In final State of the City address, Mayor Hancock touts Denver as a ‘city in motion.'
DENVER – Touting the progress he’s made over the past 11 years to make Denver a better place to live, Mayor Michael Hancock, in his last State of the City address, vowed to leave the city better than he found it – despite a rise in crime, the growing homelessness problem exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing, and questions surrounding how the Denver Police Department responds to the challenges of an ever-changing Denver.
When it comes to homeless encampments and the way he’s handled them over the years, Hancock said his administration continues to pursue “every strategy we can to address the injustice of people living on the streets.” The mayor said he’ll also present a proposal to city council this year which will invest $2 million in ARPA funds into the city’s Basic Income Project, which will provide more than 140 women and families currently in shelters with $1,000 a month for a year in direct cash assistance. The goal being to help these families move into stable housing and provide support so they can stay housed.
Denver also needs to be looking at better community support to address the root causes of crime, Hancock explained. Additionally, the Denver Institute of Racial Equity, Innovation and Reconciliation has been established, Hancock said. The goal of this institute will be to promote research around racism, bias, inclusion, and practices of reconciliation, as well as the development of programs and trainings for law enforcement and the public, private and education sectors.
To combat this"poison" in our communities, Denver will receive its first $8 million from the national opioid settlement, which the mayor is committed to directing toward support service providers and improving capacity at treatment programs. The city will also be opening an innovation center in the northeast Park Hill neighborhood that will focus on supporting entrepreneurs of color – another tool for economic justice and community wealth building that will help Denverites in the area start and grow their own businesses as they learn from one another, the mayor said.
The city is now looking at making a $200 million local commitment over the next five years to tackle climate change, with half of that investment going to communities more at risk from its effects.
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