Denver mayor proposes national housing plan and data center rules

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston reported that street homelessness in the city is down 64% and big encampments are down 91%, achieved by moving 1,200 units into transitional housing in six months and permanently closing encampments. Johnston proposed an "American housing promise" to build 10 to 15 million homes over the next 10 years, with the federal government matching city efforts with $35,000 to $50,000 per unit. He stated that this cost is less than the cost of the Iran war or the ICE surge. Johnston argued that Democrats must deliver on concrete promises like housing and childcare to earn trust, rather than focusing on accountability or revenge. He advocated for a sliding-scale universal childcare system for ages 0-5, capping costs at 7% of income.

Johnston also discussed a moratorium on data centers in Denver due to water usage concerns, noting that data centers use a quarter of a million gallons of water a day. He requires data centers to bring their own renewable energy and use self-contained water systems, arguing they should benefit local communities by lowering utility bills rather than being imposed via NDAs. The city is planning a new Broncos stadium at Burnham Yard, part of a "Mile High Line" strategy involving seven transformational projects, $10 billion in investment, and 100,000 jobs. Under this plan, the team will pay for the stadium while the city covers infrastructure costs.