Cole Neighborhood Memoirs is getting the band back together

Man, has it been a while! So much has changed in my life, and in the neighborhood in the five or so years since I last posted. Many of my old neihbors-- both ones I loved and some I didn't-- have left. The neighborhood drama has largely died down, only occasionally punctuated by staccato gunfire or a murder.

With the recent increase in affluence and density, the bigger concerns are burglaries and parking. Oh, and for some, gentrification, but I'll leave that for another post.

Tosh's Hacienda, which became Kiva, which became Blackberries, which became Swallows, which became Eden, which then became Downing Street Grill have been replaced by the Denver Wrangler. While I've heard their patronage has gone down since they moved into the neighborhood, they thus far have added a little stability in that property.

Jake's is gone, replaced by the swanky new Rino Beer Garden.

Hell, come to think of it, last time I posted here River North wasn't even a freaking neighborhood.

And just west of the neighborhood there now are all kinds of new establishments, including Chuburger, Fish-n-Beer and Hop Alley.

Blocks of warehouses are gone, replaced by offices, apartments and a shiny new light rail station.

Phil's Place is still there, more on that in another post.

And then there's the perpetually shitty Down-and-Out Super building. That's really the last bastion of the old Cole. Downright shocking.

I'm still here. Am I happy with the new neighborhood? Hell yes, unapologetically so. If you're looking for a resident that suffers from white guilt or loses sleep at night about gentrification, you're in the wrong place. Sorry. And more on that later.

Well, to those of you that have read and been offended by my posts previously, I'm baaaack.

And to those of you new neighbors that discover me now,  you're in for a ride.

#NEWEASTSIDE

Cole Neighborhood... Very Cosmopolitan

With all the shooting going on in our "up and coming" neighborhood, I keep thinking of this scene from Tombstone.

Another plug for Walnut Room

I'm at a loss for good content as of late. Other than social commentary on the welfare state, Lisa Calderon, or baby diapers in the dumpster (none of which would be positive), all I've got is pimping local biz that I love.

I'm sitting right now at the Walnut Room, the coolest place within stumbling distance of our house, doing homework and drinking a tasty martini. Colians, have you checked this place out yet? Best happy hour in our area by far. Best sandwiches and pizza in our area by far. Cool staff and people. Good (non Latino)  music. Live music even. Wonderful patio. Need I say more?

If you stop in as a result of reading this ask Bobby, Kristin, or one of the other friendly staffers to put something up on the "future's" board for the white devil at CNM so I know you gave it a try. Plus I need free drinks. You know as much as I do how much we're all paying for our tiny old houses in the 'hood.

You'll like it, I guarantee. If you don't, I'll paint over the graffiti on your dumpsters free for a year. Honest.

RIP George Nissen, The Inventor Of Trampolines

Did anyone else catch that George Nissen, the inventor of the trampoline died last week? I've always wondered what legacy I'll leave when I'm gone. What was George Nissen's legacy? Well, for starters, eighty years and thousands of kids with head injuries, broken arms and broken legs. E.R. docs and orthopedic surgeons owe so much of their livelihood to Mr. Nissen.

George Nissen's invention has even more meaning in Cole. I mean, what else would Colians put in their ten-by-ten yard other than a ten-foot diameter trampoline? It serves so many purposes: First of all, it just looks bitchin' in your front yard. Second, it keeps the ninos busy for hours in between visits from the paleta cart. But it also gives you something to tie your chihuahua to. Not to mention providing him a little shade when you leave him out in your front yard for 10 hours on a hot summer day.

But the trampoline is most important to Cole in being the precursor to the jumping castle, an integral part of any child's or family's fiesta in Cole. Yes, spring and summer are coming, and it won't be long before the melodic chirping of birds will be accompanied by the pleasing machine-gun cadence of air compressors and blaring, distorted latin music. I can picture the skyline of Cole now, being sporadically and briefly altered this summer by slowly-inflating jumping castles, rising like a phoenix over back fences all across the neighborhood. The only thing better than a jumping castle or a trampoline? Both, of course.

And we truly have one man to thank: George Nissan. God rest in peace.

