Cory Gardner Moves His Office Behind The Wire

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by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Denver7’s Blair Miller:

Gardner’s office announced Friday that it would be temporarily moving to the U.S. Custom House on 19th Street—a federal building that is part of the federal court complex with tight security.

Gardner’s press office says the move to the federal building will be temporary and that they’ll announce the permanent location later on.

Gardner’s communications director, Alex Siciliano, said the move had been discussed “for a while” before it was announced and that the team “thought a government building would be best for our constituent services.”

“We were in a commercial building where we had private businesses as fellow tenants. When there were large groups of people in our office it created challenges for some of the private businesses,” Siciliano said. “We think this new location will be best for everyone as it is important we ensure continued constituent access to our office. All Coloradans are welcome in our new office space.”

Until, you know, they’re not.

—–

Sen. Cory Gardner (R).

A press release from Sen. Cory Gardner’s office this morning announces the immediate relocation of his downtown Denver offices–out of the Chase Building on 17th Street adjacent to Skyline Park and into the U.S. Custom House at 721 19th St.:

Senator Gardner announced today that his Denver office will be moving to the U.S. Custom House, a federal building, at 721 19th Street, Suite 150 in Denver. This is a temporary space and Gardner’s office will be announcing a permanent location at a later date. All constituent services will continue to be offered uninterrupted in the temporary office space starting Monday, August 7th, and Gardner’s Denver office can still be reached at (303) 391-5777.

“The most important part of my job is to do everything I can to best serve my constituents, and the new space that we will be moving to will allow that to continue,”said Gardner. “I always encourage Coloradans to visit my office when seeking assistance with any issues with the federal government or just to stop by and say hello.”

With one important unmentioned caveat: the U.S. Custom House is a secure federal building, which also houses a federal bankruptcy court and offices for the Department of Homeland Security. Visitors are subject to courthouse-grade security screening. It should go without saying that no direct protest actions like the occupation of Gardner’s office by a group of disability-rights activists in June will be possible at this location.

Which we assume is the point. After what could be considered the biggest public relations debacle of Gardner’s short career, the implications of this sudden move are obvious.

We haven’t seen any press reports about the stated reason Gardner’s office moved from the Chase building into secure federal property, but it’s not unreasonable to speculate that the former building’s management was unhappy about the months of more or less continuous protests outside their property in all-too-convenient Skyline Park. The problem is, the exercise of free speech and occasional protest of public officials is what you sign on for when you lease office space to a U.S. Senator, and Gardner himself at least has an obligation to speak up for that. If landlord complaints about protesters are what Gardner relies on to justify making himself substantially less accessible, that’s not going to do much to appease his critics. In fact it’s more likely to embolden them.

At least outside secure federal property, where that’s allowed.

16 thoughts on “Cory Gardner Moves His Office Behind The Wire”

mamajama55 says:

August 4, 2017 at 9:42 am

Gardner's Yuma office is also moving, reportedly to a second floor office over the Paper Moon pizzeria.

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1. Duke Cox says:
  
  August 4, 2017 at 9:55 am
  
  So…if one wanted to protest at his office in Yuma, one would be obstructing a business, which would give the cops a reason to remove you…is that right?
  
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  1. Davie says:
    
    August 4, 2017 at 10:14 am
    
    Bingo!
    
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  2. mamajama55 says:
    
    August 4, 2017 at 10:22 am
    
    Probably not, Duke. The pizzeria is also a meeting place for Yuma Indivisible. They're kind of used to riffraff with signs.
    
    And it's in an office building of sorts, with a hallway and an elevator. I think if Gardner's office locks down the elevator, it's a violation of fire code.
    
    Kalyn Heffernan, aka Wheelchair Sports Camp, the rapper, had an interesting take on the hijinks with the elevators and security guards at the Chase Building Gardner Office protest.
    
    I got to meet Kalyn at the Greeley Gardner protest. Which reminds me – she wrote a Cory Gardner “diss track”:
    
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RepealAndReplace says:

August 4, 2017 at 9:47 am

This is getting to be funny……

Before this is over, he's going to be living in a bunker deep underneath El Paso County. You know, that safe, secure location where they kept Dick Cheney for seven years.

He can't even stay on ground level and accessible in his home town? Those who know him best trust him the least.

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1. unnamed says:
  
  August 4, 2017 at 10:22 am
  
  I thought he was still the pride of Yuma. At least according to an article I read recently.
  
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  1. mamajama55 says:
    
    August 4, 2017 at 10:34 am
    
    He is….but this is the season for Democrats, progressives, liberals, and dissenters of all descriptions to come out of the woodwork and gather in groups – no formerly brick-red district is safe anymore from its own dissatisfied and restless people.
    
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    1. Powerful Pear says:
      
      August 4, 2017 at 10:37 am
      
      Come out of the woodwork, you're right, like termites and other pest.
      
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      1. mamajama55 says:
        
        August 4, 2017 at 10:44 am
        
        Homemade Hummus
        
        1 1/2 c cooked garbanzos, or use canned. Save out 1/2 cup of the can or cooking liquid. You might have to add it if you like a thinner hummus paste.
        
        3/4 cup tahini
        
        1-3 lemons depending on the size. Juice 'em and add.
        
        Salt and pepper to taste.
        
        Blend it all up, add whatever "extras" you like – I'm partial to cilantro, lime, and smoked paprika.
        
        Eat it up.
        
        It actually freezes really well, though you'll have to re-blend it.
        
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        Gray in Mountains says:
        
        August 4, 2017 at 4:49 pm
        
        Is it good on hot dogs? 😉
        
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        mamajama55 says:
        
        August 4, 2017 at 4:53 pm
        
        Hummus on hot dogs? You'll have to let me know how that turns out.
        
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      2. Gilpin Guy says:
        
        August 4, 2017 at 10:45 am
        
        So you are saying that you hate Democracy and all those who hold a different political perspective than yours. How unAmerican.
        
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unnamed says:

August 4, 2017 at 10:26 am

Cue Moldy. He doesn't have to listen to any constituents who disagree with him. People who dissent against Gardner are beneath him.

Not everything Cory Gardner does is evil. .

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DawnPatrol says:

August 4, 2017 at 10:59 am

Cowardly Con Man Cory ("Chauncey") Gardner — He's a Man of The People!

Yeah…the SOVIET people.

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marc sobel says:

August 4, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Shorter: Cory Strategically Withdraws To Federal Bunker.

Awaiting re-enforcements by Waffen-SS Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner

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gertie97 says:

August 4, 2017 at 2:12 pm

Cory has been behind the wire in the federal building in downtown Grand Junction since he was elected. After a remodeling project, the feds installed security tighter than any airport to protect the court and offices in the building. It's a real pain for anyone, even those seeking something as simple as an IRS form.

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