Latest news with #DenverCityCouncil
Axios
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Polis asks public to back his $29M bridge in last-ditch plea
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is looking for a Hail Mary as opposition mounts to his pet project, a $29 million pedestrian walkway that critics call a bridge to nowhere. Why it matters: The Democrat posted a public survey Tuesday in what amounts to a last-ditch effort to justify the project, designed to commemorate Colorado's 150th anniversary of statehood. Driving the news: The survey comes eight months after he announced the ornate, winding bridge across Lincoln Street from the state Capitol, and he vowed to accept the public's collective verdict. The results "will lead to the outcome of the celebration," the survey states. It asks four questions and gives respondents the opportunity vote for "a major 150th anniversary project" in Denver, "several smaller-scale projects" elsewhere in the state or no project at all. The fine print: The survey is live through midnight July 21. Yes, but: The survey is far from scientific and it's easy to manipulate, making the outcome dubious, at best. Catch up quick: An advisory committee gave an initial nod in favor of the bridge project, but in public testimony, critics called it "ugly" and "useless." The next step is a legislative committee, where all its members are opposed. Even if the initiative survives the committee's vote, the bridge needs the approval of the Denver City Council and state Legislature, high political hurdles. Follow the money: Polis is soliciting big-dollar donations to cover the price tag, but the governor's office has acknowledged they are using federal pandemic relief dollars to get the design process started. The state also will cover the unknown costs of maintaining the structure if it's built. The other side: The governor's office touts the project as a grand monument to Colorado that will highlight local artists. Other touted benefits include easier pedestrian access across Lincoln Street to Memorial Park and revitalizing an area often frequented by people experiencing homelessness.
Axios
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Denver's $800M bond package for infrastructure projects takes shape
Denver is one step closer to deciding how it might spend a proposed $800 million bond package that Mayor Mike Johnston wants on the November ballot. State of play: An executive committee handpicked by Johnston — including former Mayor Federico Peña and Denver City Council president Amanda Sandoval — submitted a list of recommended infrastructure projects to Johnston after months of public input. The process drew more than 6,200 survey responses and nearly 1,000 town hall attendees. The big picture: The proposal spans streets, bridges, parks and public safety — but lacks a clear cornerstone project to define the bond. Instead, it focuses on dozens of smaller, long-awaited fixes and new additions: 🏥 Public health and safety New first responder training center A children's advocacy center Upgrades to Denver Health's Westside clinic Denver Animal Shelter expansion 🌳 Parks and public spaces Build-out of two new parks at Emporia Park and Park Hill Park Safety lighting on Cherry Creek and High Line trails Sloan's Lake cleanup Renovations to the Decker, Montbello and Blair Caldwell African American Research libraries 🏘️ Housing and culture A co-located library and housing project in East Denver Site prep for a future American Indian Cultural Embassy 🚧 Infrastructure Santa Fe improvements between Sixth and 13th Avenues — a notorious choke point. Bridge and viaduct repairs, including Cherry Creek crossings and the Quebec bridge over Airlawn Road Upgrades to the Marion and 38th and Blake underpasses What's next: Johnston will review the recommendations and, in the coming weeks, submit a formal package to the Denver City Council, which must vote to put it on the Nov. 4 ballot.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Denver City Council adds $4.5M to fund existing contract with Salvation Army for male-only shelter
The Denver City Council voted to add another $4.5 million to fund an existing contract with the Salvation Army, bringing the total to $19 million. The contract is for the male-only shelter in downtown Denver, Crossroads Shelter. The vote comes after some hesitation following reports of sexual misconduct and leadership issues. The Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter in downtown Denver. CBS "On one hand, we're being asked to approve a contract with a provider who has serious allegations against you, some really serious, and on the other hand, not approving this contract would mean displacing nearly 300 people every night and putting them back on the streets, and exposing them to harm," said Denver City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. After the vote, the Salvation Army agreed to new oversight efforts.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denver settles civil rights lawsuits for $150K with journalist at George Floyd protests
