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Aurora initiates process that could lead to the closure of two complexes inhabited by migrants

Aurora inicia proceso que llevaría al cierre de dos complejos habitados por migrantes Aurora initiates process that could lead to the closure of two complexes inhabited by migrants

INTERVIEW | Mayor Mike Coffman assures that no criminal gang is extorting rent payments or controlling buildings where migrants reside in Aurora, Colorado. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

MAYOR COFFMAN ANNOUNCES THAT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF WILL SIGN THE DOCUMENTS TO INITIATE THE CLOSURE PROCEDURE AS HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ACT. COFFMAN ASSURES THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS EXTORTING RENT PAYMENTS.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The city of Aurora is evaluating the measures it will take regarding the Whispering Pines (Helena & 13th) and The Edge of Lowry (12th & Dallas) apartment complexes, both primarily inhabited by Venezuelan migrants and previously managed by CBZ Management, a company that abandoned these buildings months ago. The abandonment of the buildings led to their deterioration, resulting in health code violations, and facilitating criminal activities.

Mayor Mike Coffman explained that they presented an offer to the owners to resume the management of the buildings. “The first option is for the property manager to accept the offer, reintroduce employees, and we will provide police officers to ensure security. We propose two officers for two weeks in both buildings,” Coffman said. If the owners do not respond or are not interested, Coffman indicated that the buildings could pass into the hands of the lenders.

“What is clear is that we cannot allow the situation to continue with the buildings left unattended and people living there without maintenance,” the mayor added. Coffman stated that the possibility of closing the properties remains under consideration. The process for closing the buildings could be long and could be appealed in court. However, Coffman stressed that initiating the closure procedures would be the only way to pressure the owners to decide.

Public health and criminal nuisance

Coffman announced that the new Aurora Police Chief, Todd Chamberlain, will sign the necessary documents to initiate the process of closing both buildings on his first day in office. Chamberlain will assume his duties on Tuesday, September 10. Regarding the legal grounds for closure, Coffman explained that, in the case of Whispering Pines Apartments, they could apply the same grounds used to close a complex on Nome Street: health code violations or public health reasons.

Meanwhile, for The Edge of Lowry, the legal grounds would be different. In this case, the city plans to use the “criminal nuisance” ordinance, which demonstrates that the apartment complex poses a risk to the surrounding area. “We hope not to reach that point, but a decision will be made soon,” Coffman concluded. At the close of this report, there was no confirmation on the legal approach that Aurora would ultimately choose to begin the closure process for these two buildings on September 10.

(Video/El Comercio de Colorado)

No gang was collecting rent from the tenants

In his conversations with the residents of both complexes last Wednesday, September 4, Coffman discovered that many tenants expressed their desire to remain living in the apartments, despite the poor conditions. “I think most people are not paying rent, and I don’t blame them because no services are being provided. There’s no one to fix what’s broken. Trash is piling up because there’s no garbage collection service,” Coffman explained. “And I told them that same night that I don’t fault anyone for not paying rent.”

The mayor also debunked one of the rumors circulating about the buildings: that the rents were being compulsively collected by gangs like the Tren de Aragua (TDA), a criminal gang made up of Venezuelans. “Nobody told me they were being forced or extorted to pay rent to someone else. That has been one of the allegations that have circulated in recent days, that gangs were controlling the buildings and forcing residents to pay them rent. But I didn’t see that when talking to the people,” Coffman assured.

(Video/El Comercio de Colorado)

Incentive to exaggerate

In early August, following the closure of the apartment complex on Nome Street, a spokesperson for CBZ Management indicated that the company had abandoned the property due to the presence of TDA. The company claimed to have videos showing how the building manager was beaten by supposed members of the criminal gang. At the same time, in the first week of September, a report from Perkins Coie LLP, the law firm representing the lenders of the Whispering Pines Apartment owners, detailed alleged activities of the same criminal organization.

Coffman expressed some skepticism regarding CBZ Management’s argument. “I think the owner wanted an excuse not to maintain the property, saying that they couldn’t do so because of gang activity. Maybe some of that is true, maybe it’s not. I don’t know, but it seems they had an incentive to exaggerate,” Coffman commented. The mayor continued, “At the beginning, there were gang elements. I don’t know if it was the Tren de Aragua that intimidated or scared the managers into abandoning both properties. I believe that part is true. Beyond that, I just don’t know.”

Aurora initiates process that could lead to the closure of two complexes inhabited by migrants

(Video/El Comercio de Colorado)

Agreement with the interim police chief

However, the mayor agreed with Aurora’s interim police chief, Heather Morris. “I want to tell the community that there is no Venezuelan gang or any other gang controlling the buildings in Aurora. I agree with the interim police chief of Aurora that there are no Venezuelan gangs or other criminal organizations controlling these buildings where mostly migrants reside,” Coffman concluded.