The Rest of the Story (May 08, 2022) updated: 5-22-2022

Hello, my name is Vince and I have made Aspen my home. Over the past several years, I have witnessed many things that are so good and some bad. Thank you for lending me your ears. I have but 3 points to put forth. 

1. Thank you to all that helped the poor locals of Aspen concerning the Encampment at Brush Creek Park and Ride (Intercept Lot). Thank you so much to the family on the hill overlooking the camp who brought us, on a freezing cold and gloomy day, a hot pot of homemade Chicken and Dumplings. 

Thank you to the Volunteers, Nan, Police officer Braulio, Monica, Susan, Natalie, Atiss, Chad, and all of the case workers as well as all others who came together to protect the lives of the poor locals in the safety net staying at the camp. 

The camp ended. The night shelters closed. Some received hotel rooms. The day center closed, cutting off the resources that are needed such as food, shower, washer, etc.  The funding for the hotels dried up and now “where will they go?” Many of those who lost their hotel rooms gathered in an RV at the intercept parking lot and were told by 7 law enforcement officers to move the vehicle. The vehicle was somehow moved to another parking lot in Aspen and the scenario will likely repeat itself. Many of these people are long term residents who have served the community for years or decades and now some have physical and/or mental limitations. Most still work or have some type of income to pay for affordable housing. "They should be top priority for affordable housing." In this wealthy county and city there is not one single public (government) building open at night to protect life by, for example, preventing people from freezing to death or dying from hypothermia.                                                                                                                                                                                          

2. Housing: Over the past years I have lost several friends including Mary, who was a local and grew up here. She, in order to keep a roof over her head, was taking courses at CMC. Then there was Stephany, Scotty (hit on his bicycle trying to get to his place down valley), Mac (a Veteran of the Coast Guard who struggled with housing but had temporary housing at the time of his death), Tim Henry (who fell in one of the parks, suffered hypothermia) and Wayne (who died in the camp).

Aspen Homeless Shelter to call it quits | News | aspendailynews.com

We are family and we watch after each other and so when one of our friends alerted us we responded and carried Wayne out of the snow. We carried him into his camper and covered him up. The next morning, he was found with his foot sticking out of the vehicle. I lifted his foot to wake him up and he was solid from the foot to the waste.  The Safety net must work for all.

3. Housing: Preventing future victims. 

In order to protect Life and all the rights that come with a Life, a safe place to sleep is a necessity. We are required by Nature to sleep therefore this requirement, sleep, is a Natural Right. When people go to sleep outside they are endangered by the elements, the animals and the people. 

We have a housing shortage in Aspen often due to the outsourcing of the local jobs and housing which are attached, “lose your job and you lose your housing.” Marolt Hanch Housing, for example, was originally intended for medium and low income, long term residents > which the Visas are not residents.  

I love the people who come here for a better way of life but the companies that outsource our local jobs and housing for their own personal gain should be suspected domestic enemies, because their actions endanger the lives and liberties of the locals. 

These systems (companies) have become very efficient at recruiting workers from around the world often referred to as J-1’s and J-2’s (Visas) who are privileged to be here and so they will not complain when they have to work in hostile environments for low wages, as indentured servants. “We can’t find workers” is often said by the companies but locals who have the right (not privilege) to be here, will complain about bad working conditions including low pay. 

Thank you. Vince Thomas

Email: aspensonline@gmail.com