Obama Family Secret Service Code Names

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Back in the days before encrypted technology, the Secret Service used to attribute code names to the First Family for security purposes. They no longer serve as a security function, but the Secret Service still grants names for brevity and tradition. This list reveals code names for the incoming administration:

President-elect Barack Obama: Renegade

Michelle Obama: Renaissance

Malia Obama: Radiance

Sasha Obama: Rosebud

Vice President-elect Joe Biden: Celtic

Jill Biden: Capri

Traditionally, Secret Service code names are common terms which are easily understood. Typically the First Family names all start with the same letter.

As an aside: ever wonder why Secret Service agents seem to always wear sunglasses? Part of the reason is the same reason we all wear sunglasses - to reduce glare. But they also serve as a screen so that would-be assailants have a harder time figuring out exactly where the agents are looking.

Convention transportation map released

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Yesterday The Colorado Independent had a story about the Secret Service denying bikes from the Pepsi Center parking lot.

Repeatedly citing the Secret Service and the Denver Police Department as making all security-related mandates, including not allowing delegates, volunteers and gathered media to park a bike within the convention perimeter, organizers said not accommodating leg-powered transportation is the exception to the rule when talking about the true greenness of the event.

This was especially surprising to me considering the Freewheelin' press conference I attended back in May. I figured we'd be seeing bikes all over the city during convention week.

I was able to obtain a convention transportation map from the City of Denver and bikes are definitely in the plans for the week. While you may not be able to park your bike at the Pepsi Center there will be a bike station located just across the street.

As you can see from the map (Click here for a full view) there will be two bike stations near the Convention Center. The one called "Green Central Station" sits at the entrance to the Cherry Creek trail which takes you to the bike station near the Pepsi Center.

I think we'll see a bunch of bikes during the convention after all.

National Guard Plans On Renting 500 Rooms for the Convention

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From The Colorado Independent:

The U.S. Army and Colorado National Guard have announced intentions to reserve more than 500 hotel rooms for lodging during the Democratic National Convention, hinting at the number of military personnel that may be in Denver for the high-profile event that is expected to draw an estimated 50,000 protesters.

While the Democratic convention is being held on Aug 25-28, officials with the Colorado National Guard are seeking to reserve 438 rooms for Aug. 22-30 and 78 rooms for Aug. 18-30 according to award announcements published Friday on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, a page run by the federal government for business contract solicitations.

The documents show that majority of guard personnel staying from Aug. 22-30 are set to lodge at Johnson & Wales University, located on 7150 Montview Blvd in far east Denver, while 32 rooms will be rented out for an unknown Extended Stay America location in Denver.

Johnson & Wales University

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Drury Inn

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Maps are provided to show proximity to downtown Denver.

Will I-25 need to be closed on Thursday, August 28th?

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We showed you yesterday which streets will be closed in Denver Monday through Wednesday of the convention. The press release from the Host Committee said that plans were still in the works for Thursday's Invesco Field Acceptance Speech. Today we're going to look a little closer at I-25 and what the move to Invesco could mean.

As you can see from the picture above, driving North on I-25 makes it look like you're going to drive right onto the field at Invesco. This picture was taken right before the Colfax exit.

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So now that you have a better picture of where Invesco is in relation to the Interstate, you should have a better idea of what the Secret Service is up against as far as security is concerned.

Here's what I think may happen:

• I-25 is closed from 6th Ave to 23rd Ave during the event.
• Traffic (and there will be a lot of it) will be diverted to Federal Ave which is West of I-25 (but still close to Invesco)
• People will be urged to ride the Light Rail to get to the acceptance speech and to arrive as early as possible.

It's definitely going to be a show the likes Denver has never seen!

Update: I hadn't read the following Rocky Mountain News story when I wrote my post. Looks like I-25 will in fact be shut down.

A stretch of the busiest highway in the Rocky Mountain West, Interstate 25 past Invesco Field, will be closed to traffic the evening that Barack Obama accepts the Democratic presidential nomination at the stadium next month.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said Wednesday that drivers should expect I-25 to close the evening of Aug. 28, when the Democratic National Convention events move from Pepsi Center to Invesco Field.

