Denver Mayor Mike Johnston delivered his first State of the City Address, celebrating the city’s achievements over the last year and outlining his priorities for the coming year. His priorities include addressing homelessness, responding to the migrant crisis, reimagining public safety, uniting the community through service, investing in a vibrant city, and making the community affordable.
On his first day in office, Mayor Johnston declared a State of Emergency on Homelessness, activating the Emergency Operations Center and bringing city leaders together to develop what is now the All In Mile High program. He set a bold goal to help 1,000 Denverites get off the streets and into housing by the end of 2023 and delivered on that promise. The city also opened eight All In Mile High sites, acquired 1,202 transitional housing units, and helped more than 1,650 people get off the streets and into stable housing.
Embracing evidence-based public safety strategies, Mayor Johnston and the city are investing in a comprehensive safety plan to make Denver one of the safest big cities in America. This summer, Denver helped put 700 youth to work, supported 20 community activation pop-ups in neighborhoods, invested in additional infrastructure such as street lighting, and added more patrols to places that needed them.
The Mayor is working to unite the community around the spirit of service and is launching a new community engagement program initiative called Give5 Mile High with his wife, Courtney. The initiative will encourage residents to volunteer five hours monthly in various service projects for the city and its neighbors.
Mayor Johnston is committed to making Denver affordable for all and is partnering with members of the City Council to bring the Affordable Denver fund to this November’s ballot. The Affordable Denver fund will raise $100 million yearly to go directly toward affordable housing for nurses, seniors, teachers, and working families who need relief.
Watch the Mayor’s full address here.
At a time when our rights, freedoms, and futures are under threat, Democratic Mayors are showing the nation what real leadership looks like.
