Archived News Letters
April 8th, 2024
📰 Thornton City Council Newsletter
Dear Residents of Thornton,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits as we embrace the spring season and all the wonderful activities it brings to our community. I am thrilled to share some recent highlights and important updates with you:
🥚 Eggcessable Extravaganza Success: Our recent Eggcessable Extravaganza was a resounding success! It was heartwarming to witness the community come together and enjoy a beautiful day of festivities. The egg hunt was particularly delightful, with our youth enthusiastically participating.
🐰 Active Adult Easter Lunch: Our Active Adult Easter lunch was a delightful affair, filled with laughter, good food, and the joy of reconnecting with neighbors. It's always a pleasure to see familiar faces and catch up with one another.
☀️ Summer Events Preview: As we eagerly anticipate the summer months, I encourage you to take a moment to review the exciting lineup of events and concerts that the city has planned. From outdoor concerts to community gatherings, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
🍽️ Community Feedback Request: On a more serious note, I want to bring to your attention a matter of importance. Our city staff has proposed increasing the cost of senior lunches and certain recreation fees. As your representative, I want to ensure that your voices are heard. While I am personally against these increases, I believe it's crucial to gather input from our community. Your feedback is invaluable, and I encourage you to share your thoughts with us.
Your opinions matter greatly, and I am committed to representing your interests to the best of my ability. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have. Together, we can continue to make Thornton a vibrant and thriving community for all.
Warm regards,
Roberta Ayala
City Council Member - Thornton Ward 2
March 20th, 2024
📰 Thornton City Council Newsletter
Dear Residents,
Apologies for the slight delay in providing you all with an update. We've been buzzing with activity here at the Thornton City Council! Recently, we embarked on an enlightening journey to Washington DC, where we immersed ourselves in classes and connected with municipal leaders from across the country. It was an invaluable experience that promises to shape our work on the local level for the better.
During our time in the nation's capital, I had the privilege of attending a class focused on navigating challenging conversations about race and effectively re-engaging our opportunity youth. For those unfamiliar, opportunity youth encompass individuals aged 16 to 24 who may not be actively involved in work or school activities. It's crucial for us as a community to provide support and opportunities for these individuals to thrive.
We also had the pleasure of hearing speeches from President Biden and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, which provided valuable insights into national initiatives and priorities.
I'm thrilled to bring back new learnings and fresh perspectives to our city. These insights will undoubtedly inform and enhance the work we need to undertake for the betterment of Thornton. As we continue to strive for progress and inclusivity, rest assured that your voices and concerns remain at the forefront of our efforts.
New Logo and Rebranding: 🎨 Exciting news! We have unveiled a new logo for our city, and our communications staff is hard at work on a rebranding initiative. To learn more about this exciting endeavor, please check out the video detailing our rebranding process.
Vision Zero Conversations: 🚸 We are currently engaged in discussions about Vision Zero, a plan aimed at making our streets safer and reducing the loss of human life on our roads in Thornton down to ZERO. This ambitious goal can be achieved through various measures, including street design, speed and red light enforcement cameras, and streetscapes that will beautify our community while providing safer ways to drive in our city.
Eggsciting Spring Events: 🐰 Spring is in the air, and we're gearing up for our Eggcessible Eggstravaganza at Community Park! This annual tradition brings the community together for an accessible egg hunt suitable for children of all ages. Additionally, TASHCO will be hosting their Second Annual Easter Basket Silent Auction during the event. I hope to see you all there for a day of fun and festivities!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant Thornton for all.
Warm regards,
Roberta Ayala
Ward 2 Thornton City Council Member
February 26th, 2024
📰 Thornton News Update! 🌟
Greetings, citizens of our vibrant city! The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, filled with both excitement and hard work. Here are the highlights of what's been happening in our community:
🍽️ New Restaurant Alert!
We're thrilled to announce the grand opening of Spice Kitchen in Ward 2! Located on 104th Ave near York Street, Spice Kitchen has taken over the space previously occupied by Brewski’s Bar. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with delicious Nepali cuisine. It's fantastic to have a new sit-down restaurant option right here in Ward 2!
🎉 AIPAC Pow Wow Celebrations
Last weekend, Adams School District 12 hosted the 13th AIPAC Pow Wow, a fantastic cultural event celebrating Native American heritage in our schools and community. It was a joyous occasion filled with rich traditions and cultural exchanges.
