Elected Officials Speak Out

A New Year’s Message from Councilwoman Gilmore

Dear District 11 Community,

Happy New Year! This past year, while challenging, showed me how strong our community is. So many of you have shown resilience during these unknown circumstances, and for this, I want to thank you all.

I was so happy to see many of you at our 7th Annual District 11 Holiday Drive-Thru Event! We had over 250 vehicles come through to get boxed BBQ dinners from Famous Dave’s BBQ, sugar cookies, hot chocolate, listen to holiday music from DJ Duane Kuta, and see Santa, his reindeer, and his elves! It was a great way to close out the year for our office and show gratitude for our community.

Please make sure and get your booster shot as soon as possible! If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, all three COVID-19 vaccines, PfizerNBioTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the prevention of COVID-19. Booster vaccines are readily available through pharmacies and health care partners across the city. All three COVID-19 vaccines continue to be free to all Denver residents, and no insurance or identification is required. More information is available on our Get A Vaccine website, or you can text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English, or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish, to get the contact information of three nearby locations with available vaccines.

We are always listening and acting on your wants and needs to ensure that District 11 reflects your voice. Some of those include a new Sprouts grocery store, indoor pool, more efficient trash pick-up schedules, and more! As we say goodbye to 2021, we can be thankful for each other’s strength and look forward to all that’s to come in the New Year!

As always, you are our priority. Please reach out to me at 720-337-7711 or Stacie.Gilmore@denvergov.org if you need anything. Y

Un Mensaje de Año Nuevo De la Concejal Gilmore

Estimada Comunidad del Distrito 11, ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Este año pasado, aunque desafiante, me mostró lo fuerte que es nuestra comunidad. Muchos de ustedes han mostrado resistencia durante estas circunstancias desconocidas, y por ello, quiero darles las gracias a todos. ¡Estaba tan feliz de ver a muchos de ustedes en nuestro 7º Evento Anual de Drive-Thru Navideño del Distrito 11! Tuvimos más de 250 vehículos que pasaron para obtener cenas de barbacoa en caja de Famous Dave’s BBQ, galletas de azúcar, chocolate caliente, escuchar música navideña de DJ Duane Kuta y ver a Santa, sus renos y sus elfos. Fue una excelente manera de cerrar el año para nuestra oficina y mostrar gratitud por nuestra comunidad. ¡Asegúrese de obtener su vacuna de refuerzo lo antes posible! Si aún no se ha vacunado, las tres vacunas contra el COVID-19, Pfizer-NBioTech, Moderna y Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, han sido aprobadas por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) y el Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) para la prevención del COVID-19. Las vacunas de refuerzo están fácilmente disponibles a través de farmacias y socios de atención médica en toda la ciudad. Las tres vacunas contra el COVID-19 continúan siendo gratuitas para todos los residentes de Denver y no se requiere seguro ni identificación. Hay más información disponible en nuestro sitio web Get A Vaccine, o puede enviar un mensaje de texto con su código postal a GETVAX (438829) en inglés, o VACUNA (822862) en español, para obtener la información de contacto de tres lugares cercanos con vacunas disponibles.

Siempre estamos escuchando y actuando según sus deseos y necesidades para asegurar que el Distrito 11 refleje su voz. ¡Algunos de ellos incluyen una nueva tienda de comestibles Sprouts, piscina cubierta, horarios de recogida de basura más eficientes, y más! ¡Mientras nos despedimos de 2021, podemos estar agradecidos por la fuerza de cada uno y mirar adelante a todo lo que está por venir en el Año Nuevo!

Como siempre, ustedes son nuestra prioridad. Por favor comuníquese conmigo al 720337-7711 o Stacie.Gilmore-denvergov.org si necesita algo.Y

Denver Launches On-Demand Ride Share Pilot, Expanding Transit Options in Montbello

Late October 2021, the City and County of Denver celebrated the launch of a free ondemand ride share service in the Montbello neighborhood –a pivotal step in piloting new and expanded transit options for the City’s residents.

The Montbello Connector is a free ride share program led by Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) that Montbello residents can use to commute to local neighborhood destinations and transit stations. Riders can download the Montbello Connector mobile app or dial 720-868-0560 to request rides in English and Spanish. The service started October 11 within a 5.2 square mile service area that includes the Montbello Recreation Center, RTD Peoria Station, and convenient shopping destinations and is already averaging 60 rides a day.

“We’re able to do these types of local transit options that connect neighborhoods and improve quality of life in our city because voters said yes to an enhanced transportation department,” Mayor Michael B Hancock said. “With this pilot, we’re offering community members greater freedom of movement, and an affordable and convenient way to travel to neighborhood destinations and regional transit stops, and I encourage Montbello residents to give it a try!”

Denver chose Montbello for the pilot as it felt the service could meet the transportation needs of the neighborhood: •Providing rides for people with limited access to a vehicle, getting them to jobs, shopping, food, services and the RTD’s Peoria rail station and bus stops •Connecting older adults to shopping, services and medical appointments •Helping families by transporting youth to/from school and after school activities

DOTI contracted with Northeast Transportation onnections and Downtowner to operate the service and manage the mobile app for riders. The program strives to employ local drivers that meet a rigorous background clearance process. The pilot will run 12 months beginning October 2021.

Quick Facts About the Service:

•Riders use the Montbello Connector mobile app or call 720-868-0560 to request rides •The service is available weekdays from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. with on-demand trips anywhere in Montbello and between the Peoria Rail Station and the neighborhood. All rides are free. •The service utilizes three vehicles: a wheelchair accessible van, an eco-friendly plugin hybrid minivan and all-electric sedan (sedan purchased through the new voterestablished Climate Protection Fund). •Goal is to get people where they need to go within 30 minutes of hailing a ride. Y

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Denver Preschool Program helps every Denver family access the power of preschool.

Resources to help you find a preschool that best meets your family’s needs Tuition support to lower your monthly costs at more than 250 quality programs Don’t Forget—Denver Public Schools School Choice is open Janurary 14 through February 15!