🦟 West Nile is hot right now

🚗 Get EV Cash for Your Clunker

Tomorrow at 9 a.m. the state will launch its “cash for clunkers” program to promote electric vehicles. The first few hundred (income-qualified) residents to sign up to turn over their fuel-powered car will receive $6,000 toward a new qualifying EV. The state has $1.8 million set aside for the program, and hopes to see enough success this year to warrant an expanded budget in years to come. (Historically, electrification rebates in Colorado get snatched up fast.) [CO Sun]

• Take a closer look: CPR climate reporter Sam Brasch tells us there is “no better state in the country to buy an electric car.” [City Cast Denver 🎧]

💰 Denver Could Owe $4.72 Million More to 2020 Protesters

Pending court approval, the city of Denver will likely be forced to pay out $4.72 million to settle a class action lawsuit from 2020 Black Lives Matter protesters. The lawsuit alleges that Denver police violated protesters’ First Amendment rights by using a city-imposed curfew to target and arrest more than 300 participants. The city has already coughed up roughly $17.5 million in claims and damages stemming from the 2020 protests. [Denverite]

🏠 Council Approves Pallet Shelter Funding

Denver City Council unanimously approved Mayor Mike Johnston’s $7 million funding request for temporary pallet shelters, which will be part of the mayor’s plan to create 11 “micro-communities” for unhoused residents around the city — one in each council district. However, with its approval, council also warned the mayor’s office that moving forward they would “need much better cost benefit analysis.” [Denverite]

• Want more? The City Cast Denver podcast crew digs into Mayor Johnston’s micro-communities plan. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Hey loyal reader, what’s on your mind? 🤔

🐶 We recently posed the question: Dogs in restaurants — big no-no, or no biggie?

• Keith A. says: “A big resounding Yes, Yes, Yes. Well-trained and behaved dogs should be welcome everywhere. In my experience, unruly and misbehaving children cause way more disturbances in restaurants.”
• Joshua D. on the other hand, disagrees: “Please, please, please no dogs in restaurants or on patios. Or grocery stores (Whole Foods Union Station, I’m looking at you). I love dogs, I love my dog, but I don’t know how other people feel about dogs and I have enough respect for those people to not put them in an uncomfortable situation.”
• Craig P. wants you to think of the dogs: “I'm a dog owner and lover, and shouldn't be surprised — but always am! — when I see dogs in inappropriate public places. … Calm, well-behaved dogs can belong on patios at beer gardens and maybe restaurants, but I think more people need to consider their dogs' stress and health levels (the sun here is brutal! there are so many people!) before they drag their pups to every social outing.”

🏙️ Following up on our “Ultimate Visitors Guide to Denver”:

• Beth W. says: “I love taking folks for a walk around the beautiful and picturesque Sloan Lake, followed by breakfast at Rise & Shine, who have the best biscuits in the city, hands down!”
• Laura adds: "You guys totally snubbed Denver's amazing farmers markets! My choices would be City Park farmers market on Saturday or South Pearl on Sunday — you can do some people and pup-watching, sample incredible Colorado produce and one-of-a-kind products, grab breakfast or brunch (and a snack for later!), and chat with some farmers. I think Denver's connection to the farming communities all around Colorado is such a unique and special feature of a city that, let's be honest, is still a ‘cow town’ at heart!"

🌮 Dine In and Do Good | Wednesday | 4-9 p.m.

Local literacy nonprofit Burning Through Pages will be at Uno Mas Taqueria raising awareness for its cause. Uno Mas will be donating 10% of the evening’s proceeds to BTP. [Platt Park; Free to stop by]

🍨 Yoga & A Cone | Wednesday | 6-7 p.m.

Skyline Yoga will host an all-levels flow on the Little Man patio. Ticket price includes one scoop of ice cream after class! [Highland; $16]

🗣️ Spanish Meetup | Wednesday | 7 p.m.

From native speakers to novices, anyone interested in practicing their Spanish skills is invited to this Spanish language club which meets up every other Wednesday at Raíces Brewing. [La Alma Lincoln Park; Free]

🌝 Blue Full Moon Party | Wednesday | 8 p.m.-Midnight

Celebrate the rare appearance of a blue supermoon (the next one won’t be until 2037) with a spectacular view from the 54thirty rooftop bar. Moonrise will occur at 7:49 p.m. [Downtown; Free to stop by]

Why Are New Buildings in Denver So Ugly?

Is Denver a city full of good architecture or bad architecture? Do we have defining structures in our skyline? And really, why are so many new apartment complexes so, well, ugly? Art and architecture critic Michael Paglia joins City Cast Denver host Bree Davies to talk about a few 21st century structures in the Mile High that he loves — and few that he really, really loathes.