🛑 Council delays vote on cold weather sweep ban

🛑 ‘No Freezing Sweeps’ Vote Postponed

This week, City Council decided to postpone its final vote on a ban that would prohibit the city from sweeping encampments during freezing temperatures. The decision to delay came just one day before the city reinstated a 42-day limit on how long migrant families could stay in a city-run shelter. [Westword; Denverite]

🤔 How Much Did Those Vests Cost Anyway?

Those fresh yellow puffer vests being sported by Denver’s new fleet of 650 “city ambassadors” cost the city about $51,000 — or $78.50 a pop! — money that was taken from the city’s remaining stash of COVID relief funds. [Axios Denver]

• Catch up: The vests are part of Mayor Johnston’s latest public safety plan to revitalize downtown Denver. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🧑‍⚖️ Renter Sues Landlord Over ‘Hidden Fees’

A former tenant of a Lakewood apartment complex is suing the landlord, national real estate giant Greystar, over undisclosed charges — like pest control and valet trash service — that were hidden in her monthly rent fees. Her attorneys are hoping to band together with other Greystar renters across the state to bring forward a class-action lawsuit. [Denver Post]

• Dive deeper: Today’s pod digs into the lawsuit, plus new data showing Denver metro rents are trending down. Is the landlord-tenant power balance shifting? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

👎 Feds Ban Highway Sign Puns

Colorado’s Transportation Department has historically taken a humorous approach to its highway signage, using pop culture references and silly puns to share law reminders and safety updates. The federal highway authorities don’t find it so funny, though, and are now banning puns and jokes, because they can be “misunderstood or understood only by a limited segment of road users and require greater time to process and understand."

Last week’s answer: Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs ♨️

• According to the hotel’s website:
  
  “During the early 1900s, the train … brought supplies, workers, and tourists into town, and also created a great need for lodging. Where the Hotel Denver building now stands were four saloons, a restaurant, a grocery store, and two rooming houses. Throughout the years, this hodgepodge was expanded and combined by the successful rooming house owners into today’s elegant, modern hotel.”

👏 Big claps for our correct guessers:

• Kelsey C. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Julia F., Heather L., Kelly O., Aimee W., and Casey B. weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where to find these neon vibes? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

Renters Fight the Power, Most Anticipated Eats, and Hotties in RiNo

Rent prices are trending downward and tenants are pushing back over hidden charges — could things be looking up for renters? Plus, Denver has become a hot spot for culinary offerings in the country, but the hype over anticipated restaurant openings could be wearing thin.