🐶 Dog-lovers claim victory

🐾 Dog-Lovers Win Battle for Westminster Park

Metro Denver’s largest unofficial off-leash dog park is poised to become official this month. The City of Westminster is expected to approve formal designation of a 420-acre off-leash area for dogs at Westminster Hills Open Space — something that has been intensely debated between conservationists and dog-owners for months. [Denver Post 🔒]

• From the archives: The off-leash dog debate never gets tired. We heard from passionate listeners on the subject a few summers ago. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

✊ Council Prepared to Pass Collective Bargaining Bill

Denver City Council is expected to give final approval to a bill next week that would put a measure on the November ballot regarding collective bargaining rights for city employees. Council members made some small tweaks to the measure on Monday, but have largely been supportive of the proposal. [Denverite]

🗳️ Who’s Behind the Push for Ranked Choice Voting?

Is it high time for Coloradans to throw out the old two-party election system? Local political megadonor Kent Thiry sure thinks so. He’s backing a ballot initiative to move Colorado to a ranked choice voting model. He sat down with us for his first interview about the initiative to answer why. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

• Dive deeper: What’s RCV and how exactly does it work? Let me break it down for you. [Hey Denver]

⚾ Ballpark Residents to Vote on GID This Fall

Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood is one step closer to establishing its very own General Improvement District to serve as “a collective voice for the community.” With Monday’s approval from City Council, area property owners will cast their votes this fall on enacting a special tax to fund the creation of the GID. [Westword]

🔎 Investigation Finds Top Dem Guilty of Ethics Violations

A state Senate ethics investigation has found that Democratic Sen. Faith Winter “failed to uphold the integrity and conduct” of her position when she arrived apparently intoxicated at a public meeting in April. Senate President Steve Fenberg will determine what disciplinary actions, if any, are appropriate. [CO Sun]

Hey loyal readers and listeners. We love hearing from you! Got a question about something going on in the city? A spicy take on a trending topic? Commentary on a recent City Cast Denver podcast episode or Hey Denver newsletter? We want to hear it 💌 Here’s the latest from the inbox:

🎆 Drones v. Fireworks

After witnessing Denver’s Indy Eve drone show over the weekend, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi is recanting his earlier skepticism about these new-age light displays.

• If you missed it, listener Kim S. shared the highlights: “Personalized for Denver and Colorado, it featured the Big Blue Bear, the Denver Flag, and Blucifer shooting lasers from his eyes to destroy a UFO. The sounds didn't terrify the Denver dog population, and the drones didn't contribute to terrible air quality.”

🏔️ Tourist Treats

Summer is the season of vacation destinations! So we’ve been chatting a lot about tourist treats, mountain getaways, and outdoor adventuring in the podcast and newsletter.

• Reader Josie K.’s hot tourist tip: “The bison viewing off the Chief Hosa exit on I-70. We got amazing views of the babies the other night!”
• And Jon E. has a rec for your next trip to Vail: “Bart & Yeti's in Lionshead. It's a locals’ place, feels totally lived-in, and has really good pub food at an affordable price.”

🍔 Neighborhood Watering Holes

After only four months open, the sudden shuttering of the Harvey Park Grille left us fretting over the fate of other local eateries.

• Christine in Sunnyside says she finds her community vibes at Billy’s Inn in Berkeley: “It is kind of unassuming from the outside, but it has every type of food with exactly the kind of the quality you're looking for … It’s great to go with family, great to grab a beer, and it's a neighborhood staple.”
• Listener Jason G. suggests The Doghouse Tavern, adding: “A working class neighborhood needs working class businesses … and frankly there’s a lot of time, money, and resources going into fancier, quasi-upscale places these days when all people want is simplicity and affordability.”

🐍 Colorado’s Scariest Animals

Outdoor enthusiast, former foothills reporter, and City Cast Denver producer Olivia Jewell Love recently shared her list of top five most dangerous Rocky Mountain animals.

• At least one listener thinks rattlesnakes should have made the cut: “The front range is full of them — they kill dogs regularly, and we even have sanctuaries for them here. They're deadly and probably widespread on your favorite sunset hikes!”
• Speaking of: Here’s what to do if you do encounter a rattlesnake.

🕊️ Remembering Alan Berg

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of famous local radio host Alan Berg, we spoke with KNUS host Peter Boyles, a friend and colleague of Berg’s.

• Tim from West Denver lets us know: “There's a film coming out called “The Order” … and Marc Maron is actually going to play Alan Berg.”

A Millionaire’s Case for Major Elections Reform

In an election year when the very foundation of democracy is at stake, Coloradans are being asked to consider a sweeping state election reform. Local political megadonor Kent Thiry is bankrolling a ballot initiative that would ask voters to adopt “open primaries” and ranked choice voting. Today, he’s on the City Cast Denver podcast, along with former Denver Elections director Amber McReynolds, to make the case for RCV.