Denver, CO
Denver mayor, city council members at odds over emergency rental assistance
DENVER — As evictions in the city skyrocket, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and some city council members find themselves at odds over how much the city should spend to keep people in their homes.
The mayor wants to spend $15.6 million on emergency rental assistance next year. His office calls it “a significant expansion” of what the city normally spends, despite a drop in federal funding. But Denver City Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez said that’s not enough.
“If we are going to work to get people off the streets and into shelters, then we need to make sure we’re stopping people from entering that situation to begin with,” said Gonzales-Gutierrez.
Gonzales-Gutierrez and four of her colleagues introduced an amendment that would add $14.7 million to next year’s budget, bringing the rental assistance total to $30 million.
“That number comes straight from advocates,” said Denver City Councilwoman Sarah Parady, who co-sponsored the amendment. “It’s calculated based off the expected level of eviction filings that we will see in 2024.”
But it’s the eviction filings this year that caught the councilmembers’ attention.
According to data from Denver County Courts, there have been more than 9,200 eviction filings as of September 30. Updated numbers are expected to be released this week.
If the trend continues, Denver could set a new record for eviction filings this year.
“Evictions in Denver are at a level that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. It’s a crisis,” said Parady.
The councilmembers said Denver’s Temporary Rent and Utility Assistance (TRUA) program ran out of money after providing $22 million in assistance this year. The extra money the councilmembers want to add to next year’s budget would come from the city’s reserves.
Johnston rejected most of the council’s $81 million in budget requests. In a letter to the council earlier this month, the mayor said he wanted to be careful not to take too much from the reserves, which are meant for emergencies.
“As we considered [your] funding proposals… we were extremely careful not to reduce the city’s reserves below the required 15% threshold to ensure Denver is prepared for whatever challenges may come in 2024,” Johnston wrote.
Johnston also said ongoing challenges like the migrant crisis could place significant strain on next year’s budget.
In a statement to Denver7 Monday, the mayor’s office said Johnston believes rental assistance funding “is not only the moral, humanitarian thing to do, but it’s the right financial thing to do. That’s why we have proposed a significant expansion of city funding for rental assistance despite a massive drop off in federal funding for this priority.”
The statement went on to say, “Mayor Johnston knows that we have a solemn obligation to deliver a balanced budget that meets this urgent need, as well as other critical priorities and city services like creating more affordable housing, ensuring Denverites don’t have to pay more for trash pick up, and ensuring our streets are safe.”
Denver City Councilman Paul Kashmann, who also co-sponsored the amendment, said he understands the environment is challenging. He said the city is facing more crises than he’s ever seen, but keeping people in their homes should be a higher priority.
“The other night, it was eight degrees outside. We’ve got people living outside. The last thing we want to do is have more people living outside. Providing this rental assistance will help keep good people in their homes,” said Kashmann.
Councilman Darrell Watson also offered an amendment that would provide for an additional $5 million in rental assistance funding. Parady said Watson’s amendment provides too little.
According to Parady, the proposed $30 million for rental assistance would only address 50% of the need next year.
“$30 million would prevent about half of the nonpayment rent evictions in Denver in 2024,” Parady said.
The council must approve next year’s budget by Nov. 13.
It’s unclear how receptive the mayor will be to the councilmembers’ amendment, given he only agreed to add $3 million to their request for increased funding earlier this month. The councilmembers said they have been in touch with Johnston’s office to discuss the importance of rental assistance.
If the mayor vetoes the amendment, councilmembers said they are confident they will have enough votes to override the veto, which is rare.
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Metro Denver commuters can look forward to faster trips on the Regional Transportation District’s light rail after the agency lifted the last of 31 speed restrictions that have slowed trains for almost a year.
RTD lifted the final slow zone on a 400-foot southbound segment near the Southmoor Station on Tuesday morning, officials said in a news release.
Transportation officials found minor issues and “track imperfections” in May 2024 and added 10 mph speed restrictions to sections of the D, E, H and R lines in June and July until workers could finish repairs.
Over the next 11 months, nearly 100 employees removed and replaced more than two miles of track and finished grinding 50 miles of rail to remove surface defects that could cause cracks, according to RTD.
The delays caused frustration among customers and drops in ridership, with some people reporting more than double the amount of time to take their regular route to work.