Bring Hooters To Cole

So who knew that I’d stir such controversy by simply stating the fact that the overtly gay theme of the new “Swallows Video Lounge” would likely not appeal to a significant percentage of the Cole Neighborhood’s residents?
A commenter was so offended with my commments, that she made it clear she would boycott the Cole Neighborhood Association. Not sure why she'd get such a knee-jerk reaction from one guy stating his opinion. Jeez, folks, what do I have to do to make it clear that I don’t speak for the CNA? Heck, I haven’t been to a single meeting in over a year. Not to mention the fact that I frequently get negative comments on my blog from CNA members. I just voice my opinions here. If you don't like it, no problem, flame away and/or stop reading it. But don't try to make any sort of generalization about a group I don't even belong to.
Now this commenter, a lesbian, practiced the ole’ reverse stereotype by assuming that because I didn’t find a bar that had sexual euphemisms abound about swallowing bodily fluids my cup of tea (or other liquid) that I of course must have wanted a Hooters there instead.

Initially, this bothered me. But the more I thought about it, what would make a clearly racist, sexist, homophobic gun-toting redneck like I me feel more at home in Cole than a Hooters? Heck, I do love me some chicken wings, and I also love me some sexy thrice-divorced aspiring reality TV stars in 70’s running shorts. So, guilty as charged! I’d rather have a Hooters in Cole than Swallows. At least it’s a proven business model that will likely last longer than six months. And if anyone won’t support the local Hooters, they’re clearly heterophobes. How shallow-minded. Then I’d have to boycott the CNA, too.

It got me to thinking—What other establishments might I like to see in the old Tosh’s Hacienda/Kiva Restaurant/Club Dynasty/Blackberries Bar and Grill building? Hmmm… the possibilities are endless:

• First off, as a homophobe, I must be a hard-core bible thumper, so of course I’d like to see a Catholic church there. Nothing would help me fight off those evil homosexuals like a stack of bibles the size of Jenny’s Market. Plus pews offer a lot of pass-out space for the regulars in the neighborhood.

• How about a shooting range? Everyone knows any self-respecting gun toting Republican NRA member would like to have a shooting range in their neighborhood. They could make Wednesdays "gangsters under 12 to shoot free" night (as long as they’ve got their homework done, of course).

• A Nascar video lounge. Boy, nothing gets my blood pumping more than the smell of motor oil and putting on my old number 6 Dale Earnhardt jumpsuit to go watch Daytona 500 re-runs on The Ocho.

• A Bass Pro Shop Outlet. Of course, Cole is a utopia for outdoorsmen. Whether it’s hunting squirrels, fishing at nearby City Park Lake, or bird watching the ghetto pidgeons that crap down the side of St. Martins Plaza, no doubt outdoorsmen like me would like to see our need for blaze orange camouflage and 12 gauge shotgun shells met within staggering range of our houses. It’s such a sketchy drive all the way over to Stapleton after a 24 pack of Natural Light, let me tell you.

• Oh! Monster Trucks! Yes! By golly, that’s a winner. Now although the space in the Kiva building is expansive, I know it may be a stretch to fit an entire monster truck course in there. But I think they could do it. I was at the Pepsi Center for a Thuggets game a few weeks ago and couldn’t even imagine where they put all the dirt and sweet jumps with all those rows of seats in the way. They may have to move the aquarium, but I think it could happen.

• And finally, I think the neighborhood could benefit from a professional wrestling ring. And none of that culturally-sensitive Lucha Libre, either. I’m talking good old, heterosexual white males on steroids wearing red speedos in a choreographed mock battle to the death. Nothing would signal the new, peaceful future of Cole like two 300 pound high school drop-outs beating each other with folding chairs.

So there you have it. There are so many other establishments that the mainstream Cole residents like me would rather have in the old Kiva building than Swallows Video Lounge. Thanks must go out to MSH, the poster that got me thinking about this topic. Without her help, I think I just would have settled for a laid-back, casual, come-as-you-are neighborhood bar and restaurant.

Cole Neighborhood Plan Meeting--Tomorrow, Thursday, March 11th at EXDO

Have an opinion about what Cole's neighborhood plan should look like? Just want to be in the loop? Don't miss this meeting tomorrow night at EXDO.

