denver mayor mike johnston
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Denver plans moratorium on new data centers
As artificial intelligence drives the data center construction boom, building one in Denver is poised to get more complicated after Mayor Mike Johnston and members of the Denver City Council announced plans to impose a moratorium on new facilities. Under the plan, the city will review additional data-center-specific regulations targeting “responsible land, energy, and water…
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In legal filing, Denver insists ‘sanctuary policies’ make jurisdictions safer
Denver has joined some 140 cities, counties and elected officials in filing two amicus briefs backing Minnesota and Rochester, New York — jurisdictions sued by the Trump administration’s over their “sanctuary” policies. In a statement, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston characterized the White House’s actions as “defunding” and “punishing” America’s “sanctuary cities.” The Trump administration, meanwhile,…
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Denver seeks executive director for Department of Housing Stability
The City of Denver is on the hunt for its next Department of Housing Stability executive director, a role vacated late last year by Jamie Rife. Along with a generous benefits package, which includes a lifelong monthly pension after five years of service, the salary range for HOST’s top chair, according to the job posting,…
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Denver backs Minnesota’s legal action to end ICE deployment
The City of Denver has joined dozens of U.S. cities and counties in filing an amicus brief backing Minnesota’s legal action seeking to end “Operation Metro Surge” and the deployment of thousands of federal immigration agents to Minnesota. The brief supports Minnesota v. Noem, filed by the State of Minnesota in federal court on Jan.…
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Vape shops challenge Denver’s flavored tobacco ban in court
The smoke has yet to settle in the battle over the city’s flavored tobacco ban as local vape shop owners have sued the City and County of Denver, asking the court to declare the ordinance unconstitutional and stop its enforcement. The Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance filed a complaint in Denver District Court on Thursday…
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Denver to issue first chunk of Vibrant Denver Bond dollars
Get your shovels ready, Denver. The city is moving forward with the first issuance of Vibrant Denver Bond dollars for 58 named and shovel-ready projects approved by voters in November. Members of the Finance and Business Committee advanced two proposed resolutions on Tuesday that would release more than a third of the bond money approved…
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Denver mayor’s sanctuary city legal bill hits $2M limit
The bill for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s legal defense for that March 5 hearing before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on “sanctuary” cities has reached its $2 million contractual limit. Just as the year closed out on Dec. 30, a fifth payment, in the amount of $950,000 — almost half of the…
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Denver’s budget deficit shaped 2025 news coverage
It was a year of big goals on a tight budget for the Mile High City, where Mayor Mike Johnston’s announcement of a $200 million city budget deficit dominated the news coverage. Facing a $50 million gap in its 2025 budget and a projected $200 million in 2026, Johnston announced plans to tighten the city’s…
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Denver mayor’s legal bill for sanctuary city hearing tops $1 million
The bill for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s legal defense for a March 5 hearing before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on “sanctuary” cities just crossed the $1 million mark. City financial records show that a fourth payment of $250,000 was made to Covington & Burling LLC, the D.C.-based law firm that represented…
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Mayor Johnston’s legal fees for sanctuary city hearing hit $800,000
The legal bill for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s March 5 appearance before a Congressional hearing on “sanctuary” jurisdictions has now ballooned to $800,000, according to invoices obtained by The Denver Gazette. City financial documents show that on Nov. 5, 2025, a third payment of $250,000 was made from the city’s general fund to the D.C.-based…