Denver says it won't broom the homeless
City promises to 'engage them' in DNC activities
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 18, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
Updated July 19, 2008 at 12:35 a.m.
Photo by Preston Gannaway
Ronnie Wand holds a sign to drivers on Speer Boulevard.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless issued a statement Friday insisting free movie tickets and bus tokens aren't being used to hide Denver's homeless during the Democratic National Convention next month.
The statement says the coalition has received commitments from the city, police and others that homeless people won't be pushed out during the DNC.
"They will not 'sweep' homeless people away or try to hide them, but will seek to engage them in the process," it says. "We'll carefully monitor security activities to ensure that the rights of all homeless individuals are protected."
The statement follows a story in the Rocky in which at least one volunteer who feeds the homeless said he suspected the free movie tickets were "another way to get rid of them."
B.J. Iacino, the coalition's director of education and advocacy, said the statement was issued because there's been "a great deal of confusion" about plans for the homeless during the convention.
"We wanted to emphasize that we will ensure that people are safe, cared for and engaged in convention activities should they choose to be," she said.
The coalition has requested tickets to the acceptance speech at Invesco Field, she said.
Rumors that the homeless will be given bus tokens to move them out of downtown are false, Iacino said. The homeless will be offered movie tickets, but not with the intent of hiding them, she said.
"If someone is looking for an escape from the heat or the activities of the convention or the security procedures, a small number of tickets to a centrally located theater will be made available," she said.
"This isn't unusual," she added. "The whole homeless provider community routinely offers access to public events for people experiencing" homelessness.
chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099
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July 18, 2008
4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
trinidad writes:
yeah right!
July 18, 2008
4:38 p.m.
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Hedz writes:
Riiiiight....... That's a lovely little spin they've put on that now, isn't it? Thank goodness for PR guys.....
July 18, 2008
4:48 p.m.
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HollyGoLightly writes:
Please. The public isn't stupid. We don't believe this one bit.
July 18, 2008
4:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
gary writes:
You bet!! The free tickets were planned all along...it just happens to ocurr during the DNC.
Obama... Don't Need Cut... gathering.
Just ask Jesse Jackson...
You go boy!!
Nuff Said!
July 18, 2008
5:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
bobbyb writes:
What's wrong with hiding the homeless? It's not like anyone's being cruel. They're giving them free movie tickets for crying out loud. What's wrong with saying that we want to hide them? They are quite unsightly after all.
July 18, 2008
5:43 p.m.
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Shadow writes:
Free tickets? LOL, our tax money at work. How about those who favor Denverites open their doors to the tent city crowd open their doors to their nieghbors in need. Oh sorry that would show real compasion and heart.
Nope its all spin. The cameras of the nation and the world are coming to Denver. So best to hide that wich may show Denver in a bad light.
July 18, 2008
5:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
fastnloose writes:
Let's give the homeless a section at the Pepsi Center.You can take the tickets away from the big bad "Corporations"and all those stinking rich people.The ones the Dems hate so much.Obama wants to help the little people,now he has a chance.
July 18, 2008
5:49 p.m.
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SL10 writes:
Don't hide the homeless make them GET A JOB instead. Enough said.
July 18, 2008
6:51 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Why not let them stand at the parade route holding obama for president signs.
I mean it might have quite an effect on the news media.
While they are at it they can be paid a dollar an hour,after all that's what most politicians think we are worth being paid.
How about less worrying about the homeless and stop letting our jobs go to India and China.
Before homelessness becomes all our problems.
July 18, 2008
6:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
windskull writes:
PROVE you are not hiding these people add laundry and shower vouchers to the movie tickets & bus tokens and expand these to year round rather than a one time deal!
July 18, 2008
9:13 p.m.
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mt writes:
How about handing laundry and shower vouchers to everyone. How about giving all of us free moving tickets. Why is my money paying for some bum to go to a movie when he should be picking weeds along the interstate or picking up trash for minimum wage. Quit giving hand outs and make these guys earn their helping hand. While we are at it make these welfare bums that ride the system work for their stamps. I understand helping a guy back on his feet but draw the line somewhere. Movie tickets aren't going to put a roof over their miserable heads or take the beer and drugs out of their hands.
July 18, 2008
11:37 p.m.
