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Bertolli is way wrong about Rooney Valley!
Contributed by: Rich Urbanowski on 12/29/2006

The final hours of the vote on Rooney Valley open space are close, and most of you have probably already voted. You should vote "Yes" if you haven't yet voted. The open space arrangement is a definite "win" for city residents as well as neighbors of the site.

Why? We would trade just 22 acres of 162 acres of parkland for an equal 22 acres of open space that CONNECTS to the park, thus just the shape of the park changes, not the size of it.

The proposed plan is a 250' to 600'+ wide swath of land that buffers the existing development to the east, and provides for a recreational and wildlife corridor that helps connect Green Mountain to Bear Creek Lake Park. Not a pure connection, as there are of course some road crossings, but far better than a subdivision with all streets and houses! That would be a very poor open space layout, yet that is what the opponents apparently favor. They care not for the neighbors to the east, nor the many residents who do and will use the open space and recreational paths, nor the wildlife that will use the wide swath of land.

City Council and Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed plan, as it is more desirable for City residents. Council then unanimously declined to knuckle-under to uninformed/falsely-informed anti-government petitioners that forced a vote on the proposal in spite of the unanimous votes by our city representatives.

Who is for the proposal? Much of the City, including most officials and city workers. And of course, Carma the developer, who wants to get on with the development. As prime opponent Rita Bertolli likes to claim, Carma is a Canadian firm. You should know that, as usual, she is partly correct. But, also as usual, she is also seriously misleading with her snippet of truth. Yes, Carma has Canadian offices. They also have New York offices. And here in Englewood, and in Missouri, and in Texas. Does that taint them? They built Tallyn's Reach in Aurora. They built Brighton Crossing north of Denver. Both are quality housing projects.

Who is against the proposal? It seems to be a small group of anti-government folks, led by Rita Bertolli. Why? I honestly don't know, as their arguments only seem anti-government to me, as they are not believably against the proposal. The anti arguments seem contrived and baseless.

How about the money? I visited the City offices to check on who is financing the campaigns. How odd. Filings were due by Dec. 12 for the period to 12/7/06. (Next ones are due 12/29.) The pro folks were financed almost exclusively by Carma, which isn't surprising. Carma put in about $25.000, while just 5 citizens put in about $400. But wait - look at the anti folks. Rita Bertolli put in $10,897.80! Another four citizens put in less than $400, while one business donated $1260 worth of "robo calls." Neither group was broad-based; they were just tiny organizations that contributed financially. Carma versus Bertolli.

But how, and why, would a 26-year old Outward Bound employee, Bertolli, put nearly $11,000 into a political campaign for a parcel that is miles away from her? Beats me. Either her parents gave her money, or she is frugal, and she apparently loves the limelight of activism.

I wish she loved accuracy as much, because she obviously doesn't. Just the egregious examples. Look at her "migrating" arguments. In September, she was whining about the difference in land parcels. In September, she wrote about "prime hilltop land" versus "unbuildable, worthless ditch land." Patently untrue! Clearly false! She followed this with claims about sloping land versus flat land, which was also untrue. The lands are both similar, mildly sloping, lands. The park land is just barely steeper than the swap land. After this was disputed, she moved on to other claims, like the lands are just a ditch. First, "ditch" is generally inaccurate terminology for a natural stream channel, but the dictionary does allow such use, as a secondary definition. But that doesn't make it correct. It is just more of her small kernels of accuracy wrapped in exaggeration and misdirection. "Ditch" is political language intended to emphasize undesirability. Accurate, believable language would say channel, or even "natural channel." What a different connotation the truly accurate term has, huh? "Channel" versus "Ditch."

Does Bertolli intentionally deceive? I certainly believe she does!

How about her website? It professes to give information on the wildlife corridor. Hah! She belittles the City ordinance for not mentioning wildlife corridor. Why the heck should it???? It defines that it will be OPEN SPACE. Why clutter the short ballot proposal with language that says animals can use open space? Maybe Bertolli needs such a direct link, but I and most thinking people do not.

I can pick on blatant exaggeration. I'd call it deception at best, and I feel it is lying. Yes, I mean that - intentionally deceptive information. She (they) devote a segment of their website to the wildlife corridor. She says the "central portion of this site would receive limited use by deer." How incredibly deceptive! She implies that the project will interfere with an existing wildlife corridor. While subdivisions obviously do so, the whole point of this vote is to provide a wildlife ( and recreational) corridor! The actual text of the CDW letter is provided on her web site, and shows that she cheats by "cherry-picking" only the words that support her goal.

The actual Colorado Division of Wildlife letter text reads: " The central portion of the site would receive limited use by deer (Bertolli's quote) due to the lack of existing cover, however, if effective corridors are maintained that have some layering of various vegetation, deer usage through this area may increase. If these corridors have connectivity to existing open spaces, and allow for effective movement across Morrison Road and Alameda Parkway, this development may be a great avenue to allow deer movement off of Hayden Green Mountain to the Bear Creek Greenbelt. The large deer population currently located on Green Mountain is relatively landlocked and many deer that currently venture off of the mountain run into conflicts with fences, roadways and pets in adjacent neighborhoods." Bertolli's website deliberately gives a partial quote that totally changes the meaning. I think that is lying by deliberate omission. They have no credibility with me. I don't trust them at all!

