Elliott Wenzler

Denver’s transportation department has lost key employees amid project missteps, controversy A chart of the department’s “core team” shows five positions, or about 10% of the top leaders, turning over in the past six months.

The city of Denver's interference (whether intended or not) didn't stop us from publishing this story. Please give it a read: www.denverpost.com/2026/03/11/d...

Something strange happened before this story was published. An on-record source backed out and asked to be removed -- after being contacted by the director of Denver's transportation dept. We decided to address this in the story, transparently:

Denver’s transportation department has lost key employees amid project missteps, controversy A chart of the department’s “core team” shows five positions, or about 10% of the top leaders, turning over in the past six months.

NEW: "The Denver department charged with overseeing the city’s roads, infrastructure and waste management has lost key employees in the past six months as its work has come under scrutiny over recent missteps." by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social: www.denverpost.com/2026/03/11/d... via @denverpost.com

New Denver order takes aim at ICE activity — ordering police to protect protesters, possibly by detaining agents “My first job is to run this city,” Mayor Mike Johnston said. “But in today’s America, that means answering questions from our residents about what happens if ice troops des…

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order today that requires Denver police to intervene and detain ICE agents if they see them using excessive force on demonstrators. It also bans federal agents from using city-owned property for operations // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

New restaurant report lays groundwork for Denver tipped-wage change. One councilman is drafting a proposal. Councilman Darrell Watson confirmed to The Denver Post that he plans to propose a change to the city’s tipped-wage policy to his fellow council members before the end of March.

BREAKING: New restaurant report lays groundwork for Denver tipped-wage change. One councilman is drafting a proposal.

#copolitics

www.denverpost.com/2026/02/27/d...

Denver will end relationship with Flock as mayor announces new provider for license plate cameras When asked about his views on Flock, Johnston said he had concerns “over the course of the process” of working with the company and that ultimately, they were “not the right fit.”

Denver will end its contract with Flock Safety, the controversial provider of a network of license plate-reading cameras, and will instead propose a new deal with competing company Axon, Mayor Mike Johnston tells @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Denver is poised to pass mask ban for ICE agents, joining other cities in pushing back on enforcement In a meeting with Denver City Council members last week, Mayor Mike Johnston thanked the bill’s sponsors for their work and said he looked forward to supporting the face coverings ban for officers.…

Denver is on track to join a growing number of Democrat-led cities that are trying to restrict immigration enforcement operations after the City Council unanimously gave initial approval Monday to a ban on officers wearing masks // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Super cool to work with our sports team as they crush it on covering the new stadium. I’ll be around when it’s time to talk TIFs!!!

One of the densest media-crush moments I’ve witnessed in a while! Broncos president Damani Leech answers questions about the new Broncos stadium at a community event tonight. Look closely to see @denverpost.com reporters @parkerjgabriel.bsky.social and Luca Evans deep in the middle of the chaos.

Lisa Calderón will run against Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027 Lisa Calderón, who is the first person besides Johnston to enter the race, placed third in the last mayoral election, narrowly missing the final runoff.

New today: Lisa Calderón will run against Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027 www.denverpost.com/2026/02/03/l... by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

An apparent AI-generated Facebook post claimed a Broncos reporter died. He doesn’t understand why. “For that to happen to me was just really weird,” he mused. “Very, very weird.”

How a Denver sportswriter found himself killed off by AI slop

Denver considers ban on face coverings for ICE agents in council proposal “Federal law enforcement agents operating in Denver have increasingly worn opaque face coverings that obscure identity while conducting arrests and detentions,” according to a council slide deck.…

The Denver City Council is considering a new policy that would ban law enforcement officers — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — from covering their faces during arrest and detention operations // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Denver making bid to host 2028 Democratic National Convention If Denver is successful in its bid, it could mean a major economic boost for a city still struggling to rebuild its downtown after the COVID-19 pandemic and years of construction on 16th Street.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office is preparing a bid to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, according to a letter from Colorado’s Democratic members of Congress provided to @denverpost.com // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Denver council rejects city contract with Key Lime Air over role in ICE detainee flights The company will still be able to fly in and out of Centennial Airport, however, where its charter operations won’t be affected by the vote.

The Denver City Council rejected a contract with Colorado-based airline Key Lime Air on Monday over the company’s work helping carry out President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation efforts // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Raccoons, Denver’s twilight tormenters, can cause chaos for koi and pose danger for dogs “It was like the creature in ‘Alien.’ It just latched onto her and wouldn’t let go,” a Denver resident said of a raccoon encounter while walking his dog, Naima.

Shoutout to @elliottwenzler.bsky.social for getting "raccooncidents" in the @denverpost.com

www.denverpost.com/2025/12/02/d...

Mayor extends Denver’s contract with Flock license-plate readers without council approval In May, the council unanimously voted against a contract to extend the system over concerns that the technology is creating a surveillance network ripe for abuse.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is extending the city's contract with Flock, a company that installs AI-powered license-plate readers, without City Council approval. #denver @denverpost.com
www.denverpost.com/2025/10/22/d...