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Hello, my name is Courtland Hyser, and I’m the City of Denver’s project manager for a new small area plan called the Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan. You are receiving this e-mail because you have either requested to be on the mailing list, or because you were already on the mailing list for one or more of the following recent planning efforts: the Downtown Area Plan, the Arapahoe Square Blight Study, the Central Corridor Extension Environmental Evaluation, or the 38th & Blake Station Area Plan.
The first public meeting for the Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan will be held on Thursday, March 11th at the EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St., from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The focus of this first meeting will be on identifying challenges, opportunities, and existing conditions within the study area. There is a map of the study area on the attached meeting flier. You can also learn more about the plan by visiting the project’s website at www.denvergov.org/northeastdowntown. If you have additional questions, you can reach me at courtland.hyser@denvergov.org or 720-865-2924.

Courtland Hyser, AICP

Senior City PlannerDenver Community Planning and Development201 West Colfax Ave, Dept 205Denver, CO 80202Phone: (720) 865-2924Website: www.denvergov.org/planning

Sh*t my wife says

I realized that my wife says "Hmmm.... What do we have going on over here?" in only two very specific (and different)instances since we moved into Cole Neighborhood.

One, when she sees something suspicious.

Two, when she sees another house being fixed up.

And I have to admit she's been using it in the second context much more frequently as of late.

Progress on the 3700 Block of Franklin is happening fast!

Has anyone been over on the 3700 block of Franklin lately? I posted a couple weeks ago how the cool old building on the NE corner of 37th and Franklin was being fixed up. Also, a duplex on the block just got a very tasteful flip. Now the awesome old "Railroad Overall Laundry" building is being renovated. No idea what the story is, but guessing it will be a residence like the similar building a few doors north. Looks like it's already on someone's radar, too. Boy, that block is changing fast! Great stuff!

Halloween in Cole

Nothing says "Halloween, Cole Style" like spooky police tape...

A Practical Use for Ghetto Tumbleweeds

Ever been out walking your dog, and either they "take care of business" more times than you have bags? Or, if you think "Hey, Snuggles just went #2, there's no chance he'll need to go on this walk...", but he inevitably does?

One nice thing about living in Cole, is that when you're in a pinch like this, there inevitably is a plastic bag (or "ghetto tumbleweed" as my neighbor so cleverly called 'em) blowing by.

Black ones come from the liquor store on Bruce Randolph and Downing, and are most prevalent for obvious reasons. White ones come from the Down-n-Out Super. Regardless of what color they are they certainly come in handy.

Like getting water from an Agave plant in the blistering heat of the desert; or finding a wild blackberry bush while starving in the sticks, Ghetto Tumbleweeds can be quite the life saver. I wouldn't put them on my list of things I'm most excited about in Cole, but they serve their purpose.

Guess we owe a hearty "thank you" to all those litter-bugs out there.

Wild night in Cole?

Came across this walking the dogs tonight.

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

Ten Things I'm Excited About In Cole

I guess it's only fair to share some of the very cool things that are happening over here, to balance out my rather cynical bent as of late. So that the haters can't say I'm nothing but negative, here are ten things I'm excited about in Cole right now:

1. The CNA's recent energy--The CNA has been active for several years, but wow--The last 12 months seem to have brought a whole new vitality and energy to the organization. Kudos to Ashleigh Weatherill, current CNA president, Loralie Cole, the former president and (I think) current vice president, and all the folks that are participating.


2. The Dry Ice Factory and Casselman's Bar and Venue--Joining The Walnut Room and Blake Street Tavern as the latest beacons of hope for close-by shopping and services to Cole. Yeah, I know they're actually "Ballpark" neighborhood or something... but I'm so grateful to have them in North Denver. They are much-needed anchor businesses to tie our neighborhood to downtown's vitality.


3. The flip guru of Cole--Darryl whatever-his-name is, that fixed up the house next door to us, as well as three or four other homes in the area, and sold them to new, responsible Cole residents, is right now across the street fixing up his latest aquisition, an old brick duplex that has been vacant and a squatter-and-crackhead-haven for years. Darryl for president!!!


4. The fact that with this duplex renovated and being sold to first-time homeowners, that will make no fewer than 7 residences on our block that have been renovated significantly since we moved here three years ago. I know first-hand that there are many folks that would love to see that much progress on their blocks in that time.
   
5. The fact that no less than three people have emailed me through this blog in the past month (two in the past week), looking for homes here and seeking unvarnished information about the area. Hey, that's what I've always promised, and I'm glad to find that there are some folks out there that still appreciate a straight shooter. Oh, and of course, it's nice to hear the Cole neighborhood is such an attractor of new residents. (Unless you're part of the "Collective", which is a whole other topic.)


