Tent State at City Park? Not all singing 'Kumbaya'
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Photo by Tim Hussin
Sue Burton, bottom right, listens to Adam Jung, chief organizer for Tent State University, as he talks about the coming City Park gathering during a neighborhood meeting on Wednesday.
Adam Jung, organizer of the planned Tent State University war protest in City Park, fielded questions from an audience of about 50 south City Park neighbors Wednesday night.
Then he asked one of his own: How many oppose allowing the anticipated 20,000 college-age students to camp out overnight for four nights, having them disperse every evening at curfew?
About half the hands went up in the penthouse of the Montview Manor, a high-rise apartment building overlooking the south end of the park.
Jung then asked: Who favors letting the group sleep overnight in the park? About half of the residents put their hands up.
That moment captured some of the ambivalence that the neighborhood has expressed toward the protest group, which wants to hold talks, concerts and encourage activism among an age group better known for apathy.
One resident, Katy Kupecz, said they admired what Jung is trying to do.
"I'm totally impressed, not only by his organizational skills, but all the thoughtful preparation he has for this," she said. "I think people in the neighborhood are freaked about this being Woodstock, but this is the anti-Woodstock."
Just as many residents voiced doubts about Jung's ability to stage the event without creating noise, traffic and parking problems for the neighborhood - plus the damage that such a large group would do to an already stressed park. They also had doubts about Jung's pledge that his group would work to restore the park.
"I just think it's overwhelming," said Cynthia Vaida, concerned when she heard that nearly all of Tent State's previous events were done on college campuses.
Kevin Jones, who raised his hand as opposed to the overnight camping, said later he was ambivalent, citing worries about where the group would go once it disperses.
He said he appreciates Tent State organizers' attempts to keep the neighbors in the loop, but he questions what he sees as a permit application flawed by the premise that people won't try to camp out in the park overnight.
"I think the city and the police and the parks are going to be stressed during the convention," he said, looking across at the land where Tent State wants to hold its event. "That grass is not going to survive."
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July 17, 2008
1:38 a.m.
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clyde writes:
"Then he asked one of his own: How many oppose allowing the anticipated 20,000 college-age students to camp out overnight for four nights, having them disperse every evening at curfew?"
20,000 people camping in City Park. Does anyone have a clue how many people that is? Dump 1/4 of Mile High Stadium into tents in City Park. How many bathrooms are there? Water? Food? Medical? This is going to be one big joke on the people of Denver.
Close I-25 while the Messiah is crowned, inundate City Park with "campers", shut down the rail and road system and generally close the city for four days or more. How many thousands of Law Enforcement Officers are going to be on overtime? How many departments will run short-staffed? The logistics are incredible, and it hasn't even started yet.
July 17, 2008
2:32 a.m.
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scastaneda writes:
Wouldn't it be awesome if they threw a convention and nobody came?
July 17, 2008
6:02 a.m.
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drkenne writes:
In August 1969 there was a festival where half a million hippies joined together to make history. Woodstock proved the doom and despair people wrong. For three days, all these crazy hippies lived together in peace and harmony.
If history is doomed to repeat itself, I couldn't think of a better thing.
July 17, 2008
6:16 a.m.
cpeterson writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
July 17, 2008
6:21 a.m.
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Retread writes:
I am still trying to figure out WHY? They should be going to the republicant convention, not the democract convention..Maybe it just shows how informed our young are?
July 17, 2008
6:38 a.m.
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7_ogNiOj writes:
Why should they only be protesting at the RNC, Retread?
July 17, 2008
6:52 a.m.
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freethinker07 writes:
drkenne
Woodstock was a farm. A large open set of fields. It had no irrigation system because there is enough rain to maintain the vegetation. From the viewpoint of the people who had to clean up after the mess, it was still a disaster. Woodstock did not make money on the festival. G. Gordon Liddy was the DA. The backlash one of the things that gave him a push into national politics.
City park is in the middle of a city. It has a large lawn and an irrigation system. We have EPA worries. We have laws about people defecating on the grass. The water at the Park is not potable, unlike the water at Woodstock. At Woodstock, people parked on the grass. In Denver that would destroy the park.
The hippies were trying to be non-violent. Recreate68 is trying to start a war here.
From the viewpoint of fuzzyheaded people who don't have to clean up the mess or pay for the repairs, this stuff is always wonderful. Are you willing to shut down the library system in order to pay for the damage done? If city park has to be completely reseeded, we will also have to restrict access to the park for months. We will have to recreate the ecology of the ponds in City Park. The parking problem by itself will be horrendous.
If these jerks want to demonstrate, let them go somewhere else. We are not obligated to pay for their vacations. If people tried to create a "tent city" in Boston or New York, they would be laughed at. These guys want Denver to pay for everything.
Forget it.
July 17, 2008
7:50 a.m.
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Hambone writes:
I'm not sure but maybe 20,000 people can camp out at Elba Wedgworth's house, maybe Spagnuoulo's. These douches want this crap, let them deal with the huge mess. Goodbye park for the rest of the summer if this is allowed. Hope it's worth it.