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver City Council approved two settlements to the same man on Monday, related to his coverage of the George Floyd protests in the downtown area and of a homeless encampment sweep. Brian Loma, a journalist, claimed in his federal civil rights lawsuit that Denver Police Department officers 'retaliated' against him for covering what his attorneys called 'rampant police brutality' that occurred during the protests. Loma said he suffered pepper balls, flash-bang grenades and tear gas during the protests as he exercised his First Amendment rights of free speech. 2020 coverage: Police chiefs: Denver saw more protest violence than any major US or Canadian city 'After being shot and tear gassed during the first day of the protests, I showed up in a helmet that had 'PRESS' all over it,' said Brian Loma in a press release from his attorneys. 'And on the second day while wearing it, having shown up at the Capitol I was burning sage and praying in the Capitol lawn when I was directly shot and targeted with tear gas. I was a peaceful protester in meditation when Denver police targeted me and violated my rights.' Denver paid $135,000 to settle Loma's claims. 'The payment to Brian Loma for the brutality he endured during the George Floyd protests is just the latest in a long line of payments by Denver for police misconduct during the protests,' said Andy McNulty, Loma's attorney. 'Unfortunately, the taxpayers of Denver are forced to compensate victims for the harms they suffered at the hands of Denver Police Department officers while officers have suffered no consequences for their actions.' The second case involved Loma filming officers conducting a homeless sweep of an encampment allegedly primarily occupied by LGBTQ+ individuals. 'The reality of the sweeps was that they inflicted immense trauma on houseless residents of Denver and looked ugly on film for the city,' Loma's attorneys wrote in a press release. Loma argued in his lawsuit that he was filming the installation of a border fence around the encampment that allegedly was constructed to limit access of mutual aid providers and supporters assisting the homeless community. While doing so, he demanded the officers identify themselves, as is the Denver Police Department's policy. 'DPD Officer Berger refused to identify himself and, when Mr. Loma moved his camera to capture the name badge on his uniform, Officer Berger slapped Mr. Loma's camera out of his hand, smashing it on the ground and breaking it,' Loma's attorneys stated. Denver sees historic drop in street homelessness: Mayor Johnston For this case, Denver paid Loma $15,000 to settle his claims. 'This is not the first time that Denver Police Department officers have retaliated against individuals for filming and criticizing the police,' said McNulty in the press release. 'The Denver Police Department's persistent violation of the First Amendment should come as no surprise given Denver's consistent failure to discipline or fire officers who violate civilians' constitutional rights. We are gratified that these settlements impose some semblance of accountability on a police department run amok.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Health
- Axios
What's next for the police response alternative STAR as it turns 5
Five years after launching, the Support Team Assisted Response Program — otherwise known as the STAR program — sits at a crossroads. The big picture: The program dispatches a paramedic with a behavioral health clinician to low-risk calls, most often for people dealing with mental health distress or substance use issues. Program manager and supervisor Marion Rorke tells us the program serves as an alternative to sending Denver police, who now sometimes call STAR themselves when they realize it's better equipped to handle certain calls. State of play: STAR has turned into a national mode l, but in order to one day become a 24/7 service, it needs more funding — which seems unlikely given Denver's current budget woes. What they're saying: "Every single call that the STAR van responds to — in lieu of law enforcement — could potentially be a life saved," local police reform activist Alex Landau told Denver City Council last week as it recognized the program's fifth anniversary. By the numbers: The program responded to 25,144 incidents between June 1, 2020, and June 3, 2025, per data provided by the city's department of public health, which runs STAR. When it launched, STAR had a single van with two people staffing it per shift. It now boasts eight vehicles, plus a rotating staff of 16 Denver Health paramedics and 16 clinicians from WellPower, a mental health care provider, who still work in teams of two. How it works: STAR runs from 6am-10pm daily, with Denver 911 responsible for dispatching its team instead of police or ambulances. STAR can connect people with additional services, even transporting them to places like behavioral health centers or referring them to other local health care services. Nearly 60,000 calls were STAR-eligible over the past five years. The intrigue: Rorke tells us she's working to codify a community advisory committee that provides direct feedback and recommendations to STAR's operation, something local advocates say is crucial to its success. That could mean making this community board a charter requirement, giving the panel more authority. Between the lines: STAR's current budget is $7.2 million, including $5.3 million directly from the city, and the rest coming from Caring for Denver grant money.
