Mountain View
David Heitz
Taxpayer support for safety net hospitals: Denver Health ballot initiative
As the Mile-High City’s safety net hospital, Denver Health never turns anyone away because of their inability to pay. That can get expensive for a health care provider. Denver Health expects to provide $124 million in uncompensated care in 2025, according to Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne. In 2023, the loss was $103 million, she said. The city in the past few years has made up about $30 million of that annually in payments to Denver Health, she explained.
Aurora police chief begins daily Venezuelan gang call
Aurora, Colo. -- Todd Chamberlain, Aurora’s new police chief, said Thursday during the safety committee meeting that he has started a daily conference call with other agencies to discuss developments related to Venezuelan gangs in the city. “I think it has kind of brought some clarity that I think was missing a bit.”
Denver will open homeless warming shelters at 25 degrees, mayor says
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said during a news conference Wednesday there will be money in the budget in 2025 to open warming centers for people experiencing homelessness when the temperature dips to 25 degrees.
Affordable housing for Native Americans planned for Denver
The City and County of Denver may give a developer an $8.6 million forgivable loan to build affordable housing for Native Americans at 901 Navajo St. According to a memo from city staff to the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee of the City Council, the development by MHMP 21 Navajo LLLC would be the first in Colorado “to provide supportive and affordable housing combined with a health clinic focused on serving American Indian/Alaska Native individuals and families. A Federally Qualified Health Center to be operated by Denver Indian Health and Family Services aims to address both the housing and health disparities….”
Aurora targets unregistered, unlicensed drivers, stolen shopping carts
The Aurora City Council gave initial approval Monday to ordinances that allow police to impound vehicles and create a way to recover stolen shopping carts. The impound ordinance gives police the right to tow a vehicle if they suspect it is unregistered and the driver unlicensed and uninsured.
Denver may purchase halfway house for $26.2 million
The Finance and Governance Committee of the Denver City Council approved Tuesday buying a halfway house at 570 W. 44th Ave. for $26.2 million. The city currently leases the space, which is used for a residential community re-entry from prison program. Called the MOORE Center, or Men Overcoming Obstacles Re-Entry, the Second Chance Center runs the space, according to a presentation from city staff to the committee.
Angry crowd blasts Jurinsky, Coffman over Venezuelan reports
Aurora, Colo. -- At least three dozen angry people addressed the Aurora City Council during public comment period Monday, with many blasting Mayor Mike Coffman and council member Danielle Jurinsky for spreading "lies" about Venezuela.
Denver council takes the 'feminine' out of menstrual care products
The Denver City Council voted Monday to change the language in its tax code referencing menstrual care products. The language currently refers to “feminine hygiene products” being tax exempt. The new language is “menstrual hygiene products.”
Opinion: How do people become homeless in Denver?
One of the most frequent questions I get for my "Ask me anything" reports is, “How do people end up homeless in Denver?”. The annual Point in Time count collected that self-reported data this year. According to responses from 5,146 people (Denver’s total homeless population is 9,977) the reasons for becoming unhoused include:
Opinion: Joyful chaos on Colfax: Homelessness, cartoon anthems, Playboy limo
When I experienced homelessness in Denver in 2019, seldom did I ever smile. But I could not help but grin – laugh even – when I’d walk up Colfax to Capitol Hill. Next to Nob Hill tavern, which blasted opera music (and maybe still does) from a loudspeaker, was a vehicle repair place that played music of its own at full volume. This auto shop played the Looney Tunes theme song. You can listen to the song to jog your memory.
Opinion: Denver Quebec Street native grasses will displace geese, prevent pedestrian crossings
The Quebec Street medians, which are right outside my building, seemingly have become overgrown with unsightly weeds. But as opposed to neglecting the median, the city is actually giving it more attention. The vast green expanse of Kentucky bluegrass has been replaced with native plants and grasses.
Fentanyl-meth combo ravages homeless in Denver, so why aren't there better treatments?
An opinion piece appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA this week illustrates why the drug problem among people experiencing homelessness in Denver may be so severe. It's because many homeless people aren't addicted to just one drug, but two, according to the viewpoint's author, Benjamin A. Howell of Yale School of Medicine and colleagues.
Opinion: Food stamp fraud in Denver: How to spot a card skimmer
According to the Denver Department of Human Services, someone in Philadelphia fraudulently used my EBT account this week. The worst part of being the victim of EBT fraud was the humiliation of my food stamp card being declined. The line at Walmart was ridiculously long, and I held it up for 10 minutes and left behind a cart full of groceries. If looks could kill, I would be dead. Being out my groceries did not feel particularly good either.
Opinion: Migrants have long sought out Aurora, Colorado’s most diverse city
Angry commenters of online articles about Aurora’s reported Venezuelan gang problems blame Denver’s status as a “sanctuary city” for migrants spilling into Aurora. But Aurora long has been the real deal when it comes to welcoming migrants and is the most diverse city in the state.
Denver to pay men shot by police with projectiles $465,000
The Denver City Council likely will approve Monday two lawsuit settlements totaling $465,000 for Nicolas Orlin and Shawn Murphy, who police allegedly shot in the face with projectiles during the George Floyd protests in 2020.
City of Denver didn’t place migrants in troubled Aurora buildings
The Venezuelans living in Aurora apartment buildings facing condemnation were not put there by the city of Denver. Denver city spokesman Jon Ewing said none of the residents are part of the Denver Asylum Seekers Program, or DASP. Amidst a flurry of media reports, some not substantiated, some have claimed the City and County of Denver placed the migrants in the Aurora buildings.
Denver homeless coalition absolves itself of Fusion internet problems
Residents of Fusion Studios, a homeless hotel owned by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, have complained for months that the internet in the building often does not work. Now the Coalition has posted a sign about the outages saying that is just the way it is going to be.
David Heitz
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I have been in the news business 35 years, newspapering in communities all across the U.S. I write about Denver and Aurora City Hall news as well as homelessness, mental health, and occasionally LGBT issues. As a person with schizoaffective disorder bipolar I type, I've lived in a penthouse and also experienced homelessness. After moving to Denver in 2018, I became homeless for about a year before spending time in the state mental hospital. With God's help, I have come a long way from my bout with psychosis. I consider myself a lucky guy to live in a great place like Denver. I hope my writing reflects the passion I have for living in the Mile High City.
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