THIS IS NOT ‘BLIGHT’—THIS IS NATURE

by Dave Felice

Hentzell Park Natural Area - photo by Ray Ehrenstein

Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson thinks there’s nothing she can do about her suppression of a popular vote on giving away nine acres of Hentzell Park Natural Area.

Johnson commented at Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s latest “Cabinet in the Community” at Teller School Saturday morning. About 15 members of Friends of Denver Parks attended the meeting in a continuing protest over Hancock’s decision to give the park land to the school district.

“I had no choice,” said Johnson when one of the Friends told her she should be ashamed of rejecting petitions to put the measure on the ballot. Her response implicitly refers to an opinion from the City Attorney’s office saying the park decision cannot be put on the ballot by petition.

The Friends supporter responded, “You should have sought independent legal counsel instead of relying on the opinion of the Mayor’s bought-and-paid-for City Attorney!”  Tersely, Johnson responded: “That’s how the system works,” and turned away.

Johnson is independently elected. Although the Clerk’s office is officially nonpartisan, Johnson is a nominal Democrat. Former City Councilwoman Cathy Donohue has repeatedly reminded city officials that the city attorney only represents the interests of the mayor.

The park supporters, many wearing the Friends’ signature green T-shirts, lined the back wall of the auditorium and vigorously waved their protest signs during the hour and a half program, while the Hancock and his appointees warily eyed the protesters from the main table.

Some of the slogans on the protest signs read:  “LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD DESTROY HENTZELL PARK NATURAL AREA;” “PARKS ARE NOT FOR SALE OR TRADE—SAVE HENTZELL PARK NATURAL AREA;” and “MAYOR HANCOCK: 

THIS IS NOT ‘BLIGHT’—THIS IS NATURE!”

Denver School Board candidate Meg Schomp also stood in solidarity with the Friends group.   By contrast, most City officials, including all of Hancock’s appointees, studiously avoided acknowledging or speaking with the park supporters.

When making introductions of School Board at the beginning of the program, Hancock did not acknowledge Schomp. She stepped forward, raised her voice and said, “Excuse me, I am Meg Schomp and I am a candidate for School Board from District Three.”

At the end of the main program, Hancock and other city officials sat at tables lining the school’s hallway to meet and greet citizens and answer questions. Many citizens stopped to chat with the park supporters, and overwhelmingly offered support for the Friends’ position. 

“We got a lot of questions from people who were curious about the green t-shirts and signs,” says Friends President Renee Lewis, a resident of the area also known as Hampden Heights North Park.  “We were able to do education on many fronts. (Deputy Parks Manager) Scott Gilmore again gleefully informed me that he will be killing the prairie dog colony.”

Lewis also spoke directly to Hancock. “The mayor told me that ‘we (city government) have the correct legal position.’ I told him that this situation could very well show up at the ballot box.  He did seem to hear what I said. It is surprising how some people will hold tightly onto an anchor rope even when they are told that the ship is sinking.” 

Veteran trial attorney John Case, also a resident of the Hampden Heights North Park area, is representing the Friends of Denver Parks pro bono. In a case scheduled for court next May, Case challenges the city decision to destroy the natural area which should have been designated as a park decades ago, as well as Johnson’s refusal to accept petitions.