6. The exciting new plans for redevelopment of the barren, disjointed, largely industrial northwest corner of our neighborhood to make it more pedestrian friendly, improve traffic flow, and better connect it to the Platte trail.


7. The Denver Police Department for, well, you know for what.


8. Denver Partners Against Graffiti for, well, again, no explanation needed here.


9. That despite what must have been a hugely expensive failure with his Kiva Restaurant, the owner of the old Tosh's Hacienda building isn't giving up on this historic property yet, and is launching a new round of renovations. While I haven't agreed with all the choices he's made, I'm grateful to have his investment in the neighborhood, in Tracks, ExDo, and of course, whatever the Kiva/Tosh's building becomes.


10. And, finally, I'm very thankful for (some) of my neighbors. OK, most of them. Those that don't have a dog that barks all hours of the day and night (and even that family is good people otherwise); those that don't make 11AM Front Porch Happy Hour 7 days a week; and especially those that don't sell the rock or light cats on fire.
    
    While there are a good number of people here that I would have been perfectly happy never meeting (let alone dealing with them on a daily basis), overall we have some great people in Cole--Both new and old residents.
    
    There is no doubt that three years ago when we moved to the block, we were welcomed with open arms by the vast majority of the current residents of the block (those that don't sell the rock or light cats on fire), and that's a pretty special thing I think.
    
    And despite my cynicism, I truly hope that these neighbors are part of the future of the block, too.

The Official Beverage Of Cole Neighborhood

You don't have to walk far in Cole to trip across a "Kentucky Deluxe" whiskey bottle. Yup, many long-time Cole residents love their drinking, and they overwhelmingly choose Kentucky Deluxe.

And no secret why. The bottle reads: "A choice blended whiskey that possesses the character and taste a connoisseur desires and expects from a great whiskey." We apparently have a good number of fine whiskey connoisseurs in the barrio, because they won't settle for anything but the best... er... I mean... Deluxe.

Seriously, for those of us not named Trump, why spend 3 or 4 dollars a bottle for a jug of some high-brow whiskey when you can live deluxe--Kentucky Deluxe?

Dictionary.com defines "Deluxe" as: "Of special elegance, sumptuousness, or fineness; high or highest in quality, luxury, etc."

Of special elegance... Check; highest in quality... Check; luxury, Check. Yup, I can see why Kentucky Deluxe is the preferred beverage of so many Cole residents--From its plastic bottle, to the regal crown on the label, to the way your head throbs the morning after you drink it, it no doubt is the absolute epitome of deluxe.

So the next time you're going to go sit in the Down-and-Out Super parking lot and cat-call young ladies when they walk by; sit in your car alone and drink at City Park; when Tuesday morning happy hour rolls around again; or if you're just looking to start a drop-down, drag out family argument on your front porch, do it the Deluxe way. Kentucky Deluxe.

At a cash-only liquor store with bars on the windows near you...

Top Ten things I have learned about living in Cole

So I've lived here in Cole for almost 4 years now, and as a result I think I have a pretty good feel for the area. I was just thinking the other night, of all the valuable things I've learned, and thought I should share for any other new or prospective residents.

So, here are the top 10 things I have learned about living in Cole:

