Themes of Opportunity and Accessibility

9to5, National Association of Working Women – Colorado Chapter; Colorado Progressive Coalition; Denver ACORN; Front Range Economic Strategy Center; Padres & Jovenes Unidos; Rights for All People; Save Our Section 8; Metropolitan Organizations for People


Community organizations representing a base of hard-working individuals and families, low-income housing residents, parents, church members, and communities of color applaud the vision Mayor Hickenlooper outlined in his State of the City address last week.

This Speakout has not been edited.

9to5, National Association of Working Women – Colorado Chapter; Colorado Progressive Coalition; Denver ACORN; Front Range Economic Strategy Center; Padres & Jovenes Unidos; Rights for All People; Save Our Section 8; Metropolitan Organizations for People

Community organizations representing a base of hard-working individuals and families, low-income housing residents, parents, church members, and communities of color applaud the vision Mayor Hickenlooper outlined in his State of the City address last week. As organizations working to improve our community, we are excited about the Mayor’s plan to “ensure that Metro Denver continues to grow as a hub of opportunity... and to extend that opportunity to all parts of our community.”

We understand that the Mayor will need support from all segments of the public in order to achieve opportunities for all Denver’s residents, such as good jobs with livable wages, affordable housing, great schools and access to college.

If the Mayor commits to expanding opportunity in the face of the challenges that will arise, and to working closely with impacted communities, we are confident that together we can make opportunity a reality for more Denverites during his next term.

One challenge to achieving the Mayor’s vision is a lack of affordable housing. Denver’s bus drivers, retail workers, hotel employees, and child care providers form the backbone of our community and need affordable housing. Affordable housing, especially along transit lines, would also boost success for the business sector, because it would improve workforce access and retention.

The Mayor’s Task Force to draft a new Housing Plan is on the right track by including a broad array of stakeholders and setting specific goals for production. But creative sources of revenue, a more regional approach, and strong leadership from the Mayor will be necessary to fulfill the plan’s promise.

Another challenge that is not unique to Denver is growing income inequity. Many working families and people of color in Denver are still experiencing the economic “scramble and struggle” that Mayor Hickenlooper described of Denver’s early residents.

Denver’s median income has been declining, while the poverty rate has been growing. Over 15% of our population lives below the federal poverty line, and more than one-quarter of our families (25.8%) earn less than what it takes to be self-sufficient and live without government subsidies. The Mayor has exhibited bold ambition with Greenprint Denver, calling on the public and private sectors to make all aspects of the physical environment sustainable.

The Mayor could be similarly bold in his approach to economic development, involving the public and private sectors in an effort to ensure that Denver creates good jobs with family-sustaining wages, health care and minimum labor standards like paid sick days. The upcoming November $500 billion infrastructure bond and the $1 billion DIA expansion are opportunities for the Mayor to build a Denver not only of “brick and steel,” but a Denver that invests in its people to “thrive, engage and connect.” Such an investment could be in the form of commitments to dedicate a percentage of the bond work to construction apprentices who can learn new skills and help bolster Denver’s skilled construction workforce.

The Mayor reiterated his commitment to helping our children succeed. We applaud the new preschool and after-school initiatives, and hope that they will involve the community to ensure Denver invests in quality programs that better prepare children for school. Excellent public education that prepares all students for college is the basis for a healthy economy and the city of Denver. Additionally, more than one in five Denver children ages six to 11 (21.1%) live in poverty, so addressing opportunity for their parents will contribute to ensuring children’s success.

Finally, Mayor Hickenlooper called for increased “transparency, accessibility, and inclusiveness” in government - priorities we share for building a strong and vital community. We were disappointed that the address calling for this “accessibility” was held at a $65 dollar/plate fundraiser that benefited just one segment of our community - the Chamber of Commerce, in contrast to last year’s free address held at the Webb Municipal Building.

If we are to achieve opportunity for all, then all groups need to have an equal voice in the process and equal access to our leaders - including non-profit agencies, grassroots community groups, labor organizations, charitable foundations, neighborhood residents, working people and many others who have creative ideas and are willing to support the Mayor’s efforts to achieve success and expand opportunity for all Denverites.

With the world “watching us", the Mayor’s challenge is to ensure that opportunities are widely shared, including by Denver’s hard working individuals and their families. Mr. Mayor, we encourage and pledge our support for your leadership on affordable housing, supporting children, and growing an economically secure workforce. We look forward to working with you and wish you the best of luck in your second term.