THREAD: denver mayor

KHAN SECURES Historic Third Term: Conservatives Grapple with Defeat in London

04 May 2024 — Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party has won a third term as London’s mayor, securing nearly 44% of the vote. He outpaced his Conservative rival, Susan Hall, by more than 11 percentage points. This win is noted as the largest individual mandate in U.K. political history.

Contrary to expectations of a close contest, Khan’s significant lead reflects a shift from Conservative to Labour support since the last election in 2021. His time in office has been mixed, with progress in housing and transport but also rising crime rates and criticism over policies perceived as anti-car.

In his victory speech, Khan spoke about unity and resilience against negativity and division. He celebrated London’s diversity as its core strength and took a firm stand against right-wing populism. The eccentric candidate Count Binface added an unusual twist to the event with his presence at the announcement ceremony.

Denver’s MAYOR ATTACKS Republicans, Declares Service Cutbacks Amid Migrant Crisis

12 February 2024 — Mayor Mike Johnston (D-CO) has openly chastised Republican leadership for obstructing a migration deal proposed by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). This agreement would have permitted a large influx of migrants and allocated $5 billion for their resettlement across various cities and towns. Having already assisted 35,000 undocumented migrants, Johnston labeled the blocked deal as a “plan for shared sacrifice”.

Following the failure of this deal, Johnston declared that Denver will need to implement budget cuts to cover the costs associated with incoming migrants. He pointed fingers at Republicans for these reductions, asserting that their refusal to approve regime change will strain city budgets and services offered to newcomers. The mayor cautioned that more cutbacks are on the horizon.

The Congressional Budget Office highlighted in February that such migration policies redirect family wages and workplace investment towards Wall Street and government sectors while shifting attention away from American communities. In Denver specifically, an influx of impoverished migrants resulted in 20,000 hospital visits which led to a partial shutdown of a city hospital earlier this year.

Johnston’s announcement included service reductions at the DMV and Park & Recs departments with the aim of freeing up resources for undocumented immigrants. This decision has sparked criticism as it directly affects services available to Denver residents.