HAPPENINGS: February Grab-Bag
Ways To Care For Your Well-Being, And Your Community
Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
The national news, including horrific killings of protesters by ICE agents in Minneapolis, has made for a grueling past few weeks.
Closer to home, there are a few things you can do to be prepared — and to help restore your equilibrium. Plan a tree to plant in your yard this spring. Help plan what happens in the north parts of Park Hill over the next 20 years. Finally, when it comes to ICE and other agencies that are engaging in horrific abuses, know that there are groups in Colorado who have got your back if you need.
Know The ICE Hotline
Add 1-844-864-8341 to your contact list. That’s the hotline for the Colorado Rapid Response Team (CRRT), which assists people who are experiencing or witnessing illegal activities being conducted by federal ICE agents.
The number is a 24/7 hotline to a live person. That person can dispatch legal observers to the scene of an immigration raid or other confrontation implicating civil liberties. They can record events, provide advice and help formulate a plan of action.
Several groups are participating with CRRT, including the ACLU of Colorado, American Friends Service Committee, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and Colorado People’s Alliance. Check out the website coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com for more.
Got A Complaint?
Do you have a complaint about misconduct or potentially unlawful actions by federal agents in Colorado, including ICE?
In January, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser added a new section to his office’s public complaint filing system for Coloradans to report misconduct of federal agents. Examples of potentially unlawful activity to report include excessive force, unlawful searches or arrests, wrongful detentions, interference with voting or other civil-rights violations.
The website is coag.gov/file-complaint. Your information will assist the Attorney General in documenting concerns and identifying potential patterns of misconduct by federal agents.
Help Plan For Park Hill
What do you want to happen in the north area of Park Hill over the next 20 years? Just as important is what do you want not to happen?
Denver’s Planning Department is kicking off a formal process for a plan to encompass North Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill, Clayton, Cole and Skyland — all of the neighborhoods that are close to the new Park Hill Park at 35th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The plan will be used to guide decisions for the area that Denver will make in the next two decades or more.
The city has set up a website, at tinyurl.com/NearNortheastPlan, where residents can learn more and take a survey to help kick-start the plan. People can also apply to serve on an advisory committee — a group of 15 to 20 community members who will meet at regular intervals throughout the process and oversee the planning efforts.
Among the survey questions: What is one idea that you have that will help improve your neighborhood in the next 10-20 years? What do you like most about Near Northeast Denver and your neighborhood? What are you concerned about in your neighborhood now and in the future? (The survey also asks for age, gender, race/ethnicity, household income — which might be off-putting to many people. The survey specifies, however, that people can opt out of answering those questions.)
Build The Canopy
There is still time to sign up for a low-cost tree this year from the organization Denver Digs Trees.
A number of varieties are available, including Kentucky Coffeetree, Turkish Filbert and Crimson Spire Oak. Because Northeast Park Hill is targeted for a canopy boost, trees are available for $15. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, the trees are $50 this year. Applicants facing financial hardship may request a “treeship” for a free tree.
Applications are at theparkpeople.org and are accepted until Feb. 15. You will need to plan to pick up and plant your tree April 17-18.