July 17, 2008
8 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Why doesn't the city require a bond to protect the taxpayer's assets? It's not his park to give away, it belongs to the people. If this mayor doesn't stand up for the people and require an insurance bond, who will? Guess we take another hit, eh mayor?
July 17, 2008
8:05 a.m.
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squeakywheel writes:
This won't be Woodstock, it'll be Altamont.
So now they are sending the Denver homeless people to the movies to get them off the streets while the circus is in town. How embarrassing.
July 17, 2008
8:14 a.m.
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DenverDirect writes:
And what about the radionuclides that are being sprayed daily on the grass at City Park? Any liability there? http://denverdirect.blogspot.com/2008...
July 17, 2008
8:56 a.m.
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temurlan writes:
Sasquatch, it's the "Brown Note" not the "Brown Spot". They call it that I think because it uses an ultrasonic sound. "Brown Spot" is just the result.
July 17, 2008
9:02 a.m.
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freethought writes:
I revel in the thought of how Gene will feel under an Obama administration.
That alone, I think, gets me through the day.
July 17, 2008
9:40 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
I commend Tent State U for their organized professionalism in meeting with residents around their staging area. Good work! You guys make me proud to be an American.
July 17, 2008
10:10 a.m.
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sharigwynn writes:
That 52mil was raised by Obama's campaign to be used in Obama's campaign...not for the DNC. He's already danced around the question of "would he financially help the DNC" with the needed funds they lacked when he wanted to move the venue to Invesco..his reply "The host committee always pays for the convention"...translated that means Denver pays for the convention...not a dime will come out of Obama's treasure chest....bank on it.
July 17, 2008
10:43 a.m.
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gary writes:
Hey this is great!! let the kids?? camp out in the park...then Denver can have it's tent city for the homeless...already built by "the kids".
Once up...it will never go away!!
Way to go DNC...give Denver what it really needs!!
Thank you and keep up the good work!
Nuff Said!
A taxpayer voting for NObama is like a chicken voting for KFC!!
July 17, 2008
10:49 a.m.
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freethought writes:
"Democrat Barack Obama has a 7-point lead on Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race" -Reuters 7-16-08
July 17, 2008
11:03 a.m.
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jaymoveonorg writes:
I agree. Let the kids camp in Civic Park. The more choas the better. I remember how upset people were when Bush and Cheney visited Denver and shut down traffic for 2 hours. I wonder how the people will feel after 4 days of this mess.
I say keep the tents up as well. It would be a great place to house the homeless. What is going to hurt, right?
I can't wait for that week. At least I will get a good laugh out of it.
July 17, 2008
11:14 a.m.
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freethought writes:
Was it?
July 17, 2008
11:22 a.m.
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kodijack writes:
I think that this Tent gathering is ridiculous. Where are 20k people going to go at night? Are the organizers paying for the police that are going to be required to manage 20k people and the 500 that are going to prey on them?
I was sick to my stomach when I heard about the DNC coming here to Denver and its only gotten worse since. What is so wrong about keeping Denver a secret?
July 17, 2008
11:29 a.m.
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fastnloose writes:
The Hick wants to hide the homeless for the week.Instead load the park up for 20,000 smelley,partying, rebellious let's get it on, young people.Nice!
July 17, 2008
11:49 a.m.
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jaymoveonorg writes:
The protestors should hire the homeless to help them out. The homeless don't want movie tickets but they do want money. The democrats can kill two birds with one stone. They can get the homeless off the street and brag about the numbers attending these protests. Win Win!
July 17, 2008
12:18 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Hey....Where can I get some of those free movie passes??? Tent State..Where else are the Hookers going to stay??? Can't have a convention without some Hookers.. Would be down right Un-American..Now THERE'S a little Kum-BY-YA for you..
July 17, 2008
12:38 p.m.
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freethought writes:
...someones crying, my lord....
July 17, 2008
12:44 p.m.
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catlady writes:
Frowtard,
Um, don't look but your bias is showing. Oh and try not to remember your Democratard Congress has a 9% percent approval rating. Now go back to your Kool-Aid drinking and the adults to blog.
July 17, 2008
12:56 p.m.
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Rickenator writes:
I heard that many of the protestors are really rich Republicans who will be staying at fine hotels throughout the area. What a great boost for the economy! Those not as fortunate will be housed at budget hotels & motels that will be funded by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other well intentioned right wingers who value the environment and do not want to see Denver spoiled on national t.v.
July 17, 2008
1:01 p.m.
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Jimmied writes:
Mayor Hick promised that the DNC wasn't going to cost residents a thing. I'll bet Obama and the Dems won't pay a dime towards restoring the park after tens of thousands of hooligans stomp, urinate and defecate all over it. If this story is true, and almost half of the residents of the neighborhood wanted the group to camp, then maybe they should be allowed to camp. The half of the residents that agreed to let 20,000 people squat on City Park for a week can don their bio-suits and shovel garbage and human crap after the squatters leave.