"Yes, of course," the mayor said when asked whether it would be fair to say I-25 would shut down.

The typical detour for an I-25 closure in downtown would take traffic west on I-70 or Sixth Avenue to Federal Boulevard, a state highway. But there could be traffic restrictions on Federal, which passes within 880 feet of the stadium.

The closure of Speer takes away the busiest commuter route into downtown from I-25 on the north. Park Avenue, 20th Street and Colfax all carry between 20,000 and 25,000 vehicles a day, half of Speer's 48,000. Rerouted drivers would add to those streets. - RMN

Update: I incorrectly read the press release regarding the parade route and have removed it from the post. The info on Colfax and I-25 are still worth a look.

Denver announces street closing and public transportation information for convention week

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The Host Committee just released road closure information for Monday, August 25th through Wednesday, August 27th. Plans are still in the works for what's going to happen on Thursday, August 28th when Barack Obama makes his acceptance speech at Invesco Field.

Road Closures
Downtown will be open and accessible during the Convention. Nearly all roads will be open and transit services will be operational. The majority of Convention-related movement will occur via bus, foot, and pedicab/bicycle and before/after the main hours of activity inside the Pepsi Center (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), thereby mitigating impacts on commuters. Unlike previous host cities that closed a large number of thoroughfares, the City of Denver's commitment to local mobility and convenience is evident in the minimal amount of closures for an event of this magnitude:

· Speer Boulevard from I-25 to Lawrence Street (and the I-25 ramp to southbound Speer Boulevard ) will be closed from 9 a.m. on Monday, August 25 through midnight on Wednesday, August 27 - except during morning rush hour. Two lanes in each direction of Speer Boulevard between I-25 and Lawrence Street (and the ramp from I-25 to southbound Speer Boulevard) will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. The I-25 ramp to northbound Speer Boulevard will remain open at all times.

· Auraria Parkway from I-25 to Speer Boulevard will be closed from 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23 through midnight on Wednesday, August 27. The I-25 ramps to and from Auraria Parkway will be closed during this time frame.

· As announced in mid-June, Bannock Street between 14th Avenue and Colfax Avenue will be closed August 25 - 27 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the Designated Parade Route staging area. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - which avoids the standard morning and evening commute times - the westbound lanes of Colfax Avenue from Bannock Street to Speer Boulevard will be closed for the Designated Parade Route, as will the southbound lanes of Speer Boulevard from Colfax Avenue to Larimer Street. The eastbound lanes of Colfax Avenue and the northbound lanes of Speer will remain open, but some slowdown in traffic flow is expected. The RTD light rail line which crosses Speer Boulevard at Stout Street will remain open at all times, including the time allocated for parades. Additional security provided by RTD will supplement law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of marchers when the light rail trains cross the parade route.

· While still accessible to pedestrians, vehicular traffic on the following blocks between 15th Street and Speer Boulevard will be limited to residents and employees from Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, August 27: Wazee, Wynkoop, Delgany, Wewatta, and Little Raven. (More details on residential and business access are below).

RTD PUBLIC TRANSIT INFORMATION: Monday - Wednesday

The use of public transit is always encouraged, and downtown will be accessible by transit. The following information from the Regional Transportation District (RTD) applies to Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, August 27. Any transit impacts related to the Invesco Field event on Thursday, August 28 will be announced when they are finalized.

· LIGHT RAIL: Light rail lines coming into the Central Business District will not be disrupted, including lines D, F and H. There will be no light rail service to or from the Pepsi Center and Denver Union Station stops. Passengers on the C and E lines who want to travel downtown can transfer to the D, F and H lines. All C- and E-line light rail passengers will be required to disembark at the Invesco Field light rail stop.

· BUSES: RTD plans to run normal bus service during the Convention, adjusting routes impacted by street closures. RTD will provide information on these adjustments as they are finalized through its web site, the RTD Telephone Information Center, and information will be posted on buses and light rail.

We wrote about the possibility of Light Rail closures for the Pepsi Center and Union Station last month.

RESIDENTIAL & BUSINESS ACCESS: Monday - Wednesday

Between street parking, parking lots and garages, downtown parking will be largely accessible.
· The majority of downtown street meters will remain unbagged and available for public use. (Please note that vehicles with disability placards may park at any unbagged meter for up to four hours - whether or not the meter is designated for disabled parking).

