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We feel privileged to serve our city as part of Mayor John Hickenlooper’s administration, so we were understandably surprised to read the inaccuracies and misrepresentations in former city contractor Andrew Wallach’s Speakout piece (“Why so much turnover in mayor’s office?” July 11).

Whether we have worked for elected officials or corporate executives, we know the success of any organization is due in large part to the dedication and talent of the entire team.

Some of our colleagues have served a few years and moved on, and we have welcomed many new talented individuals to the team.

Through it all, we have maintained our momentum toward excellence in public service.
Everyone on our team has contributed tremendous efforts to creating positive change — including expanding venues for citizen participation; enhancing mobility and economic opportunity; increasing the commitment to our youth; promoting sustainability and strengthening the cultural vitality of our community — to mention just a small portion of our ambitious agenda.
That some of the mayor’s appointees have moved on to larger opportunities is a compliment both to them and to our administration.

They are sought after because of their talent and experience within Denver’s city government, which speaks to the accomplishments of our team.

Of the mayor’s current team, 81 percent are original appointees — enabling us to enter the second term with a strong, diverse and experienced administration while welcoming new blood and fresh ideas as new appointees join us.

We are honored to be a part of this team and refuse to stand aside when any person distorts the work and efforts our team is dedicated to accomplishing. We accept that we are subject to public scrutiny and welcome it when it is honest, informed and motivated toward helping city government improve.

But when it is not, as in the case of Wallach’s Speakout, we will object loudly and clearly on behalf of public servants who have come before us and those who will follow.

Katherine Archuleta is senior adviser for policy and initiatives for Mayor John Hickenlooper. Guillermo “Bill” Vidal is manager of public works for Denver.

READER COMMENTS

City Guy & Gal,
Just take a drive on Federal Boulevard start at Alameda and go north. At the very start you will see noxious weeds 7 feet tall next to a bus stop...reported for 2 months. That's why we move, your poor performance.

Hey, I'm glad that I don't live in the city of Denver any longer. Hick has been put on a pedestal and the newsmedia continues to build up his pedestal. You city folks should be ready for a ride with the hike in the new tax proposal. I guess the News thinks there are a bunch of lame readers out here, well not so. We can read between the lines very well. I'm also awaiting your printing the News on "GREEN" paper. It's about time you give some credit to citizens that have been "GREEN" long before Hickenlooper and Al Gore came on the scene.

How many sick days, holidays, paid time off, tardy, and partial days do they have compared to the real world?

bill and katherine..check your noses..there is a little bit of brown on them. are you going to refuse the big raises the cabinet are getting this year and give them to the team? I heard one of you got demoted and the other was looking for another job..is that still true?

Hey Taxman,
Don't forget the Code Enforcement Officer that will not work all the complaints on one request, or will not forward the remaining complaint to the Officer that will.

City Guy, nobody thinks you should work for free. If your expertise is so valuable, go somewhere else and realize that value. The market is defined by the market, not by you.

The simple fact of the matter is that no one (other than city employees) cares about city employee job satisfaction, as long as trash is being picked up, water runs through the taps, and the police are somewhat effective. Roads are torn up, parks are a mess, ice covers the streets...city residents are resigned to the fact that "non-essential services" aren't essential. We've learned that complaints from the public aren't heard, so we're not listening to yours. The traffic light is broken?, take another street.

Ah, yes, taxman. That would be why people are leaving the city faster than they can replace them. But, I'm sure you have no problem with losing all of that expertise because the City won't keep pace with the market.

I'm so sick of folks who think that City workers should work for free just because YOUR boss is cheap.

City guy and city gal, do something worthy of a raise and you'll get one....or not. There isn't an entitlement to a raise every year. ALL jobs have a maximum value. I work in the private sector and haven't had a raise in 5 years, and have been in the job 15. If I think I'm worth more for the same type of work, I'll leave. You should do the same.

Denver Deputy USAG Eid and USDOL/Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs-OFCCP Secy. Chao, should do Front Range disabled black Vietnam veterans a favor and their sworn duty, by investigating the City & County of Denver (CCD). CCD has historically submitted perjured, forged, and falsified, perennial USDOL-OFCCP VETS-100 reports to Chao. Chao (OSHA) investigated the death of a criminal illegal Mexican who was killed on a construction site in Denver, however, in reckless violation of federal law, Chao opted to "outsource" the OSHA death investigation of Shawn Patilla (black), Denver WAter worker who drowned, to Chips Barry, Manager, Denver Water. What a country. Barry got to investigate his own criminal negligence, resulting in death, and he found a black hourly-wage foreman responsible and accountable, for Shawn's death. AWOL/MIA: Denver DA.

I've had recent dealings with Yvette Martinez regarding a senior manager's job at DIA and this racist-cow, "decided", I shouldn't be interviewed for the job, despite the fact DIA had interviewed me when I possessed only 1 masters degree. I applied the second time for the same job with "2" masters degrees, coupled with my federal 10 point job preference, earned from serving in 3 deployments to Vietnam. I didn't see a single one of these political hacks and draft dodgers in Vietnam.

I still feel the '08' DNC Convention should be moved to SuperMax, Canon, City, CO.

The City & County of Denver is a sewer for African American disabled Vietnam veterans. For the past 17 years, I've watched Webb, Pena, Turner West, Gallagher, and J-Loop, steal our federal disability, contracting, and job benefits. It is truly sad, West is mounting his steed, preparing to gallop off into the sunset, with the "blood-loot" of black disabled Vietnam veterans. I'm no stranger to Bill Vidal either. I was robbed of jobs at CDOT by him and his flunkie, soul sister Carla Elam-Floyd (JUDAS). Denver Deputy USAG Troy Eid should put the whole lot (federal funds fraud, waste, and abuse), in federal prison with Nacchio. These draft-dodgers would make great playmates.

a lot of the city workers are very down because the pay system fiasco (the system was ruined instead of being improved)
hopefully we don't run off anyone who is sincerely trying to help our city, which we are very proud of

All of you city employee haters must be overjoyed that thanks to Hickenlooper, many of us have not had a raise in 3 years.

What part of the team wants to overlook the maintenance of our bridges so they can remodel the concert hall to the tune of $74 million? What part of the team wants to let graffiti keep on going? What part of the team lives in the older neighborhoods? What part of the team keeps blinders on? What part of the team pays more attention to fugitives of our immigration laws then the citizens and communities they effect?

Um...Can I get an AMEN....I think you're referring to the State of Colorado Department of Revenue. That is a State of Colorado agency, not a City of Denver agency. Different teams.

On the issue of the Speakout, there is probably alot of appointee turnover due to the entrenched bureaucracy of City employees. They resent anyone being appointed to management positions (over them) and do anything they can to make the appointee's life hell. Would you want to work where your employees sabotage your goals?

Let's face it, our Mayor projects a strinking resemblance to "Howdy Doody. " The only person missing from his administration is Buffalo Bob.

What about your team player in the controllers office?Was she part of the team?Why didn't another member of the team step up and say something when she,her boyfriend and his wife was living a life of luxory with the tax payers 11 million dollars?

Your so called team is wasting tax money and asking for more.

Teams are supposed to be efficient and work together and watch out for the ones who are not being part of the team.

Your team works for the tax payers of Denver not yourselves.

Now let's see your team get the tax payers 11 million dollars back.

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