Rain? Please?

Here we are in late July in the driest year on record in Denver proper. Cole Neighborhood, with its relative lack of mature trees, grass, and other vegetation, doesn't need any help looking barren and dry. When can we expect some freakin' rain?It sprinkled today--Honest. I was out watering the grass this evening and I felt a drop--one drop--on my arm. That was it.Pretty ironic to me that I moved here from Tucson to get out of the desert heat and dryness. Here's the kind of moisture Tucson has gotten recently from their monsoon.What I wouldn't give for a rain like that in Denver to green everything up.

Solving the homeless problem (for a weekend) in Denver

Have you gotten wind of the city's plan (apparently supported by the Colorado Coalition For the Homeless) to provide bus and movie tickets, even tickets to the zoo, to make sure when the world spotlight is on our wonderful city, people don't see the chronic homeless problem?Seriously--Tickets to the zoo--Don't believe me? Read more here.My favorite quote is this, from none other than the president of the Coalition, John Parvensky:"If they don't want to get caught up in the protests or demonstrations, we'll find other activities that will keep them busy."Yeah, right. You're acting to protect the homeless from the hubbub of the DNC. Not to hide the city's homeless problem, right?I'm an "evil conservative" but even I know that the last thing on the radar of the Denver homeless community is trying to find a quiet place to set up their cardboard box during DNC week. They don't know where they're going to get their next meal, or how they're going to turn their lives around people--A token trip to the zoo won't make one bit of difference in their lives. I'm pleasantly surprised to see that I'm not the only one that sees through this thinly-veiled strategy by the city.I mean, hmm... let me think, how else could we spend that ticket money? Perhaps for FOOD or MEDICAL CARE for these forgotten souls? Even a coupon for a free gut-buster Chipotle burrito would be a more meaningful gesture--That is, if you sincerely were acting with benevolence towards the homeless population.But it clearly isn't about making a real difference--It's never been about actually addressing the problem, despite annual grandstanding on the topic by the democratic mayor in office each year.This is all about PR. And perhaps, maintaining the facade of "the party of change." Makes me want to puke.While you're at it, why not buy all the gang-bangers, crackheads and dealers, and graffiti-painters a ticket to the zoo too?And while we're at it, why not buy them a bus ticket to El Paso or something? Why just hide 'em during the DNC? I'm sure Chickenlooper would be quick to call all the local press to bloviate about yet another self-perceived profound change he's championed in Denver.Is this "change you can believe in?"

Typical Dog Walk in Cole

Ahhh... the sights and sounds of Cole.Took the dogs for a walk late last night on what turned out to be more of the same as far as this neighborhood goes. A few highlights:
A bunch of nice people out watering their lawns. More and more folks are sprucing up their yards, despite the near-record drought we're experiencing.
A few folks sitting on their porch that were less-than-friendly and potentially unsavory characters. I say hi to everyone, but it's pretty interesting when someone won't even respond to efforts to be friendly.
Two kids on bikes that I'm pretty sure were gang-bangers or at least out looking for trouble
A couple of crowds of neighborhood kids (Cole has some of the best kids, at least until they get older) wanting to learn about the dogs. Really sweet kids.
A guy speeding through the neighborhood in his Lincoln Navigator with mariachi music playing so loud it made windows on the houses he passed rattle, stopping smack in the middle of the street to proposition me to breed my dogs with his. (Not a walk goes by without someone asking to buy or breed our dogs.)
My crazy neighbor, who happened to be visiting friends (or perhaps her drug dealer) that as usual yelled "Mind 'yo bidness!!!" when she saw me (because she thinks I'm out to get her and the only person on the block that calls the cops).

My neighbor said the other day that "there's always a story" that comes with going for a walk in Cole. True dat.

Just Visiting, or here for the long run?

