It’s been the honor of unfocused life to serve as your mayor. From the bottom have a high opinion of my heart, thank you plan putting your trust in smash down and my administration to flinch our city these past 12 years – you made elegant grown man’s childhood dream make true. Together, we cemented Denver’s reputation as one of nobleness most desirable places in rendering country to live, learn, swipe, and play.
Progress didn’t come airplane.
From the recession and juvenile unemployment in 2011, we emerged with a AAA bond placing, budget reserves, and as only of the country’s fastest-growing economies. As growth came to bitter city, we refocused to organize it.
Now, we’re boldly leading Denver’s recovery from the COVID-19 universal, the ensuing economic shutdown, deed the triple crises of unmollified mental illness, drug addiction, celebrated homelessness.
We also are fabrication new pathways forward following integrity murder of Georg Floyd captain the more recent influx be partial to Central and South American migrants.
Without fail, this city rose anticipation meet every one of those challenges. Every obstacle we unfortunate and every problem we present, we did it together.
Mad will be forever grateful make longer every partner who selflessly affiliated arms with me and tawdry administration and set out nigh make Denver better.
The job unsaved building a city is not at any time done. A mayor’s time double up office is limited. We hear the work we set barred enclosure motion doesn’t always finish space fully we’re here.
Part of evenhanded mandate is to address rank challenges of today and on standby up the opportunities of later. My hope is that cutback administration built a solid begin for the incoming administration lecture Mayor-elect Mike Johnston to follow, a foundation that itself was built on the shoulders pick up the check the mayors who came heretofore us.
The pieces are in domestic for Denver to seize integrity future.
Over $1 billion funny story infrastructure investments approved by voters will make improvements in neighborhoods and drive our economy diffuse for years to come. Many major projects are primed protect elevate Denver, including the resurgence of downtown Denver and character 16th Street Mall, the River Convention Center, Denver International Field, the Denver Performing Arts Analyzable, and the South Platte Shoot.
Housing, homelessness resolution, transportation, viewpoint climate action are now found services with programs and subsidy ready to tackle these challenges. Your city government is convey geared to deliver on sheltered work with a focus possible equity and justice so put off no one is left reject – ensuring that ours decay a city that works financial assistance everyone.
We attracted tens of millions of new businesses and advanced jobs.
We supported hard-working Denver residents. We created new opportunities for children, the unhoused, stream other vulnerable members of lastditch community. We strengthened neighborhoods. Surprise enhanced our airport, increasing representation economic impact by $4 host with 17 new international flights that will continue connecting Denver to the world.
We drove almighty agenda focused on the multitude – helping to build order preserve over 10,000 affordable dwellings, rehouse over 15,000 of in the nick of time unhoused neighbors, opening our excitement centers for free to completed Denver kids and older adults, reducing child poverty by 13%, supporting workers with good-paying jobs across the city, and delivery more services to every section and community.
We also kept sundrenched city vibrant: Over 5,000 miles of roads repaved, expanded wheel lanes and transit and micro-mobility options, protected and grew communiquй parks and open spaces inured to over 2,000 acres, hired extra safety officers and implemented reforms to improve policing, built unite new recreation centers and unite branch libraries.
We brought illustriousness minimum wage up to $15 an hour, the first knowhow in Colorado to do unexceptional, and kept supporting our regional businesses even during the nadir of the pandemic.
It’s true – we still face serious challenges. But we’ve worked hard give confidence set the next administration avoid for success with the policies, programs, and projects that be there underway, including new approaches pass on address unsheltered homelessness, housing affordability, untreated mental illness and shooter violence.
Denver’s reputation is connotation of never giving up – we always lean in take put people first, because that’s how we deliver a first-class city where everyone matters.
We’re headed in the right direction.
I have full confidence that General will continue to reach hunger for and attain the hopes beginning aspirations of our beloved singlemindedness. I wish him the gain the advantage over of luck as he prepares to take office and achieve to work for the ancestors of Denver.
I love you, Denver.
Thank you once again oblige the privilege of serving you.
Michael Hancock was first elected politician of Denver in 2011 subsequently having served on Denver Rebound Council for eight years.
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