It’s not surprising that Denver is struggling with a variety of problems.
Businesses and families are leaving the city due to the lack of affordability, the crime and the bad policies of the City Council.
Denver might be entering a “doom loop.”
A doom loop is when a city loses their tax revenue, and is then unable to maintain basic infrastructure, leading to more people and businesses to leave the city, only making the revenue problem worse.
We’ve seen all the signs of a doom loop in Denver: A slowdown in revenue, gangs and homelessness pushing people away from public spaces, a lack of opportunity for entrepreneurs, and declining school enrollment.
So what can be done to stop this downward spiral?
In the video, Brandon explores some ideas. Please let me know what you think!
Links from the video:
Denver’s most heartbreaking restaurant closures of 2024: https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/16/restaurant-closures-denver-2024/
Michelin-recommended dining mainstay closing in Denver after 18 years: https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/16/fruition-restaurant-closing-denver-michelin-chef-alex-seidel/
Inflation rising again in metro Denver as food prices drive up index: https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/12/denver-inflation-food-prices-dairy/
Where Does Colorado Rank in Mental Health: 2024 Update: https://www.axismh.com/post/where-does-colorado-rank-in-mental-health-2024-update
City targets parking lot crime with lighting regulations: https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-parking-lot-lights/article_9bce0b24-b80d-11ef-a109-b3fb96e16135.html
Denver wants to get rid of minimum parking requirements for all new development: https://denverite.com/2024/12/09/denver-parking-minimums-requirements-eliminated-proposal-2024/
Council defends nonprofit that report says failed to deliver mental health promise, despite millions spent: https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-city-council-denver-cares/article_a13137ec-b69d-11ef-8cf8-dfe074b1c288.html
What to know about Denver’s $150 (or more) sidewalk fees coming in 2025: https://denverite.com/2024/12/05/denver-sidewalk-fees-implementation-faq-2025/
Needle Exchange Amendment removing the 1,000 feet from school requirement: https://denver.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7047183&GUID=5B2AD331-5262-4BEF-A961-54B94A5C3EFC&Options=ID|Text|&Search=24-1791
Denver Spent $150 Million in Untracked Expenses for Homeless Shelters, Audit Reveals: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/denver-spent-150-million-in-untracked-expenses-for-homeless-shelters-audit-reveals/
Urban Doom Loop: What It Is and How Cities Can Stop It: https://now.tufts.edu/2023/08/16/urban-doom-loop-what-it-and-how-cities-can-stop-it
Denver revenue forecast declines amid increase in spending, decrease of sales tax income: https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-general-fund-revenue-slump/article_8c87f1d2-4eb5-11ef-bc85-3fdf35bf80fe.html
Denver’s budget will see its smallest growth in 14 years, aside from the pandemic: https://denverite.com/2024/09/12/denver-city-budget-2025-takeaways/
Denver Public Schools superintendent has one month to decide which schools will close: https://www.denver7.com/lifestyle/education/denver-public-schools-superintendent-has-one-month-to-decide-which-schools-will-close