The CDW letter offers several cautionary caveats about how Lakewood can really help the wildlife corridor. But they also say "We commend you on your efforts to preserve open space and corridors." Yet Bertolli and her fellow "anti's" contend that a wildlife corridor is a pipe dream and the City is blowing smoke. Her web site says " The land swap has nothing to do with the protection of Wildlife." Do you believe that? I certainly don't!

Don't believe them for a moment. They are not credible. Enthusiastic, yes. Believable, no.

Vote "Yes" on Lakewood's Referendum 1! And urge others to do the same.


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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments
Submitted By: Rita Bertolli
posted on 2/17/2007 @ 6:08:47 PM
Rated Story
We prevaied, 57% AGAINST the swap Jan 2, 2007.
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Submitted By: Jim Moore
posted on 1/5/2007 @ 7:54:36 PM
(Not Rated)
You lost!!! This election cost the Lakewood taxpayers $242,000.00 to keep our open space, from the greedy Canadian developers! You should be ashamed along with the Mayor and entire City Counsel!
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Submitted By: Lisa Scott
posted on 1/2/2007 @ 2:46:10 PM
Rated Story
Why would anyone think it is a positive move that someone got "shouted down" at a meeting? Everyone should be heard and it is certainly not a good thing for this City to allow this opposition group to silence those who don't agree with them.
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Submitted By: Rich Urbanowski
posted on 1/1/2007 @ 8:53:19 PM
(Not Rated)
To Rita, I stated at the meeting that I was a Planning Commissioner, as I did in Letters to the Editor to the Sentinel. It's no secret: I publicize it; I don't hide it. Please stop implying that I do. And I wasn't shouted down at the "debate," nor was anyone else. And refuting your “facts” or claims is not a “smear”. It is a disagreement with your claims, which is not the same as a smear. (And by the way, 4000 possibly misinformed petitioners from a City of 140,000 is NOT a mandate.) To others: the city attorney assured us that the swap is NOT a violation of the charter. And it CLEARLY is a better layout of parks/open space for citizens, so of course I voted yes on it, as did all other planning commissioners and all City Councilors. It is not JUST for the houses to the east of the swap land; it provides for connection between Green Mountain and Bear Creek Parks for all of us. A look at the maps might help you.
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Submitted By: Curtis Jones
posted on 12/31/2006 @ 8:58:55 PM
Rated Story
I take issue to being called "anti-government" due to my being against the land swap. I'm a concerned citizen against it, I have nothing against our current government, I just feel Lakewood is getting a bad deal and giving a huge windfall to Carma. Please explain to me how that makes me anti-government?
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Submitted By: norman hansen
posted on 12/29/2006 @ 9:00:43 PM
Rated Story
Wow Rich, very intense. Were you involved with the initial approval swapping/selling park lands which clearly violates the City Charter? And if not, are you in support of that violation? I know of a park I would like just a corner of if you do support that type action....
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Submitted By: Josh Droege
posted on 12/29/2006 @ 8:09:38 PM
Rated Story
If this "land swap" goes through I am moving out of the city of lakewood. The city should not be able to relocate or "swap" donated open space land. This will set a horrible precident in the city of Lakewood that should scare all people who enjoy any open space. I hope everyone who is not hitting the jackpot (a.k.a. anyone who lives on the proposed buffer zone) voted no on this ballet issue.
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Submitted By: Rita Bertolli
posted on 12/29/2006 @ 4:21:55 PM
Rated Story
Bogus smear tactics, as usual. For everyone's information, Rich Urbanowski is a planning commissioner who has tried this tact before against me and failed miserably. If Rich had such a great argument, why was he shouted down at the debate? Why don't you tell people you work for the City of Lakewood and support development when you post blogs, Rich. I love the name recognition, but this election is about 4,000 who brought it to the City's attention that a developer is reaping Millions of dollar of profit off of public land. lakewoodvoter.com
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Submitted By: Donald Ferega
posted on 12/29/2006 @ 4:13:29 PM
Rated Story
Mr. Urbanowski has painstakingly documented how misleading the Bertolli lead opposition has been on this issue. Other misleading statements by Bertolli include; leading voters to believe the entire 22 acre corridor is a ditch, the truth is only 3 of the 22 acres is covered by a channel or "ditch". Bertolli's assertion that the 22 acres of Iron Spring Park property is worth more than the developer's property is merely the opinion of this 26 year old who does not even own real estate. Sure she found someone who did not even visit the properties in question before issuing a one page opinion to support Bertolli's. Ever heard of appraisal shopping? Oh, and one more point as you shovel out from this double snow storm, keep in mind the City's annual budget for Snow Removal is $585,000. Bertolli's special election is costing the City (you) $242,000. That’s 41% if you do the math. Hmmm, could that $242,000 have been better spent on additional snow removal resources?
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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Rich Urbanowski

Lakewood , COLORADO

Rich Urbanowski has posted 8 stories and 42 comments since joining on 12/25/2006. Rich Urbanowski 's average story rating is 3.45.
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