While I was out of Denver and in St. Louis, to be part of a family wedding, it was important to keep up with the news. And the news here and in St. Louis, there wasn’t very good news at all.
It’s been like this for what seems like forever. This year began with high hopes – hey, it was going to be 2020 and a big election. But we have been at home, and when we go out we wear face coverings. For some reason, this mask concept has devolved into some sort of political statement for some people, even though the top doctors are saying that covering your face and staying apart from others is helping to curb the spread of this virus. It seems that it is more about health than politics, and some people need to stop hating.
Cases are spiking in numerous states, though right now not in Colorado and Missouri. Protests have taught many people a lesson about racial equity and systemic racism, and finding new ways for the police to be more thoughtful. After all, they are in our communities. (The death of Elijah McClain has hurt my heart as more information has emerged. What happened is just so wrong.)
People have been injured, and agitators – not protesters — have destroyed a swath of history here and in many places. As for the Confederate monuments? Most of them were erected long after the Civil War ended, as a sign that African-Americans needed to stay in their place and ending the Reconstruction that was supposed to help them after centuries of servitude. The Confederate monuments now need to go away, perhaps in a history museum somewhere.
While out of Denver, I saw on my phone those who wrecked the Civil War monument on the Capitol grounds. It was a huge mistake; there was a separate plaque explaining the Sand Creek Massacre, and the destruction was just wrong. The Christopher Columbus monument also was damaged, and although Columbus didn’t “discover” anything but bringing illness when he landed. Actually, the sculptor created a Vitruvian Man in that orb, and for many of us, that is what we know – not Columbus.
So when I returned to Denver this week, I was searching for something about good news.
And there are two things so far:
Remember Fishers Peak near Trinidad, which was going to be a state park, and was written about last September? Well, the state has coughed up some cash for planning, and Gov. Jared Polis signed the park into law. It probably will open in October or November. As the population of Colorado has grown, we need more state land for recreation and just plain solace. The park will get a new name.
Then, this morning, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock — with many other people and entities working for the homeless – settled on a plan to find a place for the homeless to have a place to stay. It would be a sanctioned camp or camps for those who need some stability. Also, there will be more people living in motel rooms. It’s about time. The encampments throughout Denver are problematic, but where are these people supposed to go?
Two links below lead to more information about Fishers Peak, and a link to a story about this new camp idea.
The story in Denverite noted this in the final paragraph:
“Mayor Hancock added in Wednesday’s statement that he supports a possible November ballot measure led by Councilwoman Robin Kniech, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and several shelter operators and service providers that would raise an estimated $40 million a year to support services for people experiencing homelessness.”
Good news, indeed.
Gov. Polis makes it official: Fishers Peak is Colorado’s newest state park
Denver to open sanctioned camp for people experiencing homelessness
Chandler in Denver 