Charley Able

7707 W. 4th Ave., Lakewood I am a 25-year resident of Lakewood’s Ward 1. I’m a retired Rocky Mountain News reporter and have helped a number of neighborhoods and individuals deal with local issues. charleyforlakewood@gmail.com, www.charleyable.com, 303-233-7275 1) Informed, Pragmatic, Accountable 2) As a Rocky Mountain News reporter covering Lakewood and other local governments, I gained in-depth knowledge of the way city council works, as well as an understanding of how it should work. I am a skilled observer, a careful listener and am adept at recognizing misleading or slanted information. I do my homework. 3) Increase our commitment to — and investment in — public safety. Ensure that growth enhances our community without altering its open and inviting character. Address neighborhood issues including drainage, traffic and aging infrastructure. 4) New high-density neighborhoods should be spread strategically across the city, well-buffered from less dense neighborhoods, and placed near activity centers and mass transit. And we should return to requiring that developers set aside land for schools and open space to help mitigate the social consequences of increased density. 5) Except for the benefits to nearby Colfax Avenue and a few pricey new multi-family residences, the areas immediately adjacent to the rail line have seen little or no improvement. We should further buffer adjacent neighborhoods and attract mom-and-pop shops, small cafes or food truck areas to commercial sites along the rail line.