Hey there. We've got a beefy news roundup today as the state and city start to kick into gear again. Let's jump right to it. (There are skateboarding pigs at the end.)
Happy Haynes now has three government positions:
Allegra "Happy" Haynes is now the deputy mayor, the director of parks and recreation and a member of the Denver Public Schools board. Deputy mayor is her newest job; with it, she'll occasionally sub in for Mayor Michael Hancock and she'll make an extra $5,000 a year. The previous deputy mayor was the director of Denver Human Services. (DP)
Historic LoDo building to be preserved:
The old, arched-window building at 20th and Chestnut will be part of a big new hotel. (Denverite)
What Denver transit could have been:
RTD in the 1970s studied the possibility of driverless "pods" that would travel a 98-mile network, "resembling a really boring roller coaster," above Denver. They also considered a subway, as David Sachs details in this super interesting and illustrated piece. (Confluence)
Joe Salazar wants Colorado to be a sanctuary state:
The Adams County representative has proposed a bill that would declare Colorado a "beacon of hope against inhumane practices" by forbidding state government from assisting the feds in enforcing immigration laws. (ABC7)
What's up with the MLK Jr. Marade group?
The nonprofit beyond the city's biggest MLK Jr. event says it lost $57,000 in sponsorships after a disruption and speech by Black Lives Matter protesters last year. They wouldn't say which sponsors supposedly pulled out over an act of civil disobedience... on a day that honors a man who used civil disobedience to great effect... Adrian has some good reporting on the state of the group. (Denverite)
Republican hopes meet early end:
Democrats promptly dismissed GOP state representatives' proposals for tax breaks, guns in schools, "religious freedom" from LGBT rights and more. (ColoradoPolitics)
Social pot planning starts today:
Denver's Social Consumption Advisory Committee kicks off at 2:30 today in the Wellington Webb Municipal Building. Here's a preview. (AP via Denverite)
More:
- ProtectWise, based in LoDo, just pulled in $25 million and expects to double its staff again. (DBJ)
- JeffCo commissioners essentially shot down a developer's plan to build auto dealerships near Dino Ridge. The meeting was seven hours long. (Westword)
- 5280 gives Mister Tuna 2.5 stars, knocking it for a loud room, "some convoluted dishes," and weak desserts. (5280)
- There are some big ideas in the works for two of Denver's oldest light rail stations. (Denverite)
Skateboarding pigs in Denver?
C'mon, baby. You know I had to include this.
Recognize these riding spots?
Pretty sweet, but I can't tell where in Colorado this was filmed. Let me know and I'll shout you out next time.