Because many commercial buildings directly adjacent to the Pepsi Center have been rented out by private organizations during the Convention week, only a few businesses will be impacted by the screening and access measures described below:

· Residents (and their caretakers or renters, if applicable) and businesses (and their employees) west of 15th Street along Wynkoop, Delgany and Wewatta will receive vehicle placards from the Secret Service enabling them to access their normally assigned parking spots. There will be no pedestrian restrictions in this area, so visitors will be able to come and go on foot.

· Residents (and their caretakers or renters, if applicable) in the small area bound by Speer Boulevard, Wazee Street and 14th Court will receive vehicle placards from Secret Service enabling them to park in their normally assigned parking spots after undergoing vehicle screening at a 24-hour checkpoint. There will be no pedestrian restrictions in this area, so visitors will be able to come and go on foot.

· Residents (and their caretakers or renters, if applicable) and businesses (and their employees) in the area bound by 11th Street, Auraria Parkway, Speer Boulevard and the Pepsi Center will receive personal credentials from the Secret Service, enabling them to come and go by foot with ease. Placards will also be provided for their vehicles enabling them to park in their normally assigned parking spots after undergoing vehicle screening at a 24-hour checkpoint. Individuals renting any of these units during the Convention may undergo the same registration process to obtain these access documents. Residents in this area expecting guests will be asked to meet them on the street and escort them into their building.

Community Outreach meetings will take place in the coming weeks throughout Denver.
Check our DemConWatch Convention Calendar for dates, times and locations.

Tools and feces throwing will not be allowed outside the convention

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No word yet on whether either will be allowed inside the Pepsi Center.

The prospect of protesters linking themselves with devices that bolt cutters can't sever or throwing buckets of feces on police has Denver considering putting a new law on the books before the Democratic National Convention.

Demonstrators would be banned from having items such as chains, quick-setting cement, homemade locking devices that are resistant to bolt cutters and "any noxious substance," City Council members said Monday.

"Protesters are getting pretty sophisticated," said Councilman Doug Linkhart, chairman of the council's safety committee.

"In other cities, they're not just handcuffing themselves to each other," he said. "They put their handcuffs inside PVC tubes, which are inside concrete. They've figured out ways that keep the police from just using bolt cutters to cut them apart. They also use buckets of urine and feces and various noxious substances to pour on themselves or the police." - RMN

I talked to a local sheriff and he told me about the PVC pipe handcuffing. They're doing training on how to separate the protesters without taking their limbs off.

The Colorado Independent has a story today about the weapons police are purchasing for the convention.

The public may never know what weapons and other equipment Denver police are buying with taxpayer money in preparation for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) before the event happens in August, despite a lawsuit seeking to disclose the information under public records laws.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado has filed a lawsuit against Denver to determine what exactly city police are buying with the $50 million in federal funds appropriated for security during the convention. But even if a district judge sympathizes with plaintiffs in a court hearing set for Aug. 8, the city could still appeal the decision and keep the information secret until after the event.

Media representatives not happy with protester proximity

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National media representatives are upset that an area designated for protesters during the Democratic National Convention is right next to press tents on the Pepsi Center's grounds.

They fear too much noise and commotion and the threat of tear gas if demonstrations get out of hand.

"Imagine trying to do your job with hundreds of people screaming, blowing whistles, beating drums and trying to get the attention of the media," said Associated Press reporter Andrew Taylor, chairman of the Standing Committee of Correspondents, which represents congressional reporters on Capitol Hill.

"This is basically insulting," he said.

City and federal authorities are under a court order that mandates protesters be within "sight and sound" of delegates. On Monday, they announced plans to place the 50,000-square-foot public demonstration zone in Pepsi Center Parking Lot A.- Denver Post

This picture was taken from where the protest area will be in the Pepsi Center parking lot.

As you can see this will definitely be within "sight and sound" of the delegates.









Here's an aerial view from the Pepsi Center which gives you a better idea on how close the protesters will be to the arena.

