Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Here’s what’s leading today’s edition:
Last week, we shared an update on some Boulder city councilmembers condemning antisemitic language from protesters urging the council to consider a Gaza ceasefire resolution during open public comment periods. In February, the council voted 7-2 not to take up the issue of a resolution, but the protests persist.
Today, John Herrick reports on the scope of the disruptions — including 12 meeting recesses this year — and the council’s struggle to balance free speech rights with the need to conduct city business. In response, councilmembers have implemented new rules to prevent flag waving and posters that block views, but protests continue to cause delays. Tomorrow, council rules and procedures return to the agenda to address these tensions.
Also today, amid tough times for Boulder County’s restaurant industry — with post-pandemic work-from-home trends, inflation and rising costs leading to the closure of many beloved spots — T.M. Spring brings good news: Three locally owned Asian restaurants, Hapa Sushi, Zoe Ma Ma, and Busaba Thai, seem to be thriving and have relocated to the west end of Pearl Street. These moves offer expanded seating, new menus and fresh atmospheres for Boulder’s dining scene.
Plus, BVSD approves resolution on protecting vulnerable students and more news below the fold. 👇
Lastly, in case you missed it, we’re now offering free obituaries as a public service to the community. We’re honored to publish the first ones today.
Thank you, as always, for reading,
– Brooke, reporter
Gaza war continues to divide and disrupt Boulder City Council, leaving members at apparent loss for how to respond
Councilmembers grapple with chamber disruptions, hate speech and policy divisions as they consider limiting their own discussions of the war. Continue reading…
A year of growth: Boulder’s west Pearl Street expands its Asian dining scene with Hapa, Zoe Ma Ma and Busaba
In a year marked by frequent restaurant closures, three restaurateurs are bringing fresh energy to Pearl Street’s west end with expanded spaces, more seating and new menu options. Continue reading…
Milder weather ahead
You can skip your thick socks today — temperatures are expected to reach the low 50s with mild winds. Tomorrow will bring similar conditions, though with more clouds and less wind. Either way, it’s shaping up to be a great few days to get outside if you’re not a fan of the cold.
BVSD board approves resolution addressing deportation fears
The BVSD Board of Education unanimously approved the Supporting Students and Families resolution at its meeting last night. The resolution, which we covered earlier this week, reaffirms the district’s commitment to protecting undocumented and other vulnerable students and their families and comes in response to rhetoric and policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, including plans for mass deportations.
The board included a clarifying amendment ensuring that schools can forward requests from federal immigration officials to the district’s legal office, allowing schools to focus on educating students while the legal team handles such matters.
“It is days like today and resolutions like this that make me really proud to be a part of BVSD,” said board president Nicole Rajpal. Board member Alex Medler added, “I think we’re reflecting the value of our community.”
Incident at fraternity appears to be just that
After issuing a press release that garnered significant statewide media coverage suggesting an incident at the Kappa Sigma fraternity at CU, in which students were treated on-scene and at least one taken to the hospital, was possibly due to tainted cocaine that could affect others in Boulder, officials are now walking back that statement.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to keep the community safe, the Boulder Police Department put out the news release on Sunday based on the preliminary information officers had at the time,” the department said yesterday.
No fentanyl appears to be involved. Police now say the students consumed a large amount of alcohol, and some had used drugs, which caused them to become ill.
Help shape the future of a safer Folsom Street
The City of Boulder has launched the Folsom Street Safety Improvements Project to improve travel safety between Pine Street and Colorado Avenue. You can share your experiences and ideas via a questionnaire open through early January 2025. The project is part of Boulder’s Core Arterial Network initiative, or CAN, which targets high-traffic corridors for redesign to reduce serious and fatal crashes, more than two-thirds of which occur on arterial streets.
Between 2015 and mid-2024, Folsom Street saw 566 crashes, including 20 serious or fatal incidents, disproportionately involving pedestrians and cyclists, according to the city. Public input, transportation data and best practices will shape design options reviewed by city officials in 2025. The project is partially funded by a federal grant.
Colorado to introduce 15 wolves – hopefully more effectively this time
The Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are preparing to release 15 gray wolves from British Columbia between January and March 2025, the Colorado Sun reported.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife began the first round of wolf reintroductions in December 2023, following the narrow passage of a ballot measure. Criticism from ranchers and Colorado counties arose soon after, especially as wolves began preying on livestock, according to the Sun. Tim Ritschard, head of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, presented a petition signed by 26 groups urging Parks and Wildlife to pause the wolf reintroductions until their demands were met.
Despite the pushback, the state is moving forward with its plans, but says it “has incorporated this feedback into an expanded and improved conflict minimization program for Colorado livestock producers.” These mitigation efforts include hiring more wildlife damage specialists to help connect ranchers to resources like compensation claims, providing guides for handling wolf attacks, hosting educational workshops, and training range riders to monitor livestock and scare off wolves.
Colorado leads nation in EV adoption
Colorado now leads the nation in electric vehicle adoption, surpassing California for the first time, according to a new report from the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, CPR reported. In the third quarter of 2024, 25.3% of new cars sold or leased in Colorado were pure EVs or plug-in hybrids, compared to 24.3% in California.
State officials credit Colorado’s progress to robust rebates, charging infrastructure, and competitive leasing deals on models like the Nissan Leaf. However, some incentives are set to decrease, with the state’s $5,000 EV tax credit dropping to $3,500 next year. President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has indicated plans to end the federal EV tax credit, which currently reduces the cost of a new EV by up to $7,500.
In 2022, Boulder County ranked 10th among U.S. counties for electric vehicle adoption, with EVs accounting for nearly a quarter of new car sales, but it has struggled with charging infrastructure.
Dedication ceremony for new art at Valmont Park
The city recently installed “Water Trail” by artist Gregory Fields at Valmont Park, a 3D art piece designed to illustrate the water cycle and highlight the importance of rain gardens. Rain gardens are sunken areas filled with specialized soil and plants that filter pollutants from rainwater, preventing it from flowing across pavement and picking up pollutants like vehicle spills, animal waste and fertilizers. Typically, rainwater from roads flows into storm sewers and then directly into local water bodies without treatment.
Fields, a Lafayette sculptor, is known for his work with glazed ceramic murals and pillar pieces. The dedication ceremony for “Water Trail” will be held on Dec. 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Valmont Park.
Boulder Public Library café seeks new name
The café at the Boulder Public Library’s main branch is set to reopen in 2025 with a new name, and the library is inviting the community to help choose it. Residents can cast their votes through a survey open until Dec. 20. The choices are: Abridged Cafe, Boulder Creek Cafe, The Bookmark Cafe, Library Bridge Cafe and Storybrook Cafe.
The café, overlooking Boulder Creek, has a long history, including previous recent tenants Tonantzin Casa de Café and Seeds Library Café, which both closed due to challenges from the pandemic and slow foot traffic. Now, the library district will manage the café directly. The new name will be announced in January, with the café scheduled to open in February or March.
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