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Community Rallies in Support of the Shuttered Cold Crush

Owners of the RiNo night club meet with community leaders today following a public gathering Monday

Cold Crush Facebook

In the days following the forced closure of Cold Crush loyal customers and neighbors of the bar and live music venue have vocally expressed reactions to the fatal shooting on October 10 and subsequent police-led shutter. Nearly 100 community members came together on Monday evening to gather video testimonials in support of re-opening the bar, according to FOX 31. Owners Musa Bailey and Brian Mathenge collected signatures  to support their appeal for the public nuisance citation the Denver Police Department presented on October 12.

Some neighbors attribute increased violence in the RiNo neighborhood to the nearly 3-year-old venue. According to local reports, 179 calls from October 9, 2015 to October 9, 2016 were made to police, not including the deadly shooting of Tyrone "Goodie" Adair.

Some Cold Crush supporters have expressed their distress about the violence, but the concern is met with frustration with the city’s response. Some believe the city is isolating the popular hip-hop focused night club, while other area social establishments have experienced acts of violence, vandalism and other illegal or disruptive activity without harsh police consequences.

District 9 Councilman, Albus Brooks went on the record with Westword: "There’s a ton of support for Cold Crush, and there are some people who fear it." He also shared his belief that the city should have engaged in deeper investigation before the club was shut down.

Denver Police Department (DPD) has the option to seize the property 10 days after posting the notice. In the meantime, the City and County of Denver’s Excise and License Department ordered Cold Crush to shut its doors for 15 days for a separate investigation into "disruptive" and illegal activities associated with the business. Anonymous complaints have been filed citing Cold Crush customers as responsible for broken windows, slashed tires, and beaten down doors at a nearby condominium complex.

A meeting is set for today with Brooks, a city attorney, a representative from the Denver Police Department, Mathenge and Andrew Feinstein, a co-chair of the RiNo Arts District.

Cold Crush

2700 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

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