by Editorial Board | May 20, 2024 | Editorials
Editorial —
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston held an outdoor press conference by Union Station. He correctly noted that Denver, to be a successful vibrant city, must have a successful vibrant downtown, and for Colorado to succeed it needs a successful City and County of Denver. He also noted that Denver needs to break out of the area’s post-COVID “doom loop” that other cities like San Francisco are experiencing.
The trouble he has is that his solution of using an obscure special taxing authority — the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDA) — to raise a half billion dollars to invest in downtown won’t work because of what the mayor will use the money for. The mayor is lying to you when he says he doesn’t know what the money will be used for. He indicates the “campaign will start with a conversation with downtown residents.” He has even set up a website, Denvergov.org/DDA, “where every Denverite can chime in with their hopes and dreams for what they want from the downtown.”
What a bunch of “malarkey” as President Biden would say. Luckily citizens have become a great deal wiser over the last few years that they cannot just count on what the government and politicians say is true. Rest assured every penny of that half billion “free money “ has already been spoken for.
The mayor will announce that what Denverites really want is for existing high rise office buildings to be retrofitted as personal residences. Of course, the mayor cannot be that brutally frank so it will be closer to what the mayor sheepishly said he maybe, sort of likes: “more childcare centers, commercial-to-residential conversions, and affordable housing.”
Yes of course, we need more childcare centers in the one place in Denver where there are almost no children. Downtown is inhabited by young two income couples with no children and older citizens whose children have left home so they decided to move to downtown Denver. The mayor also would like to have more “affordable housing” in the most expensive place to live in Denver. Really? No problem. He just declared 10% of the converted units must be “affordable” however he may define that term.
That leaves you with “commercial-to-residential conversions.” Anybody who has looked at such conversions states that they would be incredibly expensive and better to tear down the existing office towers and build new apartment houses and condominiums.
But you are failing to see who this is intended to benefit. Denver has a 30% vacancy rate and many properties have gone back to the regional banks that overly invested in office buildings and some properties owned by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) that are in the same position. The banks have written off the loans and the REITS their investments. But they are both unwilling to expend any more money on the properties. That is where DDAs come in. They give free money to the property owners for the overly expensive conversions and now the properties will actually be worth something.
Even better, the Biden Administration knows it can’t let the regional banks go belly up so it has massive amounts of money in the form of federal grants for “commercial-to-residential” grants.
But if nothing is ever paid back who loses? Well, of course you do. The money that goes in the Tax Increment Financing is money that would otherwise go to the general fund of the city as well as to the Denver Public Schools. The schools just increase your mill levies as back fill and the city either cuts services sometime in the future or raises taxes sometime in the future but that is for your kids to worry about if they still want to live in Denver.
It is a great rob Peter (Denverites in the future) to pay today Paul (the banks and the REITS). Luckily no other media outlet in the Denver market other than the Chronicle will tell you this and the scheme will merrily be approved by the Denver City Council and the people voting in the future DDA. They have nothing to lose, only you, and you don’t get to vote on the matter. What a wonderful world.
— Editorial Board
by Peter Boyles | May 20, 2024 | Blasting with Boyles
Blasting With Boyles
OPINION
Traditionally the media found a way to take initials of prominent politicians and begin to write about them that way like FDR, JFK, HST, and Ike. What would LBJ and MCJ have in common? During the Vietnam war LBJ did one of the most underhanded monetary maneuvers that has never received a lot of attention. He raided Social Security funds to fight his war.
Now, let’s take our current mayor MCJ. He is raiding the budgets of the city of Denver to pay for his seemingly endless demands to support the homeless, to no avail, as the number of homeless in Denver has tripled since 2018.
In the most recent five years of data, the Denver metro area has seen a total number of people homeless rise from 5,200 to almost 15,000. The homeless crisis worsens despite the $274 million-dollar investment. Oh, and by the way, if you noticed how MCJ dresses and acts, wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned at the collar with the tie pulled down, sleeves rolled up, a disheveled look, he is channeling RFK Sr.
Continued raids on parks and recreation budgets, slashing recreation center hours, reducing snow plowing, and the police and fire budgets, but the showstopper is now the list of demands from illegal immigrants.
If you haven’t seen the 13 demands from the illegal immigrants (newcomers), they say that you as a taxpayer must meet those demands before they will leave their camps. The demands were presented by a white, blonde woman wearing a pro-Palestinian scarf. The demands include free immigration lawyers and, my personal favorite, culturally appropriate food with fresh ingredients provided by you the taxpayer instead of those premade meals. They want rice, chicken, flour, oil, butter, tomatoes, and onions, etc., that can be cooked on site.
