AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) –While the pandemic put many retail stores in the red for months, bike shops across the Front Range are inundated with business right now. Read more
The Electeds Town Hall meeting with representation from Central, East Central, and Southeast Denver focused on updates from each of the representatives and featured an update from Senator Chris Hansen on budget issues being addressed by legislators.
Some of the more notable updates were:
- Denver Public Schools (DPS)
- Remote learning survey is up
- Asking how families and kids are doing
- Take the survey here
- DPS is keeping up with health officials
- Listening to what they have to say
- DPS has their own School Performance Frameworks (SPF)
- They are wanting feedback on this – you can give your opinion here
- Senate going back into session May 25th
- Biggest historical budget cut
- $3.3 – 3.5 billion cut to general fund from a 14 billion budget total
- Main focuses and priorities
- Workers
- Small businesses
- There are 370 bills in the system – now they are prioritizing them
- #1 – no brainers
- #2 – need to consider seriously
- #3 – last resort items
- What will help?
- State reserve fund of $800 million
- CARES act dollars
- What is hurting Colorado?
- Gallagher amendment
- Absence of business property taxes will be another approximate $350 million deficit
- A lot of these taxes usually go to K-12 school system
- TABOR amendment
- Limits the amount of revenue the State of Colorado can retain and spend
- It’s time to take a look at both these amendments because it’s hindering COVID-19 response at the legislative level
- Gallagher amendment
- Hopeful a relief package will still come through
- Biggest historical budget cut
- RTD update
- Fare free until further notice
- Ridership at 70% of normal
- CARES act set aside funds for RTD
- These are reimbursement funds though
- They have to spend it first and then get the money paid back to RTD
- Denver based ridership is the majority of riders now
- Commuter & rail lines have dropped the most
- If a bus is too full don’t board, a back up bus will follow along
- On the next town hall COO will be joining to give more RTD updates
- These are reimbursement funds though
- Denver is keeping some streets closed for pedestrian traffic through Labor Day
- Restaurants considering using parking lots and sidewalks for patrons
- Check out weareopendenver.com
- Identify local business that are open around you!
- Remote learning survey is up
It’s been 103 days since B-cycle, Denver’s longest-operating bike sharing program, stopped service, removing an important mobility option for our city. And then COVID-19 hit and upended our transit system. Read more
Join Gov. Jared Polis, individuals, and communities across Colorado this Friday (tonight – 5/15) night at 7pm MST to honor and remember those that we have lost to COVID19.
Coloradans can participate by wearing a protective face covering or masks for a minute of silence to display their effort to do their part to save lives at 7:00 p.m. They can also post on social media to raise awareness about the remembrance event.
To recognize the Day of Remembrance, the State Capitol, along with cities, counties and other organizations, will be turning their lights red at 7:00 p.m. to honor those who have passed. The state is encouraging buildings and businesses across the state to turn their lights red at 7:00 p.m. and for police and fire departments to turn their lights on at 7:00 p.m. for one minute.
RTD will host a Spanish language telephone town hall on May 21 at 6 p.m. with RTD Board Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede and RTD staff. The call in number is 855-543-3425. They will also be doing a Facebook Live stream via RTD’s Facebook page.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the decisions transit agencies make in response to the crisis have profound implications for public health and well-being. They must mobilize quickly to prevent crowding, re-allocate service, and protect transit workers and riders from exposure. Read more
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