“Character” assassination

Re: “Don’t prevent needed new housing in Denver,” July 12 commentary

To summarize Andy Bosselman’s column: Roughly 80 years ago, Mayor Ben Stapleton “…[I]mplemented overtly racist housing policies that sewed the fabric of Denver” by requiring single-family dwelling zoning in most of the city. He contends that opposition to Denver’s current East Area Plan for the wholesale rezoning of East Denver is motivated by greed or racism.

Bosselman fails to mention that for approximately the past 50 plus years, Denver has failed to disturb this fabric. Rather, it has permitted developers to build thousands of apartment and condominium units with inadequate provision for affordable housing. In an apparent effort to make up for this neglect, the city has formulated the EAP greatly impacting East Denver neighborhoods without adequate notice to residents, or any significant change despite widespread, well-founded opposition.

To support his racism charge, Mr. Bosselman contends that this opposition has been voiced primarily in terms of preserving “neighborhood character,” which, he tells us is nothing more than a buzzword for racism. Any fair assessment of opposition input would, however, show that by far the greatest concerns have been the negative impact of greatly increased density, the undermining of architectural integrity and a decease in property values.

Unjustified charges of racism may satisfy a need to feel morally superior, but they serve only to divide, and distract from useful discussion.

John Mcmullen,