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Railroad Safety
Two train derailments in Ohio have shown a spotlight on the danger posed by freight rail lines like those that run through Denver. In the most recent accident, a 212-car train derailed; twenty-eight cars left the track. Fortunately, the cars that left the track were not carrying hazardous materials. The residents of East Palestine, Ohio, were not as fortunate. That accident spilled toxic chemicals leading to a controlled burn that released toxins into the air. Residents near the rail line were evacuated. While government officials have said they haven’t detected dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or municipal water, residents worry about the long-term health impacts. Their complaints of headaches, coughs and rashes have, as yet, not been tied directly to the accident. Residents also reported chickens, cats and dogs falling ill. The Kentucky Department of Natural Resources estimates 38,222 small fish or minnows were killed, and 5500 – 5550 other aquatic species such as crayfish, newts, frogs, snails, and insects. In a bi-partisan action, the U.S. Senators from Ohio have introduced legislation to regulate rail carriers and hold railroad companies accountable. Senator Bennet has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend a decision to allow 4.6 billion gallons of waxy crude oil to be shipped through Colorado from the Uinta Basin in Utah to the Gulf Coast. This would dramatically increase the amount of hazardous materials traveling through Denver.
Denver can’t wait for federal action to protect our environment and our citizens. The city has the power and responsibility to mitigate risks from hazardous materials incidents and derailments, as well as to be prepared to respond to incidents and use its power to regulate land use close to rail lines. Our fire department continually trains to respond to rail incidents. I assisted the department in securing a grant to acquire a rail tank car training apparatus that simulates flammable liquid incidents and several contaminant detectors to quickly identify chemicals. Now it is time to turn to regulating land use and development.
Blueprint Denver, the city’s primary planning document, calls for continued development along rail corridors. Four of the five “regional centers” identified in Blueprint Denver for the highest intensity of development are located along railroad main lines. In the past, when fewer rail cars were traversing the city, we approved development of apartment buildings like Encore Evans Station (18 feet from the edge of the railroad right-of-way) and apartments in the Central Platte Valley that are 26 feet from the railroad right-of-way without appropriate mitigation of risks associated with release of hazardous materials or train derailments. It is time to provide city agencies the power and responsibility to review these developments for risk mitigation during the permitting process. We also must assure that residents have clear evacuation routes and that emergency responders have access in the event residents are required to evacuate.
Sincerely,
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Deborah "Debbie" Ortega
Councilwoman At-Large
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Community News & Information | |
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Eviction Assistance
Free legal services are available for low to moderate income households (at or below 80% of the area median income) facing an eviction. Information on free legal services can be obtained from:
For more information click here
Food Resources
All students enrolled in Denver Public Schools will have access to breakfast and lunch meals at no cost, regardless of free and reduced meal eligibility. Students who select a school lunch, will go to the cafeteria line and choose from a variety of entrees and fruit/vegetable sides. Families who would like to get meals for children at home may go to their nearest school cafeteria and request meals for children 18 years and younger. Families are encouraged to complete an application to be eligible for additional family benefits and school funding, including items such as fee waivers, EBT benefits, and to ensure proper funding for schools.
Grab-and-Go Suppers at Denver Parks and Recreation Center
Grab-and-Go suppers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for youth between the ages of 1-18, Monday – Friday from 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. For updated information and a full list of all Tasty Food Sites and Schedules click here.
Denver Urban Gardens Grow a Garden Program (DUG)
Apply to get seeds, seedlings, and education for growing a garden at home or in one of DUG's gardens. The cost is on a sliding scale and no one will be turned away on ability to pay. The kits will be available for pick up May 15-20. Apply starting February 1 here.
Denver Master Composter Training Program
The Denver Urban Garden Master Composter Training Program is a ten-session training course in partnership with the Denver Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency Office (CASR) that prepares individuals to be Master Composters and share their newly acquired knowledge with others in the community. Participants learn about a broad range of compost and recycling topics, including the science behind the composting process, resource conservation, and the effective use of compostable household materials in gardens and home landscapes. The cost is $75 and the program begins in February. Learn more and apply here.
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Snow Shoveling Tips to be a Great Neighbor!
It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the sidewalks adjacent to their home or business clear and accessible. Shovel all sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, and bus stops around your home as soon as it's practical and safe. Businesses have 4 hours after the snow stops to shovel, and residents have 24 hours. (RTD only shovels bus stops that have a shelter. If it’s just a sign with no shelter, the resident/business is responsible for this sidewalk.)
