Denver

Gazette editorial board: Sanctuary policies cost Denver taxpayers—again

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Say what you will about the Trump administration, but give it credit for sparing U.S. taxpayers from bailing out cities whose sanctuary policies made them magnets for illegal immigration.

The fact that Denver is among those cities isn’t Washington’s fault. It’s Mayor Mike Johnston’s.

And the fact that Denver now likely won’t be reimbursed some or all of $32 million it had forced local taxpayers to pony up in welcoming the latest wave of illegal immigrants, as reported by The Gazette, is Johnston’s comeuppance. It’s also Denver taxpayers’ loss.

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Denver vs. Aurora: Homelessness reports reveal two competing visions

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The first state-funded homelessness report to look at the crisis across Colorado came out on Monday, April 28, with an estimate that nearly 53,000 people are experiencing homelessness statewide.

The recommended solution sets it apart from another report published just a couple of weeks ago.

“Homelessness ends with a home,” The Colorado State of Homelessness Report 2024 urges in its call to action. “Every part of the homelessness response system — from street outreach to emergency shelter — must stay focused on connecting people to permanent housing as quickly as possible.”

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FEMA cuts $32 million from Denver’s immigrant shelter grants under Trump directive

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The Trump administration has terminated roughly $32 million in grant funding to Denver earmarked for the city’s response to the illegal immigration crisis, saying such spending no longer aligns with the federal government’s enforcement priorities. 

“The Department, consistent with President Trump’s direction, is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border,” the letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

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Cole: Denver’s dangerous dance with low cash bail and ICE detainer policies puts public safety at risk

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Denver prides itself on progressive values and compassion for its diverse communities. But recent events have exposed a troubling reality: the city’s criminal justice policies—specifically low cash bail for serious felony offenses and short notification windows for ICE detainers—are creating a revolving door for dangerous criminals, putting our neighborhoods at risk. 

The case of Bayron Turcios-Murillo, a confirmed Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member, is a stark example of how these policies fail to protect the public while allowing violent offenders to slip through the cracks.

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Treta: Denver’s broken permitting system is driving up housing costs—and it’s time to fix it

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I’ve been designing and building homes in Denver for 28 years. I pulled my first permit in 1997—for a small room addition on a house. It took one day. One.

That kind of efficiency used to be the norm. Permitting was straightforward, business-friendly, and a basic example of how local government should work. But over the past two decades, I’ve watched the city’s permit approval process become increasingly bloated, inefficient, and damaging—not just to builders like me, but to every Denverite who rents or buys a home.

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Perceptions of downtown Denver plummet despite $1.2B in investment

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City leaders have stressed downtown Denver has several things going in its favor — reopening of 16th Street Mall, new businesses moving in, stronger police presence and $570 million of investment money.

Despite efforts to make a comeback, optimism fell among the public last year.

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$3.2M Denver 17th Street tower deal aims to create 750 downtown apartments

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A block in downtown Denver is converting from offices into apartment spaces after a real estate company bought two towers on 17th Street.

The Luzzatto Company, a national real estate firm, purchased 621 and 633 17th St. at the start of April for $3.2 million, hoping to revitalize downtown with the over 973,000 square feet of space in the heart of Denver.

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Judge halts Gross Reservoir project—despite 60% completion and looming water risks

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A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Denver Water is permanently barred from expanding the reservoir if an emergency stay is not obtained from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals within 14 days.

The utility provider has been working to increase the height of the Gross Reservoir dam by 131 feet for over a decade. The project broke ground in 2022 and Denver Water says the project is already 60% complete.

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‘I can’t do business in Denver now’: Developers flee as climate mandates bite

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While Colorado is earning praise from climate advocates for its new mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, developers and their economists are giving D and F grades to the state and its capital city, blaming the regulations for a noticeable decline in some projects.

Representatives for developers and property owners are flagging new data showing a marked drop-off in investments and revenues from commercial projects in Colorado. That decline, they said, follows directly on the heels of Colorado’s adoption of some of the nation’s boldest carbon-reducing strategies.

‘I can’t do business in Denver now’: Developers flee as climate mandates bite Read More »