Thursday, March 13, 2008

Denver residents worried about access

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

Denver residents near the Pepsi Center and other conventions locations are worried about access:

The convention, scheduled for Aug. 25 - 28, promises to create headaches for those living downtown. Thousands live downtown, and several thousand more will be coming downtown during the last week of August. There will be road blocks, Secret Service and protests, and residents said now is the time to develop a plan ensuring they can get to and from home safely.
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"The city of Denver is showing a lot of western hospitality," said John Maslanik, president of the Downtown Denver Residents Organization. Maslanik said so far, the DNC host committee has communicated well.

"But there's one piece that seems to missing and that's kind of this question about security for the residents and access," said Maslanik. And with a red-hot race and the possibility of a brokered convention, downtown residents want a plan in place ensuring residential access and safety sooner rather than later. "Because then people get defensive and angry and I don't think there's any need for that," said Maslanik.
Security lockdowns around convention sites have always caused problems for local residents, who sometimes need special passes just to get to and from their residences. I don't think there's much housing right near the Pepsi Center, but there will be inconveniences, and the local residents are right to make sure plans are in place and communicated well before the convention starts.