Angry crowd blasts Jurinsky, Coffman over Venezuelan 'lies'

Community activist and former Denver school board member Auontai "Tay" Anderson pokes fun at Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky.Photo byCity of Aurora/Aurora TV

Aurora, Colo. -- At least three dozen angry people addressed the Aurora City Council during public comment period Monday, blasting Mayor Mike Coffman and council member Danielle Jurinsky for spreading "lies" about Venezuela.

At issue is whether there is a Venezuelan gang "problem" at Aurora apartment buildings. On Monday, residents of the building said the problem is the absentee "slumlord." Jeff Klein, a landlord who said he maintains his properties, said he offered to sit down with city officials to discuss solutions to what he believes is a problem that has been going on for years. He said it has gotten to the point where residents wave guns around at all hours. When police are called, they respond 12 hours later and say nothing is going on, Klein said.

Crowd angry about no-show chief

Several speakers railed against the council for the way the new police chief was hired without public input. The new chief did not attend Monday's council meeting. "Where are you chief, are you under the table?" chided a man who identified himself as KDOT.

"The fact that he's not here to shake hands with community..." Aaron Futrell said, shaking his head.

Tay Anderson jabs Jurinsky

Denver activist Auontai Anderson peppered Danielle Jurinsky with his remarks. "Dear Marjorie Taylor Green ... I'm sorry, Danielle Jurinsky ... sometimes I get my racist (expletive) white women mixed up."

"You have become Fox media's new baby," Anderson continued. "You have told lies about an innocent community about gang takeovers happening in your city which your former police chief said didn't happen. You gotta ask Mayor Coffman on which day he said it didn't happen but he said on numerous occasions that gang takeovers are not happening."

Anderson accused Jurinsky of wanting a presidential post. "You keep putting this innoncent community at risk beause you want an appointment in the Trump Administration," Anderson said. Jurinsky did not respond.

Landlord: The problem is real

Speakers said they visited the Aurora apartment complexes in question and found deplorable living conditions. Klein said the city needs to send someone to pick up two months' worth of garbage at one of the buildings and bill the property owner.

After two hours of public comment, an unidentified person in the crowd began yelling that Jurinsky should apologize to the Venezuelan community. The crowd began to erupt in chants and the video faded out as the council recessed to a virtual meeting.