Residents allege threats, harassment at ThorntonFest; student raises concerns about drinking water in Friendly Village mobile home park

Several residents used the audience-participation segment of the Thornton City Council meeting on June 10 to raise safety and public-health concerns arising from recent community events and mobile-home-park utility service.

Ward 2 residents Eliza Namazi and Dariush (Darush/Darioush in the transcript) Namazi told the council they were threatened and followed at last weekend’s ThorntonFest. Eliza Namazi said multiple people — including at least one person she identified as wearing a city uniform — told her family members ‘‘they know where we live’’ and that someone threatened to cook the family’s pets. She said she reported the incidents to police and felt the response was insufficient. Dariush Namazi said he protested at ThorntonFest and described being harassed and physically pushed; he said police initially questioned him but then stood by while others continued to confront him.

Steven Mathias and other commenters addressed broader concerns about historical and current government actions that target LGBTQ people and people with HIV, urging the council to protect vulnerable residents and resist policies that stigmatize people. A high-school student, identifying herself as Melissa and a resident of Friendly Village mobile home park, told the council she is worried that water in the park is not clean, asked how water testing is conducted, and asked who decides whether water is safe. The mayor asked staff to connect with the student and noted follow-up with Representative Jackie Phillips about potential state-level work.

Former council member and Adams County Commissioner Kathy Henson (speaking in a personal capacity) urged transparency after raising a separate concern that city labor and equipment had been used to support a private event; she asked whether restitution or transparency steps had been taken. City staff later said the matter has been addressed internally and councilmembers asked staff to supply follow-up information.

Council members thanked speakers for raising issues. During council comments later in the meeting several council members condemned threats and harassment at community events and urged accountability; council members also said staff will follow up on the water-testing question and on reports of city property used at a private event. The transcript records requests that staff connect with the student and follow up with representatives about mobile-home-park water testing.