Essential Equipment For Life in Cole

Anyone else have a horrific fly problem right now? I don't know if it's the dumpster right out back of our house that frequently has chicken bones, other food, and dirty baby diapers dumped (sans bag) in it, or the fact that one of our neighbors is running a perpetual soda can recycling program out of their back yard, but the flies have been AWFUL around here since around a week after the 4th holiday.

This photo, mind you, is of a GALLON size fly trap that is almost full--in a week. Along with two quart sized ones, and one disposable one. Also filled up 3 fly tapes during the same period. So I've caught nearly two gallons of flies in a week. Yikes.

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.

On Banjos

As I've mentioned before, living in Cole definitely has a musical component. Generally loud latin music booming from a slammed Ford F-150. More fun is the nostalgia I feel when I see someone walk by with a "boom box" or "ghetto blaster" from back in the 80's cranking some Cube. (Oh, as a pasty white kid, I used to burn through those D-batteries listening to my Huey Lewis and The News and Hall and Oates Cassettes.)

But things are certainly changing, as evidenced by my Saturday afternoon experience, when I saw my first-ever banjo in Cole. Followed no more than 5 minutes later, my second. Man, the neighborhood is really going down the toytee now.

The first one belonged to this new white guy that moved into the tri-plex on our block. Can't decide if he looks more hippy-ish or like he fell off a bottle of Kentucky Deluxe. (Perhaps the banjo and beard was making me think Deliverance when I should have been thinking Pearl Street). Either way, he sat on the curb in front of his house for about 1/2 hour picking his banjo as he spoke on the phone with a buddy.

The second banjo sighting was from a very goth-looking girl that came walking by, no doubt heading to the fixed-gear house up on the 3600 block. Six months ago I never saw another cyclist in the 'hood. Now, each and every day I see the folks from the house come and go, like some flock of vultures. I can only imagine what "The Collective" thinks of this wheeled (but brake-less), white invasion.

Yes, two--Count 'em, two banjos on my block in the span of 5 minutes. And to make it even more strange, they didn't even know one another! No acknowledgement of one another. No nod, no hellos, and despite my fingers being crosssed, no dueling banjos. I so wanted to hear what hippies and goth kids play on their banjos.

I still can't get my mind around the odds that two different, unaffiliated banjo-owners would come within five feet of one another--In Cole. The odds must be something close to two comets passing within 50 miles of one another, or of Al Gore buying a Hummer. Heck, Kenyon Martin winning a spelling bee might be even more probable than what I witnessed.

But it happened, honest. Not sure what it means, but it sure shows the neighborhood is rapidly changing. Perhaps we've hit some sort of critical mass?

I've heard that just before an area becomes yuppified, that's when the artists and urban fixed gear crowd moves in. Yup, "The Collective" is going to be pissed.

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...

CNA's latest dastardly doings

So there is an organization in Cole... they call themselves something like "Neighborhood Collective" or something (stating, "We're a group of color with some white allies", racism anyone?). They've apparently formed in opposition of the RNO's (registered neighborhood associations) like the Cole Neighborhood Association, claiming that the RNO's aren't "representative" enough.

Though last time I checked the RNO's weren't turning minorities away at the door (I wonder if white people are welcomed in the "Collective"?) and in fact welcomed the involvement of all residents. Heck, they even went to the trouble of printing up informational signs and cards in Spanish. Honestly, back when I was involved with the CNA, it always struck me that the only thing holding back the representation of "residents of color" was their own disinterest in attending meetings and getting involved (or perhaps, the efforts of the "Collective" to reinforce some sort of victim mentality and undermine the inclusiveness of the RNO's).

Now again, to be clear, I don't speak for the CNA, and honestly, many (or most!) of their members probably disagree with many of my opinions. I used to be more involved in the 'hood but at some point got tired of all the grief put forth by activist groups like the "Collective" towards white folks like me that got involved. While I know it would be the more mature and productive thing to do to stay active and not let it get to me, at some point I looked at my monthly mortgage statement and thought: "I'm paying this much to be so miserable sitting in endless meetings trying to improve the neighborhood, just to be portrayed as a villain." At some point I just decided to get back to the things I liked to do, and earn my keep simply keeping my block and back alley clean and safe. Not to mention doing so many others' work for them by reporting graffiti throughout the neighborhood that sits untended for weeks.