👏 Accomplishments of Our Progressive Council
Let's take a moment to applaud the significant strides made by our new progressive council. These accomplishments reflect the voices and needs of our community:
🎊 Juneteenth Celebration: Added to our summer concert series, commemorating an important milestone in American history. 🎶
🖤 Black History Recognition: Inclusion in our resolution, featuring Kerry Joy, Adams County Poet Laureate, presenting a special poetry piece. 📜
⚡ Support for Electric Vehicles: Funding secured for three new electric vehicles, promoting sustainability and reducing emissions. Read the Sentinel story here. 🚗
🏠 Combatting Homelessness and Opioid Addiction: Increased funding for homeless outreach and opioid abatement supplies, along with technological support for data gathering. 🤝
🤲 Community Assistance: Enhanced funding for the Thornton Assistance Fund and affordable housing initiatives, including support for The Outlook in Ward 1. 🏘️
💧 Improved Infrastructure: Investments in water infrastructure enhancements, ensuring affordability and accessibility for all residents. 🚰
🏛️ Town Hall Engagement: Reintroduction of town halls and ADA-compliant Zoom tele town halls, fostering community engagement and inclusivity. 📣
🔍 Enhanced Transparency: Introduction of video recordings in planning sessions, promoting transparency and ADA compliance. 📹
These accomplishments demonstrate our commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant city for all.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in shaping the future of our community. Let's keep moving forward together!
Warm regards,
Roberta Ayala
Ward 2 Thornton City Council Member
February 12th, 2024
Dear Residents,
We are thrilled to bring you the latest updates from our vibrant community in Thornton. Here's a concise roundup of recent happenings and opportunities for engagement:
New Planning Commission Members Selected: We are excited to announce the selection of members for our new Planning Commission. These dedicated individuals will play a crucial role in shaping the future development and growth of our city. We thank them for their commitment to our community.
State Legislative Dinner: Recently, we had the privilege of attending a state legislative dinner, where we had the opportunity to meet with our esteemed House representatives and Senators. This event provided a platform to share our needs, thoughts, and concerns on the state level, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
Town Hall with Senator Kyle Mullica: Senator Kyle Mullica recently hosted a town hall meeting, where he briefed our community on the upcoming bills that will impact Thornton. This gathering served as an invaluable opportunity for us to voice our concerns and engage in discussions about issues vital to our city's well-being.
TASHCO Film Screening: TASHCO recently hosted a thought-provoking film screening of "River of Sorrows," highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts along the Dolores River. We extend our gratitude to Conservation Colorado and the Green Latinos for their sponsorship of this impactful event.
Advocating for DEIB Initiatives: I am pleased to share that I am actively advocating for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives for our city. I will soon be meeting with representatives from the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) to explore how we can make DEIB a strategic goal for Thornton. Your input and support in this important endeavor are greatly appreciated as we strive to create an inclusive and equitable community for all.
Community Meeting at the Active Adult Center: We recently held a community meeting at the Active Adult Center to discuss ways to improve accessibility and communication in our gatherings. Our goal is to ensure that future meetings are more ADA accessible and that we provide a variety of ways to communicate with staff and council members during meetings, as well as a variety of outputs of information.
As we continue to work together to build a thriving and sustainable community, we encourage you to stay informed and actively participate in the events and initiatives that shape the future of Thornton.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our wonderful city.
Best regards,
Roberta Ayala
Ward 2 Thornton City Council Member
January 26th, 2024
🗳️ Newly Elected Ward 2 Thornton City Council Member
Dear Thornton Community,
I am honored to serve as your newly elected Ward 2 Thornton City Council member. It's a privilege to represent our community and work towards positive change. If you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at roberta.ayala@ThorntonCO.gov.
🌈 Empowerment Center for Adolescents: A Beacon of Hope
We're thrilled to announce the opening of the Empowerment Center for Adolescents through Community Reach, a dedicated space here in Thornton. This center is designed to support at-risk youth, providing them with opportunities and resources to steer clear of the criminal justice system. For more details on this inspiring endeavor, please click here.
🙌 Celebrating Our Amazing Volunteers
Our city thrives on the strength of its volunteers, and we recently took the time to express our gratitude. A heartfelt dinner and an entertaining performance by Josh Blackburn were just a small token of appreciation for the incredible contributions made by the volunteers in our community. Thank you to each and every one of you!
📣 Spread the Word!
I encourage you to share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. Together, we can keep everyone informed about the positive changes happening in our city. As new updates emerge, I promise to do my best to keep you all in the loop.
🌐 Council Initiatives for Staff Focus: Council has asked our dedicated staff to focus on several key initiatives to enhance our city. Here are some of the priorities:
South Thornton Urban Renewal Plan Area- Review and Comparison Analysis
Ballot Measure: Changing the Appointment Process to Special Elections- Residents should always have the choice in important appointments.
Video Recording of Planning Meetings- Enhancing transparency by videotaping planning meetings.
Gift Maximum of $25 for Council and Staff- Ensuring responsible and ethical practices in gifts for council members and staff.
Making DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) a Primary Strategic Goal- Advocating for DEI to be a central focus in our city's strategic planning conference in April.
🌟 Remembering a Community Leader: Frank Newton
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Frank Newton, the founder of the Thornton Arts Sciences Humanities Council, Thornton Choir, and Thornton Community Band. Frank was a true community leader who played an instrumental role in building our existing arts footprint. His legacy will be deeply missed, and his contributions to our city will always be remembered.
Let's continue working together to make Thornton a more inclusive and vibrant place for everyone.
Best regards,
Roberta Ayala
Ward 2 Thornton City Council Member