Submitted by Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer
Happy Winter Holidays to everyone! From the entire District 5 Team, we hope your season is bright and meaningful and spent with family and friends – even if only virtually.
2021 was another extraordinary year. Thank you to everyone who helped our community thrive during this unprecedented time. In the District 5 office, 2021 was focused on responding to community concerns with projects and initiatives that reflect our four core values: Transparency, Accountability, Customer Service and Good Communication. Looking toward 2022, our Work Plan continues to center around your feedback. Some of the initiatives our office will pursue in 2022 are:
Traffic Studies. My office has again engaged traffic engineering firm Fehr & Peers to conduct two more traffic studies: 6th Ave. from Colorado Blvd. to Quebec St., and S. Dayton St. from Alameda Ave. to Mississippi Ave. We have confirmed with Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) that implementation funding for installation of some recommended improvements will be included in the 2023 Budget. Stay tuned for information on upcoming community meetings and feedback surveys.
Civil Wage Theft Ordinance. We have seen that post-pandemic economic recovery for our low-wage workers has not mirrored the economic recovery of the city’s high-wage earners. We also know that wage theft is a significant issue in Denver, particularly in the construction, home care, janitorial, and hospitality industries. To combat these challenges, we are working on a civil wage theft ordinance that would give the Denver Auditor’s Office the ability to investigate and collect unpaid, earned wages on behalf of workers in Denver.
Gun Buy Back Program. To help address the uptick in violent crime across the Front Range, we are working with the Denver Department of Safety, Denver Police Department, and the City of Aurora to launch a gun buy-back program. We have created a partnership with a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit organization, RAWtools, that purchases the guns from owners, melts them down, and turns them into garden tools. While I recognize that criminals won’t be turning in their weapons, DPD has seen a significant uptick in guns being stolen out of cars and homes, and then being used in other crimes. Our goal is to help alleviate those gun thefts by providing a no-questions-asked opportunity for residents to turn in unwanted guns.
Spring Parks Clean Up Day on Sunday, May 15. Volunteers’ energy and enthusiasm drive our twice-a-year Clean-Up Days. Save the date on Sunday, May 15 to clean half of D5’s City-managed Parks. Rain date: Sunday, May 22.
You are the heartbeat of our communities! To help our Team continue to plan and prioritize around the issues that matter to you, please complete the survey at bit.ly/D5ResidentSurvey2021 by December 31. Thank you for your input!
As always, feel free to contact our office at [email protected] or 720-337-5555 with comments or questions. Go to the D5 website for community updates and resources: bit.ly/D5Website; sign up to receive our monthly newsletter and updates at bit.ly/Council5News, and we’ll also keep you apprised of developments as they happen through our social media:
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