The Stapleton MCA shut down last week over a dispute with the City of Denver and Forest City. “We decided it wasn’t in the community’s best interests to have all these through streets to Aurora,” said MCA President Liza Kampstra. “We are aware that this decision was made well over a year ago, but we still don’t like it, and therefore, are going to do everything we can to prevent what has already happened from happening, if that makes sense.”
Due to the MCA shutdown, pocket parks have not been mowed, flowers and plants in the town center have gone unkempt, and all markets and concerts are being canceled unless an agreement can take place. “We simply want the city to negotiate with us,” said Kampstra. “And by negotiate, I mean do exactly what we are asking, which is to close these through streets.” Kampstra and the MCA are hoping that the disturbance caused by its shutdown will urge Stapleton residents to contact city officials and let them know they no longer want the through streets.
“This is pretty annoying,” said resident John Clifford. “I mean, no one really wanted the through streets in the first place, but it is part of progress, and we all knew it was happening over a year ago and have already mentally adjusted to it. I don’t know why the MCA is doing this.” Other residents agree. “If the MCA had a problem with the city on this, they should have dealt with it two years ago,” said Stacey Frazier. “And if they did, and nothing happened, too bad. You lost. We all need to move on. No need to have the great residents of Stapleton suffer.”
Kampstra says that the shutdown will continue until they get their way, whether or not residents agree with it. “Residents must understand that we are doing this for them. It’s not about us, it is about the Stapleton residents. Sure, they have already adapted to the streets going through, but hopefully we can completely reverse this.” City officials have stated that they are not going to negotiate, and that the streets have been approved and been in motion for over two years. “The streets went through the proper approval method, and were physically built,” said city official Dan McCool. There is no going back at this point.” Stapleton residents will have to deal with the inconveniences, but potentially may look for different MCA leadership in the future.
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