Raw Politics: The Drumroll, Please
A Top-10 Wish List For The People Of Denver
By Penfield W. Tate, III
For the GPHN

As we are getting into the holiday spirit, gifts are coming from expected and unexpected places. One gift that all of us will hear more about is the massive infrastructure bill recently signed into law by President Joe Biden. Tune in next month for more on that.
For now, since it is that time of year, let me offer my Top 10 holiday wish list – proposed gifts to benefit the community. I wish:
No. 10: The march toward equity, inclusion and diversity continues with a just verdict in the Elijah McClain trial. And, that communities continue to aggressively reevaluate how safety is achieved with more effective and comprehensive policing in all neighborhoods, and particularly in communities of color.
No. 9: As we continue dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, we learn to accept the fact this is now an endemic. It will be part of our lives, and shape policy and relationships, for the foreseeable future. A manageable part, but a part no less.
No. 8: We will continue to embrace the virtual meetings that were once the bane of our existence and have now proved to be an invaluable part of life. They will forever change expectations about the workplace. So let’s recognize that civilization will not come to an end if you participate in a meeting or conference call from the kitchen wearing a nice top and your pajama bottoms.
No. 7: That the Denver government comes to realize if they want people to visit downtown, they need to make it possible for them to get into, park in and move around downtown. The proliferation of unused bus-only lanes and bicycle lanes and off-kilter parking spaces has become a maddening maze and has simply left people too angry to go downtown as is.
No. 6: That the City produce a real comprehensive plan to affectively address the plight of the unhoused, and Denver’s affordable housing crisis. Sweeps, sidewalk encampments and camping bans are not the answers. Reforming the permitting and approval process for shelters, expanding outdoor contained campsites with community support and aggressively requiring developers to include affordable units in all developments can no longer be delayed.
No. 5: That all the cities and county governments within the boundaries of the Regional Transportation District sit down with RTD, and once and for all, develop a comprehensive vision for transit and transportation for the entire region. While they’re at it, they figure out how to finance it in a manner that is not discriminatory towards the poor and actually works to help people get from one point to another in a reasonable time.
No. 4: Parents come to their senses and stop yelling at school boards about mask and vaccination mandates. Instead, they focus on a quality education for their kids while ensuring their safety, and the safety of the teachers we rely upon to educate our future generations.
No. 3: The City Council follow Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca’s lead and actually use its power to amend the next proposed mayoral budget to fund vital needs as expressed by the wishes of the people. If council members want to see real change, the budget is where you make it happen. Why have the political power if you do not use it? At the state level, the Governor proposes a budget, but the legislature writes the budget.
No. 2: The City of Denver, in recognition of the needs of the residents of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea, terminate its drive to put more public money into the redevelopment of the National Western Complex. Last month’s 2-to-1 defeat of measure 2E underscores a clear message to focus on redeveloping the neighborhoods in a fashion consistent with the desires, needs, and visions of the people in the community. Hopefully, this will lead to a better partnership between the neighborhoods and the National Western site.
No. 1: That Mayor Michael B. Hancock embraces the desires of the people of Denver and — following the sound advice of the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, not to mention a 2 -1 margin of support for Initiative 301 (and defeat of 302) by a vote of the people — instructs the city to purchase the Park Hill Golf Course land from the current developer and owner. The city can then move toward converting it into a regional multi-use open space and park venue for the people.
And … in a show of generosity and appreciation to all people of Denver, the developer agrees to sell the Park Hill Golf Course land to the City — for $1.
Happy holidays to you and yours. May your wishes come true.
Penfield W. Tate III is an attorney in Denver. He represented Park Hill in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000, and in the State Senate from 2001 to February 2003. He lives in Park Hill.