Council Members Face Off Over Diagonal Plaza Police Sweep

BOULDER, CO -- The Diagonal Plaza parking lot on the northern edge of Boulder had become a home for a group of people living in their cars and campers. The Daily Camera reported last week on the dozens of cars that have taken up residence in the partially vacant shopping center's lot."They buy memberships, they come in, they shower," one worker at a nearby 24 Hour Fitness, who did not provide their name, told the Camera. "We call them the camper clan."

Yet last week, the lot was set to be cleared by police after Councilman Bob Yates sent an email to Boulder's police chief and city manager.

"I would encourage you to visit the north lot and south lot encampments yourselves," wrote Yates in a Hotline message on Dec. 5. "You will observe deplorable unsanitary and unsafe conditions that I believe are dangerous for the people living in these encampments, as well as for neighboring residents, businesses and their customers. I do not believe that these encampments reflect Boulder community values."

Councilwoman Jill Grano appears to have disagreed with Yates on the best course of action, as she spent the night of Dec. 13 sleeping in her own car in the lot along with Housing Advisory Board member Masyn Moyer.

"Single family homeowners have an incredibly influential voice in our City. I want to make sure I hear other voices, so I am spending time w/ families in our mobile communities, w/ renters, & sitting on the street w/ some of our homeless. Now vehicles dwellers. Every voice matters," wrote Grano in a Twitter post explaining her decision.

Single family homeowners have an incredibly influential voice in our City. I want to make sure I hear other voices, so I am spending time w/ families in our mobile communities, w/ renters, & sitting on the street w/ some of our homeless. Now vehicles dwellers. Every voice matters https://t.co/RbYP5As94k
— Jill Adler Grano (@jillgrano) December 13, 2018

The Camera reported on Dec. 14 that the planned police sweep didn't happen, but that many had left the lot voluntarily, and that the area had been cleared of trash.

"While many people had already cleared out after receiving police notices, those who remained embraced us and enlightened us about their situations," wrote Grano in a Hotline message Dec. 14, describing her experience in the lot. "Far from being deplorable conditions, we found a tidy lot with Boulder residents who are not as lucky as many of us are."

"I write today not to ask that we suddenly allow all parking lots to be filled with vehicle communities, but to humanize the Diagonal Plaza vehicle community," Grano continued. "We have an affordable housing crisis on our hands. If we are going to place a moratorium on anything, let it be cracking down on those among us who are just trying to survive."

The matter is likely to come up at tonight's council meeting.

“We have an affordable housing crisis on our hands. If we are going to place a moratorium on anything, let it be cracking down on those among us who are just trying to survive." Jill Grano Boulder Councilwoman
https://t.co/k2kHXrvB7s
— Masyn_Moyer (@MasynMoyer) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/MasynMoyer... 15, 2018

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