Hancock: Marijuana is attracting “urban travelers” to 16th Street Mall
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock blamed marijuana Thursday for more so-called urban travelers coming to the city.
In this file photo, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock addresses the press at a conference concerning a new use of force policy for the Denver Sheriff's Department on June 16, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock blamed marijuana Thursday as the reason for more so-called urban travelers coming to the city. Earlier this week, the mayor pledged to stop a “scourge of hoodlums” on 16th Street.
Hancock made the comments to reporters after a jarring video depicting an assault on 16th Street Mall was released Wednesday evening. The attack was the latest in a string of violent incidents on the mall.
The city plans to spend $650,000 on increased patrols on the mall over the next few months, while the partially tax-funded nonprofit Downtown Denver Partnership will spend about $1 million a year on a new security manager, private security patrols and other measures.
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