A short-term ICE detention facility in west Glenwood Springs could be one step closer to shutting down after the City Council on Thursday voted 6-1 to sue the ICE facility’s Florida-based landlord in state court for allegedly violating municipal code by allowing immigration detentions in a commercial zone without a city permit. ICE and its landlord did not respond to previous violation notices or appeal the city’s April decision to revoke its special use permit.
Category: Social justice
Posted inSocial justice
Former residents of Carbondale apartment complex sue landlord over cockroach infestation and other allegations
If the residents are successful in their lawsuit, DeGolia estimates that more than 200 current and former tenants of The Homestead would be eligible to receive some or all of their rent payments back depending on how long they lived at the property.
Posted inSocial justice
Residents of Cavern Springs under contract to buy their mobile home park
A resident-led cooperative formed by the 98 households in Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park — located between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs — went under contract this week to buy the property for $23 million.
Posted inSocial justice
New head of Garfield County Libraries wants to bring community together and protect the ‘freedom to read’
“I know that Abraham is also committed to the strategic goals that we currently have in place, and he’s a big champion of intellectual freedom and the First Amendment, which is part of why our staff feel so comfortable and happy having him in this new role,” said Nancy Barnes, director of branch libraries.
Posted inSocial justice
Two Republicans are vying to become Garfield County’s next sheriff in the June primary
Garfield County could see a new direction for its sheriff’s office as the two candidates — both longtime Garfield County residents who currently work in law enforcement in the region — try to distinguish themselves from the current sheriff.
Posted inSocial justice
Community effort to help residents buy Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park could inform regional strategy, but challenges remain
“What we did last year — bringing the local governments, the private businesses and the philanthropic community together — was described as ‘miraculous,’ but I don’t want us to believe that we can’t do it again. We just did something for the first time that now we need to better understand and improve.”
Posted inSocial justice
Glenwood Springs revokes ICE facility permit; dispute could result in legal battle
About 160 residents attended the hearing, and the planning commission received a standing ovation after it revoked the permit, but Hanlon said it will be difficult to enforce the decision if ICE, the GSA or the landlord appeals within the seven-day period or simply continues operating the facility without a permit.
Posted inSocial justice
As data shows more detentions over 12 hours, Glenwood staff recommend upholding ICE facility’s permit before key P&Z meeting
Glenwood Springs officials are recommending that the city’s planning and zoning commission uphold a special use permit approved in 2003 for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s short-term holding facility and administrative office near the Glenwood Meadows shopping area, despite data that shows ICE detained people for over 12 hours at the site, in violation of the conditions of its permit.
Posted inSocial justice
Law enforcement from Aspen to Silt considers changes to street-camera surveillance in response to immigration concerns
Data-privacy concerns raised about Glenwood Springs’ Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras are widespread across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, an Aspen Journalism analysis found. Local jurisdictions are now revisiting their policies to ensure they align with local values and state laws that limit how and when local law enforcement can assist with federal immigration arrests.
Posted inSocial justice
California firm buys up seven Western Slope mobile home parks
A 39-unit manufactured home community in Rifle that a California real estate investment firm purchased in December is part of a portfolio of seven Western Slope parks consisting of more than 700 homesites and recently acquired by the company.