Councilman Kevin Flynn

HIGH POINTS

YOU are part of what I'm grateful for as your councilman

This is the time of year when many of us reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. In my personal life I am blessed to have an amazingly wonderful wife, loving family and caring friends. Since November is National Gratitude Month I want to share with you some highlights for which I am most grateful as your elected City Council member for District 2.

POSITIVE CHANGES

• New Restaurant — We are getting a new restaurant in the former Rosemary Café! And I’m even happier to say it will be locally operated by a Harvey Park resident, Josh Epps, who is well known for his two Jelly breakfast restaurants in Capitol Hill and the DU neighborhood. The new place will be called Harvey Park Grille, serving lunch, dinner and likely a weekend brunch. I was able to connect with Josh early in the process to tell him all about the plans for that former Target store area that my community-based South Sheridan Steering Committee came up with. And I had a personal connection with Josh; my youngest son was part of his opening day kitchen crew at the first Jelly in 2011. 
• Park Improvements — Several parks in District 2 are getting improvements. The largest project is the development of a master plan for Bear Creek Park that includes an updated accessible playground (don’t worry, the sombrero slide stays), relocating the regional trail to the south side of the creek, a bike skills course and a more formalized network of trails. And new playgrounds are in the works for Loretto Heights Park, Stanford & Balsam Park and Garland & Saratoga Park. 
• Community Theater — The Loretto Heights theater project is moving closer to becoming a new attraction in southwest Denver. In 2021, voters approved a $30 million bond for the project which is now in the design phase. Renovation of the May Bonfils Stanton Theater and construction of a parking garage should begin in 2023 with completion in 2025. 
• Cultural Hub — The City is in negotiations to purchase the library building that is adjacent to the theater on the Loretto Heights campus. The addition of the library to the project would provide us with a comprehensive arts complex that is a first in our part of the city.  

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY

• Nine New Officers — Nine new police officers are coming to Denver Police District 4, which serves southwest Denver. The new officers started field training the last weekend of October. Our police district has been understaffed for the past two years, so let’s welcome them and thank them for choosing to serve our community. 
• Full-time Outreach — Officers Rich Blea and Blake McGregor of Police District 4 are now assigned full-time to a Homelessness Outreach Team. I am grateful for their compassionate approach and desire to connect the individuals who living on our streets, parks and creeksides with resources that can help them get into housing and other services, while letting them know camping in our parks and on our streets is not an option. 
• Resources for Resolving Homelessness — I recently gathered a group of professionals from several City agencies, including the mayor’s office and the Department of Housing Stability, to better coordinate efforts in Council District 2 to serve people who are homeless. It’s a complex issue without simple solutions, so I am thankful for the many City resources that exist to help individuals who are living on the streets to navigate our range of services and get on the continuum toward safe and humane living accommodations. 

AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY

• Active Participation — Southwest Denver residents have proven on many occasions to care deeply about our neighborhoods. Recently we’ve had outstanding attendance at community meetings that are important to our district — from more than a hundred people at a safety meeting in the Marston neighborhood, to 52 people at a Neighborhood Watch organizing meeting, to close to 30 people at a gathering to launch a community garden, to continued attendance and engagement at Registered Neighborhood Organization meetings, this is a community that cares! 
• Open Communication — I am also grateful for each of you that takes the time to reach out to my office with questions and concerns. It is through your willingness to address issues that our City can and will do better. Your input about City services and problems you experience in our neck of the woods lets me know what is important, and how I should focus my efforts as your council representative. I look forward to hearing from more of you. 

Happy National Gratitude Month! Happy Veterans Day! Happy Thanksgiving!

Kevin Flynn

Bear Valley Cop Shop needs volunteers

The November Two-Minute Talk takes you inside the Bear Valley Cop Shop and provides information about how to become a Cop Shop volunteer. 

Kennedy High School LeafDrop site opens for weekends

LeafDrop 2022 weekend drop sites are open! Southwest Denver can take leaves to Kennedy High School on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 4-20. 

CLAIM YOUR BAGS

Before raking up your leaves, use this coupon to pick up a pack of free compostable paper bags. Free 5-packs of paper leaf bags are available at an Ace Hardware store near you. (Call ahead to confirm that bags are in stock.)

DROP YOUR LEAVES AT AN APPROVED SITE 

Take your paper bags full of leaves to a LeafDrop location. Remember, when dropping off your raked leaves, use paper bags – they can be composted along with the leaves!

Return ballots by Nov. 8 at 3 locations in southwest Denver

The deadline has passed to return your ballot for the 2022 General Election by mail. You can return ballots to one of the 24-hour ballot drop-off boxes located throughout the city.

In Council District 2, drop boxes are located at the Harvey Park Recreation Center, The Bear Valley Branch Library and the Southwest Recreation Center. 

Ballots must be received by the Denver Elections Division by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. 

Vote centers are located throughout Denver for those who wish to cast their ballot in person. In Council District 2, vote centers are located at both the Harvey Park and Southwest recreation centers. Make a plan to vote early to avoid a wait. Voters must be in line to vote by 7 p.m. on Election Day. 

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