Denver Metro Residents Prepare for DNC Chaos

Results of Informal Survey of Area Commuters and Residents

Denver -- In the weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, I spoke with a wide variety of people in the Denver area. I asked what they were expecting, how they were preparing, and how their lives would likely be different during the week of the DNC. I didn't ask for specifics about their names or workplaces, and in return I heard more details than I ordinarily would.

It was mostly those already involved in creating change who were fully enthusiastic about the DNC. They were excited about what the DNC represented, but even more so about its effect as a catalyst in Denver, helping organizations to gain visibility. They were also looking forward to the week-long environment of cooperation and enthusiasm. That kind of energy can take organizations and individuals a long way in the days after.

City commuters were somewhat sanguine about the whole thing, but as has been pointed out Denver is not the kind of city where events like this happen all the time, as they do in New York, Boston or Chicago. The DNC has, in effect, consumed the city even during the preparations. Many of the people I spoke to are still planning to go to work downtown, but some are opting for telecommuting where possible if things get too rough. One businessman said that his building could be "locked down," and they were warned to be prepared with supplies and changes of clothing just in case. But he, like most others, didn't really expect anything dramatic to emerge. "Just like Y2K," he said.

Those less affluent who live in the city are getting ready for lean times. Many of them are avoiding the large numbers of police, especially since their usual dealings are with Denver Police who often know them, at least in passing. Panhandling and other techniques for asking for money will be more risky, and the large numbers of out-of-town guests won't be the known quantity that Denver residents tend to be. Survival skills won't be as useful, so disappearing for a while is a likely option. Outlying cities on the RTD transit network are likely to see some new faces for a while.