From Google Maps it looks like it's around 500 feet from the protest are to the front door of the Pepsi Center

To get a more detailed view click here

Denver Agrees to Disclose Jail Policies and Procedures Manual

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Just announced by the ACLU...

ACLU Announces Settlement of Recently Filed Lawsuit; Denver Agrees to Disclose Jail Policies and Procedures Manual

The ACLU of Colorado announced today that it has settled a lawsuit against Denver that sought the policy and procedure manual that governs the processing and treatment of detainees at Denver’s downtown city jail, known as the Pre-Arraignment Detention Facility, or PADF. As part of the settlement, Denver agreed to disclose all portions of the manual designated by the ACLU, and to pay $5,000 of the ACLU of Colorado’s attorney fees and costs. The PADF is Denver’s intake center, where arrestees are first taken to be booked, fingerprinted, given the opportunity to post bond, and housed until they are released or eventually transferred to Denver’s larger county jail.

According to the lawsuit, despite repeated requests from the ACLU, Denver refused to disclose sections of the manual claiming that disclosure would be “contrary to the public interest.” After a final request for voluntary disclosure was again refused by Denver, the ACLU filed suit on May 19, 2008, seeking disclosure of the manual under the Colorado open records laws. Just prior to the first court hearing in the case that was scheduled for June 19, 2008, Denver agreed to turn over all manual sections designated by the ACLU on or before June 25, 2008, subject to redaction. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the ACLU can challenge in court any redactions it believes are unjustified.

“We are certainly pleased that the City has agreed to release the records,” said John Culver, an ACLU Cooperating Attorney who is lead counsel in the case. “Disclosure of the manual is firmly within the public interest, and the City’s policies at the jail should be transparent and open to any member of the public who wants to view them.”

Disclosure of the manual was necessary in part, the ACLU argued in the lawsuit, because of the possibility of mass arrests in connection with protests at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver. According to papers filed in court, last summer the ACLU asked Denver police to handle minor violations with a summons or a notice to appear in court, a practice known as “cite and release.” Denver Police Department Deputy Chief Battista reportedly responded that under Denver’s current policy, police must make full custodial arrests—requiring detention in the PADF—for even minor violations connected with protests. The ACLU argued in the lawsuit that the public had a right to know whether Denver’s policies and procedures at the PADF were adequate to handle the mass influx of arrestees that could result as a consequence of such a policy during the DNC, especially after the events surrounding the Columbus Day protests in October of 2007 when just eighty arrests overwhelmed the PADF and resulted in delays of up to 12 hours before arrestees who had already posted bond were released. At the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, police made over 1800 arrests causing serious problems with access to medical care, food, attorneys, and sanitary facilities.
“Denver has certainly done the right thing by finally releasing these policies,” stated ACLU of Colorado Staff Attorney Taylor Pendergrass, “We are disappointed that it took a lawsuit and Denver’s expenditure of $5,000 of Denver taxpayers’ money, however, to convince Denver to release documents that we believe clearly should have been disclosed in the first place.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Denver does not admit any liability or fault for refusing to disclose the portions of the manual sought by the ACLU.

The settlement of this case is unconnected to a separate lawsuit between the ACLU and Denver where the ACLU is seeking disclosure, under the Colorado open records laws, of records regarding how Denver is spending public moneys on less-lethal weaponry and other equipment prior to the DNC. A hearing in that case has been scheduled for June 24, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. in Denver District Court.

Protester Parade Route Announced

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The route begins next to Civic Center Park and ends at Speer Blvd. and Larimer Street, more than five blocks from the Pepsi Center (see map below).

On each day during the convention (Monday, August 25, through Thursday, August 28), groups will be able to gather on Bannock Street between 14th Avenue and Colfax Avenue (adjacent to Civic Center Park) at 10:00 a.m., the city announced.

The first parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. Groups will continue with staggered start times, based on the crowd estimates they provided, city officials said.

The final group crossing the start of the parade at the intersection of Bannock Street and Colfax Avenue by 2:30 p.m. each day to arrive at the end of the route by 3:00 p.m. - Fox 31

Clicker here for a full size map (pdf)

Light Rail and the Convention

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Now that we're getting closer to the convention more information is starting to trickle out on security and other issues. Today we will look at Denver's light rail system. We'll tell you what we know and what we think may happen.

