Plan to hide homeless? Rumor to banish denied

Tickets to events called humane way to help folks

By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 16, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Preston Gannaway / The Rocky

Joe Palmerino, Johnny Amason and Jason Klein, from left, stand along Speer Boulevard on Tuesday. With the Democratic National Convention in town next month, a homeless advocacy group plans to hand out passes to theaters and cultural facilities.

Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in town next month.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.

Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the nonprofit's president.

Many day shelters will have expanded hours during the convention, and big-screen TVs are being donated to some shelters so patrons can watch convention goings-on without being caught up in the mayhem.

"We're trying to let folks know what activities are planned, and what other places they'll be able to go without being harassed," Parvensky said.

A two-day voter registration drive is also planned at shelters and health clinics to ensure that metro-area homeless people have access to the polls in November.

Backers of the plan say it's a more sanitary and humane way to take care of people.

But not everyone buys it.

"It just sounds like another way to get rid of them," said Kayne Coy, 17, who volunteers feeding the homeless twice a week at Civic Center through the Food Not Bombs organization.

As for the convention, Coy said, "I've heard rumors that all the homeless people are going to be sent away to Aurora or somewhere else."

Parvensky denied that there will any attempt to hide the homeless during convention, which runs Aug. 25-28.

Tight security around the Pepsi Center means some homeless people will get booted out of their regular camps along the South Platte River.

Then, there are the protests and parades.

"A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring," Parvensky said.

"Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."

Parvensky is confident Denver police won't target homeless people unless a law is being broken.

Aggressive panhandling and begging for money in front of an ATM machine are banned.

But he remains concerned for people's welfare.

"Our concern going forward is that the city doesn't control everything - the Secret Service plays a role," he said.

"We don't know what will happen if protests get out of control and people get caught up in something they didn't intend to," he said.

But some homeless people also aren't enthusiastic about the plan.

Ronnie Wand, a panhandler, said he will believe the free tickets when he sees them.

"I don't care," said the 62-year- old, who expects to land in jail for vagrancy during the convention.

poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176

• July 16, 2008

  10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  blacksho89 writes:

  I predict hilarity.

• July 16, 2008

  1:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  samsmargolis writes:

  All a big misunderstanding. See, Project HID actually is a "celebration" of the Homeless in Denver, not what they're doing with them during the convention. Heh-heh. It's so funny how things get taken out-of-context when the spotlight is shining so brightly, isn't it? Heh, heh.

• July 17, 2008

  1:10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Voutyblonde writes:

  OMG! Unless they are going to include a serious bathing to the people they give these tickets to, this will not be a good time for the rest of us to go to the movies, museums, et al.

• July 18, 2008

  2:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BlueC writes:

  But why are they trying to hide them, arnt these the people the democrats are trying to help. The homeless are the poorest of the poor. Barack should have them up on stage behind him not hidden away in a theater. The hypocrisy is just rich. Were just trying to keep them comfortable my @ss.

  If they really cared they'd bring them out of the shadows and focus on their plight. Or at the very least let them come to the convention and fleece the dumb@ss protesters. The homeless would make a killing at the convention panhandling. Imagine all those fools just aching to give a couple bucks so they can feel all warm and fuzzy. I'm special, i really matter and i'm better then you because i gave that bum 50 cents and i have this big sign i made.

  I'm tempted to get out some old cloths,not shave and dirty myself up and go get some money. Hell maybe even donate some to the GOP hehe

• July 18, 2008

  7:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  nosynewsie writes:

  Okay, let's get this right. No big shots even care about the homeless most of the time. Now they want to buy them off with bribes of movies and the zoo? What about making them a hot meal and have the DNC serve them. They are not invisible, they are people. Look at them real close. Check out your Bible. Jesus was among the people YOU are trying to hide. Shame on you.

• August 13, 2008

  1:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  rrsusaf writes:

  Isn't this the Democratic Way we have come to know and love since they took over the Congress two years ago? I bet the homeless fair better that they don't own cars due to the price of gas, or maybe due to the inability to drill within the US, they can't afford to buy gas and live in their cars...

  I agree - give the homeless a spot on the grass in Invesco Field and let their voices be heard. Oh yeah, and make a little Liberal money while they are at it... heheheh

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