City officials say the controversial policy, first enacted in 2022, is an effort to reduce crime in the nightlife district.
The city of Denver is once again banning food trucks in a popular nightlife district, citing crowds and crime despite lower violent crime rates. As Alayna Alvarez explains in Axios, “The crackdown on food truck operators was first put in place in July 2022 following a police shooting in LoDo that injured six bystanders. Law enforcement denied the incident prompted the restrictions.”
The policy, unpopular with local businesses, was repealed a month later before being revived last week. “The mayor's move marks a 180-degree turn from his stance last year on the campaign trail, when he indicated during a debate that he would bring back food trucks to downtown's late-night scene.”
The original ban was criticized for being potentially unconstitutional. Institute for Justice attorney Justin Pearson told the Denver Post the ban is “a horrible idea,” noting that the city is “taking away options for people to sober up before they head home.”
FULL STORY: Denver's downtown food truck ban is back
Denver Voters Approve Downtown Revitalization Bonds
The city wants to bring new projects and residents to the downtown core, where 13 million feet of vacant office and retail space await new tenants.
Report: American Downtowns Safer Than You Think
A Brookings Institution study reveals that crime rates in major cities have risen, but downtown districts account for a negligible part of the growth.
Denver Food Truck Ban Could be Unconstitutional
In a letter to city officials, a law firm called on the city to lift restrictions on food trucks, saying the ban “smacks of protectionism” and could violate equal protection guarantees.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio
Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service