Same four council members vote against police substation funding—again

City Council had yet another opportunity to show Commerce City residents and small businesses where their priorities lie, as they voted last week on whether or not to approve an amendment to the City budget to construct a desperately needed police substation. Four council members – again – showed that their priority is not public safety.

You already know who those four members are: Mayor Steve Douglas, Susan Noble, Renee Chacon and Kristi Douglas. All have voted against funding for the substation previously, citing one excuse or another. This time, as in times previous, Noble seemed to treat police protection and law enforcement as a subsidiary concern, suggesting the city and our beleaguered police department ought to settle for a “scaled down” version—despite the fact that the proposed design already meets the bare minimum that the people who put their lives on the line every day and night to protect the people of this city say they need to do the job.

Mayor Douglas tried a new tact during the October 6 meeting, saying, absurdly, that there is no reason to secure funding for a substation now because – get this – “we have a substation already” referring to the temporary rented hall whose lease is running out, and which cannot support basic needed functions like holding detainees.

Both Steve and Kristi Douglas and Noble – Chacon was suspiciously mute this time around – made a point of suggesting that the City had better things to spend its money on.

Tell that to your neighbor as he or she tries to call the police for help one night, remembering how Councilmember Oscar Madera pointed out that his home in south Commerce City is closer to Cherry Creek Mall than Reunion.