DENVER - The city of Denver is planning a homeless sweep near 27th Ave. and Arapahoe on Wednesday, April 10.
The city gave notice in recent days to those living in the area that is unofficially called “Jerr-E-Ville,” a nod to Jerry Burton, a homeless veteran who first started camping there back in January, that they would be forced to move from the area.
“The reason why the E is capitalized in the middle is because we are in a state of emergency and have been about housing for the homeless,” said Burton.
The city is giving those living in the camp until Wednesday to clean up and leave the property.
Burton told Denver7 that Jerr-E-ville is already clean and the people who live there take pride in where they live.
“They’re more than welcome to come but they won’t have anything to clean up. They’re just wasting their time,” said Burton
“People are going to be out here, they are going to sleep outside. The only thing I’m saying is to let us do it in a dignified way, such as [giving] us a plot of land.”
Burton said he invited several candidates for mayor to spend the night in Jerr-E-ville before they are forced to leave.
Burton said mayoral candidates should do this before they oppose Initiative 300, a measure on the May ballot that would repeal the city's ban on urban camping, and to allow places like Jerr-E-ville to stay in place.
