It’s Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
It’s Monday, Boulder. Let’s get to the news.
Today, John Herrick has a story about proposed changes to Boulder policing. Rather than just respond to calls as they come in, a new plan outlines ways that Boulder PD aims to help prevent crimes before they arise. A likely increase in needed funds and hiring more police officers are potential barriers to the plan’s implementation.
Also, John offers a brief on city council and its decision not to push forward a minimum wage increase. Despite the current $13.65 not being enough to afford to live in Boulder, city council stuck by its decision last week to increase payment for workers in 2025 alongside several neighboring cities, not before.
And finally, Jessica Mordacq covers the newest murals added to Boulder’s collection of almost 150. As part of the Street Wise Arts festival, meditation-based artwork and designs by a former NFL player are making Boulder more beautiful. Mordacq offers a chance to get to know some of the artists behind the work.
I hope your week starts well.
— Tim
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Get ready to make history at The Sink’s 100-year celebration! Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 2, 2-8 pm, and experience an epic event filled with free live music, mouthwatering Sinkburgers, ice-cold beers, hilarious caricatures, and a whole lot more! Learn more and grab your Sink Rat VIP Pass at TheSink.com.
Featured stories
Boulder Police Department unveils its long-term plan to ‘reimagine policing’Â
The vision, which has been in the works for nearly two years, would increase officer staffing levels, invest more in training and launch neighborhood meetings with the goal of prioritizing prevention and problem solving. The Boulder City Council is scheduled to weigh in on Sept. 7. Continue reading…
Meet downtown Boulder’s newest murals and the artists who made them
Street Wise Arts’ first seasonal mural series explores what it means to heal as a community. “A city’s public art is a big part of its identity,” says the organization’s executive director, Leah Brenner Clack. Continue reading…
Boulder City Council won’t expedite minimum wage increase despite calls for faster action
Despite a push by workers to bump pay sooner due to rising living costs, councilmembers said they don’t want to jeopardize their larger effort to set a regional minimum wage or hurt businesses. Continue reading…
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In other news
Rumbles today, sun tomorrow
70s with thunder today will bring 70s without thunder tomorrow. Then comes a spot of heat on Wednesday and Thursday followed by more thunder. Also, it looks like we have a decent chance of moisture every day for the next little bit.
Help make 287 safer
Boulder County residents have the opportunity to make the major throughway in their towns safer by attending a virtual open house. From Aug. 18 to Sept. 10, people can navigate through the platform to explore road info, the county’s recommendations and other potential solutions.
One example is a proposed median on 287, that the county says would have saved 37 lives on the corridor if it had been in place since 2011. Median barriers installed on rural four lane highways, the presentation says, reduce crossover crashes by 97%. And crossover crashes tend to have, unsurprisingly, the worst outcomes for those involved.
CU alert system expanded
CU Boulder has extended its emergency notification system to cover densely student-populated off-campus areas, like University Hill and Goss Grove after piloting the project in October 2022.
Previously, CU was only required to send out emergency alerts for life-threatening events that happened on, or very near, campus. But after several incidents, including a shooting on University Hill last October, campus affiliates requested to be alerted of happenings that involved CU but might not fall within the previously established boundaries.
Boulder County Covid call center closed
Boulder County Public Health has stopped the operations of its Covid-19 call center after handling over 4,000 inquiries. The center, which opened in 2020, saw funding conclude on July 31, 2023, coinciding with the national public health emergency’s end. A majority of the calls handled by the center were questions about vaccines, the county said.
Funky water in Louisville
Some Louisville residents have reported minor and intermittent discoloration in the city’s drinking water. Those residents should know this discoloration is due to seasonal variations in source water quality from one reservoir. The city has told residents the odd color is purely aesthetic and the water “continues to meet all safe drinking water standards.”
The municipal team has adjusted treatment processes and conducted local flushing to restore normal water conditions.
We’re on a mission to bring you stories that matter this election and all year long. But we can’t do it alone. We need you. Join your fellow BRL readers, and help us reach our end-of-summer member drive goal.