Northglenn's neighbors came out to the community to voice their opposition. mental health facility Operated by the state of Colorado. It is scheduled to open in a residential area.
Their biggest concern is Sex offenders may be incarcerated Near family homes and schools.
“If a place like this is going to make its way into our community, the people who live here need to know about it and we want to have a say about it,” said Daniel Luciano. .
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She lives very close to the proposed facility and said she learned the state was opening it a few weeks ago.
“At first I was confused, then I became angry and worried for my fellow residents and all the children in the community,” Luciano said.
The letter she received stated that sex offenders would be housed, and in addition to her child being in close proximity to the facility, she said there were at least two schools in the area. To tell. One is a few blocks away.
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“There are a lot of kids walking down the street along Marie (Drive) to their apartments without supervision,” Luciano said.
She also pointed out that there is a pharmacy and liquor store across the street. Neighbors aren't opposed to the idea, she said, just the location.
“We want the state to know this is not the right place,” Luciano said.
Even Northglenn's mayor and some city council members have expressed concerns about the facility, but say their hands are tied.
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The Colorado Department of Civil Forensic Mental Health told CBS News Colorado that sex offenders will not be housed at the facility, but an email from the department shared with us by the city says otherwise. . Luciano says his neighbors want answers.
“The state seems to be giving different answers to the media than they are giving to the City Council and to us,” she said. “We just want transparency.”
Luciano says neighbors continue to complain.
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“We are not going to back down. So, Governor Polis, I think this is a big issue for many of us. And we are your constituents and we are doing everything we can to make sure your voices are heard.” “We're going to do our best,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health said other temporary housing units have already opened in Colorado as part of the program and so far there have been no safety concerns.
