Denver
What Denver’s new chief data officer has in store for the community
Sean Greer is taking lessons learned from his previous IT work into his new role where data is imperative for improving city services and operations.
An experiment to help newly arrived migrants and asylum-seekers find work isn’t cheap—but doing nothing might cost more
COMMENTARY | A Denver pilot program aims to increase the odds that migrants will secure employment as soon as they’re allowed to work.
A City Asks Residents to Vote on Which Infrastructure Projects to Fund
Denver is turning to “participatory budgeting” to decide how it will use a small slice of its budget for public works projects.
Massive Cash Flow Sparks State Spending Sprees
Thanks to federal aid and rising revenue, state policymakers can afford big investments.
Mental Health Teams Increasingly Dispatched to Answer 911 Calls
Clinicians are showing up in situations once handled by police. There are signs the efforts are leading to fewer arrests and helping to connect people in crisis with needed services.
How Denver Tackled Homelessness While Saving Money
Extra support services can help keep vulnerable people housed.
His Son Died by Suicide. So This City Employee Made Suicide Prevention His Job.
Rick Padilla, suicide prevention administrator for Denver, works to help kids speak—and be heard—about their struggles with mental health. His efforts have lead to city initiatives and state legislation.
Paying With Cash? Retailers Must Take Your Dollars in These States
For many, requiring the option to use cash is a race and economic equity issue.
Growing Number of Cities Weigh Tribal ‘Land Acknowledgements’
In Arizona and other states, some local governments are formally recognizing Native American connections to lands.
For Decades, Denver Outlawed Pit Bulls. Voters Just Overturned the Ban.
The city passed a pit-bull ban in 1989 after multiple people reported being attacked by the breed, although research has shown that such policies have little effect on public safety.
Featured eBooks
Rain, Fire and Car Crashes: How Ballot Boxes are Built to Withstand the World
The boxes are developed to include a host of built-in security features to keep ballots safe.
Cities Sued for Sweeping Homeless Encampments During the Pandemic
Advocacy groups filed lawsuits against Minneapolis and Denver this month over clear outs of homeless encampments, saying the enforcement during a pandemic is cruel and counterproductive.
Can Civilian Oversight Change Police Behavior?
COMMENTARY | Cities across the country are looking at creating police oversight bodies. That makes questions about their efficacy and value more important than ever.
When Cities Replace Police with Social Workers
City leaders across the country are considering how to rethink police departments. They have many examples to look to—from brand new pilots to programs decades in the making.
Taking The Cops Out Of Mental Health-Related 911 Rescues
Denver is considering adopting a new 911 alternative that allows mental health and medical professionals, not police officers, to respond to some emergency calls, saving money and de-escalating situations with mentally ill people.
When a Kid's Lemonade Stand is Illegal
Children's lemonade stands are technically prohibited in 34 states. Several state legislatures are considering proposals to change that.
Denver Voted to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms. What Happens Next?
The mayor says he’ll respect Initiative 301. The district attorney says it’s open to interpretation. Drug policy experts say officials could ignore it altogether.
Denver Voters Decriminalize Psychedelic Mushrooms
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Police find over 1,000 guns in a home in Los Angeles … Ohio considers nixing film tax credits … New Orleans seeks infrastructure funding.
The Uber-Transit Convergence Arrives in Denver
The ride-hailing giant once called public transportation a threat to its growth. But in one city, it’s joining forces.
This ‘Innovative’ Housing Program Serves Just 3 Households
Denver has struggled to get a housing voucher program off the ground, so far enticing only one local employer to join the program to help subsidize rent for workers.
