On Friday, July 10, Councilmember Hinds convened Denver Police, property managers, building owners, and residents to address crime, vandalism, drug use, and slow police responses in the 1400 blocks of Pennsylvania and Pearl Streets.
There is no easy or quick fix to these problems. But real public safety requires both effective policing and strong alternatives to police, and this meeting brought both to the table.
Bringing people to the table is exactly the role a council office can play. City Council doesn’t command the police; enforcement decisions rest with the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Safety. What Councilmember Hinds can do is use the influence of this office to connect residents directly with the people who do hold that power, and to keep everyone accountable to what they say in the room.
That accountability was on display. Commander Kimberly Bowser of Police District Six reported that arrests are up 90%, with 110 more arrests year to date than last year. Deputy Chief Aaron Sanchez acknowledged past police failures and pledged improved service going forward.
Attendees also discussed alternatives that address what police alone cannot solve. The STAR program and co-responders pair mental health and social work professionals with calls involving mental health crises and substance use, connecting people to services instead of cycling them through the justice system.
Community institutions play a role too. Network Coffee House has served Capitol Hill for 44 years as a hospitality house where unhoused neighbors find dignity. As Executive Director Ian Stitt noted, homelessness and substance use have existed in Capitol Hill far longer than any of us. Lasting safety means enforcement and services working together.
Councilmember Hinds has promised follow-up meetings to develop a concrete plan for a neighborhood that’s safer for everyone, housed and unhoused alike.
From the Denver’s Perfect 10 Newsletter — Edition 2026-07-b