They’ve lobbied Denver Human Services and they’re holding out and say the City has reneged on deals with them in the past. The demands are amazing, as they also claim they’re being punished for eating outside food. They claim their children are becoming malnourished because of the actions of the city of Denver.
They want medical help, unlimited shower access, the city will provide privacy for families and individuals within the shelter, no more verbal, physical, or mental abuse, including no sheriffs sleeping inside and monitoring them 24-7.
They say they’re not criminals but they’re being treated as such. Transportation for their kids to and from schools, the City must provide documents in Spanish and English, including numbers to call if they are being mistreated. And something I bet you can’t get, to schedule a meeting with MCJ.
I’m stunned by this. These are unbelievable demands. I’ve got $20 that says the City will meet, or is meeting, those demands as we speak. The late Bob Cote always talked about the bird feeder. Yeah you’re gonna get song birds, you’re gonna get squirrels, bears, and anything else that can reach in there and eat. Do you think these are the last demands these newcomers will make if this list of 13 is met?
I leave you with this. Denver has spent tens of millions of dollars on illegal immigrants and Denver property owners are being asked to open their homes to newcomer families. I wonder how many people are now living at the Mayor’s. Folks we’re in trouble. If you look back at what LBJ’s administration did you can almost predict the outcome of MCJ and the city of Denver.
— Peter Boyles
by Valley Gadfly | May 20, 2024 | Valley Gadfly
Ah, June. It’s a special month for many reasons! It’s the start of summer, which falls on June 20! Plus, it’s not too hot yet, but warm enough to enjoy outdoor barbecues and pool parties.
Plus, there are actually more daylight hours in June, so every day feels a light brighter. But in all, June has a fresh vibe to it. Like the feeling you had as a kid when school was closing.
As June begins “Bustin’ Out All Over,” here are our choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment, to keep the birds chirping, sun shining, flowers blooming, and a breeze blowing:
Take the family to view the Chalk Art Festival, as 150 artists paint on the streets of the Golden Triangle — Colfax on the north, Speer Blvd. West & South; and Broadway on the East — June 1-2, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information: 720-244-3393.
Don’t miss the free Five Points Jazz Festival, as it returns to the historic district with food, shopping, and music all day on June 8. Click Here for Information
The Renwick Brothers — Koki (trumpet) and Shota (Sax) — bring new energy to Dazzle, as they return to entertain June 13, 9:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
You’ll laugh, roar at the “Dukes of Funnytown” — Steve Martin and Martin Short— when they play at Red Rocks on June 14, 8 p.m. Information: 720-865-2494.
Sign up for Wednesday Night Adult Coed Soccer League starting June 5 at the Glendale Sports Center. Played 11 on 11 in two 25-minute halves, June through August at Infinity Park’s Sports Field. Information: 303-639-4711.
Shop Glendale Farmers Market, the newest and finest on Saturdays May 25 to Aug. 31, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pick fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. Plus, enjoy food cooked by local talent at the chef’s table. Information: 303-351-1598.
See singer, actress, and dancer Janet Jackson when she entertains at the Ball Arena with rapper guest Nelly, June 16, 8 p.m. Information: 303-405-1100.
With six studio albums, plus EPs. and singles, Samuel Beam — aka Iron & Wine — entertains at the Mission Ballroom June 17, 7 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Don’t miss world-class musician Hauser — a magician on the cello — when he brings his band to the Paramount June 20, 8 p.m. Information: 303-623-0106.
Enjoy food, sake, and artwork as the Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Sakura Square June 22-23, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun., 4 p.m. Information: 303-951-4486.
Learn about aging at Kavod On The Road, offering workshops, breakout sessions, breakfast-lunch June 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: 303-659-1146.
For an unforgettable evening of entertainment, auctions, cocktails, and dinner attend the St. Jude Gala coming to the Denver Botanic Gardens June 15, 5 p.m. Founder Danny Thomas built St. Jude as a place of healing for kids fighting cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is in Memphis, but treats children from Denver, and statewide. Families never pay for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Information: 720-215-2004.
It’s June, and not a minute too soon! Watch June’s Strawberry Moon rise large and golden-hued over Denver on Friday, June 21, reaching peak illumination at 9:08 p.m. local time.
For most of us, June marks one of the finer tuning points of the year. The days are longer and the nights warmer. Summer has arrived to feed the soul, so everything’s coming up roses.
This is the month to enjoy the outdoors, cookouts, family reunions, and love Dads on Father’s Day. Does June ever feel blue? Only if Julyed to her about summer vacation.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
