It’s Friday, July 14, 2023.
Here we are, Boulder. It’s Friday. And we’ve got the news.
For today, John Herrick covers the decision by the Boulder District Attorney not to file charges against police officers who killed a man after responding to a domestic violence dispute last month. Christopher Swanger, 36, was shot multiple times after allegedly pointing a gun at officers. The DA’s office has thus far denied several of our requests for body cam footage of the shooting, but said it will share the footage at a virtual town hall on July 17.
Also, Herrick covers the latest on a defamation lawsuit that could have major implications for Boulder politics and beyond. Steve Rosenblum, who ran unsuccessfully for Boulder City Council in 2021, is alleging that five political organizers and members of the Boulder Progressives – a local group that endorses candidates – engaged in a conspiracy to damage his reputation before the election. The defendants maintain they were questioning his “fitness for office.”
And lastly, a compromise is now in the works over a Boulder sales tax ballot measure for more arts funding that would split up the revenue, so half of it would go to public safety, homelessness services and more.
I hope your weekend is splendid.
— Tim, reporter
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Featured stories
Key court decision on Boulder’s defamation lawsuit looms ahead of high-stakes city election
A defamation lawsuit by a former city council candidate has reached a pivotal stage, with major implications for Boulder’s political organizers as they gear up for the 2023 city election. Continue reading…
District Attorney declines to file charges in fatal shooting by Boulder police
The Boulder Police Department has so far denied requests for records, including body camera footage, related to the shooting. Continue reading…
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In other news
80s for two, then 90s for many
Enjoy today and tomorrow, because hotter heat follows. A couple of days in the 80s will open for a Monday that could touch 100. At times a breeze will blow, feeling an awful lot like a hair dryer.
Boulder City Councilmembers seek compromise on arts funding ballot measure
Earlier this year, city residents gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that would reauthorize a .15% sales tax — and dedicate the revenue to arts programs and grants to local nonprofits.
The tax is expected to generate $7.25 million in revenue next year, according to city officials.
City of Boulder officials and Boulder City Councilmembers, however, want to reauthorize the tax for more general purposes. Historically, it has been used for a broad range of programs, such as fire, police and human services.
In recent weeks, several councilmembers spoke with the organizers backing the Arts for Boulder measure in an effort to strike a compromise and avoid having two competing measures on the November ballot. Read more on BRL.
Give feedback on walkable neighborhoods
The City of Boulder wants your feedback on potential code changes that would promote walkable neighborhoods, reducing residents’ daily reliance on cars. The city has launched an interactive map displaying proposed changes in 12 neighborhood centers across Boulder. Community members can explore the map and then provide feedback through a short questionnaire that sits further down the page.
Run for mayor or city council
Boulderites will be directly electing their mayor for the first time, and while a few councilmembers have already announced their candidacies, there’s still time for you to run. Requirements to get on the Nov. 7 ballot include:
- Being a U.S. citizen who’s at least 21 years old and has lived in Boulder for a year prior to the election.
- Scheduling an appointment with the City Clerk’s Office to complete the necessary paperwork. The process purportedly takes about 15 minutes.
- Getting 25 to 35 signatures from registered electors. Seems low, but the electors have to go to the City Clerk’s Office to sign for you.
- Then decide what your views are on the important issues.
E-bikes now also allowed on Lafayette’s trails
Shortly after Boulder allowed its residents to ride electric bikes on open space trails, Lafayette City Council passed an ordinance permitting e-bikes on their city trails. The city emphasizes that e-bikes are limited to a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour on Lafayette’s trails, unless otherwise indicated by signage.
Woman dies after falling into creek
A woman, who was camping near Boulder Creek, fell into the water early Wednesday morning. She was located near Sixth and Canyon and pulled out of the water by a Boulder police officer. Firefighters provided CPR before she was transported to the hospital in critical condition. She later succumbed to her injuries. The woman has been identified by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office as 46-year-old Candance Weber.
Bluebell Road closure
Bluebell Road in the Chautauqua Meadow will be temporarily closed by Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks on Saturday, July 15. The closure, necessary to address damage caused by recent precipitation, won’t affect other trails in the Chautauqua area.
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ICYMI
Boulder County Jail struggles to implement Colorado mental health law limiting solitary confinement. The 2021 law requires people with a mental illness to be let out of their cell for at least two hours per day. The challenges the county is facing with compliance reveal just how ill-equipped jails are to care for those most in need of mental health treatment, advocates say.
Tragic fall at Rocky Mountain National Park: Boulder community mourns loss of local climber. Boulder High and CU graduate Bailee Mulholland is remembered as a friend to many in local climbing and running communities. “This one hits home for us in Boulder.”
Boulder’s trees are dying: Ash borers wreak havoc on urban canopy. Tree deaths have exceeded tree planting every year for nearly a decade, a city-commissioned State of the Forest report finds. The culprit is an invasive species with much destruction still yet to come.
Boulder’s new North Sky Trail marks rare addition to city’s trail map. The three-and-a-half-mile trail, which is expected to be completed by spring 2024, follows the path of a would-be railroad.
‘All the small carriers left’: Homeowners in Boulder’s mountain communities struggle to find insurance coverage after devastating wildfires. As insurers abandon Colorado communities, the state’s new FAIR Plan is stepping in to help. But what will it cost policyholders in a time of ‘escalating catastrophic risk?’
