Denver Fire chief Desmond Fulton faces investigation over comp time

Denver Fire Department Chief Desmond Fulton said Wednesday that he was following what he believed to be the department’s standards when he claimed hundreds of hours of compensatory time off — and then effectively cashed much of it in for $42,000 in extra pay over the last three years. The chief said he supported an … Read more

Denver sweeps Lincoln Park homeless encampment without shelter to offer

City crews on Tuesday morning began shutting down a homeless encampment in Denver’s western Lincoln Park neighborhood due to public safety concerns including three overdose deaths and more than two dozen felony arrests there over the last few months, according to city officials. Cleanup work at the encampment centered on the intersection of West Eighth … Read more

University Park properties are Denver’s latest historic district

Two days after the University of Denver men’s hockey team made history, the City Council enshrined portions of the University Park neighborhood that was built around that school as the city’s latest historic district. In this case, university leadership was less thrilled. The administration sent a letter to the city opposing the establishment of the … Read more

Denver will restore rec center hours after revamping migrant strategy

Denver is overhauling its approach to serving migrants in a major shift announced Wednesday — along with revised budget impact projections that soon will allow the city to roll back some cuts, including reduced hours at city recreation centers. Mayor Mike Johnston said the city would discontinue the costly practice of sheltering newly arrived migrants … Read more

Mayor’s picks for Denver sheriff, fire and police chiefs reappointed

Denver’s police chief, fire chief, sheriff and public safety director will continue to serve as part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration after the City Council unanimously approved their reappointments on Monday. Ron Thomas will remain the chief of the Denver Police Department, a role he was first appointed to by Johnston’s predecessor, Michael Hancock, in … Read more

Denver City Council members back worker unionization ballot measure

Denver voters this fall may be asked to decide whether park rangers, human services caseworkers, city planners and a wide swath of other municipal employees should have the right to unionize and negotiate labor contracts with the city. The move, long sought by labor interests in Denver, has gained steam with backing from four City … Read more

Colorado voters split on compassion or rejection for migrants, poll says

Concerns about immigration, fueled by the ongoing migrant crisis, are at the forefront of many Colorado voters’ minds, a new poll says. But voters are split on how local officials should respond to the waves of new arrivals from the southern U.S. border. Thirty-one percent of likely voters in a poll conducted last month for … Read more

Denver ethics board says Flor Alvidrez’s spending was “reckless”

The Denver Board of Ethics on Wednesday found that City Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez’s spending and bookkeeping habits in her first few months in office did not violate the city’s ethics code. But board members expressed serious concerns about what some termed Alvidrez’s “careless” or “reckless” use of taxpayer dollars last year, and they voted to … Read more

Denver street sweeping begins for 2024 season, tickets possible

Denver street sweeping season begins Tuesday. Violators will risk tickets of $50 if they park on the wrong side of streets scheduled for sweeping on specific days now through November. The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure advises drivers to check the red-and-white parking signs posted on curbsides around town to make sure they are … Read more

Denver’s Roads to Recovery initiative prioritizes treatment over jail

For Aly Garrett, the safe haven provided by Tribe Recovery Homes is a source of inspiration and, she hopes, salvation. The 34-year-old is on probation for charges related to fentanyl use. Her addiction started four years ago while she was in an abusive relationship and dealing with trauma that stemmed from her mother’s use of … Read more