But again, I don't speak for the CNA.

In fact, I know that the "Community Organizer" (ala Barry Obama) at the center of the "Collective", let's just call her "Alisa", for our purposes here, is a really smart person (she'll tell you that herself), and so I wondered if the CNA had in fact morphed into some sort of extreme right-wing conspiracy as she makes it out to be. So, I thought I'd go under-cover to try to uncover the true evil nature of the CNA, as suggested by "Alisa" and her "Collective". I mean, the CNA must be evil--They're trying to get a Sunflower Market into the neighborhood. If that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is.

I got wind of yet another of the CNA's suspicious activities recently and thought I'd investigate: The CNA neighborhood cleanup and tree planting. Sounds innocent enough, but based on the opposition by the "Collective", it had to be a front for some pernicious operation to further displace minorities, perpetuate racial discrimination, and gentrify! But I would get to the bottom of this.

I needed a disguise--So that I could blend in, that morning I borrowed my friend's Subaru, and wore my Birkenstocks and Patagonia jacket and showed up at Wyatt Edison Charter School. Sure enough, nothing but evil white people all around! And they were drinking coffee! A taste wasn't sufficient to confirm whether it was Starbucks or not, but it certainly wasn't Shur Fine coffee from the Down and Out Super.

I saw a big stack of some sort of garden tools--My first thought of course was pitchforks... but they just turned out to be shovels. I guess for the tree planting. A box that looked like it might contain white hoods just turned out to be plastic bags for the neighborhood cleanup.

I was there for only a few minutes when I was shocked to see a Hispanic person show up for the event--Wait a minute, already "Alisa" and the Collective's wisdom was being challenged: Not all "residents of color" subscribe to the fear-mongering and victim mentality of the "Collective"! Very interesting.

I moved closer to a group of participants to eavesdrop. I hoped to get some "dirt" on what they had up their sleeves. Perhaps targeting specific properties to turn into coffee shops, displacing the local minority business owners? Identifying entire blocks to scrape so that more yuppie-friendly services like climbing gyms, luxury lofts, and art galleries can come in? Or maybe unfairly targeting section 8 housing facilities to harass the residents, because you know, white people just have a grudge against the poor.

But all I heard was a genuine love of the neighborhood, which I clearly lost at some point. Was it the day I got pan-handled three times in an hour and a half? Or perhaps when I got threatened by that gang banger? Or maybe when I had to clean graffiti out of my back alley for the third time in a week. Who knows.

But these folks still have it, as evidenced by their willingness to give up a Saturday to go out in the cold and mist and pick up other people's baby diapers, Cheeto bags, and Kentucky Deluxe liquor bottles. A genuine interest in making the area a greener, nicer place to live (for all) by planting street trees. And a belief that Cole's future looks very bright.

I was shocked to learn that there wasn't a lynching, or at least a cross burning planned. So much for listening to the "Collective". Just a friendly, productive neighborhood gathering, during which 10 blocks or so of the neighborhood were to be cleaned up, and around 20 street trees were to be planted. Hmmm.... seemed innocent enough.

Fast forward to later in the day, after all the evil cleaning and planting had been done, and I continued my surveillance while taking part in a free burrito provided by CNA. Incidentally, the food was donated from Wahoo's Fish Tacos--apparently they're involved with this extremist organization in some way--and I was surprised because I thought we white people only ate Chipotle. As I finished my meal, the group was joined at the last minute by an elderly Hispanic resident of the neighborhood. She had seen the group's members out cleaning up her block, and was excited to learn of the neighborhood association and their efforts.

Yes, excited. Here was a minority lady that had lived in the neighborhood 40 years and was thrilled about the recent changes (not scared, or threatened). As she ate her burrito, she shared with the group: "This used to be a good neighborhood...but I'm sick and tired of people who don't care..."