1. When you're budgeting for your mortgage, be sure to include some wiggle room for a self-storage facility. That quaint, historic house with so much character has absolutely no closet space, so you'll need to find a place to put all that stuff you accumulated in the 'burbs or your previous, modern or updated apartment.
2. As mentioned in a previous post, get a cell phone plan with unlimited calls to certain numbers, and make the Police, Denver Partners Against Graffiti, Neighborhood Inspection Services, and perhaps Animal Control all part of your unlimited calling plan. You'll be calling one or more of these agencies a lot. Trust me.
3. Collect your spare change in a "change jar" so that when you are out walking your dogs, and you get panhandled by the crack head up the street, or in many cases your neighbor, you can honestly say "I'd like to help, but all I have is fifteen cents."
4. Get a big, but harmless dog--German Shepherd, Rottie, or Dobie perhaps. Or, something that could pass for a pit bull (since pits are illegal, you shouldn't get the real thing). While your dog might be a big baby, every other big dog in the 'hood is unsocialized, neglected, and mean as hell, so they'll think the same thing about your dog and not mess with your shit.
5. Start listening to latin music--Really, really loud. You're going to be hearing a lot of it very soon, so you had better get used to it.
6. Get some windchimes, or perhaps a fountain or other water feature for your back yard, to help drown out the afore-mentioned latin music, your neighbor's incessantly barking ghetto "Rockweiller", "ghetto doorbell" (someone sitting in their car on the street honking their horn incessantly until their friend comes to the door), the frequent loud, extremely public domestic disputes from one or several of your neighbors, police sirens, police helicopters, gunshots, or the perpetual drunks on the front porch across the street.
7. Make sure you own some dark sunglasses, and wear them every time you leave the house. Makes it easier to watch the unsavory characters you inevitably encounter to see if they're selling drugs, or engaging in any other criminal activity without making it obvious you're observing them. Also helpful to get a read on the thuggish-looking kid walking towards you on the sidewalk. Gang banger, or just a fan of Allen Iverson? You be the judge.
8. Stock up on fly traps. Guaranteed one of your neighbors will fill your dumpster to the point of overflowing with dirty baby diapers and chicken bones.
9. As much as you'll eventually want to build a fifteen foot, sound-proof concrete wall topped with concertina around your house to help you block out the rest of the 'hood, city code won't allow you to. I looked into it.
10. And finally, this is a big one: If you're white, you might think you have a right to an opinion about the future of the neigborhood, but you're wrong. Only people of color and the indiginous crack-head population are entitled to an opinion. You're just an unwelcome invader.

The horror!!!

Here is the awful, apocalyptic future of the Cole Neighborhood as envisioned by several "neighborhood organizers" and "activists" that lament the inevitable, cyclical change of Urban Denver.

No, they're not talking about global warming. Nope, not pollution. Nope, not crime. Tornadoes? Wrong again. Locusts? Way off!

Nope, Cole neighborhood's immaculate reputation and rich cultural history will be utterly destroyed by... White people drinking coffee!!! Oh, the horrors!!!

Run for your life!!!

Los Angeles Times: Graffiti study bolsters 'broken windows' theory

I came across an interesting article that adds newfound support to the "Broken Windows" theory of law enforcement. In all reality, while some local activists argue otherwise, the Denver Police Department practices a multi-pronged aproach in Cole that at best loosely borrows select elements from Broken Windows (CompStat resource allocation and an emphasis on graffiti abatement, for example).

Where I think the article is most relevant to Cole, is in illustrating what I have said all along--Basically, that disorder (trash, graffiti, public drunkenness, unkempt businesses and properties) breeds disorder, by reducing the instinct to "act in a socially responsible manner" as they put it--I think many residents look around at the trash and graffiti in our neighborhood and think "No one else cares about this neighborhood, why should I?" Keeping our neighborhood free of trash and graffiti just makes sense.

I also find the comment by Bernard Harcourt, a long-time critic of Broken Windows, downright shocking in how it minimizes the severity of such crimes as vandalism and theft. While Harcourt suggests we "don't care about those kinds of trivial... acts," I for one do care about them, and will do whatever is in my power to reduce their occurrence in Cole--Whether one believes in the tie-in between disorder and more serious crimes like assault and murder or not, I would hope they would agree with me on that point at least.