We just got some "new neighbors"--figuratively (as many African-Americans in Cole/Whittier refer to white people) and literally.They bought the house right next door. Last year at this time we had nice Mexican neighbors that didn't take care of their house, and wouldn't call the cops when crime was occurring on the block. Today, we have nice white neighbors that take care of their house and have already called the cops when they witnessed some 'hood shenanigans. I'm not ashamed to say that I think we made out pretty well in that trade.Don't get me wrong, I loved our old neighbors--They were a very sweet family and had great kids and grandkids--The best on the block in fact--but their house was a blemish on an otherwise improving block. And while I feel bad that their home went into foreclosure, no one forced them to borrow $25k against their house in a risky ARM. Oh, the good and bad of gentrification.Our new neighbors are interestingly enough the second white family to move here from the mountains since we've lived here. Part of me honestly wonders "What the feck were you thinking leaving the peace and quiet of the mountains for the barrio?" But I know the answer. $4 a gallon gas and the promise of a 5 minute commute. Lots of what drew us here (though we actually were pretty forward thinking since we re-urbanized before it was chic to do so).The night before they moved in was a classic example of the drama you rarely see in the suburbs, but see quite regularly in the city. Still don't know exactly what happened, but it involved two Mexican families, a bunch of shouting of "East Side" and "South Side," one of the families emptying out of their rented house into the street carrying two-by-fours, and then no less than six police cars. And I had a front-row seat. You could pay money for this kind of entertainment in Vegas I'm sure, but I get it every week for free. It Cole's version of West Side Story. Historia del lado oeste perhaps.All I kept thinking when I watched it all unfold was "I'm sure glad they close on their new house tomorrow." And thank Chickenlooper, when they drove up in their yuppie-car caravan the next day to unload all their stuff, lo and behold, it was a quiet night in Cole.We love our new neighbors--They're really nice, they keep a good house, they're not selling the rock, you know, all the basics. But we do worry how much they can really take of Cole before they become at best disenchanted, at worst, "former" residents.Cole is changing, no doubt, but you couldn't pick much more of a contrast from the mountains. It's like eating tofu burgers for ten years and then suddenly switching to the Baconator.In the mountains they worried about bears; here they worry about gang bangers and crack dealers. There they awoke to fresh, cool air and the sound of wind in aspens; here they will quickly learn how to identify when the Purina plant is cookin' up horses (or whatever they put in their dog food) and the sound of the ghetto bird.You get the idea. How much will they be able to take before they, like me clearly, have soured on all the bullshit that comes with living in the city?I hope a lot. Because sure enough, the third day they were here, they saw our punk-ass neighbor kid selling rock with his "homeys". Welcome to the 'hood, neighbors.

More On The Daniael Lujan Apology

If you haven't watched the News 2 interview of Curtis Park shooter Daniel Lujan, you've got to.It just shows how twisted these idiot gang-bangers really are:
The kid says the shooting was "unintentional" and he's clearly remorseful about shooting the little girl. However, he's an admitted member of the Oldies 13 Mexican-Mafia affiliated gang that has no qualms about shooting anyone else. He was carrying a gun for a reason, and describes pulling out his gun to shoot as I would describe pulling out my cell phone to call someone. Who knows who this punk has already killed in his life? Who knows how many innocent and complicit people they as a group have killed in the last ten years?
He says "What was I supposed to do?" in justifying him pulling his pistol and spraying bullets at another gang-banger and hitting the little girl. What were you supposed to do? Well, for starters, not be in a gang. Second, not carry a gun. Third, not take your family over to gang-infested Curtis Park to chill with other idiot gang members that might shoot you. That's what you were supposed to do.
He now says he wants to help the family of the little girl. "I'll be her big brother," he says. Yeah, I'm sure there's nothing the girl's family would like better than to have an admitted gang banger and shootist take her under his wing and teach her about the world--In his twisted, violent, criminal understanding of it. Who says children today don't have role models?

What's happening in urban Denver? (From June 27th)

I just found out that my neighbor's cat, that I gave to him, was set on fire this morning while in his back alley. I can't even begin to describe how pissed and horrified I am right now. But it's just another incident in a very disheartening couple of weeks.June 15th an apparent gang-banger shot another gang-banger on 35th and Marion (less than a block away from my house).Two days later, I was sitting on my front porch when a thuggish-looking kid walking by threatened to shoot me (posturing as if he had a gun in his back belt) because my dog barked at him once.Then, last Friday, an 8 year-old girl got caught in the cross-fire of an apparent drug and/or gang-related shooting in Curtis Park. (The shooter, Daniel Lujan, gave a downright ridiculous apology: "I never meant to hit that little girl." Not to be confused with apologizing for being a little gang-banger punk up to no good and shooting his gun at the intended target at a public park.) He put himself and his family in jeopardy by being involved in drugs and/or gangs, otherwise he wouldn't have had to fire his gun in "self defense."Then, Early Sunday morning, there was another shooting in LoDo, where a guy involved in some sort of gunfight turned a shotgun on cops--Then, when he got shot by police, his buddy picked up the shotgun and took up where he left off. Of course, even though both the guys shot had criminal records (and were shooting at cops with a shotgun they had in their position in downtown Denver) one of their family members is pointing the finger at police for their death. Get frickin' real people.But it's all OK--Our impotent mayor Chickenlooper called the Denver media together to grandstand about how "violence won't be tolerated in Denver." Our cops are great, and are doing the best they can with what they have, but it's not working Mr. Mayor. We need help, or the city is going to spiral out of control.It's clearly going to be a very busy and deadly summer in metro Denver. (Though it's not just Denver, did you hear about the unbelievable drug-related shootout in Phoenix recently?)What do most of these incidents have in common (and the one in Phoenix)? Drug and Gang connections; and in many of them, illegal immigrants. What is Chickenlooper, the state government, or Jorge Bush, Juan McCain, or Nobama prepared to do about the pervasive gang problem in Denver and across the country?Or, in a more basic sense, What the hell is wrong with these people?Two houses on our block just got flipped and have new, responsible residents moving in. I see joggers, cyclists, and people walking their dogs more and more every week. Cole, Whittier, and Curtis Park have all been voted as "the next hot Denver neighborhoods". And, Chickenlooper is proud to point out that crime is down in Denver.But I've never been more concerned about the current state of our neighborhood's safety and crime situation.