Show kindness and offer to help your neighbors if they aren't able to shovel! Neighbors helping neighbors is one of the things that makes Denver great. You can volunteer to be an official “snow angel” here or just do a #NeighborCheck. There are all sorts of reasons why people may need assistance, or they may just not know what the city’s rules are for keeping sidewalks clear.
Here are some helpful tips for shoveling snow:
- Use the shovel to push the snow; don't lift it.
- Shovel early! When snow isn't shoveled, it gets packed down and becomes ice. Shoveling all the way to the pavement will also prevent ice from forming.
- Shovel into your yard and not into roadways and bike lanes.
- Salt can be damaging when it runs off into your lawn or the storm sewer with the snowmelt. Look for ecofriendly and pet-safe deicers.
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Be proactive and come up with a plan for addressing sidewalks now, before it’s snowing.
Need Help Paying for Trash Pickup?
Denver will provide rebates on waste services for low-income households. Customers may qualify for 50%, 70%, or 100% off their bill based on their income and the number of people in the home. You can apply online here.
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Denver Public Library Drop In Program
If you're looking for help navigating resources and connections, meet with a DPL Peer Navigator. Peer navigators will talk through your needs and help you find information about services and support such as mental/physical health, substance recovery, reentry, human services, and food resources (i.e. food banks and warm/served meals). For more information email peerresourcenavigation@denverlibrary.org or call (720)534-1382.
Si necesitas ayuda para buscar recursos y conexiones, hable con un Especialista en Recursos de las Bilblioteca Pública de Denver. Los Especialistas en Recursos hablarán con usted sobre sus necesidades y le ayudarán a encontrar información sobre servicios y apoyo para salud mental y fisica, rehabilitación por uso de sustancias, rehabilitación social, servicios sociaes y recuros alimenrarios como bancos de alimentos y servicio de comida preparadas. Para mas información contacte peerresourcenavigation@denverlibrary.org o llame (720)534-1382.
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Free days at the Denver Art Museum
Visit the Denver Art Museum on Saturday, April 11, to enjoy free general admission. Learn more about what’s available to explore with a general admission ticket here. Free day tickets may be reserved in advance here, or at the front desk upon entry.
Free days at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens on Saturday, April 22 for free. To get tickets click here.
Free trees from Denver Forestry
In Denver, trees help beautify our city. They’re also one of the best ways to fight heat islands. A diverse urban canopy can even deter dangerous pests. Bottom line: Trees are the best! With spring right around the corner and the weather warming up, now is the time to apply for your free tree from the city. Join the thousands of Denver residents who have received a free tree for their right-of-way from Denver’s Office of the City Forester. Check out their website for commonly asked questions, information to help determine if there is room in your right-of-way, and to submit your free tree request if you qualify here.
2023 Food Truck Symposium
April 19th is the Food Truck Symposium from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum, located at 4600 Humbolt St., Denver, 80216. This free symposium offers food trucks and trailers the unique experience to communicate directly with the City agencies responsible for regulating food trucks in Denver. The Denver Fire Department is hosting this event and will be promoting and educating on our new safety inspection and permitting changes in 2023. A variety of food truck industry businesses will be there including food truck fabricators, suppression system inspections companies, hood cleaning companies, restaurant food and equipment suppliers, commissary operators, and more. This event will have various presentations, vendor booths, fire safety, and food safety courses. For more information contact dfdmobiles@denvergov.org or call (720)454-6692.
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Spring Parks Clean Up Day
District 5 will be hosting a Spring Parks Clean Up Day on Sunday, April 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering you can sign up here. Below is a list of parks that will be included in this clean up event:
· 6th Avenue Parkway (Monaco to Quebec)
· Bayaud Park
· Denison Park
· Great Lawn Park
· John W Barnes Park
· Kittredge Park
· Lindsley Park
· Mayfair Park
· New Freedom Park
· Robinson Park
What's On Your Mind?
Every week, starting at 5:00 PM, the Denver City Council hosts a 30-minute public comment session before the meeting of Council, inviting members of the public to address the full Council on any topic that is not scheduled for a public hearing. Each speaker gets a maximum of 3 minutes to speak on any topic of his/her choice. Sign up starts at 12:00 PM on the Friday before the next scheduled general public comment sign up here or by calling 720-337-2000.
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