Commerce City Mayor Steve Douglas can’t seem to find much love lately – even among his erstwhile supporters.

At the City Council meeting of January 6, 2025, during the public comment session, David Polley, a local activist who was among Mayor Douglas’ biggest supporters during his election, stood in front of Council and essentially unloaded on the Mayor, calling him out for “acting in an inappropriate, unethical, and immoral manner.” If Mr. Polley’s allegations are even partially accurate, it suggests some truly disturbing behavior on the part of Mayor Douglas.

During his three minutes at the microphone, Polley accused Douglas of running a detailed background check on him, which included accumulation of personal data, including phone numbers. Polley further alleges that when he confronted Douglas about this, that he lied.

“The short version is the mayor ran an unknown and unconsented background check on me to collect personal information including details of every phone number I have had going back for the last 25 years,” Polley said, addressing the Council. “When confronted by this, he denied it and said I gave him this information while I was drunk. I never did any such thing. I have asked him to tell the truth and to offer his apologies formally, yet he refuses to do so in an appropriate manner.”

Commerce City’s schools, which long have struggled academically, also could use some upgrades to their infrastructure. That includes a new middle school. So, they’re asking local voters this fall to approve a hefty bond issue to pay for the improvements. The Adams 14 School District also wants to raise teacher pay. So, it’s seeking voters’ permission for a mill-levy override, as well. All of which will lead to a hike in property taxes.

The district last asked local taxpayers for more money back in 2014 — and was told no. The last school bond Commerce City voters approved was in 2008. As education news service Chalkbeat Colorado explains:

In addition to building a new middle school, which was also the intent in 2014, this year’s $113.9 million bond request, if approved, would pay for security upgrades such as door sensors, HVAC system upgrades, new windows, roofs, and new furniture at many of the schools. The $10 million mill levy override, another version of a property tax increase, would raise salaries for teachers and classified staff.

Teachers and others told Chalkbeat their buildings not only are in bad shape but also affect students’ attitudes.

Among City Hall’s most pressing priorities is the crime fight — from stopping speeders to preventing deadly violence. And at a recent council session, the City Council got an encouraging update from Police Chief Darrel Guadnola about new technology and procedures in use to zero in on lawbreaking.

Guadnola recapped for the council how Flock technology for gunshot detection and license plate reading is aiding police in the crime fight, as will the use of aerial drones beginning next year. Just since the first steps of the Flock system were introduced last May, police already have detected and responded to 80 gunshots; recovered eight stolen vehicles and made six arrests using the technology.

The good news was welcomed by the council members — except Renée Chacon, the climate activist and social justice warrior who occasionally finds time to represent Ward III on the City Council. Chacon wanted to know if the north side of Commerce City was getting “just as much surveillance” through Flock as the south side. The chief tried to set her straight.