At Monday’s Denver City Council meeting, council member Serena Gonzales Gutierrez fought unsuccessfully for a budget amendment that would have funded a digital equity program manager and 500 devices for internet access.
Gonzales Gutierrez passionately explained why internet access is an essential utility. “My friend Ben,” she said, referencing a push by the mayor’s office to use the online portal to learn about benefits. “How do you access that? You access it over the internet.”
Council members Paul Kashmann, Shontel Lewis, Sarah Parady, and Gonzales Gutierrez voted yes along with Council President Amanda Sandoval. But several of Gonzales Gutierrez’ colleagues said they did not want to take $233,000 from the supplies budget of the technology services department, which Gonzales Gutierrez proposed. The total budget for technology services is $58 million. “I’m just trying to compel you all to see that this is a nominal amount,” Gonzales Gutierrez told her colleagues.