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MissyBitchCakes writes:
I know the mentally ill, and I know the ones who abuse the system. I think it's quite appropriate to TREAT the mentally ill, in an effective manner. I know people who I met from my YEARS working in the shelter, who milk the system, and giggle about it all the way. I have also met people who worked two or three jobs, whose feet were so swollen from never lying supine, that they couldn't wear their shoes. They weren't the ones flying signs, spare-changing, or so psychotic that they didn't interact with anyone. The best way to help the homeless is to treat the mentally ill, and to help those who work. The rest, well, need to earn their keep. I believe this from *much* experience.
July 18, 2008
11:55 p.m.
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ColoradoDave writes:
Can't we give them one-way bus tickets to Dallas?
July 19, 2008
2:31 a.m.
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speedstan writes:
A coupon for a free 750ml bottle of your adult beverage of choice, redeemable out of the Denver area, would probably provide enough inducement for most of the so-called "homeless" to be on their way...
July 19, 2008
8:56 a.m.
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Scott writes:
How can you tell when a politician (or their lackeys) are lying? Their lips move. Come on Lickenpooper! We aren't THAT dumb!
Scott
July 19, 2008
11:38 a.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
A good solution:
How about a ROCKPILE section for the homeless at The Can and Mile High for the DNC ( includes transportation )????
The HOMELESS PROBLEM gets IN YOUR FACE at the DNC! Now THAT would be a better thing to do than sweep the problem under the rug ( which is what is really being done at this time ). To the LIARS: Reality Bites ( hard ), deal with it......
July 19, 2008
12:53 p.m.
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Mike846 writes:
What's really sad is that these idiots think anyone would believe this stuff. I've told more than one panhandler to head up the City Hall and ask Hickenlooper for money. As to those erstwhile parking meters he put out, to hell with that. I send my money occasionally to the Denver Rescue Mission where I KNOW what its being used for. I wonder how many tickets to movies Hizzoner the Mayor is going to hand out after Labor Day? Probably about as many as he has up until now. ZERO. If the opportunity allows, I'm going to give one of the drunks a ride to the perimeter of the "safe" zone, and point him toward the Pepsi Center. Mike
July 19, 2008
1:39 p.m.
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wow writes:
Over all, I like what Hickenlooper is accomplishing for the homless. He's making more progress than anyone else has.
And I tend to doubt that the event vouchers were his own, personal idea to hide them away for the duration of the DNC. It wouldn't work, even if that was the scheme.
There are approximately 10,000 homeless in Denver.
40% of them work, so it's safe to assume that they will be working during the DNC, and have little time to spare for the Zoo and movies.
The 10% of Denver homless who earn a living panhandling will lose money if they take off to the museum for several hours.
The 25% of Denver homeless who are war vets with ptsd will likely make up thier own minds what is best for them.
The homeless were canvassed re their interest in the convention, and what they would like to have available to them as an alternative to the craziness. The tickets to local venues are what they themselves seemed most agreeable to.
They don't want to be in the mess any more than we do.
July 19, 2008
5:13 p.m.
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thebrokenforum writes:
"They will not 'sweep' homeless people away..."
Riiiight.
Look out Albuquerque, here's comes a few bus loads of hobos and gang members.
http://brokenswordpublications.com
July 20, 2008
9:17 p.m.
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Meggie writes:
Drunks huh? hmm....Push them any old place so that Denver is not embarrased. hmm...During the Convention of Democrats that swear to help and protect those that are down trodden. Alcoholism is a disease they are not animals. They are dying as sure as someone with diabetes or heart problems. They freeze to death on the streets in the winter....they are murdered. Nothing is done....and now suddenly we have the Democratic Convention and lets give em some movie tickets.......good god. Movie Tickets? Zoo Tickets?
How they gonna get there? What happens if they pass out or they go into DT.s......in one of the these places? God knows dont let anyone know we have sick people in Denver. Treated worse than a wild animal. Children living on the streets.......Not just adults.....children. I have seen it. What are you going to do? put them in a limo and transport them? Trying to make yourselves look good? Doing what? They need help year round. NOt just during the DNC. I worked downtown for a while.....and one day I took my son to work there too because his car was broke down. I said ...Why are all these children roaming around this hour in the morning....downtown? He said Mom they live in the streets. After that I watched them. And the adults. And now Denver gives them free tickets all of a sudden? Pay attention. This is sad.