Denver's light rail line opened in July of 2000 and expanded in November 2006. It has quickly become a widely used form of transportation for thousands of Denver area residents each day.
According to the Denver Post, the Secret Service still hasn't announced what kind of impact the convention will have on light rail.

Security requirements for the Democratic National Convention may result in closing or restricting light-rail service and traffic on streets surrounding the Pepsi Center.

But less than 12 weeks away from the opening gavel in Denver, security planners aren't ready to tell downtown commuters, businesses and residents what to expect.

"It's going to be closer to the time of the convention," said Malcolm Wiley, the U.S. Secret Service's spokesman for the event.

At this point before the last Democratic convention in Boston, transit and road closure plans already had been publicized for a month and a half.

There is an RTD light-rail corridor passing less than 80 feet from the Pepsi Center, where the convention will be held, a transit station 200 feet from the building's wall and two major boulevards located 370 feet and 620 feet away.

As you can see from the map on the left, the Pepsi Center is the second to last stop for the C line (Southwest corridor) and E line (Southeast corridor). A majority of people going downtown during the workday use the D, F and H lines.

We'll start our ride toward downtown Denver starting at the 10th and Osage stop. This is the last stop that allows you to board trains for all lines before you reach downtown.

The first stop is Auraria West Campus. It was announced last year that Colorado University's Auraria Campus would be closed during the week of the convention. Very few if any riders will use this stop.

The stop after Auraria on the C and E lines is Invesco Field at Mile High where the Denver Broncos play. As there will be no games there during the convention there will be very few people that will use this station.

After riding by Invesco Field you head toward downtown Denver and the Pepsi Center-Elitch Gardens stop. The station is just steps from the Pepsi Center as you can see in the picture on the left.

Very few riders use this stop unless there is an event at the Pepsi Center. Elitch Gardens will be closed during the week of the convention so it won't bring any riders either.

This leaves convention goers as the only people that would use this station if it remained open.


The final station on the C and E lines is Union Station. This stop is used to access Denver's Lower Downtown (LoDo) and Coors Field where the Rockies play.

The Rockies only play on Sunday, August 24th (think that'll be a hot ticket for delegates?) The remainder of the week they play away.

This is the most heavily used downtown station on the C and E lines during the week. A free shuttle does run n the 16th Street Mall that connects LoDo to the other light rail lines that go downtown.
So now that you know how everything is laid out lets look at some options as to what could happen.

1. Both the C and E lines are closed past the 10th and Osage Station
2. Union Station remains open but all other stations are closed.
3. Only delegates and credentialed people are allowed past 10th and Osage.

I'm no expert in Secret Service planning and have no ideaa how tight their security will be.
As soon as the actual plans are announced we will let you know.

A message from Mayor Hickenlooper

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As we turn the page....

A message from Mayor John W. Hickenlooper and the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee:

Number of Visitors: While as many as 50,000 visitors are anticipated between Saturday, August 23 and Thursday, August 28 - including delegates, assorted guests and 15,000 members of the media - it is important to remember that this is less than the number of people that come downtown for Rockies' Opening Day or for a Broncos game. Denver has hosted games in all three downtown stadiums at the same time, involving close to 150,000 people. The Convention visitors - who won't all be downtown at the same time - will spend significant amounts of time inside the Colorado Convention Center, Pepsi Center and other event venues. Downtown restaurants will be open for business - and should be able to easily accommodate local diners as activity on the Convention floor takes place between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Street, Residential and Commercial Access: We are working very hard to ensure that downtown residents and workers can get around and access their buildings with ease during the Democratic National Convention. Because of the Pepsi Center's location in the Platte Valley, transportation- and security-related impacts on downtown will be minimized.

• When people talk about a "security perimeter," what they are really talking about are areas around the Pepsi Center that may require additional screening or security measures. Those areas will be finalized and announced closer to the Convention, but please know that our intention is to minimize any impacts on roadways, businesses and residences. More updates will be provided to businesses and residents near the Pepsi Center - and the general public - over the coming weeks.