Temporary speed restrictions will return as needed after rail inspections because of RTD’s “aging rail infrastructure,” the agency said.
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Originally Published:
DENVER- Denver International Airport (DEN) employees are questioning CEO Phil Washington over expensive business-class flights for executives. The trip to a conference in Madrid cost the airport over $165,000, with one United Airlines (UA) ticket priced at $19,194.21.
Workers expressed concerns about the ethical implications of such high spending while frontline staff face budget constraints. Washington defended the decision, calling it an investment in leadership development.
Denver Airport CEO’s $19,000 Flight
At a quarterly town hall meeting for Denver International Airport (DEN) employees, an anonymous worker challenged CEO Phil Washington on the decision to approve expensive business class tickets for a three-day conference in Madrid.
The employee highlighted a $19,194.21 ticket, noting it “creates a rift in sentiment between frontline and senior leadership.”
The trip, attended by Washington and eight executive staff members, cost approximately $165,000, averaging $18,000 per person for flights, conference fees, hotels, and meals on United Airlines (UA).
Washington defended the expenditure, emphasizing the conference’s value for professional development.
He attributed high ticket costs to late bookings, stating, “Some travel requests came in a little later,” causing prices to spike.
However, records from a CBS News investigation revealed most tickets were purchased months in advance, contradicting claims of last-minute bookings.
Travel consultant Robert Laney expressed disbelief at the costs, suggesting that waiting could have reduced fares to $8,000–$9,000 per ticket.
Policy Under Review
Amid the growing backlash, CEO Washington announced that Denver International Airport (DEN) is reassessing its travel policy.
“We are reviewing our policy. There are some revisions we could make to that policy,” he said, although no immediate changes have been finalized or disclosed.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the current review will cover the entire travel procedure, from initial requests and booking to reimbursement processes.
The aim, according to Washington, is to ensure future decisions reflect fiscal responsibility without compromising professional development goals.
Despite the controversy, Washington maintained his position, stating, “I stand by the professional development opportunity as an investment in our people that will pay off in the long run.”
Bottom Line
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about transparency and equity at Denver International Airport (DEN).
Frontline workers, who often face tighter budgets, expressed frustration over the perceived extravagance of executive travel.
The issue underscores the need for clear, equitable travel policies to maintain trust between staff and leadership.
As the airport reviews its policies, stakeholders await changes to ensure responsible use of revenues derived from public-facing operations like concessions and rentals.
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DENVER — The City of Denver has been trying to bring more people downtown. On Monday, it turned to live music.
Thousands packed a revamped 16th Street for a “block party” EDM concert at 16th and Welton, headlined by house DJ and producer FISHER.
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Justin Wercinski told Denver7 he got to the front of the line 10 hours early for his favorite DJ. He grew up in North Denver and recently moved to Florida.
“I’ve lived here for 27 years, you know, Red Rocks in our back door,” he said. “Being able to go to Red Rocks all the time, but now bringing [an outdoor concert] to the actual city… I think it’s super special and pretty cool. I hope Denver keeps doing it.”
Eddie Burns, from Boulder, and Daniel Long, from Longmont, were also near the front of the line and shared the same feeling.
“A concert like here with big buildings, it’s super cool,” said Long. “We’re gonna just walk to a bar after. It’s like, super easy.”
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That’s good news for bars steps away from the stage, like 3 Margaritas on 16th Street.
“It’s very good for us, for our business, because we hope to have a lot of guests,” said manager Martinez Huitron. “We wait a long, a long, long time to having this here now.”
Consumed by construction for two years, Denverites got used to 16th Street being lifeless. The stretch formerly known as the 16th Street Mall is going through a rebrand.
“It’s kind of a mess, but you know, I mean, it desperately needed it,” Christoval Vega, who lives downtown, said of the rebrand.
Denver
Outdoor drinking zones coming to 16th Street in downtown Denver
Vega told Denver7 he’s happy to see the center of the city pulsing with activity again, and supports more block party-style concerts.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.
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The Downtown Denver Partnership said Monday’s event was sold out, with about 5,000 people expected to attend. Tickets cost roughly $110, including fees.
The same stretch is hosting a 16th Street Summer Kickoff Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, including the Speed Climbing World Cup, music, art, food vendors, and a beer garden.
The city hopes these events at the start of the season will bring more people and dollars back during key summer months.
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