Aurora Woman Faces Excessive Fines for Helping The Homeless and Those in Need
An Aurora woman's effort to provide food and support to those in need has turned into a nightmare as she now faces thousands of dollars in fines from the city of Aurora.
Manige Blackburn-Giles, the executive director of “Swing By Street Supply,” a mutual aid nonprofit, started this initiative during the pandemic to address the lack of resources in her neighborhood, which happens to be one of the lowest-income areas in the Denver metro region.
“Swing By Street Supply” offers non-perishable food items, clothing, diapers, and other essential items to those who require assistance. Their 24-hour pantry served anyone in need, including unhoused individuals who relied on the generosity of the organization. However, when Blackburn-Giles reached out to the city for guidance on a beautification grant application, things took an unexpected turn.
Rather than receiving the support and guidance she sought, Blackburn-Giles found herself facing citations from the city's code enforcement officers. Despite showing them her garage where the food and supplies were stored, explaining her plans, and expecting open communication, she was informed that she needed a business license.
Unfortunately, the lack of response from the city led to her failure to appear in court, resulting in additional legal complications.
The citations she later received were for various alleged violations, including littering, a broken fence (which was damaged by the city during the removal of the 24-hour pantry), and having an unregistered car in her driveway. The city even cited her for weeds that were actually trees and claimed that garbage had to be placed specifically on the south side of her house.
In response to the case, the City of Aurora's Communications Deputy Director Ryan Luby released a statement defending the actions of the code enforcement officers.
Luby stated that the officer observed potential violations, including garbage cans and boxes of rotting food, and a subsequent walkthrough of the property uncovered multiple code violations.
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The city claimed that operating a community food bank without a proper license was illegal and that they had provided guidance on how to rectify the situation. However, according to Blackburn-Giles, the city has misrepresented her case.
Blackburn-Giles, who feels that the city attorney has mischaracterized her efforts, was found guilty of four charges, with each charge potentially carrying a fine of up to $3,000.
This would amount to a total of approximately $12,000 in fines. During her sentencing hearing, she even requested jail time in lieu of fines, emphasizing her dedication to helping those in need. The judge ultimately imposed a $3,000 fine, with $2,500 deferred, meaning she would only have to pay $500 if she doesn't receive any more citations.