Colorado lawmakers clash over allegations of Venezuelan gang violence

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado leaders on both sides of the aisle are weighing in on the headlines the city of Aurora has been making for weeks over allegations of Venezuelan gang violence, and the two sides seem to be at odds with one another.

Friday, controversial Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, a Republican representing Colorado’s 3rd District, held a roundtable discussion in Aurora to discuss the possible threat to the city.

“Gangs are present in these complex buildings call it and classify a takeover however you will. When they have the keys, when they are busting down doors and accessing other rooms, assaulting people, stabbing people, making threats, extorting them, I would consider that a takeover,” said Boebert.

Congressman Jason Crow, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 6th District, refuted Boebert’s statements, saying he believes a “takeover” is overblown and the extent of the problem is misrepresented. He also believes local neighborhood gangs are still the greatest threat.

He said he has had a lot of discussions with city leaders, along with local and federal law enforcement and there’s no evidence to back up “apartments being taken over by gangs.”

He says the misrepresentations about the crime and gang takeovers only make it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs and it also makes it difficult for the tenants impacted by deplorable living conditions to find suitable housing.

“These mischaracterizations that there has been some kind of gang takeover in Aurora are just not true,” said Crow.

He wants to set the record straight about what’s happening in the largest city in his district. he acknowledges isolated incidents of gang involvement.

“ …but a far cry from pervasive reign of terror that some folks that come from outside our community lead you to believe,” said Crow.

Crow: Handful of politicians distorted issue into something new

Crow said a handful of politicians have distorted the issue of transnational gang violence into something it’s not. He said the bad living conditions at some complexes date back 18 months and are a result of absent out-of-state landlords who are not responsive to the needs of tenants.

“This was an issue where these tenants had been dealing with for over a year,” said Crow. “Exposed wiring, unsafe black mold, roofs that were collapsing and leaking.”

However, Republicans in Colorado’s congressional delegation have pushed their claims on what’s happening.

“Sure, maybe the entire gang is not occupying this building room by room but there are places where they are occupied and used for drug use, solicitation, extortion, and even the trafficking of adults and children it seems,” Boebert said.

“One of the things that really bothers me about this is the people who are coming in and talking about these foreign gangs,” said Crow. “These are folks who say nothing about gun violence in our schools, nothing about affordable housing, nothing about local neighborhood gang issues that the metro gang task force and their organization and local law enforcement that I’ve supported for years are dealing with.

Crow said there has been a long-term issue with safe and affordable housing for immigrants and refugees. He said that he, along with members of the Federal Congressional Delegation. have worked to get emergency funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help service providers, local cities, and nonprofits deal with the large surge of immigrants.

Crow says he has also directed congressional direct funding for housing assistance.

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