Denver residents and nonprofit leaders urged the Denver City Council on Aug. 4 to adopt bond funding for accessibility upgrades and affordable housing, while some public commenters warned the package prioritizes other projects and could deepen the city's debt.

The appeals came during the council's half-hour general public comment session, where speakers spoke for three minutes each and addressed a range of city issues tied to the upcoming bond measures.

Nancy Burke, CEO of Saint Francis Center, told the council, "We are urging you to support the $11,400,000 in investment for ADA upgrades and accessibility improvements." Burke also urged support for "the $32,000,000 in affordable housing," saying those investments would help people who need accessibility accommodations and assist community members who are one paycheck away from homelessness.

Several other speakers tied bond priorities to perceived gaps in services or infrastructure. Solomon Geigel, a Capitol Hill resident and board member of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, said the bond failed to deliver projects shown as community priorities and that he would "not be supporting the bond and will be voting no unless some major changes are made." Teresa Wynne, a Capitol Hill resident, urged the city to prioritize protected bike lanes on Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets to improve safety and connect neighborhoods to downtown.

Not all comments supported the bond package. Jessica LeSean Paris, representing several community groups, criticized city leadership and raised concerns about the city's finances, saying, "This mayor needs to go. He has put us in a $250,000,000 shortfall," and warning voters about the scale of planned borrowing. Brandy Majors and others raised equity questions about who benefits from large cultural or capital projects included in the city's broader spending plans.

Speakers who advocated for ADA and housing funding emphasized service gaps for people with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness, and encouraged council members to preserve or increase proposed allocations. Commenters opposed to parts of the package argued the city should reallocate funds to neighborhood priorities such as bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

The public comment period does not itself change council action; it provides input for council members and staff as the council negotiates bond language and final allocations in upcoming meetings. The council did not take formal votes during the public comment session.

Public commentators noted specific funding figures and priorities but did not cite enabling ordinances or final bond text during this session; questions about final allocations and debt implications remain pending council review and formal motions at later agenda items.