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Taken it as it comes
The city of Denver is like many populated cities, lots of people and issues arising everywhere. Through the use of the local papers and the office of Mayor John Hickenlooper these issues were among the highest ranking on the city’s agenda. Homelessness and how to handle the problem, sustaining development to keep the city clean, community growth, dealing with traffic, and rezoning the city. Homelessness, according to the city’s Road Home Web site the city of Denver spends $70 million dollars a year on its homeless population. The population numbers provided by the Web site say that around 4600 people are currently homeless and of that 4600, 47% are women and children. This plan to end homelessness isn’t just a handout to people who have no place to go. The plan involves finding the homeless jobs and then re- integrating them back into the community. Keeping close tabs on the environment is also a concern to the city of Denver. Preserving the pristine beauty of the area is something that the mayor feels is important to guarantee for all residents of Denver. The city is embarking on a Sustainable Development Initiative which tries to keep the air clean, the water fresh, and big business away from polluting the environment. The citizens of Denver want their city to remain beautiful for their posterity. Community growth and city wide arts education is another issue of concern in Denver. The city has approved the site for a new museum that will be available for all residents and visitors to enjoy and richen their knowledge of the arts. The Clyfford Still museum will enrich the cultural experience in Denver. While the mayor’s office wasn’t in a rush to discuss the traffic issues in the Denver papers because there is issues the Rock Mountain news offers up to date traffic cams; allowing people to view the best way to commute to work. The mayor’s office did however provide information on the steps the city is taking to provide mass transit to its residents. A Fastracks system is in the works which will allow for transportation with-in the city. The Fastraks system will follow roots in the city allowing residents to use a combination of train, and bus to travel any where in the city relieving the need to drive a car while living in town. Zoning issues are a concern of the people of Denver maintaining and designating areas as commercial and non-commercial is something the people of Denver feel strongly about according to the mayor’s office. The code is outdated and needs changes. The mayor’s office feels that the changes will come slowly but that the changes are needed to preserve the way of life in Denver. These are just a few of the issues in Denver the mayors office, elected officials as well as news papers were contacted to find the issues that where meaningful to the area as a whole and to the people of Denver.
Sources http://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/ http://www.rtd-denver.com/fastracks/ http://www.denvergov.org/ZoningSimplification/1892news.asp
Sarah E. Moss Communications Specialist Office of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper 720.865.9016
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