Hello and good morning, Denver!
If you've managed to remain cooped up over the last few days and were hoping to finally get some of that sunshine we've all been talking about, you're outta luck, pal. We're looking at temps in the 50s and a 90% chance of afternoon thunderstorms ⛈ (although, who doesn't love Colorado's summer storms? I can smell the rain now 😌).
As the scales begin to tip (albeit very slowly) from the number of COVID-19 cases to the number of COVID-19 vaccines, it's been a real highlight of my day to see the metrics physically shifting. So to spread the joy, I'll be sharing the most up-to-date vaccination totals daily, per the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. If you're still trying to wrap your head around the vaccination process (e.g., where to go, what to expect), Colorado Newsline published a super helpful vaccine Q&A (see the link below).
This information is especially important to consider in light of the recent conversations surrounding "vaccine passports." More and more businesses are considering only accepting patrons with proof of vaccination. This has been a hot topic across the country with some places (like New York) diving right into a vaccine passport program, and other places (like Florida) banning them. Challenges facing vaccine passport programs include equity, discrimination, and privacy. But local health officials believe this is a direction Denver could certainly be heading.
[CDPHE; CO Newsline; Denver Post]
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In Other News...
‣ The situation just got stickier for Denver school board director Tay Anderson. Six more women who previously worked with Anderson (circa 2018) came forward with accusations that in the past he had made inappropriate comments about women both privately and in front of others. Anderson still denies the most recent allegations against him from BLM5280, but publicly apologized for his past actions. [Westword]
‣ A new bill is aiming to pay school board members across the state. Currently, serving on the board in any district is a volunteer position. Bill sponsors believe compensation will result in better access for people of color wishing to join Colorado school boards. [Chalkbeat]
‣ A common consumption law (aka an "open container law") will soon be approved for Denver. Well, certain areas of Denver. The law was initially passed in 2019, but then COVID happened, stalling the process (same story, different day, eh?). The details are set to be finalized this week. [Denver7]
‣ Good news: more football! Bad news: It's gonna cost ya. With the addition of a 17th game to the NFL season (which league owners agreed to last week), Broncos fans can expect an additional home game this year (and every other year, moving forward). But that also means an additional $55 for tickets. [Denver Post]
‣ Where in the world is Jared Polis? Well, the governor's actually wrapping up the traveling portion of his Build Back Stronger tour with a final stop in the Eastern Plains tomorrow. But the conversation isn't over — there are a number of meetings still planned to gather input from a variety of sectors (like agriculture and local government) and communities (featuring Asian American and Latinx voices).
👉 What can you do? Watch videos from previous meetings, submit your ideas, and find the meeting schedule here.
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🎙️On the Podcast:
Media outlets across Denver are in the hot seat after conversations about equity and representation in the newsroom exploded on Twitter last week. Today, we talk with Lori Lizarraga, a former 9News reporter who publicly called out the news station for firing Latinx reporters. Listen now.
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✨ Made in Denver
Image: @snackvoyage
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When the pandemic struck, this mother-daughter duo had to cancel their travel plans. Since they couldn't leave home and visit other parts of the world, they decided to bring other parts of the world to their home. Together, they launched Snack Voyâge, a subscription snack box that brings Denver customers a (literal) taste of international cultures and traditions through popular snacks from overseas destinations. And oh, what a treat it is! [ Westword]
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🤗 Moment of Joy:
Image: a screen grab from cityofwestminster.us.
OK, so this moment hasn't quite happened yet, but it's due any day now! The Standley Lake eagles that captivated Denver during quarantine are back in the spotlight. The eagles' nest is monitored live for anyone to watch, and we've got five eggs due to hatch this week! Last year, Denverites found themselves turning off Netflix to opt for the Westminster bird nest that bested any reality TV show (ICYMI: the real-life drama involved a home-wrecking eagle). Tune in to the eagle cam right here. If not for the eagles themselves, do it for the relaxing nature sounds that have become the soundtrack to my work day. [The Know]
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That's it for today! Thanks for reading all the way through. Now go forth and be a great Denverite, sharing your new knowledge from the mountaintops ... aka your morning Zoom meeting.
— Peyton Garcia (@peytonmgarcia)
No one likes to feel out of the loop. Be a good friend and forward this newsletter to your pals so they can subscribe for themselves right here.
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