Denver's 800M bond proposal is in political peril

Denver City Council members criticize Mayor Mike Johnston's proposed $800 million bond package, describing it as "tone deaf," "thoughtless," and "rushed. " They argue the project list, developed by a handpicked executive committee, does not reflect their districts' priorities and lacks necessary cost estimates. During a tense meeting, council members conveyed their frustration, with Council member Paul Kashmann calling the list "meaningless" without financial figures. Johnston's office disagrees with claims of a rushed process and is preparing to submit a revised list by next week. Council members worry about the tight timeline to pass the bond package by early August, deeming it unrealistic without significant adjustments.

The lack of transparency and alignment with community needs raises concerns, particularly for historically underserved neighborhoods. Johnston plans to meet with each council member to better align the bond with their priorities. As Council member Amanda Sawyer emphasized, "Somebody needs to fix this. And quick.