Welcome to Cole

Two folks I met through this blog (Shocked, actually, I guess I don't offend EVERYONE) bought an awesome home in Cole recently, and moved in a couple of weeks ago... and were immediately burglarized...

Yes, bummer. Not a great welcome to a couple of really nice folks willing to chance it in Cole.

Have we been burglarized in three plus years here? Nope, at least not yet. Have any of our friends? Yes... I guess... in a way.

Why do I say that? Because each time it included some very interesting circumstances:

1. A nice girl that lived across the street had her car stolen from right in front of her house. Turns out she had left her keys sitting out on the front porch overnight. (Incidentally, the guy on our block with "connections" to the local crack-heads was able to get her car to mysteriously re-appear within a couple days... interesting).

2. That same girl had a guy crawl in her doggy door. Yes, her doggy door was big enough for a man to fit through. Need I say more?

3. Ironically enough, this same girl, who just sold her house to move back to the midwest, came by a couple weeks ago to clean out her house for the new owners, and left her weed-whacker out unattended in her front yard, with the gate open. Poof! Weed-Whacker gone. Imagine that. Is this the city or something?

4. Our neighbors up the street had a pallet of sod stolen. Turns out they had parked it out back of their property in the alley, and in all honesty, in the 'hood, that means typically it's up for grabs. Now I wouldn't normally think anyone would give away a pallet of sod, but that is the custom around here. They ended up finding the guy in the next alley up the block laying the sod in his yard. He of course denied any wrongdoing, but they got it back, and it now grows happily in their back yard.

5. Our neighbors across the street had a Playstation and some other electronics stolen from their home. Someone actually kicked in their back door and stole the items, as if they knew exactly when they were gone, and where the items were. They initially blamed it on a kid up the street who is a bit shady--But we later learned that it was one of their nephews who had a drug problem.

My point? (And I'm likely jinxing ourselves by saying this...) We have a pretty darned good block, all things considered. Most everything that has happened here has a story behind it besides just random, urban crime.

And, thinking outloud, betting that the person that robbed these folks is right on their block right now, typing away on their laptop...

To my new friends in Cole, here's hoping it gets better for you guys, and definitely check out the Cole Neighborhood Association when you get settled.

Cheers,

CNM

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch On Crime

I stumbled across the following clip today that instantly made me think of Cole. Basically, how many of the "activists" or "organizers" in the neighborhood seem to downplay the crime and violence in the area--Suggesting that it isn't so bad, and doesn't justify the current level of police presence. Or, why residents become fearful, or that their attitude towards the neighborhood changes due to negative experiences. To which, I say, if you say that, clearly crime hasn't hit your home or family yet. You haven't cleaned up enough graffiti yet. Your son or daughter hasn't been assaulted or murdered. Your home hasn't been burglarized. Or you haven't become the victim of the drug dealing and related theft and violence that has long been part of Cole's history. But enough from me. Take it away, Ed...

The latest on the 38th and Blake redevelopment...

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/193/documents/38th%20and%20Blake.pdf

38th Annual City Park Bike Race This Sunday

One of the nicest things about living is Cole is our proximity to City Park. While still a bit sketchier and less gentrified than Wash Park (for better and for worse), it's arguably Denver's most beautiful park.

This Sunday the longest-running bike race in the state returns to City Park. Rocky Mountain Road Club, the second coolest team in the state (behind Twin Peaks Racing) is hosting the 38th annual City Park Criterium. While I won't be racing this year, it's one of my favorite races due to its pancake flat parcours, and fast, technical corners. It's a crit rider's dream!

It also makes for some great spectating, with the beautiful park in the background, and with the short laps making you always close to the action. I highly recommend you check it out.

Better yet, there is a charity cruiser race at the end of the day.

Hope to see you there.

They're at it again...

Anyone notice the recent upswing in "Oldies" gang-related graffiti lately? If you happen to see a kid on your block with black spray-paint on his hands, kick him in the gonads for me, OK?

It's going to be a busy summer for the little thuggitos, that's for sure.

Get your dumpster paint ready, and make sure DPAG's number is in your phone so you can call this crap in when you're out walking the Chiwoodle.