point in time. In a year characterized by a seemingly endless stream of breaking national and international news headlines fueling a sense of disruption and uncertainty, the hot political issues in
While grabbing coffee at Stylus and Crate recently, a woman flagged me over to her table. She introduced herself, sharing that she recognized me from watching Wheat Ridge City Council Meetings and that she is really impressed with how much the city has accomplished. And she doesn’t even live in Wheat Ridge! This exchange got
For a mid-sized city, the Wheat Ridge events calendar can keep the civically curious busy. Here’s a sampling from September: family-friendly bike ride to visit goats hosted by Sustainable Panorama Park; City Plan community open house to inform the blueprint for our future; farm animal emergency preparedness event at 5 Fridges Farm; Explore 44 launch
Since running for city council, the single most consistent complaint I hear is: what is the city doing to make my street safer? People are afraid of drivers speeding down the same streets where kids are riding bikes. Families are forced to walk in the road due to lack of sidewalks. There aren’t safe places
On July 11, Wheat Ridge City Council adopted an ordinance legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units, aka ADUs. After six years of community engagement and two lengthy study sessions discussing the best regulations for Wheat Ridge, I’m very familiar with what ADUs are and what they aren’t. However, many of my neighbors might not know the basics
What did you do last Monday night? I was at city hall with seven of my peers and the mayor representing you, conducting the business of your city and discussing issues that impact the quality of life in Wheat Ridge. We made decisions about how to improve your parks, spend your tax dollars, keep your
Recently, my across-the-street neighbor stopped by to chat while I was pulling dandelions in my front yard. (Anyone else overwhelmed by all the !#@ weeds?) He walks his adorable dog by my corner daily, always waving “Hello” as he passes. After small talk, he shared he was grieving the death of a friend; they’d known
