⛔ Should another LoDo street go car-free?

⛔ Should Wykoop Be Denver’s Next ‘Shared Street’?

The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is studying the feasibility of transforming Wynkoop Street between 14th and 19th into a “car-lite” corridor that would be more pedestrian friendly and partially limited to motor vehicles. [Denverite]

🥊 Developers and Preservationists At It Again

In a debate all too familiar to Denverites these days, a property owner’s plans to demolish two dilapidated 19th century mansions on East Colfax are coming up against protests from the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission and the nonprofit Historic Denver. [Denver Post 🔒]

🗳️ Is Ranked Choice Voting Really Right for CO?

This fall, Colorado voters could be making some big decisions in how we cast our votes in future elections. But one local politician thinks the folks — and the intention — behind a new initiative to implement ranked choice voting warrant a closer look. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

• The other side: We also recently spoke with the main backer behind the push for ranked choice voting — local political megadonor Kent Thiry. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🌎 Denver Gets a Federal Boost Toward Climate Goals

The EPA has awarded Colorado $328 million in federal grants to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly $200 million of the funding is earmarked for the Denver Regional Council of Governments, which represents cities, towns, and counties all along the Front Range. [CO Sun]

Last week marked exactly one year since Mike Johnston took office as commander in chief of the Mile High City. We solicited letter grades from our City Cast Denver readers and listeners to judge how YOU think the new mayor is doing after one year on the job. Of those who participated, the responses were nearly evenly split. Overall, a slim majority of 26.5% gave Johnston a failing grade, while 23.5% thought he deserved an A.

Here’s what Denverites are thinking:

A Grade

“He gets an A for following through on his promise to improve the homelessness crisis. He appears to be developing a plan to reinvigorate downtown. He seems to listen more than he talks, a sign of a strong leader.” — Melvyn K.

• 👉 Speaking of revitalizing downtown: Here are our 12 big ideas to fix downtown Denver. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

B Grade

“B+. He inherited serious problems with homelessness and drug use downtown, then we got slammed with migrants by the thousands. He’s been able to do right by them, for the most part, without seriously disrupting local services. At the same time, he’s made progress on the homelessness/drug use situation. A pretty tough coup to pull off, really, but he’s managed it.” — Tim K.

• 👉Speaking of newcomers: Six months into his term, the mayor himself explained his approach to the migrant crisis. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

C Grade

“C. Although his heart is in the right place, I don’t think we can always tax our way out of problems.” — Nickolette B.

• 👉 Speaking of taxes: The mayor has proposed another new sales tax hike to fund affordable housing initiatives. [Denver Post 🔒]

D Grade

“I give him a D. His House1000 plan was (and continues to be) a total sham, he’s given more money to policing while asking us to pay for affordable housing with more taxes. He also wasted millions with an inadequate and poorly executed migrant response. Over promise and under performance is what I’ve seen.” — Trena M.

• 👉 Speaking of promises: Is the mayor living up to his campaign promises? [Hey Denver]

F Grade

“F. The amount of taxpayer funds spent on wildly ineffective policies to address homelessness is appalling. All taxpayers should be outraged and he should be recalled.” — Ross J.

“F. He’s spending money carelessly, and not listening to his constituents. Denver is a mess financially and visibly.” — Liz M.

As for the mayor himself? He believes he deserves a solid B+. Hear more 👇

The Case Against Ranked Choice Voting

If Initiative 310 makes it on the ballot this November and passes, our elections system could change forever. But Representative Emily Sirota says this massive shift in electoral operations — known as ranked choice voting — isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Today on the City Cast Denver podcast, the local politician makes her case for why Colorado’s elections are perfectly good just the way they are.