Elected officials could really clean up Denver

To our elected representatives, including Gov. Jared Polis and the 17 individuals who believe they are best qualified to lead the great city of Denver as our next mayor:

What has happened to our once-beautiful city and the municipalities that make up the greater Denver metropolitan area? Garbage and debris are overtaking our streets, highways and neighborhoods.

The candidates say they have “a plan” to fix homelessness, affordable housing and the dramatic increase in crime in our once-beautiful city. Still, no one is talking about how our once-beautiful metropolitan area is, well, not so beautiful anymore. It’s not just an eyesore; it’s a safety issue.

The amount of garbage on our streets and highways is overwhelming. Our streets are littered with large, dangerous obstacles like fenders, bumpers, tires and furniture.

The people sleeping on the streets are a contributing factor but certainly not the primary cause of the problem. This is not a Democrat- or Republican-caused issue. No, this is on us — the residents, the employers and the many companies operating trucks with no cover to contain its contents. It is, however, on our elected officials to allocate the funds and fix the problem and effectuate consequences on those who are causing the problem.

The situation is out of control and, if not addressed soon, will impact the number and quality of companies wanting to come (or stay) in the area, which in turn will impact household income, home values and tax revenues.

— Andy Heins, |Denver