But enough from me, here is the article:
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In a series of real-world experiments, people exposed to graffiti, litter and other cues of lawlessness were more likely to commit small crimes, according to a study published today that bolsters the controversial "broken windows" theory of policing.The idea is that low-level offenses like vandalism and panhandling create an environment that breeds bigger crimes. According to the theory, authorities can help head off serious violence by keeping minor infractions in check.
Dutch researchers tested the psychological underpinnings of the theory and found that signs of social disorder damped people's impulse to act for the good of the community, allowing selfish and greedy instincts to take over. The results appear in the journal Science.Community policing strategies based on the "broken windows" theory have taken root in cities across the U.S. and around the world since it was proposed in 1982. Most famously, New York City saw a 50% reduction in crime in the 1990s after then-Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and then-Police Commissioner William J. Bratton -- now head of the Los Angeles Police Department -- cracked down on squeegee-wielding panhandlers and the like. They credited the "broken windows" approach for their success.
An array of social scientists examined the city's crime statistics, and many of them concluded that factors like the booming economy and decline of crack cocaine were actually responsible for the dramatic improvement.Kees Keizer, a graduate student at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, thought psychology and sociology could add to the debate. Human behavior is influenced by three competing instincts: to act in a socially appropriate manner, to do what feels good in the moment and to maximize one's resources. Keizer predicted that when there's less motivation to be socially appropriate, the other two impulses would take over.To test this, he attached fliers for a fake sportswear store to the handlebars of bicycles parked in a shopping area. With no trash can nearby, shoppers returning to their bikes could either take the fliers with them or litter.A wall near the bicycles had a sign indicating that graffiti was forbidden. When the wall was indeed graffiti-free, 33% of people left the fliers on the ground or attached them to other bikes. After Keizer painted graffiti on the wall, the percentage of litterers rose to 69%. Keizer said littering jumped because the socially appropriate instinct -- to deposit the flier in a trash can -- was overtaken by the feel-good instinct to let someone else throw it away.In other experiments, the presence of four shopping carts strewn about a parking lot in violation of posted signs boosted the percentage of people who littered to 58%, from 30%. The sound of illegal fireworks increased the percentage of litterbugs near a busy train station to 80%, from 52%.To see whether social disorder would induce citizens to steal, Keizer left an envelope containing 5 euros (about $6.26) hanging conspicuously from a mailbox. When the mailbox was clean, 13% of passersby stole the envelope. When the mailbox was surrounded by trash, the percentage jumped to 25%, and when the mailbox was covered in graffiti, it rose to 27%. "It is quite shocking that the mere presence of litter resulted in a doubling of the number of people stealing," Keizer said. James Q. Wilson, the political scientist who developed the "broken windows" theory with George L. Kelling, said the Netherlands experiments bolstered his hypothesis."If public authorities worry about order, it affects the way people behave," said Wilson, now the Ronald Reagan Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University in Malibu. But Bernard Harcourt, a professor of law and criminology at the University of Chicago who has done studies debunking "broken windows," said Keizer's scenarios were too quaint to take seriously."We don't care about those kinds of trivial, manipulated delinquent acts," he said. "What we care about is violence."

See the article in its entirety here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-graffiti21-2008nov21,0,3090727.story

Effective Policing, or Racial Profiling?

http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2543

Just an observation...

Anyone else notice that the same locals here that can't afford a lawnmower to keep the weeds down, can't afford water to keep their trees from dying, and that don't care that their home is in a perpetua state of deterioration, can find money to pimp out their homes extravagantly for Halloween?

Denver Partners Against Graffiti Rules

Folks,

Do you hate graffiti as much as I do? I hate it so much I think we should consider implementing some sort of medieval or middle eastern punishment for graffiti painting. Cut off a gang-banger's hands and I'm pretty sure you won't be seeing his signature painted on a dumpster near you anytime soon. But that's another story...

I just wanted to share with the rest of the barrio that the folks at Denver Partners Against Graffiti (DPAG) have been just stellar as of late in addressing graffiti in our neighborhood. The Downing Street alley between Bruce Randolph and 35th has been particularly nasty in the last couple months (pretty sure it's due to a neighbor of mine and his little punk friends) and as such I've had to call DPAG at least four times to re-paint the dumpsters on that block. They literally get there within two days and get the stuff painted over.

They're even getting pro-active now in cleaning the stuff up--For example, when you used to call in a specific address, they'd come out and clean it up, but if there was graffiti right next to it on a dumpster or light pole, they'd ignore it. Not only that, they didn't even have an inspector to follow up on complaints--They just sent out a request for removal of the graffiti to the homeowner, and if they didn't respond, nothing happened. Not anymore.

Now, it seems that they're (finally) keeping their eyes open coming and going from specific addresses, and removing and documenting other graffiti when they see it. I know, it sounds obvious, but this is the city of Denver we're talking about and I'm darned surprised and thankful they're that on-the-ball now.

So there you go folks... can't blame graffiti on the city anymore. You've just got to call it in or report it through the DPAG website.

And while I have no life and in all honesty have a lot of time on my hands relative to most folks, I can't cover the entire neighborhood. If we each take our block (or two) and are diligent about calling in the tagging when it happens, we all win, by each doing our own little part.

And trust me, it's worth it--The faster you get graffiti removed, the less likely the little idiots are to come back and tag it again--It may take a few times, but you can win the battle and the war, at least on your block--But you have to be diligent, and call the stuff in.