The prospect of Tent State University protesters relocating from City Park to Cuernavaca Park has raised a whole new set of issues and concerns, Denver Councilwoman Judy Montero said Monday.
Montero said she learned about the relocation to the new park in the lower downtown area about 30 minutes before it was announced Friday during a news conference.
She found out about the relocation when she finally was able to return a telephone call from Katherine Archuleta, the mayor’s liaison for the convention.
“It was outstanding news,” Montero said, adding that since then she’s been getting an earful from residents who live near the park.
Montero said she’s heard concerns about possible street closures, disruptions to normal traffic and whether the protesters will become a safety risk.
“I’m getting my enchiladas smashed,” she said.
The relocation will affect Montero, too, who lives in the Flour Mill Lofts, which borders Cuernavaca Park.
At Montero’s request, Archuleta has agreed to meet with residents and business owners near Cuernavaca in the lobby of the Flour Mills Lofts, 2000 Little Raven St., at 7 p.m. Thursday to hear concerns and offer information.
The relocation of Tent State eased the worries of residents near City Park.
The city had issued a conditional permit for Tent State protests at City Park but had asked the group to show it could meet certain conditions.
Tent State also had pushed for city officials to relax a city ban on overnight camping in the park. City officials, including Mayor John Hickenlooper, had declined, raising fears protesters would cause chaos in the surrounding streets.
Under the new plan, the city will provide drinking water and portable toilets for Tent State because the group has relocated to an area where the city has agreed to provide such amenities.
The protesters now plan to march the 15 blocks each night during the convention from Cuernavaca Park to the public demonstration zone outside the Pepsi Center.
Archuleta said the city expects 5,000 Tent State protesters to show up, but organizer Adam Jung said as many as 20,000 might actually come to Denver.
“We’re completely committed to nonviolence,” Jung said. “I respect that people will have concerns, but we’re willing to work with them, and the thing is we’ve got to go somewhere in the city.”
Montero said that while she understands First Amendment free-speech rights are important, she hopes a balance can be found that also will respect the concerns of nearby residents and business owners.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
