In 2022, my peaceful, once-idyllic neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado, Ward 1 began to transform following the arrival of a wave of migrants. Safety became a paramount issue overnight. Unsolicited home visits by strangers seeking work or help, an uptick in break-ins, the extreme levels of littering, the constant display of overt illegal activities such as resale of suspicious items and tools all became frighteningly commonplace. However, the most harrowing reality we grapple with today is the dramatic increase in shootings.

Interestingly, our governor, Jared Polis, along with Mike Johnston and Mike Coffman, insist that our ward has neither a gang nor a migrant issue. They cite interviewed "residents" of Aurora Ward 1 who hold a differing viewpoint (The issue is not gang related but rather cleanliness). However, careful scrutiny reveals that these people are not long-standing American residents, but rather newcomers who arrived in 2022. Their tolerance of violence and disorder should not be the standard by which our peace and safety should be measured with since realities of 3rd world countries are NOT American realities.

While acknowledging the need for an open society that welcomes those in search of a better life, we demand transparency and accountability from our elected officials. It is unacceptable to downplay or overlook the real issues affecting Aurora Ward 1, and as residents, we refuse to accept this false narrative that Aurora is doing great.

It is urgent for our officials to reevaluate current policies and implement measures that will ensure the safety of all residents, old and new alike. This means dealing with the gang and migrant issues truthfully and profoundly. Only then can we hope to restore the peaceful and secure environment we once called home.

Here we have elected officials who do not even live in Aurora Ward 1, but yet have the audacity to speak for us when they do not even know everything we have been dealing with and are just ignoring it to play their political games! 

Please sign this petition to help push Governor Jared Polis, Mike Johnston, and Mike Coffman to stop overlooking these critical issues and act urgently.