But wait a minute--The "Collective" makes it out that the neighborhood is perfect as-is except for the racial profiling of DPD and the white people gentrifying the neighborhood. That any progress--Be it cleanup, renovation, new businesses, engaged residents (unless they're minorities) dilute the "character" and diversity of the neighborhood, and should be opposed at all cost.

I left the event around noon, very confused. How can CNA, (or any other neighborhood association, for that matter) clearly a harmless and very beneficial force of positive change in the neighborhood, be so villified by "Alisa" and her "Collective"? Now, I know "Alisa" is a smart lady (and again, she'll be the first to tell you that), and has at least twice as many degrees as I, but I just don't get it.

I for one will support tree planting, cleanups, bringing healthier grocers and new, valuable (and job generating) businesses and services to the neighborhood. In fact, based on my undercover research, the only counter-productive, misguided organization I know of that is doing harm to minority residents of Cole just might be the "Collective". So, I'll support the Cole Neighborhood Association.

Which is likely good, as I don't know if the "Collective" and it's "group of color" has any openings for a "white ally" right now anyway. Or, in all reality, whether white people are welcome at all.

Exciting News For Cole

Wow, an exciting vision for the future of Cole, as it relates to the new 38th and Blake transit station...

Kiva's new theme: Urban Blight

So I shared that I had heard that Kiva would be re-opening at some point. Not much visible activity on that front until recently when I saw that there was a notice of zoning change on the building--Basically being re-zoned to allow for mixed residential and commercial I think. Makes sense, given how cavernous the building is. I just hope something opens up there again relatively soon.

But the big thing is the new paint job--Anyone notice that they tore down the cheery yellow awnings and re-painted the building...Uggh... Primer gray?

Nothing screams "Urban Blight" more than a huge building painted industrial, primer gray. Especially with an equally dismal gray building right across the street. Every time I pass by now I have to remind myself I'm not living in Flint, Michigan.

Maybe that's his new theme for the restaurant space--Urban blight. Maybe they'll hire some yuppy white artists to replicate some local graffiti on the building, park some extra dumpsters outside, and chain a few cannibalized old bike frames to the light poles. Hang some sneakers from the power lines and hire some actors to portray homeless people and sleep out front during the grand opening. Stick some of those fake-bullet-hole stickers on the front door to complete the look.

Maybe a soup kitchen theme? Tuesdays ladies drink (soup) free. That could become hip and trendy with the incoming Starbucks posse.

Perhaps it is in fact just a primer? I'm afraid it isn't, so I'm left wondering what Marty, the owner was thinking? Of all the colors in the rainbow, why did he choose battleship, primer gray?

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.

You might live in the 'hood...

I just noticed something quite sad: Three of my "Fave 5" on my T-mobile plan are city agencies related to living in the ghetto.

If three of your "Fave 5" are the police department, graffiti removal, and neighborhood inspection services, you might live in the 'hood...

Sunflower Market is coming.... To Park Hill

Still good news for Cole, but Park Hill is the big winner here:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11867922

So for now, we're still stuck with the abhorrent market known as the "Down and Out Super"...

Bummer.

The bright side is I'll still be able to get my pig's feet, lengua, and Jesus Candles nearby for years to come...

Reminder: Free street trees for Cole/Whittier

Reminder: Cole, Whittier and several other surrounding Metro neighborhoods have been selected once again for free street trees from Denver Digs. How many trees can you get planted on your block? Imagine the difference they'd make. Last year a couple folks on our block got 13 trees planted. Amazing.To learn how you, or some of your neighbors can get a free street tree (or perhaps several) visit the Denver Digs website, or contact them at 303.722.6262 or info@theparkpeople.org. I'm sure they're also looking for volunteers.The deadline for submission of tree applications is March 16.

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!!!

"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"

I've written here before about Denver's ubiquitous weed tree, the Ailanthus, or "ghetto palm" as it is frequently called. No smell, other than perhaps the Purina plant on a windy day, is more associated with Denver in my mind than the Ailanthus trees in flower in June. An unpleasant odor to say the least, somewhere between cat urine and b.o., it's not one of the finer points of living in urban Denver, that's for sure.

