Latest news with #PaulKashmann
CBS News
16-07-2025
- CBS News
Denver city council approves increase in penalties for owners of abandoned properties
Denver City Councilman Paul Kashmann has served in his role for a decade and says complaints about neglected and abandoned buildings have consistently been an issue throughout that time. That prompted him to team up with his colleagues to make changes. Boarded up walls, garbage and graffiti are rarely a welcomed sight. "It really degrades quality of life in the community," said Kashmann. Yet hundreds of these abandoned buildings exist throughout Denver. "A neighborhood nuisance ranging from 'Gee, it just looks terrible,' to we had an abandoned bank on East Evans Avenue where a murder took place," Kashmann said. In an effort to hold the owners of these property accountable for issues, Kashmann and Councilwomen Jamie Torres and Amanda Sawyer co-sponsored an amendment to update the city's neglected and derelict buildings ordinance. "One of the first things that I put forward was a suggestion that we raised the fines applicable," he said. The update passed with unanimous support and increases fines for violations from $999 to up to $5,000 per day and also creates a service response fee of up to $5,000 per response by first responders when three or more calls for service occur within six months. "We've come up with a system that's going to put much more pressure on property owners to be good neighbors when we're not asking them to jump through hoops, just asking for them to be good neighbors," Kashmann Kashmann hopes this will also bring change to a problem property in his neighborhood. "I'm actually losing my patience on that particular property," said Kashmann. "The weeds are four feet high, and there's graffiti, and, you know, junk's piling up on the property. And it's not just me, every council member will tell you the same story about properties in their district." The new ordinance won't take effect until February, which gives the owners of roughly 300 of these properties in Denver to act. Meanwhile the councilman says he's already receiving thanks for work the city council has done to tackle the issue.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Several vehicles, a home vandalized in Denver's Washington Park
DENVER (KDVR) — Vandals spray-painted at least four vehicles that FOX31 saw photos of in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood. While our crew was in the neighborhood, we learned of a home that was also damaged with spray paint. The vehicles that were vandalized were parked along South Franklin Street near Alameda. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Some had single painted lines. Others had curse words. What the vandals were trying to say is not clear, or whether they were targeting particular individuals. 'We have no idea. We didn't think we had any enemies. And (fiancé) was working from home and she went out and checked the car. And reports stated coming from other neighbors that theirs had been painted as well,' said one man who asked not to be identified. A home was also vandalized. The slogan 'Eat the Rich' was spray-painted on a wall. At least two people whose property was damaged said they filed police reports. 'At first, we thought it might be a joke. Someone else actually saw it and told us. It really surprised us, this neighborhood. This neighborhood, you don't see that type of thing,' the homeowner said. City Councilman Paul Kashmann represents Wash Park. 'I would hope and what has normally been the reaction from Denver Police District 3 is, they will up their patrols in the affected areas,' Councilman Paul Kashmann said. Kashmann said police also usually watch to see if similar events begin to happen in other parts of the city. Denver police said they assign a detective to cases once they are logged into the department's reporting system. FOX31 is told some neighbors had checked their Ring doorbell video, but so far, no one has seen videos of who might have done this. A Denver police spokesperson said community resource officers can work with neighborhoods when problems like these become an issue. Neighbors are encouraged to call the police as soon as they see this type of vandalism taking place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