Front Porch Ramblings

It's 12:30 PM and I should be in bed with my wonderful wife. However, something about the clear, calm Denver night inspired me to head out to our front porch to enjoy the evening weather.This likely won't be the most succinct, nor the most focused post of the history of this blog.Those of you that read the previous version of it, The Cole Neighborhood Memoirs, know I frequently headed down controversial roads. Roads that generated so many negative comments that I at one point deleted my entire blog and its history of posts.But, as mentioned previously in the offspring of that original Cole Neighborhood blog, I am back, and dedicated to continue to speak my mind in spite of the few critics that in the past I succumbed to.I don't think I'm a bad person... though there were some that read my accounts of life in Cole Neighborhood that thought otherwise. However, I'm the first to admit that I, like everyone, voice an opinion and depict an experience that has been shaped by my background. A background of spending my first 20 years in the sheltered and egocentric culture of rural Michigan. A community that had five African-American residents out of about 1200. A culture, like most, that was shaped by the experiences of its residents.I spent a year and a half at the University of Michigan, where I experienced my first dose of multi-culturalism. I experienced a microcosm of being part of a minority population still only at the campus rec center, where I fought for equality in terms of my basketball skills among the far more gifted blacks that clearly considered the basketball courts their venue to vent their subconscious bitterness and sense of latent oppression on me and my white friends.I don't say this to play any sort of victim card, only to explain my background.I then moved to Arizona, in search of warmer climates. 8 years later, and no more culturally educated, I relocated to Denver, where I now call home.Cole (and a stint in Highlands, before it became the Caucasian haven of urban Denver) has really been the institution that has educated me about the African-American and Latino cultures. And I'm the first to admit I'm still seeking proficiency and graduation; and that I am likely carrying a GPA of around a C-.Why am I writing this? I'm afraid I don't even know.I'm now 35, and very grateful for the opportunity I've been given to experience what I have in three very unique parts of the country. I look forward to what I'll be able to experience and learn in however many years I'll be privileged to stay on this Earth.As I think I've expressed in previous posts, I don't live in Cole because I think it's the premier neighborhood to live in in Denver. When my wife and I got to the point in life where we decided we should consider buying a home (back in 2005), we undertook an extensive and analytical search for where we should invest our money, and our energies.Trust me, if we had been in a better financial position, we likely would have moved to Lakewood, Golden, or some other area surrounding Denver proper. An area that would offer a more peaceful existence, without the challenges any urban resident can relate to.We bought in Cole for several reasons. One, because we saw what had happened in the Highlands, where we rented for several years. For the first three years there, we fought the same problems we do now: Graffiti, drug dealings, theft, and the occasional gang-related violence. For three years we worried about the cars that stopped in front of our duplex were there for unsavory reasons; then suddenly we were astonished at the number of Audis and Volvos that were drawn to the block as it was redeveloped. By that point, we had been priced out of the market.We moved to Cole out of selfish, though I feel legitimate reasons of buying a home that met out needs and our price range.However, in doing so, we turned back the clock three years to have to deal once again with being forced to be the watchdogs of our block: Fighting drug users and drug dealers that were accustomed to having the run of the neighborhood.We have made many friends, though some enemies, by making it clear that this type of behavior was unacceptable. The first year we lived here we had crack-heads knocking on our door seeking handouts; had individuals urinating on our front curb, crack-heads walking up and own our street whistling, seeking a "friend" to satisfy their addiction; and being singled out as the "white people that called the cops". We still hold that dubious distinction with a few of our neighbors.However, I constantly marvel about how far our block, and our neighborhood has come in the three years we have been here. When we moved here, we had the second nicest home on our block. (This is after the developers that we bought our home from had flipped a dilapidated crack-dealing home into the cute Victorian we purchased). Since that time, four out of 18 of the residences on our block have been completely renovated; and at least three of the other properties have changed ownership and become better managed and more valued properties.This all happened before the current energy crisis and trend of reurbanization had taken hold.What caused this regenesis of Cole? In all likelihood we purchased here when the first seeds of the current economic and urban climate were being sown, and we didn't even know it. Perhaps we were smarter than we thought we were in eschewing the patterns all our friends were taking in perpetuating the decades-long white flight to the suburbs, But now we find ourselves in a pretty good situation relative to many that bought homes during the famous "housing bubble" when property values were increasing at incredible rates and credit was available to anyone with a pulse.We still have a love-hate relationship with our neighborhood. We love the classic, historic architecture; the sense of history that often overshadows the other trials and tribulations; the diversity that makes Highlands Ranch and Cherry Creek look like some affluent or Caucasian exclusive country club development; and the relationships that we've forged with our Hispanic and black neighbors that have forced us to become better citizens.But I'd be lying if I told you that we haven't grown tired of being characterized as the "do-gooders" or the rich people on the block (who inevitably are the source for financial support, food, or assistance, regardless of the fact that since we bought our home 20 years after most of the residents here means that we likely have just as much month left at the end of our money as most of our more senior neighbors). Or having to be vigilant to police our block against the opportunistic parasites that seem convinced they can perpetuate the tradition of Cole as the place where you can sell drugs, solicit prostitution, or simply treat the neighborhood as some forgotten step-child of urban Denver where public drunkenness, littering, and crime are the norm.Why do I write about this? I don't know, actually. Maybe the reasons are two-fold. One, to paint an accurate picture of where Cole is now--In a profound transition. This isn't Highlands Ranch (Thank God!!!). If that is what you're looking for, but you're looking for a bargain price on a home, look elsewhere.However, I also write this as an advertisement to current and prospective Cole residents. To let you know that there is a committed, and growing contingence of residents that are going to ensure the continued progress of the neighborhood. Especially with today's environment of high energy costs and reurbanization, Cole is, and will be, for the right people, a fantastic place to live.We just need help. We need more residents (not just home-owners) that want to be a part of a historic change, even a regenesis, of this area. It has happened in other parts of Denver, and all over America, and it is happening now. White, African American, Black, Asian, whatever you are, if you are willing to put a little of your vitality and energy into the neighborhood in which you live, I can't think of another area in Denver that is a better place to live.But know when you move here, change doesn't happen by itself. Action and commitment on behalf of the residents of Cole is what will make it happen. Just moving here and expecting to sell your home in 2 years for a fat profit isn't only unrealistic, it is irresponsible. Are you prepared to help make this the neighborhood the wonderful place it can be? If not, look elsewhere. If so, we will welcome you to the neighborhood with open arms.As always, thanks for reading.