Were you aware that there was a book and movie, in wich the Ailanthus stars? Yup, "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn", about a young girl with an alcoholic father growing up in Brooklyn, takes its title from the Ailanthus tree, which is featured frequently in the story.

Well, I had heard this, but it wasn't until tonight, when the movie was broadcast on TMC, that I actually checked it out out of curiosity. I must admit, it was pretty interesting, taking place in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. While most black-and-white films had taught me to expect cheap, unrealistic sets, portionas of the film were clearly either filmed on location, or in some other similar "period" city. The streets and brick buildings made me envision what Denver was like at that time.

I was expecting the trees to be plastic, and of some generic style (Like a maple or something). To my surprise the trees in the film looked just like Ailanthus--Talk about set authenticity! You couldn't help but recognize the thin, palm-like leaves as familiar. The girls father talks about the trees "sprouting right out of the concrete, without a reason..."--Ain't that a fact, Jack.

The only thing they didn't portray in the film--Thank goodness--Was the odor. But with spring just a couple months away, won't be long before Denver's least favorite tree will be back in business again before we know it.

"Stop picking on the white people!!!"

Or so a regular and active Hispanic attendee of the Cole Neighborhood Association meetings says from time to time. (Please note again, I do NOT represent or speak for CNA, nor am I a frequent attendee of their meetings. Again, my posts don't claim to be anything than my personal opinion)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Everydaylife" writes in the Denver City Data Forum: "We moved to the Cole/Whittier last year because we were looking for affordable housing close to downtown in an area that is turning around"

A reply from "Frank in Denver": "Turning around from what? Is socio-economically cleansing a neighborhood of those with less income and forcing them further out from the city core something to be proud of? What I often run into are young white couples who are very happy to say they are a part of "bringing the neighborhood back", which is in many ways a very racist perspective. Do you think everyone who lives in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone else catch the assumption that our friend Frank made here? Notice anywhere in Everydaylife's post where s/he says s/he's white? What, do no blacks or Hispanics move to Cole seeking affordable housing? Do no blacks or Hispanics hope the neighborhood changes from its checkered, crime-ridden past, to a cleaner, safer place to live? Wow, sounds like Frank is stereotyping here... And what would it matter if s/he was white, black, or any other race? Does a certain ethnic background allow you to have an opinion about your neighborhood, while another forbids you to?

Racism anyone?

"Kettle, it's the pot--You're black." (Pun intended)

No, of course, if anyone doesn't think Cole/Whittier is just perfect just the way it is, they simply must be an evil white person--Oh, and their opinion doesn't count. You know, those dangerous, Starbucks-wielding Caucasians. No self-respecting minority or lower income resident could ever want an affordable grocery store, more commerce within walking distance, more trees and beautification, less violence, or a safer place for their kids to live and play.

I for one would guess that "Everydaylife" is suggesting that Cole/Whittier is "turning around" because crime is decreasing, homes are getting cleaned and fixed up, and in general the area is becoming a safer place for all (white, black, Hispanic, ALL) to live.

But Cole/Whittier still have a major way to go (as evidenced by recent shootings a block from my house)--But instead of thinking about gang violence, assaults, and murders, Frank is already busy lamenting the socio-economic "cleansing" and "forcing" of lower income residents "further out from the city core".

While we're here, I do feel it's my duty to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure this neighborhood was originally Eastern-European, and Asian (I can't find a link to support this assumption, but this is what I've been told--Original Cole residents were workers brought in to build and maintain the railroad). So Frank, while you're fretting over displacement, why not shed a few tears for all the Poles and Czechs that somehow got "displaced" by the blacks and Hispanics that live here now. I'm actually part Czech--Should I start telling every black person I see that I'm pissed that they "took over the neighborhood" from my people, like somebody told my wife the white people are doing today?

