PAGE 10 | THE VILLAGER • June 18, 2020
Stapleton neighborhood name to change Continued from page 1
and in 1935 for his third, fourth and fifth terms as mayor. This time around, Stapleton was responsible for building much of the City and County of Denver - including it’s most famous landmarks - as we know the city today. No matter his attempt to redeem himself, part of the former mayor’s reputation will forever be remembered as that of once a member of the KKK. His great grandson, Walker Stapleton, provided an in-depth and exclusive interview to The Villager. “He built the entire park system for the City and County of Denver, he built Red Rocks, he built the first municipal airport, he built the City and County building which is still the City and County building today, he built Speer Boulevard, he built what is now today I-25,” said Stapleton. “That was all done after this point in time where he had this most unfortunate, regrettable and inexcusable affiliation.” The younger Stapleton understands, accepts, and respects a democratic process. He does not question, in any way, how the Stapleton Master Community Association (MCA) had previously put forth a vote to its members in the past, most recently last summer, and 65% voted to keep the name. This time, however, Stapleton accepts the outcome, but, he does not feel that this time, the final decision, was a democratic process. “My perspective on it is that it did kind of snowball pretty quickly, and I don’t like the idea that through fear and intimidation, we are making changes,” said Stapleton. Anderson put out a renewed call on June 13 to which stated, “The neighbors of Stapleton have ONE WEEK to change their name… if they do NOT, we will march through their neighborhood to show them #BlackLivesMatter. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!” A day later, on Sunday, June 14, the Stapleton Master Community Association announced on its Facebook page, that it is taking steps to remove the name “Stapleton” as it relates to the community and its operations. The MCA wrote: “The current conversation regarding racism and social injustice has increased awareness and education within our community. It has become more clear that continuing with the current name is hurtful to many residents of all backgrounds and life experiences. As a community that aims to foster inclusivity, diversity and respect, maintaining the current name only serves to divide us… It is our hope that by changing the name of the community, we will send a strong message that we are an inclusive neighborhood that does not support racism, hatred or bigotry. Rather, we are a thriving community that
values diversity, inclusion, equity and respect, and we encourage others in our community to join us as we stand up against systemic racism.”
on looking ahead for this community, and focusing on his own family, rather than looking back. “It seems to be in the rearview mirror now and I am more
very brief, and very sweet, and it’s really hard for all people who walk this planet to be all good or all bad. Usually people are somewhere in between,”
der his entire term as mayor.” This past fall, Stapleton ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket for governor against Jared Polis, whom he had noth-
Walker Stapleton, age 46, ran for governor last year
“To me, if a name truly symbolizes that much pain for a community, then it should be changed because it is a continuing stigma that in some way is negatively impacting peoples’ lives or livelihoods, then the name should be changed.” – Walker Stapleton The MCA then met last night with community delegates to discuss next steps - including a future name - which also will involve, in the future, working with the City and County of Denver and Brookfield, the community’s developer. “I don’t like the idea that no matter what it is - changing a name - that things are just agreed to by fiat - that’s a very dangerous precedent for our country, for our state, for our cities. That to me is troubling,” said Stapleton. “The outcome, however, is not troubling,” he said. “To me, if a name truly symbolizes that much pain for a community, then it should be changed because it is a continuing stigma that in some way is negatively impacting peoples’ lives or livelihoods, then the name should be changed.” Stapleton is far more focused
Walker Stapleton and his family, left to right: Son Craig (12), wife Jenna, daughter Coco (8) and daughter Olivia (6).
Some of the homes in the Stapleton neighborhood that Tay Anderson’s protesters would have marched through.
Photo courtesy of Lane Lyon
interested in what I hope will be substantive improvement in peoples’ lives, greater equity, greater opportunity to choose the school of one’s choice, which is greater access to education, greater opportunities for developers to receive tax credits from the state to be incentivized to provide more affordable housing,” he said. “Lord knows, anybody who has been on this planet for more than a couple decades starts to recognize that life is
said Stapleton. “That’s true with my great grandfather. He passed away a quarter century before I was born, so I never knew him. I heard anecdotally stories of him and of his time as mayor, and I know in his heart of hearts I do not believe he was politically expedient in what he did - which was a horrible error and inexcusable in every manner - but I’m not so sure that was the prism under which he would be viewed un-
ing but kind words to say about his former rival. “I’m interested in criminal justice reform, which is something I actually agree with Governor Polis on, especially soft drug offenses in the light of marijuana having been legal now for four or five years, which is a waste of taxpayer money, a waste of resources, and he’s done a good job on criminal justice reform issues. These are the things I think we should be focusing on,” said Stapleton. “These are substantive policy issues that improve peoples’ lives.” “I’m a fan of people really educating themselves on the topic,” he said. “The more you actually understand the full context of somebody’s life, I think the less likely you are to draw an absolutist position that someone is all good, or all bad.” Special thanks to Consuelo Cosio and Brian K. Trembath, Special Collections Librarian, Western History & Genealogy, of the Denver Public Library, for assistance in fact checking historical data related to Mayor Benjamin Franklin Stapleton and for the provision of historical photographs.