• While there will be some modest traffic impacts in the downtown area during the Convention, it will not tie up the downtown. Downtown workers should not have difficulties getting to or leaving work, particularly since the main hours of Pepsi Center activity (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) do not correspond with standard morning or evening commute times. The bottom line is: Downtown will be accessible
  ...
  

Free Speech: We support the rights of people to express their views safely and in a manner that respects the rights of others along with local, state and federal laws. The 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston attracted 10,000 demonstrators. Some peaceful demonstrations are anticipated in Civic Center, Skyline Park and other downtown parks during the week of the Convention.

• As a point of reference, approximately 75,000 to 100,000 people gathered in Civic Center Park for a May 2006 rally, and it did not inconvenience downtown businesses, residents or City services. The annual set-up for the Downtown Denver Partnership's Taste of Colorado will also begin in Civic Center on the Wednesday of the Convention week.

• A designated parade route - the details of which will be announced by June 12 - will provide organizations that want to march toward the Pepsi Center a safe means to do so in a manner and timeframe that minimizes mobility impacts on downtown businesses, residents and visitors.

Denver residents worried about access

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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.

Denver Public Schools won't delay start

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We finally have an answer from Denver Public Schools as to whether or not they will delay opening schools due to security concerns from the convention.

Students in Denver Public Schools will return to classes as usual in August, after school board members on Thursday vetoed a plan to delay the school start date for the Democratic National Convention.

Board members voted 5-2 to start school on Aug. 18 this fall, rather than wait until Sept 2. The DNC is scheduled to bring 35,000 visitors to Denver between Aug. 25 and 28.

Earlier this month, DPS Security Chief Ed Ray and Justin DeMello, head of the city's Office of Emergency Management, told board members that the city and district could better share resources in the event of a DNC emergency if schools were not in session.

But a survey of parents, students, teachers and community members found 57 percent preferred the earlier start. Only one group - parents - came out in favor of the later return. - RMN

You can read our previous stories on the possible delay by using our Tag List on the right and choosing security. I guess they figured the chance of "mass casualties" at the convention were too slim to delay opening schools.

Security officials urge Denver School Board to delay opening

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A decision on whether or not Denver schools will delay opening until after Labor Day is expected by next Thursday. An article in today's Denver Post quotes several DPS and city security officials on the importance of delaying the opening of schools close to the Pepsi Center.

We've followed the story of the proposed delayed opening from the beginning. Call me naive but I was thinking about heavy traffic and security causing the need for the delay. The Post article goes off on a whole new tangent.

"We don't know the threats," he said. "But there is going to be disruption. Any DPS facilty in the area will have disruption."

Any major incident involving the convention would affect the schools, because every city resource would be called in to assist, Ray said. That could leave the schools vulnerable. Plus, parents would likely rush to their children's schools, which would create even more problems, he said.

Schools also would be offered as alternate care sites if there were mass casualities, he said.

WOW! I plan on being in the midst of the convention madness... nobody told me there could be mass casualties! Duct tape and plastic wrap will be issued to anyone entering the downtown area and the alert level will be raised to magenta.

At least they didn't say anything about a mile-wide radius lockdown.

Protests to have daily '"themes"

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Those outside the Pepsi Center are preparing for the convention also:

Activists targeting August's Democratic National Convention are developing a sophisticated protest plan - one including a different demonstration "theme" each day. In addition, organizers intend to help individual groups aim their protests to specific state convention delegations, and hope to throw a five-day festival in Civic Center with music, a health clinic, and even meals for the homeless.

"We know that people are going to be coming to Denver from around the country for this event, and it seems silly not to take advantage of it," said Mark Cohen, one of those involved in the planning. "It's an opportunity for those people to make connections with each other and share their concerns. Cohen's group is one of more than two-dozen involved in protest planning, which is being overseen by an organization calling itself Recreate 68.
...
But a number of the details are not settled. For example, the city and the Secret Service have not yet decided on the "security zone" around the Pepsi Center. The drawing of that line will help define where protesters can and cannot gather. And the Denver City Council is expected to take up legislation on Jan. 22 that would refine the process used to issue permits for special events and parades.

We'll be following the protest preparations and responses closely. After all, it wouldn't be a Democratic National Convention without protests.

