But with the addition of thousands of new housing units close to public transportation and downtown, it is disappointing how few are affordable. The good is obvious – drastically improved public infrastructure, dense housing added without displacing any residents, a mecca for new small businesses and long-established ones too. The transformation has been more radical perhaps than even the rebirth of LoDo under then-Mayor John Hickenlooper or the revitalization of the 16th Street Mall under Mayor William McNichols.ĭenver’s next mayor, Mike Johnston, who will be sworn into office Monday, should look to RINO and Brighton Boulevard and embrace the good while discarding the bad. On Hancock’s watch, there’s been an uptick in homicides, especially teen violence, and a proliferation of property crimes.īut when we look at Hancock’s administration, over more than a decade with a transformative booming economy, on balance, we’d say the mayor did good for Denver. His flirtatious text messages with a member of his security detail from the Denver Police Department caused real harm both to the victim of his unwanted advances and also to the nationwide effort to address sexual harassment in the workplace in the wake of the #MeToo movement.ĭenver is still struggling to balance compassionate care for unhoused individuals choosing to live in camps on public land rather than in shelters, and the often related epidemic of drug addiction and overdoses. We cannot sugarcoat Hancock’s lapses in judgment. The mayor’s real legacy, however, will be the public works projects that have taken root across every corner of this city, bringing hope, revitalization, and finally a sense of equity to all Denverites. History will remember Mayor Michael Hancock for many things – his tireless service during the pandemic, the completion of Union Station on his watch, and the explosive growth of Denver International Airport. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |