WATCH: Denver Mayor Delivers State Of The City Address
DENVER (CBS4) -- Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock delivered the annual State of the City Address Monday.
Mayor Hancock laid out his administration's accomplishments and presented his priorities moving forward.
During his speech, the mayor talked about a time he was stopped by a young man while he was walking down the 16th Street Mall.
They started taking about the success Denver was having, and the man asked him "What about the people who are working hard but falling behind. What about us?"
That moment stuck with the mayor. And it's driving his priorities moving forward.
The mayor said he wants the people of Denver to be as successful as the city of Denver.
He is establishing new initiatives and committees, dedicated to stopping gentrification, improving transportation, fixing infrastructure and improving our environment. More will be invested into Denver neighborhoods.
The mayor says the people who work here should be able to afford to live here.
Next month, the city will ask to double our the affordable housing fund to $300 million -- using marijuana taxes.
He says they'll take an even stronger approach to connecting people to opportunity -- they're calling it the Equity Platform.
"Our clarion call is to seize the moment and set Denver's people and neighborhoods on an equitable path of prosperity for the next 100 years. We need to make sure people can afford to live here," Mayor Hancock stated. "We need to protect what we love about our neighborhoods. This is how Denver will continue to rise together. The State of our City is the state of each of us, everyone living and working in every part of our city from Sunnyside to Hampden, the Airport to Bear Valley."
The mayor concluded by saying the city's greatest strength is its people -- all kinds of people. He said no matter how hard some try to divide the people of the city, Denver will remain united, inclusive, and a city that continues to welcome immigrants and refugees.
The mayor invited Denver residents to join him for a free cookout outside of the Carla Madison Recreation Center from noon to 2 p.m.