Frank goes on to say "Do you think that everyone living in said area wishes for home prices to rise?"
Whoah, slow down there, Chachi. No, but I sure hear a lot of my neighbors, that have lived here for years and years and years, telling me how the neighborhood has changed for the better: That there are fewer gang-bangers and drug dealers, fewer shootings, less violence, and that they feel that the neighborhood is improving--And that they're glad about it.

Know the only person that I know that has gotten "displaced" in my 4 years here? My neighbor, a Hispanic guy that grew up in the Curtis Park projects. But it wasn't the evil Starbucks crowd that displaced him--He told me he moved out because the neighborhood hadn't changed enough yet as he thought it had when he moved in two years ago with his wife and kids. Where did he move? The Suburbs... where he didn't have to worry about shootings, gangs, and drugs.

Perhaps "Frank in Denver" should stop generalizing about what whites think and do, what the poor think and do, and actually get out "in Denver" and actually talk to some people that live in the communities in question.

I think he likely would be surprised how happy residents are about the progress the neighborhood is making, into a safer, cleaner, yet still ethnically diverse area. And how most residents, regardless of economic status, feel there is a long way to go yet. So much so that the number one reason minorities are leaving, is to find a better place to live--Not gentrification or displacement.

Will you find some that are fearful of gentrification? Sure, you will. But these same people are already reaping the benefits of the improvement in the area, whether they've realized it or not. Oh, and the "new neighbors" (as some "old neighbors" call the newer white residents) are responsible for a lot of it: As the Hispanic resident I mentioned first in this post said at one meeting, "It's the white people that clean up the trash... that plant trees... and clean up the graffiti..."

With vacant housing abundant in Cole, crime still a regular occurrence, and folks leaving not because they're being forced out, but because they seek a cleaner, safer neighborhood, perhaps we can stop beating up on the white people about gentrification for a while.

Playing Operator in Cole--With Very Negative Consequences

Remember that game you played in school where you whispered a phrase into someone's ear, and they whispered it in someone else's, and so on and so forth around the room, until it came back to you, inevitably altered beyond belief? What was it called... Operator?

Tonight there was some hubbub at the Down-and-Out (Downing) Super that drew about six police cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. I thought it was an accident, and didn't think much of it. When after almost an hour there were still officers there, and police tape up, I decided to see what was happening.

I decided to walk the dogs to have a legitimate reason to walk by the scene. The minute I exited my house, our neighbor, a 18-year-old long-time neighborhood resident, known for being the block gossip and exaggerator, called to me.

"You hear what happened? They robbed the liquor store. Somebody got shot!" As much as I should know better than believe her, I thought, crap, that's going to suck, if there was just a shooting on our block.

Who are they you ask? Well, Them, of course.

She was already on her cell phone calling all her friends to share the "news" as I walked away and towards two of the police cars blockading the street. As I approached the car, I asked the officers what just had happened.

"Oh, it was an Ag Assault. Two homeless guys got in a fight."

I asked, "Is everyone OK?"

"Yes."

"So there was no robbery, or shooting?"

The officer laughed. "Nope..."

I laughed as well. "Can't wait to share this with my neighbor. She told me there was a robbery and shooting at the liquor store."

He laughed again. "Nope..."

So in under 1/2 hour, two homeless guys in a fight (or some other weapon) was transformed into "They (again, who are they? Them, of course) robbed the liquor store, and somebody got shot". Who knows what the story will be tomorrow, or next week?

Why do I care? Well, this neighbor was the same person that told us the other day that "The Police Are Being Racial Again..." after a traffic stop on our block. She claimed that an innocent Hispanic family, including a pregnant woman, were stopped, yanked from their car, hand-cuffed, and thrown down on the sidewalk, face down. Of course, they were completely innocent and were only pulled over because they were Hispanic. She also claimed that when one of our neighbors came out with a camera to film the event, the police aggressively grabbed it from her and broke it.

How many people has she shared that likely gross distortion of facts with? Any wonder why some minority residents still think the police are out to get them? Or why so many people still feel that Cole is an unsafe place to live? We have enough of a challenge changing perceptions in Cole, without someone undoing all our progress by being careless with the facts, in the interest of being an expert or sounding cool with your friends.