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Mayor of Aurora agrees to meet with The Edge of Lowry residents

VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS | Residents of The Edge of Lowry want to meet with Mike Coffman, Mayor of Aurora. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

MIGRANTS LIVING IN THE BUILDING OPPOSE THE IDEA OF EVICTION DUE TO “CRIMINAL NUISANCE”

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The residents of The Edge of Lowry apartment complex, located at the intersection of 12th Street and Dallas, have requested a meeting with Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman after learning that the city plans to request an eviction order for the building. The action is based on the argument of “criminal nuisance,” indicating that the complex has become a risk to the safety and health of the surrounding area.

So far, it has not been confirmed if any courts from the counties associated with Aurora have received the eviction request, but residents have expressed their discontent at the possibility. Gladys Tovar, a resident of the complex, highlighted in an interview with El Comercio de Colorado that most of the inhabitants are hardworking, responsible individuals who pay their rent to the building’s owner.

We Are Not Criminals

“We are not criminals or gang members; we are decent people who came to this country in search of a better life,” stated Tovar. The resident also expressed that, while there have been gunshots and conflicts in the area, the real culprits behind the situation are the building managers, who, according to her, have neglected their responsibilities.

Tovar also voiced her concern over the growing insecurity in the neighborhood, not only due to internal problems within the complex but also because of the hostile attitude from some outside neighbors. “They shout at us from their cars, calling us criminals just because we are Venezuelans,” she lamented.

We Don’t Know the People in the Video

Tovar insists she is unaware of any members of the Tren de Aragua gang living in the complex, as suggested by a viral video recently circulated. “We know each other among the neighbors, and we don’t know who those people in the video are,” Tovar said, adding that conditions in the neighborhood have worsened since the video was made public.

Tovar also made a direct appeal to Mayor Coffman, asking him to visit the residents in person. “We want him to come and meet us, talk to us face to face, and see that we are not what they say,” Tovar concluded. Coffman, in his social media posts, expressed his willingness to meet with the residents of The Edge of Lowry to better understand their concerns and verify the accuracy of the claims about alleged gang activity in the property, as indicated by the property’s owners.

Meeting Date Not Yet Set

The meeting between the Mayor of Aurora and the residents of the apartment complex, to be organized by the East Colfax Community Collective, will take place in the coming days. Some council members and officers from the Aurora Police Department might also attend. This is expected to be a space where both the residents and local authorities can discuss the necessary steps to improve the area’s conditions.