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11 15 24 Mayor Johnston on how Trump's immigration policies could affect residents
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Plus, I get a daily login bonus. It's just too bad that up here, I don't have anyone to share my excitement with. Live the Tumbalife anytime, anywhere, play for free now at chumbacacasino.com. B-W-Room, no purchase necessary, void and prohibited by law, see terms and conditions, 18-plus. Gina Gontek and Marty Lenz on Colorado's Morning News, joining us now on the K-Wade Common Spirit Health Hotline is Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for your time this morning. Good morning. Good to be with you all. Hey, the city is holding some meetings that are happening this week with some of the local migrants in our area, answering some of the concerns and questions they may have about President-elect Trump's new policies. What have those meetings, what have you heard, what is being said, and what is the future of what they might see in the President-elect Trump's legacy? No, we obviously don't know exactly what the president will propose. He's talked about trying to round up folks who are undocumented and deport them, and I think that includes not just newcomers. Those could be folks who've been here for 20 years and have raised families here and are working in the city, and so we understand there is some concern around the city. I think we're very clear that none of our work or our values will change as a city. We're helping people connect themselves to jobs and to school opportunities and services that they need, and so we're committed to making sure that Denver is both a highly productive and functioning city and a welcoming one, and so those won't change, and we'll wait to see what the president does, but we're not planning on supporting families being broken up or deported. We don't think that's productive for the city or for the country. Mayor Johnston, should we understand that the changes with the all-in-mile high, they are because we've got good news when it comes to getting those that are unhoused, housed and the like? Yeah, you know, we're really happy about the progress for those of you that followed our budget this week. We just got final budget approved, and it was a very successful budget actually passed with no amendments, meaning city council and we were all aligned on how to move forward, so that was great. But two major things you'll notice is a significant reduction in the funding for our all-in effort that drops by about $60 million from this year to next year, and you'll see a 90% drop in our funding for our migrant services, and so I think both of those show that we were able to stand up successful programs, run them, and now we can significantly reduce the cost to have them be ongoing, successful in a strategic and predictable way, and so that, you know, the all-in costs were high last year because we had to buy the properties we're using for housing. Now that we don't have to, it's just ongoing services, so we think these are going to get more efficient, these services, and they're going to get more effective. What are some other line items of the budget this year that listeners should be aware of that may be a little different than what we've seen in a tight budget that we have now? Yeah, you know, I think that we, like many families in the city are facing a tight budget, so we had to tighten the belt a bit. You know, this is the first time in almost 15 years the city has slowed the growth of government, and it's reduced the size of government, and we think that was important, and yet we didn't back off on core commitments to one place. We are still growing, the city is in public safety, you know, we'll add another 168 officers to the street this year. We're adding 911 call takers, we're making sure we do have the safety personnel, we need citywide, but we're going to make sure that we're spending wisely as we can, and being conservative in these type fiscal times, and so, but, you know, core services, we're still absolutely supporting. We're obviously very excited about the investments we're making in downtown, with the passing of the downtown Denver Authority, to help convert a lot of these vacant office buildings into residential, where people can live and afford to live downtown, we'll still focus on affordability citywide, we'll still focus on safety citywide, and we'll still focus on economic recovery and job opportunities all across the city. So, I think it's a responsible budget, but we think a very powerful one to drive our key priorities. I'm going to elevate this a little bit and squeeze in one last question before we let you go. What was your reaction to Governor Polis' reaction to President-elect Trump's nomination of RFK Jr. to head up the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services? Yeah, I do not think that he's qualified to run the Department of Human Services. I think it's an unfortunate choice. I think there are a lot of these nominees that will have trouble from thoughtful bipartisan Senate. I think people are looking for the best and the brightest who have shown a real record of accomplishment in their field, and there are a lot of dignified health officials who have done that for 20 or 30 years, who would be well positioned to lead this agency. I don't think that's RFK. Big fan of his father. I would say this apple fell pretty far from the tree. So for me, that was not the best pick, but obviously the president can see if he can get him confirmed. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for your time this morning. Thanks for chatting with us a little later. We had voiced the Broncos Dave Logan on earlier, and he was talking about your big fan bonics and the quarterback and all the successes that he's had, so you should be pretty happy about that as the leader of the Phoenix fan club. I mean, last Sunday broke my heart, but I felt like that was the best complete game anyone's played against the Chiefs in a year. So one field goal short is a heartbreaker, but I now know there's a team that could be the Kansas City Chiefs and it's us, so I like those odds. Mayor Johnston, thank you. Thanks, y'all. Well, there's only one feeling like knowing your banker personally, like growing up with a bank you can count on, like being sure what you've earned is safe, secure, and local. There's only one feeling like knowing you're supporting your community. You deserve more from a bank. You deserve an institution that stood strong for generations. Bank of Colorado, there's only one. Over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFLShop is your ultimate destination for the official NFL sideline collection worn by players and coaches on GameDay. Explore the same sideline and on-fuel gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFLShop. To shop now, go to NFLShop.com. It is Ryan Seacrest here. 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