Denver backs down on park and parade permit change

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Good news from the Denver City Council regarding their plans to change park permits

Reacting to criticism, Denver officials removed language from a proposed rule change that would have given governments first dibs on park and parade permits.

The rule changes, which are being considered in anticipation of thousands of protesters converging on Denver during the Democratic National Convention in August, had sparked harsh words last month from the American Civil Liberties Union and the protest group Re-Create 68.
Although city officials insist they are trying to craft a process that protects the free-speech rights of protesters, City Attorney David Fine said Wednesday that the city still can exert its powers.

In a letter to the ACLU, Fine said that "the City's inherent power to reserve its parks for its own purposes during the convention or otherwise remains unchanged."
Alluding to ACLU comments, Fine added that "the City does not intend 'to monopolize Denver's traditional public forums' during the convention."

Katherine Archuleta, the city's liaison for the convention, said the city has no intention of reserving any of the parks during convention week. - Denver Post

One-mile lockdown talk again from the Denver media

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I have heard from four different individuals from the Denver Police Department, the Mayor's Office and the DNCC stating that no solid plans have been put in place as to a security lockdown. Nevertheless another Denver media outline has thrown out the "one-mile lockdown radius" story.

The offender this time is 9 News:

Security officials with the DNC want to control traffic and may establish a one-mile lockdown radius around the Pepsi Center, making school bus traffic or parent pick-ups very difficult.

I'm going to try to find out where Channel 9 got this from. Again like the Rocky Mountain News article a major city-closing possibility is thrown out without a source.

This is from an e-mail I got from a Denver Police official yesterday:
At this time, there have been no final decisions regarding any road closures near, or around the Pepsi Center during the Democratic National Convention. Those discussions are on-going and are in the early phases of the planning process. Our intention is to minimize any disruptions to roadways, businesses, and residences. RTD has been heavily involved in DNC planning and will be an important component of the transportation system during the convention. A one mile lock down around the Pepsi Center has not been part of our discussions.

Update: According to Nelson Garcia, the reporter of the story, the one-mile lockdown was discussed between Denver Public School officials and DNCC security officials. Both the DPS spokesperson Alex Sanchez and the School Board President mentioned the possible lockdown.

Update 2: DPS Spokesman Alex Sanchez has told me he doesn't know where the mile-wide radius lockdown story came from and that contrary to Nelson Garcia from 9 News he did not make any kind of statement about a mile-wide radius lockdown.

Hopefully no other news organizations rely on the mystery person talking about massive lockdowns.

Convention security bill signed into law

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

President Bush signed the $555 billion omnibus bill on Wednesday. The bill gives both Denver and Minneapolis $50 million for convention security.

"Yea!" exclaimed Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the Denver 2008 Host Committee. "We want to have a great time and to make sure we're safe. For small cities like us and Minneapolis-St. Paul, it's critical."

Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said recently that the department already had dedicated staff resources to planning for security, and Katherine Archuleta, the mayor's liaison for the convention, said they would be going to Washington in January to discuss the money distribution.

"What it means now is we can move forward immediately with the Department of Justice to establish the payment method, and we can anticipate expenditures in training and equipment," she said. - RMN

This will be a huge boost for convention funding and is the earliest that the funding has been given for conventions. Boston was not reimbursed for security in 2004 until the Democratic National Convention was over.

Convention lockdown update

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

A convention official has told me that the security zone is still under development and nothing has been decided yet. They assured me that the final plan would cause as little disruption to the city as possible.

This confirms Mayor Hickenlooper's office's belief that the story was inaccurate.

From Saturday's Rocky Mountain News

But plans to lock down a mile-wide radius around the center for security reasons could wreak havoc with busing and activities at nearby schools. Two dozen DPS schools are located within a mile and a half of the Pepsi Center, and the Emily Griffith Opportunity School is within a couple of blocks.

This is certainly good news for anybody that's going to be in Denver next summer.

House approves Iraq funding... convention security money on its way

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

MSNBC and CNN are reporting that the House has accepted the $70 billion funding for Iraq which sends the final bill to Bush for his signature.

With the signing of the bill Denver and Minneapolis will both receive $50 million for convention security funding.

Update: Story on the bill's passage here