The race for Denver mayor continues to heighten with fewer than 12 days before the runoff election on June four. On Thursday, incumbent Mayor Michael Hancock and challenger Jamie Giellis met for a debate.
One of the most important troubles in the debate changed into homeless policy. After all, it is a primary point of competition between the applicants.
Giellis would repeal the urban camping ban.
Hancock would hold the urban tenting ban.
Denver’s urban tenting ban lets in for so-known as sweeps in which metropolis officials can do away with homeless humans from parks and sidewalks.
“Spending a number of money on policing and criminalization is not getting us anywhere,” Giellis stated.
“How many of you have been to Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle? You know Denver does not resemble those towns,” Hancock stated in protecting the camping ban coverage.
Giellis’ homeless policy is perhaps the maximum nuanced. Giellis changed into against Initiative three hundred final month, which could have repealed the urban tenting ban. Now, she wants to repeal the coverage.
“The urban camping ban — and I’ve recommended Jamie to examine it so she’ll recognize — you can’t say ‘oppose I300,’ then turn around and say ‘repeal the camping ban’,” Hancock said.
“First off, I actually have examine the city camping ban, so thanks for that project,” Giellis responded. “I’m no longer flip-flopping at the urban camping ban. I suppose the city tenting ban hasn’t moved the needle at the trouble and three hundred wasn’t a solution.”
Both candidates are in desire of enhancing shelters and greater lower priced housing in addition to continuing this debate.
“You cannot just sprinkle fairy dust and expect the problem to go away,” Hancock stated to Giellis.
“I suppose its distinctly offensive to suggest I was promising to sprinkle fairy dust at the problem of homelessness,” Giellis answered.