July 17, 2008
1:53 p.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Making jokes about it is amusing, I usually can't restrain myself either. But the idea of 20,000 camping in city park is serious. That they want to present their agenda to the dnc is OK as long as it's peaceful. But as some of you ahev mentioned it wouldn't just damage the park for the rest of the summer, I think it would take a year or more to recuperate and lots of $ to repair the damage. So who foots the bill?
July 17, 2008
1:57 p.m.
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jay writes:
i just don't see the point of prolonging the inevitable. the city needs to start preparing to deal with people sleeping overnight in the park. where do they expect them to go?
i live near the park. i'm looking forward to witnessing some history and hope the city rises to the occasion.
by the way.
"Iraq isn’t about war or no war, it’s about fighting state sponsors of terrorism."
iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, no ties to al qaeda and was no threat to the us.
the pentagon has admitted that only 5% of the insurgency is al qaeda.
our own generals have admitted that it has hindered our abilities in afghanistan.
let's not pretend otherwise.
July 17, 2008
2:44 p.m.
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wow writes:
Wasn't it already stated adnauseum that the permits issued to Tent State clearly prohibit camping?
If that is the case, then the organizers are showing the intention of defying the law by even asking the residents their opinion on camping. It doesn't matter what the residents think. The park closes at 11. Twenty thousand vagrants will be rounded up and herded elsewhere, at a cost of thousands to us.
The whole idea was seriously flawed from its inception.
The jerk organizing this mess never cared for his "cause", or for those kids. If he had, he would have planned ahead, and told them to make arrangements for thier stay at the Motel Six, or any other lodgings 6 to 8 months ago. He was aware that public parks every where in this country ALL close at night, and that camping is illegal in them. He just didn't care about such trivialities.
20,000 misguided kids with no place to sleep, shower, or pee are on his head, and no one elses.
He gets my vote for moron of the decade.
If I were one of those kids, I'd be reconcidering this stupidity right about now.
July 17, 2008
3:16 p.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Exactly how do the tent staters intend to influence the DNC. Are they all arriving by automobile? Where are they going to park (around city park)? Are they intending to march downtown everyday? I'm guessing that the conventioneers aren't going to make a side trip to see city park & the protesters!
July 17, 2008
3:42 p.m.
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temurlan writes:
With all the defication and trash they will leave, the park may become a Super-Fund site.
July 17, 2008
3:45 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
That park is going to reek in a few days.
All those nice kids pooping in the woods.
Plus man lets talk about all the nice mind altering medications the kids will be carrying.
Well then lets get down to the folk singing and hand holding.
This is going to be a real little love festival.
Hope the city will provide something to prevent a population explosion in the next nine months.
Well let's all hold hands and sing where have all the flowers gone.
Trampled to death by you lovely people.
July 17, 2008
4:34 p.m.
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theairdog writes:
If they believe in what they are protesting so strongly, let them pay for a hotel room like everyone else.
Didn't our Founding Fathers pledge their "lives, fortunes and scared honor" during their little protest against the government?
July 17, 2008
7:24 p.m.
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Jim writes:
Be careful what you (Hick)wish for. In November of 1972 (I'm older than dirt) Denver voters rejected financing for the 1976 Winter Olympics. When United, hotels, ski areas, hookers and cabbies wouldn't pay the Olympics were moved. If time permitted Denver voters/taxpayers would send this convention packing.
July 17, 2008
8:16 p.m.
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seebox writes:
OUr city Fathers (Hick) was all GAGA about the convention being here in Denver. What a tremendous spotlight for Denver and tourism spotlight to be put in. I just have unanswered questions in the back of my mind if after the financial realities, if this was such a good idea. Anyone can play Monday morning quaterback but I wonder if Hickenlooper asked any of the other "Convention City" officials if the expense was worth it when it was all said and done? All I have heard and seen on the national press is all negative about the upcoming problems some groups plan and all the necessary police protection costs that the DNC are not going to repay to the City of Denver. Thanks DNC, my tax dollars won't go to fix my streets, water system, or provide necessary police protection while YOU are here. Not for me anyway, but for all you pompas blowhards who have an ugly bunch of followers. twenty thousand campers in City Park, YUP. thats all we need.
July 17, 2008
11:09 p.m.
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FCZ writes:
Think "Rainbow Family"
July 18, 2008
11:55 a.m.
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km2141 writes:
"Thoughtful preparation" ??? Select a site where you cannot camp and then bemoan the consequences and basically threaten the City and local residents of what will befall the area if they are not allowed to camp? Hardly. I live on Gaylord near the park and there was no notice of the "public" forum. Also, I have submitted concerns both to the mayor's office and directly to Carla Madison with no response from either. I feel like our City Park West neighborhood is being victimized along with the Park. Unless they can adequately plan for ALL aspects, their permit should be revoked. It appears they have not even tried -- they, instead, expect the city to modify the rules on their behalf.