Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Uttecht Physical Therapy, providing concierge, in-home physical therapy to help you stay active and independent. Schedule your free consultation.
Leading today’s edition: Boulder faith leaders are joining a growing national movement opposing ICE actions. After Rev. David Schwartz of Boulder’s Unitarian Universalist Church traveled to Minneapolis to join mass clergy protests just days before federal agents shot and killed protester Alex Pretti, Boulder clergy led an interfaith walk Thursday in solidarity with Minneapolis protesters and immigrant communities. The local action reflects rising concern over ICE tactics and what faith leaders describe as a moral obligation to respond. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Also today: After Xcel’s December power shutoffs left nearly two-thirds of Boulder customers without electricity, local businesses are counting losses and pressing for compensation. At a state utilities hearing this week, business owners, residents and city leaders urged Xcel to take responsibility, but the utility signaled claims are unlikely to be approved when customers receive advance notice. John Herrick reports.
And lastly in Local History: For decades, Boulder actively marketed itself as a place to live and visit. From the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, civic leaders and business boosters used slogans, billboards, maps and welcome signs to lure newcomers, branding Boulder as the “Athens of the West” and the “Gateway to the Rockies.” Silvia Pettem explains how that long-running boosterism gave way to more complicated local sentiment as the population surged by the 1960s.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Brief cold front tonight before a warm weekend.
- Schools and protests: BVSD sees teacher callouts ahead of ICE demonstrations.
- Office reset: Vacancies remain high in Boulder’s commercial market.
- Tax watch: Some Boulder County property tax bills may rise in 2026.
- Climate funds: County approves $540K for local climate projects.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
New to Boulder, Uttecht Physical Therapy provides concierge, in-home physical therapy for people who want to stay active and independent. Michael Uttecht delivers every session personally, specializing in orthopedic and geriatric care. By combining advanced manual therapy with movement-based treatment in your home, he provides unrushed, high-level care designed to help you continue enjoying the activities you love for years to come. Learn more at uttechtpt.com.
‘Our silence won’t save us’: Boulder faith leaders join national protests against ICE violence
Rev. David Schwartz marched with clergy in Minneapolis days before protester Alex Pretti was killed by ICE. In Boulder, faith leaders led a solidarity walk calling for dignity and justice. Continue reading…
Boulder businesses seek compensation after Xcel’s December power shutoff, with city officials backing them
At a state utilities hearing, residents and officials urged Xcel to compensate customers for losses. The company signaled claims are unlikely to be approved. Continue reading…
When Boulder was ‘The Place to Live’: How the city marketed itself for decades to newcomers
From railroad brochures and poems to welcome signs and slide shows, Boulder spent the early 20th century selling itself as a destination and a home. Continue reading…
A few flurries possible this evening ahead of a delightful weekend
Boulder will see a mixture of sun and passing clouds on Friday with highs in the upper 40s and a light northwest breeze at times.
A sneaky cold front is set to slide into eastern Colorado later this evening, but it will only be a brief glancing blow. As the front arrives after sunset from the east, expect temperatures to dip and maybe a few flurries drifting through — nothing more than a dusting, and most of us won’t see even that. Tonight’s low will be around 23 degrees.
The weekend ahead will be delightful. Downslope flow kicks in Saturday, quickly erasing whatever shallow cold air funnels in tonight. Highs will soar into the mid‑50s with plenty of sunshine.
Sunday and Monday look even better as a ridge builds overhead, pushing temperatures to near 60 degrees with a mix of blue sky and wave clouds. Not a bad way to begin the month of February!
Our next chance of light snow comes around Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Nearly a quarter of BVSD teachers call out amid national protest; schools remain open
Boulder Valley School District schools will remain open Friday despite a significant staffing shortage after nearly one-quarter of teachers submitted leave in connection with a planned national protest urging people to stay home from work, school and shopping.
District officials said they were aware of the planned anti-ICE National Shutdown earlier this week but did not anticipate the scale of absences, particularly after both the Colorado Education Association and the Boulder Valley Education Association communicated that Friday was not an authorized day of action.
BVSD notified families Thursday evening that the unexpected absences would disrupt normal operations at many schools, but said district staff worked throughout the day to avoid closures. The district said all student absences will be excused for families who choose to keep children home.
The district’s notice comes as ICE-related demonstrations are planned across Boulder this weekend, part of a broader wave of protests nationwide.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, a memorial bike ride for Alex Pretti, led by local cyclist and influencer Ryan Duzer, will meet at North Boulder Park at noon, followed by a separate “ICE Out” protest from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Canyon. On Sunday, Feb. 1, a five-mile “F ICE” group run will depart from Broadway and Maxwell Avenue at 9 a.m., led by local physical therapist Cait Alexander.
Office vacancies remain high as Boulder’s commercial market resets
A new commercial real estate report from Dean Callan & Company shows Boulder’s office market is still struggling to rebound, with vacancies remaining high across the county. At the end of 2025, about 23% of office space countywide was vacant, rising to nearly 29% in downtown Boulder, reflecting the lasting impact of remote and hybrid work and the absence of large employers signing new leases.
The report finds that leasing activity is being driven mostly by small and mid-sized tenants, while many older office buildings, especially downtown, continue to sit partially empty. Landlords are increasingly cutting rents or accepting below-asking deals after years of limited demand. Analysts say any meaningful turnaround may depend on city action, including incentives, faster permitting and broader efforts to make Boulder’s office districts more attractive to employers and workers again.
Boulder County warns some property tax bills may rise in 2026
Boulder County is warning property owners that some tax bills could increase next year, even if property values haven’t changed much. Temporary state tax relief measures, including a $55,000 reduction in residential property value, expired for the 2025 tax year (payable in 2026).
Manufactured home owners may see the biggest jumps. A manufactured home valued at $100,000 had a tax bill of about $275 in 2024 but could owe around $550 for 2025.
Residential properties will also look different on tax notices this year. For 2025, Boulder County is using two assessment rates: 7.05% for school districts and 6.25% for all other local governments. Seeing two assessed values is expected and not an error.
Property taxes for 2025 can be paid in two installments on March 2 and June 15, 2026, or in full by April 30, 2026.
Boulder County spreads $540K in climate funding across local communities
Boulder County commissioners have approved $540,510 in climate grants to eight cities and towns, funding projects aimed at cutting emissions and building resilience, from energy efficiency and electrification to tree planting and heat mitigation. Local governments are contributing an additional $135,128 in matching funds.
The largest awards went to Longmont, which will expand a whole-home efficiency and electrification program for low-income households, and Boulder, which will support climate-resilient landscaping and public workshops. Other grants will fund tree canopy protection in Lafayette, solar repairs in Superior, LED streetlight conversions in Lyons, and sustainability staffing in Louisville and Nederland.
The funding comes from Boulder County’s Sustainability Tax, a voter-approved sales tax that supports local climate initiatives through 2034.
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