"A Crack Pipe By Any Other Name"

Anyone else notice how many of our local convenience stores are publicly displaying and selling drug (crack) paraphernalia?

I'm talking in particular about Rose tubes, Rose Stems, Glass Roses, whatever you want to call them. The presence of these items, while not illegal, is irresponsible, especially given the transitional nature of our neighborhood.

While these items are "marketed" as novelty items, like a cheap gift a boy might get his sweetheart, most retailers are fully aware these items are widely regarded as drug paraphernalia. They're not illegal as of yet in Denver or Colorado, though I'm currently exploring what would be necessary to make that a reality. Here are some good online articles that should provide you a good overview of the item and its misuse and misrepresentation by many convenience store retailers:

http://www.sptimes.com/News/081001/Floridian/A_crack_pipe_by_any_o.shtml

Or,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040401602.html

Or,

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/212336

If you notice a local retailer with these items on the shelf, I highly encourage you to confront them about this choice.

You can say something like:

We're working hard to help our neighborhood get cleaned up, and would appreciate your assistance in doing so, by removing these, and other drug paraphernalia from your counters and store shelves. Members of our neighborhood and our organization are paying customers of your establishment, and we evangelize supporting local businesses that are positive, rather than negative contributors to our neighborhood's progress. We hope you understandy why we think it's entirely unnecessary and irresponsible for your store to be selling these items.

If you have such a conversation with a business owner, please share how it went, either by posting a comment at this blog, or by emailing c-wac@comcast.net.

Thanks, and here's to continued progress in Cole and Whittier!

Please Join Us At The Next C-WAC Meeting, Wednesday September 5th

The Next C-WAC meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 5, 6-7:30 pm at Mitchell Elementary School, 1350 E. 33rd Ave.

In addition to reporting out by the police on crime statistics and strategies being implemented to reduce crime in Cole- Whittier, we will also be getting the report on the Police Survey conducted over the summer. From the community side, we would like to revisit the development of Block Contacts as a way to build greater communication among residents and between residents and police. Being a Block Contact can be as simple as distributing information like the CWAC flier and IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS card, to promoting a Neighborhood Watch group, to creating a block phone tree, to sponsoring a block gathering…Please invite other residents you know to join us for the meeting on Sept. 5 and help us strengthen the web of relationships in Cole-Whittier.

To RSVP for the meeting, please email patty@mopdenver.org.

Dumpster and Light Pole Paint Available

Have graffiti in your alley you want to cover up? Paul Danek has leftover dumpster and light pole paint from this spring's neighborhood cleanup. Contact him at c-wac@comcast.net if you'd like to use them.

Next C-WAC Meeting August 1st, 2007

Please join us at St. Martins Plaza (Marion and Bruce Randolph) August 1st, at 6:30 PM for the next Cole-Whittier Against Crime meeting.

We'll be viewing the results from the safety survey, getting an update from the DPD, and brainstorming on what's next for this important project.

Questions? C-WAC@Comcast.net

Cole-Whittier Against Crime June Meeting: Please Join Us!

All Cole-Whittier residents are invited to join us for our next C-WAC meeting, June 27th at 6PM at St. Martin Plaza on the corner of Bruce Randolph and Marion Street.

We'll be discussing the community safety survey, several recent meetings between area residents and the police department, as well as what's next for Cole-Whittier Against Crime.

Lieutenant Rick Kyle, our primary point of contact at the Denver Police Department will be in attendance.

Please spread the word to all your neighbors! Questions? C-WAC@Comcast.net

We hope to see you there!

Welcome To Cole-Whittier Against Crime

Thanks for reading.

This site is intended to be the online portal for news about Cole-Whittier's Community Policing Initiative, called Cole-Whittier Against Crime.

The program focuses on close cooperation between neighborhood residents and police. By working more directly with residents, police are able to better identify and specifically target high-crime areas and key issues. Police focus is increased on minor offenses (speeding, drugs, graffiti, illegal dumping, etc.) that compromise the quality of life for so many families, and create an environment that leads to more serious criminal activity. Cole-Whittier Against Crime (C-WAC) also includes extensive data-collection providing the police and the community the opportunity to more effectively focus resources, as well as evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
Similar initiatives elsewhere have produced measurable reductions in crime, at the same time reducing complaints of police harassment and profiling.
Your neighbors invite you to learn more about Cole-Whittier Against Crime. And how we, the residents of Cole-Whittier, will help shape it.

For more information, or to become involved, please contact Paul Danek at 720-280-1105 or C-WAC@Comcast.net.