Uncommon Knowledge
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The city of Denver has contingency funds to sustain migrant surges for only about two more months.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, said during a town hall last week that his city is being forced to cycle migrant families in and out of shelters due to immigration surges. Following a temporary pause to avoid migrants being forced out into colder conditions, the process reportedly began on Monday, as more than 120 migrant families were told to leave their dwellings—the first group of some 800 families in total who will be forced to find new refuge within the next two weeks.
Johnston, who said that every city and county hotel room is at capacity, recently gained attention by supporting Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his border battle against the Biden administration. Johnston said he sympathized with Abbott’s concerns and that he shouldn’t have to shoulder the load of an entire “newcomer population.”
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“The city is currently in the process of drawing funds from our contingency reserves to meet the needs of the most recent surge in arrivals,” said Laura Swartz, spokesperson for the Denver Department of Finance, according to local reports. “This funding is anticipated to cover costs through April. All agencies have also been asked to identify potential savings within their 2024 budgets.
“It is too early right now to say what specific savings will be until we have had the time to assess and identify options. That work is underway now and will take several weeks to a few months to complete.”
Newsweek reached out to Swartz and the mayor’s office via email for comment.
As of Monday, a dashboard documenting migrants within city limits showed that 38,386 migrants have been served by the city—including 3,782 currently in shelters.
Denver has spent more than $40 million offering migrants the option of either accepting a spot in a shelter or taking tickets to be transferred to another location, according to Westword. Nearly half of them take the tickets.
The financial ramifications have reportedly led Johnston and city officials to determine how to curb such costs as projections show that Denver may ultimately spend up to $180 million, or about 10 percent of the city’s operating budget, this year. They are also set to receive $14.1 million from federal government reimbursements.
Denver’s migrant surge is the country’s biggest per capita, according to Johnston. In the coming days, he and Denver City Council will debate a potential $50 million in immigration funding, according to the Denver Gazette.
One facet of that is a $25 million cash transfer from the city’s general and capital improvement funds into the Border Crisis Special Revenue Fund, expected to be voted on at a February 12 meeting.
The other item to be debated and voted on relates to a $25 million master purchase order with Quebec Hospitality (Colorado Hospitality Services) to provide hotel rooms to temporarily house migrants.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver police are investigating a hit-and-run crash involving a motorcycle on Tuesday evening.
The Denver Police Department reported that the crash also involved a motorist and happened at East 9th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.
The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police did not release any description of the suspect vehicle.
Denver police said drivers should expect delays in the area.
This is developing news.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — A woman accused of murder at Houston Lake Apartments back in March has returned to Middle Georgia after her arrest in Denver.
27-year-old Tylar Oglesby of Warner Robins is now in custody in Houston County for her alleged role in the shooting death of Diandre Oates at Houston Lake Apartments on the night of March 12.
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Officers on the scene found Oates with a gunshot wound behind the 1700 building, and he was then pronounced dead by the Houston County Coroner’s Office.
The first arrest made in the case happened on March 18, with Perry Police arresting Alexander Culler on a warrant for murder surrounding Oates’ death.
Oglesby was arrested over a week later in Denver, Colo., on a warrant for a party to a crime in connection with the fatal shooting.
Oglesby has since returned to Middle Georgia from Denver, where she faces a pending murder charge at the Houston County Detention Center.
Stick with WGXA where we’re keeping you ready for what’s next.
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