mike johnston

Denver backs legal challenge to Trump’s use of National Guard

Sep 11, 2025

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Deborah Grigsby

Denver has joined 26 other local governments in an amicus brief supporting California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. “In Denver, our residents are connected with police who live on the same streets they patrol and with officers who grew up in the same…
Mayor Mike Johnston’s $1.76 billion budget: Here’s the breakdown

Nov 13, 2024

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Deborah Grigsby

The Denver City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved Mayor Mike Johnston’s $1.76 billion spending plan, which a 0.6% increase in spending over last year. The general fund is the largest of the city’s operating funds. It includes all resources not restricted legally to a specific use and funds approximately 35 agencies, which provide more…
Here’s where Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stands on the local ballot issues

Sep 27, 2024

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Colorado Politics

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced Friday he will not support the fur and slaughterhouse bans, though is backing a sales tax hike aimed at generating $100 million for “affordable” housing. The mayor on Friday outlined his positions on several local and statewide measures that will appear on the city’s ballot this November. Initiated Ordinances…
Denver infrastructure, climate office budgets discussed

Sep 18, 2024

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Colorado Politics

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) will see a modest budget increase compared to last year but the city’s climate office will face a slight decrease. The budgets for the two department’s briefings on Tuesday were created through the lens of Mayor Mike Johnston’s four stated citywide goals. His goals, broadly speaking, did not…
Report: Denver homelessness grew despite $155 million spending

Aug 14, 2024

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Colorado Politics

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston called his administration’s response to homelessness a resounding success after the data from the latest point in time count was released Wednesday. But after spending nearly $155 million — $65 million more than anticipated — the overall number of homeless people in the city actually grew from 5,818 in 2023 to 6,539…
Denver revenue forecast declines amid increase in spending, decrease of sales tax income

Jul 31, 2024

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Colorado Politics

The Denver Department of Finance informed a City Council committee the city will have even less money available for the 2025 general fund after revising revenues from this year. The change is partly driven by slumping or stagnant sales tax revenues, which provide more than 50% of the general fund’s revenue. Originally, the city was…
Poll: Denver voters divided on city’s direction, say taxes are too high

Jul 10, 2024

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Colorado Politics

More than a third of Denver voters say taxes are “way too high,” according to a poll released shortly after Mayor Mike Johnston and his allies unveiled a plan to increase sales taxes. The poll from the Colorado Polling Institute said 29% regard taxes as “high but acceptable,” while about the same number — 27% — view…
Denver City Council advances collective bargaining rights for more city workers

Jul 9, 2024

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Colorado Politics

The Denver City Council advanced a proposed change to the city charter that would grant collective bargaining rights to some city employees. If the council gives it a final approval next week, the measure will appear on the November ballot. The bill was amended five times by three councilmembers and, due to the nature of…
Denver mayor seeks $100 million sales tax hike to build 20,000 ‘affordable’ housing units

Jul 8, 2024

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Colorado Politics

Arguing $100 million more annually is necessary to build thousands of affordable housing units, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and some of the council’s most progressive members are pushing for a sales tax hike that, if approved by voters, would make the city’s rate the highest in the region. The proposed 0.5-point tax hike is the…
Denver closes last immigrant shelter but will adjust in case of another surge

Jul 1, 2024

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Colorado Politics

Denver has closed the last of its immigrant shelters as the number of people who traveled to Denver after illegally crossing the border has dwindled. Over the past 18 months, some 42,000 immigrants from central and south America traveled to Denver, forcing the city to cut services and freeze hiring in some areas in order…