Colorado’s largest hospital had to pause surgeries for a week following a complaint. Here’s what health inspectors saw. State inspectors declared an "immediate jeopardy" after finding hundreds of dirty surgical trays at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

Colorado’s largest hospital had to pause surgeries for a week following a complaint. Here’s what health inspectors saw.

Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to help save Denver’s flavored tobacco ban in election During the last campaign finance reports in September, opponents of Denver’s ban had far outraised supporters. Bloomberg’s donation significantly shifts the dynamics of the ballot election.

New: Billionaire Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to help save Denver's flavored tobacco ban in election www.denverpost.com/2025/10/08/m... via @elliottwenzler.bsky.social

Could Denver harness AI to renew trust in government? Mayor Mike Johnston thinks so, but others are skeptical. Mayor Mike Johnston and his chief AI and information officer, Suma Nallapati — whose role was just expanded to include an AI focus — are planning to make it a major part of how Denver o…

Could Denver harness AI to renew trust in government? Mayor Mike Johnston thinks so, but others are skeptical.
www.denverpost.com/2025/10/06/d... @denverpost.com #denver

Amid conflict, Denver American Indian Commission co-chairs step away from Indigenous Peoples Day event “What we are experiencing is not simple conflict — it is manipulation, defiance and harmful behavior that has created an unsafe and unsustainable environment,” the letter says.

Amid conflict, Denver American Indian Commission co-chairs step away from Indigenous Peoples Day event
www.denverpost.com/2025/10/02/d...

As Denver voters consider Vibrant Denver bond, past approved projects show “it’s not over until they’re built” “The original project budgets were based on cost estimates using the best available information at the time (the) council referred the bond to the ballot,” a Denver deputy bond manager says.…

As Denver voters consider Vibrant Denver bond, past approved projects show: “It’s not over until they’re built”
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/28/v... #denver @denverpost.com

Xcel Energy agrees to settle lawsuit over ignition of Marshall fire, plaintiffs’ attorney says Lawyers were expected to appear in Boulder County District Court on Wednesday to notify Judge Christopher Zenisek that they have settled the case, attorney Gerald Singleton told The Denver Post.

BREAKING: Settlement reached in Marshall fire lawsuit.
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/24/m...

AI chatbots sexually abused Colorado children, leading to one girl’s suicide, lawsuits allege The chatbots isolated the children from their friends and families and talked with them about sexually explicit content.

Two lawsuits filed in Denver District Court this week allege that artificial intelligence-powered chatbots sexually abused two Colorado teenagers, leading one girl to kill herself via @elliottwenzler.bsky.social www.denverpost.com/2025/09/18/c...

Denver’s auditor lashes out at Mayor Mike Johnston over proposed budget cuts: ‘Stop interfering’ “Mr. Mayor, your office and the Finance Department must stop interfering with the Auditor’s Office and stop preventing me from doing my job,” Timothy O’Brien wrote.

Denver’s auditor lashes out at Mayor Mike Johnston over proposed budget cuts: ‘Stop interfering’ @denverpost.com
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/19/d...

Shooting, ‘active assailant’ reported at Evergreen High School Jefferson County law enforcement are responding to an “active assailant” and shooting at Evergreen High School, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

BREAKING: Jefferson County law enforcement are responding to an “active assailant” and shooting at Evergreen High School, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

Broncos name Burnham Yard preferred site for new stadium development The 58-acre yard is the epicenter of what the Broncos hope will be a transformative project, anchored by a multi-billion dollar stadium and flanked by an entertainment district designed to host eve…

NEW: Burnham Yard is the Denver Broncos' preferred site for a new stadium, the club announced today while outlining an unprecedented, privately financed vision for a stadium and adjoining mixed-use entertainment district // Story by @parkerjgabriel.bsky.social

Some Denver voters are souring on Mayor Mike Johnston, poll shows, but experts say he could regain footing Slightly more than half of voters said they thought the city is headed in the right direction, compared to 44% who said the same in 2023. More are also feeling optimistic about downtown’s recovery.…

NEW: More Denver voters said they disliked Mayor Mike Johnston in a new poll released Thursday, even as optimism about the city as a whole has improved since he began his term.
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/04/d...

Earl Jackson, the former CFO for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, volunteered to be laid off, he said. Things have gotten increasingly chaotic since Johnston was elected, he said.

“It has been pretty much crisis-after-crisis mode since he’s arrived."

Nick Trombetta worked for a vocational program for young people who have been through the criminal justice system.

“I was disappointed because I thought, given the nature of our program and how small our team was, I was kind of hopeful they wouldn’t mess with us,” he said.

Mikhail Vafeades started working for the city of Denver at age 14 as an aide at the La Alma Recreation Center.

After 24 years of continuous work, city officials laid her off two weeks ago.

“I can’t afford to be without a job,” she said.

Photos by
@RJSangosti