Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: City of Denver

City of Denver Promises Cleanup of Abandoned Home Tied to Crime
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

City of Denver Promises Cleanup of Abandoned Home Tied to Crime

By Hanna Powers | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Less than 24 hours after FOX31 highlighted an alleged drug house in Denver’s Swansea neighborhood, city inspectors posted a 24-hour emergency abatement notice on the property. Neighbors had long complained about the vacant home on Fillmore Street, saying it had been used for drugs, stolen cars, and squatting. They told FOX31 the house was a magnet for crime, trash, and even rats. James Hicks, manager of Denver’s Neglected and Derelict Building Program, confirmed inspectors were already tracking the property and said it’s on the city’s radar. “Even though it may look like nothing is happening, we’re very busy, we’re very aware,” Hicks said. “Especially these properties that are very visible. I saw your story this morning and I immedi...
Salvation Army exit highlights strain of Denver’s homelessness experiment
Colorado Politics, Approved, Local

Salvation Army exit highlights strain of Denver’s homelessness experiment

By Deborah Smith | Colorado Politics The Salvation Army will cease managing operations at three of Denver’s hotel-turned-homeless shelters after fulfilling its current contracts with the city, according to a statement from the group on Thursday. Those contracts run through 2025. Citing the need to ensure “financial stability,” officials from the organization said the decision affects The Aspen and Stone Creek shelters, both located on Quebec Avenue in northeast Denver, and the Tamarac Family Shelter just off Hampden Avenue and I-25. The Salvation Army has been a pivotal part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s efforts to end homelessness in the city, Johnston spokesperson Jon Ewing told The Denver Gazette, adding that the organization stepped up to help solve one of the city’s biggest cha...
Denver wasted millions on homeless shelter that never housed anyone
Local, Approved, denvergazette.com

Denver wasted millions on homeless shelter that never housed anyone

By Noah Festenstein | The Denver Gazette After not housing a single homeless person, Denver’s $9 million purchase of a former hotel planned as a new homeless shelter is set to be sold off again — well over two years after its initial purchase, according to Denver’s Department of Housing Stability. The city’s new price tag? Just $10. That is, of course, if an interested developer is willing to continue transforming 12033 E. 38th Avenue, a former Stay Inn hotel, into a shelter providing “supportive” homeless services, according to stipulations set by HOST. “To make this financially viable, the property will be sold for $10 — a strategic move that reflects our commitment to long-term affordability rather than short-term financial returns,” spokesperson Julia Marvin told The D...
Strip clubs Diamond Cabaret and Rick’s Cabaret sue Denver Labor over wage theft investigation
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Strip clubs Diamond Cabaret and Rick’s Cabaret sue Denver Labor over wage theft investigation

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado Two Denver strip clubs accused of widespread wage theft are suing Denver Labor after they were ordered to pay back millions to their employees. Diamond Cabaret Denver and Rick's Cabaret Denver have filed a lawsuit to stop Denver Labor from enforcing its order demanding the businesses pay back more than 200 employees of the strip clubs. They also requested a gag order against Denver Labor due to what they say is the "dissemination of falsehoods against the clubs." READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
‘It’s government policy that is causing the problem in the first place’: Denver’s fix for restaurants criticized
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

‘It’s government policy that is causing the problem in the first place’: Denver’s fix for restaurants criticized

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette The Colorado Restaurant Association expressed skepticism of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's proposal to tack a service charge onto local restaurant bills, while the Denver Chamber of Commerce argued that adding the fee — and thereby raising prices — would discourage sales.    On Monday, Johnston told City Cast Denver, a popular podcast, that a 20% service charge added to restaurant bills — and then taxing the total amount — could help local restaurants offset the city’s higher minimum wage and promote what he called pay equity among tipped and non-tipped employees. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Denver auditor finds two strip clubs owe $14M in stolen wages
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Denver auditor finds two strip clubs owe $14M in stolen wages

By Carol McKinley | Colorado Politics, via The Denver Gazette Two of Denver's most popular strip clubs must pay $14 million in penalties and back pay over stolen wages in what Denver Auditor Tim O'Brien described as one of the most "extraordinary cases he's ever conducted." The clubs, he added, "violated almost every provision." Denver Labor Executive Director Matt Fritz-Mauer said that the allegations are "the tip of the iceberg" in an investigation leading to months of litigation ahead with RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., a multimillion dollar adult entertainment company. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Denver mayor hints of strategy as he prepares for March’s ‘sanctuary’ city hearing
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Denver mayor hints of strategy as he prepares for March’s ‘sanctuary’ city hearing

By Alexander Edwards | The Gazette Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, whose administration just hired a law firm to help him prepare for an upcoming congressional inquiry into "sanctuary" cities, hinted he will insist that Denver's approach to illegal immigration "works" when he testifies in the nation's capital next month.  “We think the data is quite clear that (our) approach works,” he told City Cast Denver during a podcast released Wednesday. “One of the things we see is the fact that we have engaged people in services, supported them, meaning we’ve built trust there, which is why we haven’t seen huge spikes in crime.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston floats 20% service charge on tabs to tackle restaurant woes
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston floats 20% service charge on tabs to tackle restaurant woes

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette Denver Mayor Mike Johnston wants to add a 20% service charge to local restaurant tabs — and then tax it — to help restaurants cope with the city’s minimum wage and promote what he called pay equity among tipped and non-tipped employees. On Monday, Johnston told City Cast Denver, a popular podcast, that he has already been discussing the idea with restaurant owners. He didn’t say whether they are on board. He also did not discuss if increasing people's dinner costs would decrease restaurant visits.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Denver moves closer to changing ordinance related to noise
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Denver moves closer to changing ordinance related to noise

By Deborah Grigsby | Colorado Politics, via The Denver Gazette The city of Denver is moving forward with proposed changes to its local noise ordinance that would permit earlier garbage collection and noisier festivals but ban “plainly audible” nighttime construction. Council Bill 25-0044 got its first nod of approval from the City Council on Feb. 18 and will be back at Monday's meeting for a second vote. The last time Denver addressed its noise concerns was in 2017, said Brendan Doyle, noise program supervisor for the Denver Department of Public Health. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Citing Elon Musk’s ownership, Denver City Council pulls down Twitter account
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Citing Elon Musk’s ownership, Denver City Council pulls down Twitter account

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette The Denver City Council has deleted its account on X, formerly known as Twitter, blaming what it described as increased political rhetoric surrounding Elon Musk and his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. City Council President Amanda Sandoval confirmed the account was deleted on Feb. 21. “As long as X is owned by Elon Musk, and he’s an appointee of the president, and he’s bidding on contracts for the federal government, as Council President, I have made the decision that we cannot have City Council be part of that,” Sandoval told The Denver Gazette.   READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE

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