The President, Governor, and Mayor have all issued emergency declarations. For Denver, this will increase access to funds for reimbursement. Denver has spent $500,000 in supplies and materials so far, and anticipate costs will escalate dramatically. The Mayor has already directed agency heads to begin budget belt-tightening procedures and we will need your help as well in anticipation of significant revenue shortfalls for at least March and April and likely longer.
These facilities are closed for 8 weeks:
--- Colorado Convention Center
--- Denver Performing Arts Complex
--- Denver Coliseum
--- Red Rocks
--- McNichols Building
IMPORTANT:
--- The Mayor has reduced the number of allowable participants to 50 at permitted events and extending the time period to 8 weeks.
--- Restaurants and bars are closed to on-site consumption, allowing for drive-throughs, take-out and delivery, beginning tomorrow morning at 8 AM and extending for 8 weeks until May 11.
--- Recreation centers and libraries are closed until further notice (we will continue to operate meal programs at participating rec centers)
--- The city’s Division of Motor Vehicle branches are closed to the public until further notice, but there is a grace period through April 9 for car registration.
--- Starting today and for at least the next two weeks, Clerk and Recorder Lopez has suspended all in-person transactions for Elections, Recordings, Marriages, Public Trustee and City Clerk operations.
--- The Mayor has redirected sheriff’s deputies away from executing eviction notices until further notice, and we will also not be booking certain low-level, non-violent arrestees into the jails.
--- County and District courts are providing additional guidance for the public about when they do and do not need to appear in person.
--- We are working with all of our homeless service providers and Mile High United Way to streamline donations of supplies, cash and volunteers. Volunteers should be directed to www.unitedwaydenver.org/covid-relief/. Donations of cleaning supplies and other materials for homeless shelters should be dropped off from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Martin Luther King Jr. and Lincoln/La Alma Recreation Centers (3880 Newport St. and 1325 W. 11th Ave., respectively).
--- Both Xcel Energy and Denver Water have announced they are suspending utility shut-offs for non-payment while we remain in a state of emergency.
--- We are preparing a package to help support workers and businesses that will be hit hardest by this emergency. We’ll have additional details later this week.
In the meantime, we want to remind you, so you can remind your constituents, about existing resources:
--- Property Tax & Rent Relief Program – for residents older than 65, people with a disability, or low-income residents
--- Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance (TRUA) – emergency rent and utility payments for those who qualify
--- Denver Human Services offers eviction and rental assistance
--- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) – offering eligible residents help with a portion of their winter home heating bills
Since information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is constantly changing please visit the following websites to get the latest information:
--- City and County of Denver – www.denvergov.org – see banner on top of the home page. Libraries, recreation centers, venues and the DMV are closed.
--- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus – includes testing information.
--- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-cov/index.html
--- Denver Public Schools are closed through April 6. Grab & Go meals are available to eligible families. Learn from home resources are available including free internet.
--- https://www.dpsk12.org/coronavirus/ --- Resources for older adults
--- http://www.drcog.networkofcare.org/ or by calling: 303-480-6700.
--- Meals on Wheels - https://www.voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-mow or by calling 303-297-0408
Message from Denver City Council District 4, Councilwoman Kendra Black
To avoid exposure, the city has cancelled nonessential meetings and encouraged employees to work from home. Council office staff will be working from home this week. We are available for conference calls and will replace in-person meetings with phone calls. We are still responding to voicemails and emails.
Please call the office at 720-337-4444 to leave a voicemail or email using the addresses below. We will respond promptly and within 24 hours.
--- Denver City Council District 4: Councilwoman Kendra Black – kendra.black@denvergov.org
--- Kathy Gile - kathy.gile@denvergov.org
--- Taylor Cohn – taylor.cohn@denvergov.org
--- Genny Kline – genevieve.kline@denvergov.org
