It’s Monday, July 17, 2023.
Happy Monday, Boulder. A new week, a new you. And new news. Here it is:
For today, John Herrick covers the Boulder airport, and a conversation some residents are pushing to have it converted for housing. With Boulder surrounded by open space and limited by density restrictions, there are few large areas where housing stock can be added via additional plots. Get rid of the airport, however, and there’s a big space for some serious housing. A town hall tomorrow will gauge community interest in what to do with the airport, as those pushing for additional housing are by no means the only voice.
More news awaits you below, and remember that our journalism relies on reader support. If you find our work valuable, please consider becoming a BRL member today with a donation of any amount. Thank you to our contributors and for reading!
Have a great start to your week.
— Tim, reporter
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Featured stories
‘Once-in-a-forever opportunity’: Boulder residents to weigh in on repurposing airport for housing
The general aviation airport, dating back to 1928, covers more than 179 acres northeast of the city. Some want it revamped. Others want it closed and redeveloped for potentially thousands of homes. Continue reading…
This week in Boulder: Jeff Tweedy concert, lager-fueled pool party, and get your tickets to see Ira Glass
Other events include a discussion on plastic waste accompanied by free tea, a primal dance campout and the Jacob Larson Band playing a Summer of Love concert. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Come on triple digits
The forecast says today will be 98, but if we’re lucky (or unlucky) maybe we’ll break 100 for the first time this year — probably the first of many. The National Weather Service reminds us to “check on neighbors and the elderly” in times of extreme heat. There’s a chance of rain for tomorrow, though I wonder if it will evaporate before it hits the ground.
Living in times of ozone
It’s summer along the Front Range, which means air quality is worse than our usual mediocre levels. As Colorado’s ever-abundant, and sometimes searing sunshine reacts with fossil fuel emissions, ozone is created to sneak into your lungs and muck things up. On Friday, a Front Range Ozone Action Day Alert was issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council. The alert went through Saturday. You can find today’s air quality summary for today here.
As is always a good reminder, a large portion of ozone along the Front Range comes from oil and gas drilling. More comes from car emissions.
Armed robbery on 28th plus SUV crash
On Friday, a 28th Street restaurant was held up for cash, though no one was injured. The man who allegedly did the holding up ran off after the fact, but was later located and taken into custody in Denver.
Also, an SUV crashed through the front of the post office on 55th and Valmont. The vehicle hit a man who was in the building. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. According to Boulder police, the woman driving seemingly stepped on the gas instead of the brake when parking.
Don’t use bags for your compost after all
Even though some brands of small compost bags made the cut for A1 Organic’s new compost regulations, the City of Boulder is encouraging residents to skip these bags nonetheless. They “hide contamination,” the city says, and thus could increase the risk of more compost ending up in the landfill just as AI is working to clean up the stream.
Instead, just put food scraps right into your countertop bin. The city offers ideas for how to clean this bin and reduce odors in between empties at the curbside container. A1 banned biodegradable products from its composting program to only accept food and plant scraps in April, because compost bins were full of plastic. Check out our recent reporting on how the changes are going.
Public hearing on behavioral health
Boulder County’s commissioners are holding a public hearing tomorrow, July 18, to talk about the county’s Behavioral Health Roadmap, a guide that aims to improve mental and behavioral health services in Boulder. The hearing will include a staff presentation and public comments. Attendees can participate in person at Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 3rd Floor, 1325 Pearl St., online via Zoom, or by phone. Written comments can be submitted in advance.
CU Boulder fraternity sued
Cell phone footage capturing a violent assault this winter on Boulder’s University Hill will be used as evidence in a civil case against a fraternity, according to news reports. The video shows two men chasing down a student from a bar, engaging in a fight and delivering a punch that left the student unconscious.
Attorney Jonathan Stine has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the student, Kai Pelleriti, 20, alleging that the Sigma Pi fraternity and the Chicken on the Hill bar failed to properly train their bouncer. Pelleriti suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage, with long-term cognitive implications. The defendants, including the bouncer and another man, face criminal charges and are named in the lawsuit. Sigma Pi has a history of misconduct issues, including alcohol-related deaths and allegations of drugging women. The bar owner and their attorneys have not provided comments. CU Boulder has stated that Sigma Pi is not affiliated with the university.
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