Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman shared the stage on Wednesday for a notable joint appearance at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Cities event.
The event, attended by a wide array of metro area business leaders, saw Johnston and Coffman positioned on opposite sides of the stage, with emcee Shaun Boyd and Northglenn Mayor Meredith Leighty serving as moderators.
As the discussion began, Boyd, a political reporter for CBS Colorado, prompted the mayors to address the existing tension between their cities. Recent conflicts have arisen, particularly surrounding the influx of newly arrived immigrants from Denver to Aurora and the ongoing legal issues over police brutality following the 2020 protests.
Boyd raised a pertinent question regarding the feasibility of collaboration amidst the reported distrust. Johnston was quick to downplay the notion of tension, asserting that his office is always open to cooperation with Aurora.
“There’s far more important things to talk about like the businesses folks are trying to run in the city, but for me, easy, there is no distrust, there is no damage,” Johnston stated.
However, Coffman responded by acknowledging the existing issues, stating, “There is an issue and there is distrust.” This exchange highlighted the relational strains between the two mayors, with both aiming to steer the dialogue towards a more productive collaboration following moments filled with underlying tension.
The early minutes of the panel focused heavily on the discord, with Johnston mentioning, “We had quarterly meetings before Mike asked to stop them. I’m happy to start them again.” Their contrasting perspectives on the organizational dynamics illustrated the complexities in their working relationship.
Furthermore, Coffman touched upon one of the critical underlying issues affecting their interactions: Aurora’s lawsuit against Denver regarding shared costs resulting from police brutality protests during the George Floyd protests of 2020.
“I think it’s important to resolve the issue and be able to go back to that mutual aid agreement between the city and county of Denver and the city of Aurora,” Coffman remarked, referring to the agreement that allows the two cities to share police resources during emergencies.
He emphasized the necessity of assurances for his officers’ indemnity, which he believes is crucial for renewing cooperation. In contrast, Johnston suggested that the protests occurred prior to his mayoralty and attempted to downplay their significance in the larger context of their cities’ relationship.
“These things are all solvable problems,” Johnston stated confidently. “I think there are more important problems in the room to talk about. So let’s talk about housing and economic development and public safety and the things these folks are here to care about.”
As the panel continued, both mayors agreed to resume their quarterly meetings, aiming to bridge the gap and foster better relations between their cities.
Throughout the discussion, the mayors also confronted queries regarding their responsiveness to business leaders and their strategies for housing and economic growth.
Coffman presented a perspective that positioned Aurora more favorably for small businesses, noting the city’s minimum wage being $4 lower than that of Denver.
“I was able to beat [a proposed minimum wage increase] down in Aurora, but it was at the height of the pandemic where restaurants would probably be the most impacted and they were suffering. And Denver did it and Aurora did not,” Coffman remarked, suggesting that this difference may have resulted in a higher casualty rate of restaurants in Denver compared to Aurora.
Johnston, however, refuted this assertion, highlighting his efforts to reduce permitting times and create more middle-class housing in Denver.
“Our commitment is we are unapologetic about being a pro-business city and a pro-growth city. That is our belief, that is our commitment,” Johnston affirmed, emphasizing Denver’s vision of becoming an easy city for business operations.
Following a round of applause from the audience, both mayors left the venue, promising to take measures to bring the two cities closer. As they move forward, the future of collaboration between Denver and Aurora remains to be seen.
image source from：denverite
