OFFICIAL STATEMENT
For Immediate Release

02.24.2023

Kwame Spearman announces new policy proposal; a “Neighborhood for Denver.”

Denver, CO—Having suffered under Donald Trump's punitive immigration policies, some Democrats are reluctant to even consider working with the federal government on immigration. But it’s a new day in America. We have a Democratic President who's made immigration reform a top priority.

Our broken immigration system isn't a red problem or a blue problem—it's an us problem. And together, we can solve it.

But that requires a top-line, coordinated response where cities like Denver lead and inform this solution with compassion and pragmatism. And it also requires a top-line, coordinated response across the federal, state, and local governments. That makes sense: We can't talk about fixing our broken system without everyone at the table. We need to know what the federal government is planning and doing - at the state level, and certainly at the city level.

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“Denver’s one-size-fits-all approach to governance has become outdated as the city has grown and become more diverse. Our current system is not meeting the unique needs of each neighborhood,” said Spearman. “And it has become necessary to make city government work for each neighborhood. As part of my Neighborhood Agenda, my office will work with council members, local community leaders, and people in the neighborhoods to identify policy priorities for every neighborhood of Denver, and as mayor, require Denver’s department policies tailored to the priorities and unique needs of each of Denver’s diverse neighborhoods.”

During the announcement, Spearman pledged to visit all 78 neighborhoods during the course of his campaign, to ensure that the voice and unique needs of every neighborhood is heard and represented. Spearman went on to explain, “from policing, to zoning, affordability, local economies, and beyond, it is imperative that neighborhood needs drive city policy, and not the other way around.”

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Spearman acknowledged the efforts of current mayor, Michael Hancock and his administration, who launched Denver’s Neighborhood Planning Initiative in 2017. “I believe that the Neighborhood Planning Initiative launched by Mayor Hancock is a step towards addressing the needs of Denver’s neighborhoods. While progress has been made, it is unfortunate that more progress hasn’t been made, and our neighborhoods face even greater challenges as Denver emerges from COVID-19. I want to improve and build on this work and make sure that each neighborhood has a plan and go further than this, to ensure that the entire city government is responsive to specific neighborhood needs,” said Spearman.

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Spearman specifically emphasized that what sets his Neighborhood Agenda apart is its focus on making neighborhood needs central to the policies and operations of all government agencies in Denver, not just a separate initiative or program, as well as his focus as Mayor on identifying the key policy needs of each of Denver’s neighborhoods.

“As someone who was born in Denver and raised in the Montclair neighborhood and who now operates business locations in McGregor Square and on Colfax, I understand the unique needs and characteristics of Denver’s neighborhoods,” said Kwame Spearman. “I know firsthand that the needs of Montclair are vastly different from those of McGregor Square, and as owner of Tattered Cover, I have seen the diverse needs of our city’s small businesses and the impact that government policies can have on them.”

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Spearman specifically emphasized that what sets his Neighborhood Agenda apart is its focus on making neighborhood needs central to the policies and operations of all government agencies in Denver, not just as separate initiatives or programs. Additionally, he highlighted that the Mayor’s office would be working with neighborhoods to identify priorities, not siloed in any single city department.

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“My Neighborhood Agenda requires all of the agencies of Denver’s government to align their policies and operations with the specific needs of each neighborhood,” said Spearman. “As mayor, I will make it a matter of policy to require government agencies to align with the Neighborhood Agenda, putting the neighborhoods of Denver first, and aligning all government policy with neighborhood needs,” said Spearman.

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Spearman believes that this comprehensive neighborhood-based approach is essential for the future of Denver, “I believe that as Denver emerges from COVID-19, revitalizing and renewing neighborhoods and a sense of community in Denver is essential to rebuilding not just the economy, but also its spirit. We need to restore the sense of community we’ve lost in Denver, especially in our neighborhoods.”

Spearman highlighted that there is a lot of existing infrastructure that can be used to kickstart his Neighborhood Agenda for Denver. He plans to work with city council members and the city council community meeting process to directly get input from neighborhoods, as well as community boards, registered neighborhood organizations (RNOs), local business organizations, and other key stakeholders. He also emphasized the importance of creating more inclusive and local forums to give the neighborhoods of Denver the ability to direct how the city government works for them and their needs.

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Spearman declared his desire to be the “Neighborhood Mayor,” emphasizing his commitment to prioritizing the needs of Denver’s diverse neighborhoods. “It’s time for a new approach to governance in Denver,” said Spearman. “I am committed to being a mayor for all neighborhoods, not just a select few. With my Neighborhood Agenda, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the unique needs of every neighborhood are heard and represented” said Spearman.

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“I understand that Denver has gotten bigger, and with all of its success has come growing pains. We need to restore a sense of community and get the neighborhoods back,” said Spearman. “With a Neighborhood Agenda, as the next mayor of Denver, I will be better able to deliver smart, effective government that will restore both a sense of local community and build a better Denver.”

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He concluded “the Neighborhood Agenda is about more than just policy, it’s about creating a government that is truly responsive to the needs of its residents and building a better Denver for everyone,” said Spearman. “With this in place, we will work together with the community to ensure that every neighborhood has a voice, and that no one is left behind.”

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