Today's Recommended Reading

Here are a couple of interesting articles that might be of interest to Cole residents.First, I found an article that is the best account of the recent history of Cole I've seen. Read it here.Second, my wife passed this article along about the emerging trend of reurbanization in America. Speaks very well for the future of Cole, and our investment here.Enjoy.

More On Big Dogs in the 'Hood

Owning big dogs in the 'hood
Just moved to the 'hood and starved for conversation? Feeling lonely? Get a big dog or two. My wife and I can't take our dogs for a walk a block away without getting some sort of interesting comment from folks in the neighborhood.Here are some gems:
Are they spaded?
Got any puppies?
Can I buy your dogs?
Them Rockwilers? (They are in fact Rottweilers)
Them is some big-ass dogs!
You must be pretty important, to have protection like that!
Them Pit Bulls?
Are they mean?
Do they bite?
Pretty much people either are deathly afraid of them, or want to buy them, or often both. Hard to convince them that we treat our dogs like people, and have carefully socialized them to be good neighbors and ambassadors for the breed.
We have "halties" or no-pull trainers for them, which people immediately think are muzzles. To which I say "No, they could still bite you if they wanted to..."
It's a shame that so many people here have only been exposed to big dogs that aren't socialized. Even though our dogs wouldn't bite anything but a pork chop, people immediately assume they're voracious man-eaters. Not that I complain about our house being known by the bad guys as the one with the two big dogs. Or that the occasional person that makes us feel a bit uncomfortable will cross the street rather than pass our dogs on the same sidewalk.
We actually finally got a security system for our home a few months ago. The next day a couple police officers were on foot patrol on the block and stopped by to say hello--They saw the security system yard sign and said "You guys don't need a security system with dogs like this!"
It is refreshing, however, that the neighborhood kids love our dogs. A walk doesn't go by without a crowd of kids (Cole has the sweetest kids, at least until they grow up and get polluted by the pervasive negativity here) gathering around the dogs, petting them, and asking all kinds of questions. They often can't believe that our dogs are like family, and even sleep with us in bed. Guess they're again used to dogs used only for protection, and left chained to a pole in the back yard.
I hope that at least in some miniscule way we're helping these children come to know that many big dogs are sweethearts.

