Deadline extended! Share your thoughts on East Central Area online workshops through 3/22.

Good news! The Denver CPD has extended the deadline for participating in the four East Central Area Plan online workshops to March 22. Additionally, according to Denver CPD, registration is no longer required to leave comments on the workshop exercises addressing key issues like affordability, how to get around, growth and quality of life in the Capitol Hill, North Capitol Hill, City Park, City Park West, Cheesman Park and Congress Park neighborhoods. The online workshops offer the materials and exercises done at in-person neighborhood meetings held last month. If you haven’t already, use the links below to download meeting materials for the presentations, see photos and video, and review and comment on the meeting boards. For the North Capitol Hill & City Park West Plan, submit your feedback HERE. For the East Central Area Wide Plan, submit your feedback HERE.

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Notes from Wed. Feb. 20 police/crime meeting

At tonight’s City Park West Neighborhood Association meeting (Russell Pavilion, St. Joseph’s Hospital) twenty-five neighbors joined board members, Community Resource Officer Austen Munson and Lt. Tony Gallowa for a conversation about crime in the area. Officer Munson said that crime activity is up 60% (property crime) and 30% (people crime). One noted recent pattern is that someone will meet a buyer for a cell phone (a CraigsList transaction) and be attacked and robbed. Officers suggest any such exchanges happening at the police department: if you do a CraigsList exchange of property for money, do so even in the lobby of the PD. Concerns were voiced about increased activity, especially gunshots overheard, but also collections of bicycles chained to property around homeless encampments. Citizens can take photos of the bike caches and send to the police. (Also: make sure your own bike has a VIN number and that you know it). Officer Munson said to call 3-1-1 for non-urgent concerns. For urgent concerns (emergencies) call 9-1-1. Mainly people seem to want more information about the nature of criminal activities and what kind of follow-up is happening; the officers point out that ongoing investigations can’t be discussed in any detail. Community Advisory Meetings: Third Thursday mornings of every month at 10 a.m. the Commander at District 6 holds a monthly Community Advisory Meeting for neighbors to address specific concerns. Location is 1566 Washington. A technology called ShotSpotter is in use by DPD. ShotSpotter can “hear” the difference between shots and fireworks and can pinpoint to within 15 feet the location of the shot. Denver Police are on Twitter @DenverPolice. The Community Crime map is useful: www.communitycrimemap.com People wondered about what signs to look for to better understand what kinds of activity are happening in their neighborhood (e.g. gangs) but the officers said there’s not a particular sign to look for—just increased suspicious activity. Call it in. One participant disagreed that increased police presence has increased in neighborhoods where gunshots and drug deals are frequent (specifically the 22nd Street area). She is out in the neighborhood a lot, and doesn’t see police officers. District 6 phone: 720-913-2800 Community Resource Officer Austen Munson: 720-913-2906

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Season’s Greetings and updates

The City Park West RNO met November 19th. Topics were the RNO’s immediate concerns (establishing and publicizing a regular meeting time and place TBD, identifying all current, active board members as part of updating our website; filing for 501C3 status). We also reviewed ongoing local issues and questions and considered our role in facilitating community communication. We set a loose agenda for our first meeting of 2019 (to be held January 16, 6-7 p.m. at the Vine Street Pub, 1700 Vine St, Denver, CO 80206. As the organization is still relatively new, your board is working hard to establish structural foundations while we begin advocating for more frequent and participatory community conversations and stronger relationships among residents, organizations and businesses and our city representatives. We wish you Happy Holidays, however you may choose to celebrate and spend these (surprisingly balmy) winter weeks ahead.

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