Your Daily Guide

🪧 Students at More Than 100 Colorado Schools Plan Walkout

This Friday, more than 100 middle and high schools are expecting students to walk out as part of a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protest is scheduled for noon, and students participating in the Denver-area will meet at Alma-Lincoln Park afterward. [Westword]

• Who is organizing this? The Colorado Youth Coalition, which was co-founded by two Colorado teens in January to amplify young people's voices. However, the protest has backing from other organizations like the Brown Berets of Tepetlán, the Denver People’s March, 50501 Colorado, PULSE Colorado, No Concentration Camps in Colorado, and General Strike U.S. [Westword, Instagram]
• Can ICE come into Colorado schools? Not according to Colorado law, which states that ICE must have a judicial warrant before entering non-public areas of schools. Denver schools are additionally protected, with the DPS Board voting in April that ICE officers must have not only a judicial warrant but also prior approval from DPS’ attorney before detaining or questioning a student in school custody. [Colorado General Assembly, Chalkbeat]
• Which Denver-area schools will have walkouts: Twenty-four schools in Denver proper are already expecting students to walk out, as well as Cherry Creek in Greenwood and 13 schools in Aurora. [Instagram]

🚧 $4.5 Million Upgrades to Red Rocks

A Denver City Council committee approved a $4.5 million contract with SEH Inc. to design upgrades to the backstage of the city-owned venue. While the new backstage facility will be five stories, some of the new spaces will be built underground so show attendees can still see the city from their seats. Construction will take place over several years to not disrupt any scheduled events. [Denver Post 🔒]

💸 Graduated Income Tax Makes the Ballot

Initiative 195, which slightly decreases income taxes for 97% of Colorandans and raises it for the top 3%, will be on the ballot in November, according to the Colorado secretary of state’s office on Tuesday. 4A coalition of liberal groups, including the Bell Policy Center and New Era Colorado, are running the Initiative 195 campaign under the name “Protect Colorado’s Future.” [Colorado Newsline]

• Dueling tax proposals: Initiative 195 will be appearing alongside another tax reform proposal, Initiative 232, which is backed by the conservative group Advance Colorado and would cap the state’s income tax rate at its current level of 4.4%. Whichever initiative gets the most yes votes will be implemented, though it could get litigious!

📚 Workers at Denver Library Unionize

Close to 600 workers at Denver Public Library voted to unionize under the Communications Workers of America Local 7799. This comes days after a new law went into effect allowing city employees to join unions and engage in collective bargaining. The workers, who have organizing since 2020, say their focus is on increasing compensation, transparency and staffing. [Denverite]

💰 Stanley Marketplace Sells for $40.9 Million

Denver-based Magnetic Capital purchased the 10-year-old Stanley Marketplace in Aurora for $40.9 million. The building has a 98% occupancy rate with long-term tenants, and the new owners say their priority is to keep those tenants happy. Magnetic says it wants to improve the property and expand to Denver International Airport, where a mini-Stanley is tentatively set to open in fall 2027. [Denver Business Journal]

We have some more recommendations from City Cast Denver Neighbors about their fave local places, people, and organizations, so they can become YOUR go-to spots.

📣Tim M. has a shout out for Denver United Church: “Where everyone is welcome! No judgement zone!”

📣John H. has a shout out for CrossPurpose: “[It’s a] Denver nonprofit that literally helps people move from generational poverty to wealth creation.”

📣Juliana G. has got love for Eternal Flavors Bakery: “Melchor Ocampo is the owner and former head baker of The Market began baking from his home and his bakery has exploded. Known for their Spring Fling, this Immigrant owned business is a favorite. All creations are delicious, stop in for a cake by the slice and espresso to go!”

Become a City Cast Denver Neighbor today to share your own shoutout in this newsletter and on the podcast.