Public hearings have rules

A recent letter by Jason Bailey regarding the Denver City Council’s public hearing on the proposed bond referendum (the “Vibrant Denver” package) misrepresents both the process and intent of that public hearing.

This was a one-hour courtesy public hearing, as outlined in the Council’s Rules of Procedure. Courtesy public hearings are held at the Council’s discretion and are not required for matters where voters — not the Council — have the final say, such as ballot referrals like this. These courtesy hearings are limited in time, and speakers are selected in the order they signed up.

When a hearing is required — such as for legislation passed by the Council that changes city law — every person who signs up gets to speak. That was not the case for this informational hearing, which was designed to allow a range of community voices to be heard within a set time of one hour. The agenda, official public notices, subscriber emails sent by this office, and the Council President’s opening remarks made these parameters clear.

Public input is a vital part of the legislative process, and the Council Rules of Procedure are committed to transparent and fair processes. Given that, we were unable to grant Mr. Bailey’s request to be moved up on the list of speakers signed up. Residents can find several ways to stay informed about the Council and to formally participate in the legislative process at https://bit.ly/6ways2participate.

Robert Austin

Denver

Issue with ‘Vibrant Denver’

Magic Mikey and liberals — sounds like a rock and roll band. Or maybe a bunch of bad actors. Mike Johnston and his liberals are ready to pass along what they call the Vibrant Denver Bond for Denver voters to vote on.

As published recently in the Gazette, reported by Marissa Ventrelli, in the last 30 years our fees have increased 30%. Which is a direct work around TABOR. Most of us living here know this. However, in 1996 taxpayers paid in fees of $5,264.00, in 2024 taxpayers paid fees of $9,000.00. No added value here.

Since Magic Mikey has been in office, he has blown, spent, consumed, finished, depleted, exhausted and stolen any surplus monies in the City and County of Denver coffers. Govenor Jared Polis in all his vast wisdom, has also spent billions on various wasteful projects such as getting rid of all state and local gas-powered machines like lawn mowers, snow blowers and replaced them with brand new EV equipment. Wonder what that costs?

I was curious what fees I pay when I buy my Colorado plates. When the car is new, you pay tax on 85% MSRP. First year after that you pay 2.10% and so on and so forth until the car is 10 years old then you pay $3.00. You also pay $18.00 for bridge safety, $23.00 for road safety and a registration fee of $30.00. I have no idea what any of that is for.

There is a 22 cent per gallon of gas excise tax with a 4 cents per gallon gas tax for road usage tax on every gallon of gas you buy. 60% of the income goes to CDOT, 22% goes to the Counties and 18% goes to the municipalities. By the way EV cars don’t pay any tax they get a tax credit. Denver sales tax is 9.15%, 5.15% goes to Denver, 2.9% goes to the State and 1% goes to RTD. Sheep to the Slaughter

As you can see from the various fees, sales taxes, property tax increases, government bloat, more government bureaucracies and RTD tax we are getting less services and being charged more. Nothing is getting any better in Colorado, Except the homeless can live in the lap of luxury in hotels, get clean needles, cell phones, medical care and more at taxpayers’ expense.

So, Denver is broke. Now Magic Mikey and his liberal’s want to spend another two billons dollars (life of the bond) on stuff they have been collecting fees and taxes on for the last 10 years fixing nothing, maintaining nothing, and getting you less services.

The cost of the bonds will be paid by the taxpayers.

Trig Travis

Aurora

Slashing crucial programs

As a member of this community, I’m deeply alarmed by the relentless attacks on our public schools and on programs like Medicaid that help children thrive.

Right now, Republicans in Congress are slashing school funding, censoring curriculum, and gutting Medicaid and SNAP programs that schools rely on to feed kids, provide mental health support, and also to ensure students with disabilities get the services they need. And what’s worse, these cuts are being made to give tax breaks to billionaires and to pay for separating families, human rights abuses, and terrifying hardworking immigrants — people essential to our care workforce, our economy, and our future.

This means that public dollars are being funneled into private voucher schemes while neighborhood schools are left scrambling for funds. Books that reflect the accurate history of our nation and the diversity of our students are being banned. And the federal commitment to equity in education is being erased.

We need our elected leaders to stand up for all children, regardless of race, ZIP code, language, or ability, and protect their right to a safe, honest, and fully-funded education.

Cutting Medicaid and public school funding to fund attacks on immigrant families isn’t just shortsighted, it’s cruel. Our nation needs a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security, NOT cuts to healthcare and schools, and NOT cruelty. I urge our lawmakers to reject these attacks and instead invest in our shared future: Our children.

Juliana Pham

Broomfield