❄️ Should warming shelters open sooner?

🚧 Change is Coming to Colfax

Denver City Council unanimously approved a massive rezoning project for Colfax Avenue on Monday. The new zoning rules will discourage car-centric businesses, like drive-thrus and car washes, with the intention of making the street more pedestrian-friendly as the area gets ready to welcome a new bus rapid transit line. [Denverite]

🏺 City Auditor Puts the Pressure on DAM

Three years ago, Denver’s city auditor raised concerns about the Denver Art Museum’s accounting methods for its collection — like tracking who owned what pieces and where certain pieces were. Now, after a recent follow-up, the auditor says the museum has implemented only some of his recommendations for improvement. [Denverite]

• Why it matters: The DAM came under public scrutiny last year after a Denver Post investigation placed the museum at the heart of an international criminal looting ring. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🪧 DIA Cargo Handlers Strike

Approximately 100 DIA cargo handlers walked off the job for several hours Monday to strike over workplace safety concerns including fire risks and busted equipment. The workers, employed by a company called Swissport, are not part of a union, but went forward with a strike because “enough is enough.” [CPR]

• Related: Uber and Lyft drivers went on strike outside the airport last year. We spoke with three ride-share drivers to get a full picture of life in the Denver gig economy. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

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

⛽ JulieAnne is excited about a new QuikTrip gas station coming to Monaco and Evans. She says:

• “I’m a native of Tulsa, OK (where QuikTrip originated), and a self-professed QT fanatic! It is always so clean and neat, the workers are nice, and their soda and tea bar cannot be beat. They have the best donuts that are always fresh. They are also a company that works very hard to take care of their employees and has a great reputation.”

🌶️ On the topic of Denver’s best green chile. Stan P. shares his take on Denver-style chile rellenos:

• “From my experience, the egg roll-wrapped chile rellenos are a [Denver] northside invention (according to Gustavo Arellano, at least) going way back (along with the Mexican hamburger and the sausage-sauce-cheese-chile-wrapped-in-dough item we call a cannoli). I first had them as a child back in the ‘70s, so at least that long. In fact, the first time I went to California and the battered Anaheim chili showed up on my plate, I freaked out.”

🍿 Regarding the news that the Esquire Theatre is closing, and our list of other awesome Denver movie theaters, one listener shares this:

• “My partner and I took advantage of Alamo’s season pass BOGO offer in July, fell prey to the deal and continue to use it to this day. My partner said over and over, ‘We can’t just go to Alamo. Mayan, Esquire and SIE need our business.’ Sure enough, Esquire is closing. While I’m sure we weren’t the nail in the coffin, it’s a good reminder to support arthouses over the chains if we want them to stick around.”

Should Denver Open Emergency Warming Shelters Sooner?

As winter weather sets in, unsheltered Denverites are at risk for hypothermia and frostbite. Under current policy, the City of Denver only requires emergency warming shelters to open after temperatures drop to 20 degrees. But Dr. Joshua Barocas says danger presents itself at temps much higher than that. He’s on the show today to explain why changing Denver’s temperature threshold could save lives and money.