Snarkvark @ PoliSnark.comAh, here we go again—Denver’s city council doubling down on dumbassery with their Ball Arena mega-development plan. While businesses are shutting down faster than a college bar after finals and residents are fleeing to Weld County like their hair’s on fire, these geniuses think it’s a great time to pump even more taxpayer cash into vanity projects. Spoiler alert: It ain’t working, and no amount of bike paths or pedestrian bridges is gonna fix it (Shears Adkins Rockmore) (Reason Foundation).
Here’s the thing—people aren’t sticking around to admire overpriced apartments and “affordable housing” that stays affordable for about five minutes before rent skyrockets. Nah, they’re renting U-Hauls and GTFO-ing to places where the taxes aren’t highway robbery, and you don’t have to worry about stepping on needles outside your front door. Meanwhile, downtown Denver is turning into a graveyard for empty retail spaces and abandoned storefronts. But instead of addressing the real shit—like crime, sky-high rents, and businesses boarding up—the council is throwing more cash at urban planners who think a new park is the solution to every damn problem (RCV for Colorado).
And what’s the big promise? This development will “connect communities.” Connect them to what exactly? The I-25 on-ramp out of town? Because the only connection happening right now is the mass migration to anywhere but Denver. Maybe instead of building more condos nobody asked for, they should try figuring out why everyone’s bailing. Here’s a hint: It’s not because the bike lanes need more flowers.
Let’s call it what it is—this isn’t about improving the city; it’s about shiny bullshit that makes politicians feel important. They want those “Look at our revitalized downtown!” headlines while ignoring the fact that the city’s core is crumbling beneath them. The businesses are gone, the residents are next, and all we’re left with is another empty promise wrapped in taxpayer-funded glitter (Reason Foundation) (Shears Adkins Rockmore).
It’s insanity with a hard hat—paving over problems with ribbon-cutting ceremonies and calling it progress. Good luck, Denver. Enjoy the bike lanes and walking paths while you can—if there’s anyone left to use them.
