GPHC

The future Oak Tree Alternative Care Center at 28th & Fairfax

By Arthur Rosenblum

Residents of Park Hill and throughout Denver woke up on the Sunday after New Year’s to the shocking news reported in the Denver Post that more than 300 businesses had applied to operate medical marijuana dispensaries within Denver’s city limits and that Denver may well be “Pot Capital, U.S.A.” Since that time perhaps another hundred have applied for licenses making the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver greater than the number of schools, liquor stores and, yes, even Starbucks coffee shops.

That shock was later intensified in Park Hill, when residents learned that plans were underway for a marijuana dispensary, Oak Tree Alternative Care, to open at 5151 E. 28th Ave. at the troubled corner at Fairfax St. For years neighbors have struggled with the loitering, trash, and crime, including shootings, outside the Fairfax Liquor Store located on that same corner. The reaction by neighbors to the news of a dispensary opening was immediate and strong. About 100 people attended the January meeting of the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. board that normally sees fewer than half that number

While it’s uncertain how many medical marijuana dispensaries will ultimately be located in or near Park Hill, there will be no shortgage. While exact numbers have been difficult to obtain from the Department of Treasury, there are several on Colfax Ave. both in Park Hill and East Montclair, at least one on Colorado Blvd. and about four in the industrial area north of 38th Ave.

Concern turned to fear when it was reported that two men were shot, one killed, during an argument about a marijuana transaction on the 2600 block of Leyden St. earlier in the month. It is the fear of crime that motivates most Park Hill opponents to the dispensaries. It’s fear that facilities with large amounts of cash and high quality marijuana all over the city will create uncontrollable problems for the police and nearby residents.

You are invited to attend the Small Business Town Hall Meeting.
An exciting lineup of speakers will answer all your questions about resources for small businesses!
 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18th from 7:00- 8:30 pm
LOCATION: EAST HIGH SCHOOL
1600 City Park Esplanade
Denver, CO 80206
 
Topics of Discussion:
  • The Colorado Credit Reserve Program
  • The Colorado Enterprise Fund
  • How to get small business loans
  • Small business advocacy and support

Cris White, Executive Director and  CEO,
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
 
Kelly Manning, State Director, SBPC
Network, Colorado Office of economic
Development and International Trade

Sean Avery, Loan Officer, Small Business
Finance Corporation

Patrick Giron, Economic Development
Supervisor, Denver Office of Economic Development
Town Hall Meeting sponsored by Representative Beth McCann (HD8)

Grant Jones

By Joan Wallach and Arthur Rosenblum

On a recent bitter cold day we sat with Grant Jones, Executive Director of The Center for African American Health (CAAH). Passion, conviction, accomplishment and storytelling prowess were soon displayed as Jones took us on a journey of the Center’s genesis and transformation. We could fill an entire edition of the GPH News with Jones’ story. He is an accomplished steadfast presence for health access equity in the Denver community. It was our honor to warm up with Jones in a generous interview of over two hours. 

Jones, born in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, projects a clear understanding of the power of community and relationships that supports his work and passion. Denver became home to Jones after he served in the Air Force. He moved to the nonprofit sector early in his career, first working as executive director of Partners Inc., a delinquency diversion program for which he’d previously volunteered. Jones was part of the highly regarded Leadership Denver class of 1987.

Jones is a graduate of Regis University and in 2004 received Regis’s highest honor, the Civis Princeps, an award recognizing individuals whose life and work exemplify the University’s Jesuit mission of “men and women in service of others.”