Reader: This Is What I Want Mayor Hancock to Talk About, Not His Sex Life

There was a big reaction to a recent Comment of the Day prompted by threats from Anonymous to expose Denver mayor Michael Hancock's alleged ties to the Denver Players prostitution ring if he doesn't resign and change his homeless policies. In that post, a reader maintained that he doesn't care...

By Michael Roberts

May 19, 2016

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There was a big reaction to a recent Comment of the Day prompted by threats from Anonymous to expose Denver mayor Michael Hancock's alleged ties to the Denver Players prostitution ring if he doesn't resign and change his homeless policies.

In that post, a reader maintained that he doesn't care about hookers and blow, and implied that the homeless situation in Denver requires a get-tough strategy.

Many of those who responded concurred about the first part of his take but disagreed with the last.

Here's an example in which the author highlights topics she sees as more important than whether or not Hancock has or hasn't paid for sex.

Melanie Smith writes:

I'd prefer an explanation for why he thinks it's OK to criminalize homeless people, virtually ignore our housing crisis and why he can't make progress on police brutality.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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