Tag: Juan Marcano
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Aurora Police, civil service commission battle for hiring power
The Aurora Police Department chief of police blasted the city’s Civil Service Commission on Monday saying the group is crippling the agency’s ability to hire officers amid a staffing crisis. Interim Chief Dan Oates voiced strong support for a proposal to shift hiring power from the independent civilian commission back to the city’s fire and police…
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Aurora leaders point to mental health resources following Club Q mass shooting
Leadership within the City of Aurora reacted with heartbreak following this weekend’s mass shooting at a LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs and pointed community members to mental health resources as they process the tragedy. Five people died and 18 more were injured after a gunman entered Club Q in Colorado Springs shortly before midnight on…
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Aurora green lights multi-million dollar homelessness reduction system
Aurora will begin work to overhaul its homelessness reduction system after a divided council approved a proposal that calls for a new campus, incentivizes people’s participation in supportive services and incorporates conditions people must meet to receive transitional housing. Council deliberated through nearly 17 proposed amendments to the resolution, sponsored by Mayor Mike Coffman, for…
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Proposal advances to give Aurora police, fire departments more hiring power
A proposal is in the works that aims to shift hiring power from Aurora’s civil service commission to the police and fire departments, giving them more control over which candidates for entry-level officer and firefighter positions enter the training academy. Already faced with scrutiny from the commission, the proposal will likely be the subject of…
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Divided Aurora council gives 2023 budget early approval
In a split vote, the Aurora City Council gave early approval to the proposed 2023 budget on Monday, but only after debate about eliminating two vacant positions — independent police monitor and a diversity, equity and inclusion office manager. Councilmembers who supported eliminating the roles said it was a no-brainer, and would save taxpayers from funding…
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Aurora council delays homelessness resolution after fiery debate
The vote on a proposal to overhaul Aurora’s approach to reducing homelessness was delayed Monday night after council clashed over a series of proposed changes. Mayor Mike Coffman has been putting together a resolution that directs the city manager to forge a new “comprehensive approach” to addressing homelessness in the city. A key part to…
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Aurora lawmakers consider building new campus to curb homelessness
At a price tag of at least $50 million, some Aurora City councilmembers proposed to construct a new campus for the homeless that would offer not only a place to live but also services to aid their transition to self sufficiency. The vision emerged out of city officials’ travel to two cities in Texas and…
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Fireworks erupt as Aurora council debates tax cut
Fireworks erupted during the Aurora City Council’s study session on Monday as council members hotly debated a proposal to repeal the city’s occupational tax, a move one councilmember called “asinine” but something others praised as smart business-friendly policy. Tensions also came to a head as some lawmakers accused city staff of ambushing the bill sponsor…
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Aurora, Colorado officials hunker down in search of a viable homeless strategy
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Aurora’s councilmembers weigh dueling ideas as they consider steps to revamp the city’s homelessness program following trips to Texas, where they explored models for reducing this social woe that plagues metro Denver. Metro Denver has been struggling to address homelessness, which jumped by 12.8% – from 6,104 to 6,888 – between January 2020 and January…
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Aurora council to discuss homelessness, redistricting at Monday study session
Overhauling the city’s homelessness reduction system leads the the Aurora City Council’s study session agenda Monday — a meeting of council to informally discuss city business but not formally vote on the adoption of proposals. Other items for discussion include redistricting wards next year and repealing the city’s occupational tax. Homelessness reduction model Councilmember Dustin Zvonek…