Judy Montero

The front page of today’s Rocky Mountain News business section features an article about the rash of home foreclosures in southwest Denver. That problem is hardly confined to one neighborhood; it’s a citywide problem, caused in significant part by the popularity of adjustable-rate mortgages in this decade. The rates are adjusting — upward — and the trend is hurting homeowners everywhere, including northwest Denver.

To address this problem, Judy has been working with HUNI president Bill Rodriguez and District 3 Councilman Rick Garcia to develop an educational workshop for District 9 homeowners. The workshop will help people learn to plan carefully and choose wisely when buying, financing, refinancing, remodeling, and so forth, so they can avoid ending up with bills they can’t pay. I’ll pass along workshop time(s) / date(s) when they’re available; stay tuned.

Here’s a quick update on the EMU / DMU debate: Tonight and tomorrow there will be two meetings to discuss the East Corridor of Fastracks. The primary objective of the meetings is to discuss budget cuts for the East Corridor, which are necessary due to the overall budget shortfall for Fastracks. However, the electric v. diesel discussion is very much a budgetary issue, and you will have the opportunity to weigh in on that subject at these meetings. Tonight’s meeting takes place at 5 p.m. at the Montbello Rec Center, 15555 East 53d Avenue; Thursday night’s will be in District 9 at the Swansea Rec Center, 2650 East 49th Avenue, beginning at 6 p.m.

Judy has been interviewing transit consultants who might be available to weigh in on the issue of commuter-rail technologies for Fastracks. The RTD Board is due to make its decision next Tuesday, July 24, and public comment will be open; District 9 needs to turn out in force to present a loud, united voice in favor of EMUs. Mark your calendar — 5 p.m. at RTD headquarters, 1600 Blake, in the basement conference room.

Judy got her new Council committee assignments: she remains the chair of the Fastracks committee and also will serve on the Blueprint Denver committee.

Finally, thanks to everybody who came out to the inauguration celebration last night at the Botanic Gardens. It was a little blustery, but what else would you expect when a bunch of politicians get together?