At Least We Don't Have Cranes

Is it just me, or have there been like eleventy-billion crane accidents in the last couple years?I'm watching Fox News right now and they're talking about yet another crane accident, this one in Dallas, Texas. Think American cars are unreliable, what about our cranes?In fact, crane accidents are apparently so frequent that there is a website devoted exclusively to 'em. Forget Alaskan crab fishing; forget logging; I smell a reality show here (and yes, it stinks).So what does this have to do with Denver's Cole Neighborhood? Not a whole heck of a lot, honestly. But while we might have crackheads, gang bangers, and hookers, at least we don't have cranes. And based on the recent frequency of crane accidents, it seems like we should be pretty grateful for that fact. Be careful LoDo and Ballpark neighborhood residents! There are cranes everywhere downtown right now!Thanks for reading.

Good news for Cole

I'm sure most of you have already seen this, and I'm late in posting, but here is a recent article highlighting our own Cole Neighborhood in Denver.It's great to see the progress we've made over here be recognized, though in a very basic way.More meaningful posts to come. Promise.

I'm baaaaack...

After a six month hiatus, the Cole Neighborhood Memoirs is back.It's 11PM and I type as this speak as yet another crack head leaves the house across the street from mine.I took this blog down a few months ago because I grew tired of the constant criticisms from civil libertarians, whiners, and others that in my opinion take things far too seriously, portraying me and my views as narrow minded, racist, and overly negative about my Denver block and the Cole neighborhood in general.What I didn't anticipate was the word-of-mouth feedback that I have since responded and made it clear that I had more of an audience than I thought--And that I'm not the only one that simultaneously sees beauty, tragedy, potential, and humour in being a white resident in a largely black and hispanic, gentrifying neighborhood in urban Denver.Let's get some things straight for starters--I'm white and a college graduate (though I use that term loosely, since I hold a "degree" in liberal arts, which doesn't guarantee me any job but one at Starbucks or doing door-to-door sales for the local cable company) and I don't claim to have all the answers. I don't know what it's like to be a black or a hispanic in today's United States of America. I believe that while racial profiling and discrimination still exists today in Denver's police department (and elsewhere), I firmly believe that most of our police officers try to do their best in a very difficult job and an equally complex political environment. So if you're one of those folks that thinks that the Denver Police Department as a whole is a racist organization, don't bother posting comments, and move on to another site--You and I will never see eye-to-eye.I also see the future of Cole as one of cultural and economic diversity--That means we need more affluent residents to take an interest in and invest in Cole to make it a safer, more vibrant neighborhood.What is the purpose of this blog? Quite simply, to portray what living in this neighborhood is like for a resident of my "demographic". In the previous iteration of this site I admittedly found myself pandering hopelessly to those of opposing viewpoints--I didn't know whether I should speak my mind, convey current events in the neighborhood, or simply say what the "masses" thought should be said.No more. I'm happy to say that the Cole Neighborhood Association has enjoyed a regenesis of late, and as such, if you just want to become involved in the neighborhood, or learn what is new here, you have another source of information. What you'll read here is just my two cents, right or wrong. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, often useless, but it will always reflect what I see as the most accurate portrayal of life here from the eyes of a white guy from rural Michigan.Will I say some controversial things? Guaranteed I will. Don't like it? You don't have to read it. Have a comment? By all means share it, I may learn something from you. But if you're just out to be negative, or to flame me for having an opinion, don't bother.Like my point-of-view or not, I am invested in and committed to this neighborhood, and ensuring its progress. For those like me, and for those unlike me, but that are responsible and similarly committed to making it a great place to live (more on that later).Thanks in advance for reading.