Aurora residents hope for ‘boots-on-the-ground’ approach for Trump’s visit

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — On Monday, former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced a visit to Aurora for Friday and residents have mixed feelings.

Trump is set to visit Aurora Friday at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center at 1 p.m. His visit follows him calling Aurora a “war zone.”

Trump said during a Sept. 18 rally in Uniondale, New York, that he would be visiting Aurora and Springfield, Ohio, in the next two weeks . He didn’t meet that two-week deadline .

It’s been years since former President Trump has had an event of this size in Colorado. Some Aurora citizens are excited, some aren’t , but most say they hope their city is represented well.

“I think it’s great. Get people out here, get people awareness. I think the presence of Trump in this area is significant because he’s a presidential candidate, he is someone who may be in office and to have him here and seeing the problems is extremely important,” said one resident FOX31 spoke to.

Richard Buzard has been an Aurora citizen for 20-plus years and is from Colorado. He feels the remarks are just for Trump’s campaign.

“I don’t think he’s going to help the problem here. I really don’t, I think it’s a campaign thing for him to get some publicity and say hey I went to Aurora. I’d hate for him to come here and say ‘they’re eating your cats and dogs, they’re taking all of the housing, jobs from this nationality,’ that’s not good,” Buzard said.

Rally location criticized as too far from problem apartments

The Gaylord sits on the northwest edge of Aurora, 12 to 14 miles from the edge at Lowry Apartments on Dallas Street, which is the complex that sparked the national discussion on Venezuelan gang crime , which Trump has been the center of.

Cindy Romero provided FOX31 with the now-viral video of armed men approaching an apartment unit near 12th and Dallas in mid-August. Romero has since moved but would like to see the former president tour other apartment complexes that face similar hurdles.

“I feel I should tell everybody this is something they should be worried about,” Romero told FOX31’s Greg Nieto.

Romero said Trump has invited her to attend his Friday afternoon appearance at the Gaylord Rockies. However, the hotel’s distance is an issue for some people FOX31 spoke to.

“This is where it happens, not at Gaylord. If you’re going to visit Aurora, visit Aurora. I just hope he tells the truth,” Buzard said.

If Trump were to plan a visit to The Edge at Lowry or some of the other problem apartments it would have to be a quick trip. His website lists a rally in Reno, Nevada, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday . But some, like Nickee Powell, still hope for that boots-on-the-ground approach.

“If you’re going to come to an area that you’re really not familiar with, how about you learn the community before you come and put your opinion of something you aren’t a part of. It’s easy to have a viewpoint, but also if you have a viewpoint have some facts to stand on. Let’s not pinpoint the reason some people are here from other countries,” said Powell.

The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. and doors will open at 10 a.m. Parking at the Gaylord is $33 plus tax. Valet costs $48 plus tax per night. There are also still rooms available for Thursday and Friday nights, for around $500.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.