🚄 What’s in Polis’ big new transit plan?

💲 Tipping Fatigue (and Confusion) Continues

Recent data shows that tips account for roughly 26% of Colorado restaurant workers’ income. Between new “living wage” fees, auto-gratuity, and pushy iPad prompts, the conversation around tipping continues to be nuanced, complicated, and ever-changing. [Axios Denver]

• Dive deeper: Listen back to some of the conversations we’ve had with service workers, restaurant owners, and even the CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association on the topic. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🔋 Colorado Takes Top Spot for EV Sales

The Centennial State has officially edged out California for the largest market share of electric vehicles, with EVs making up more than 25% of new cars sold in the third quarter of 2024. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Yes, but: Gov. Jared Polis directly credited the state’s competitive rebate incentives for the new milestone — incentives that will shrink substantially next year. [Axios Denver]

🐘 Colorado Dems Lose State House Supermajority

Vote recounts in State House Districts 16 and 19 have resulted in Democratic lawmakers losing their supermajority hold of the chamber by razor-thin margins. While Dems still maintain the majority over Republicans 43-22, they no longer have a veto-proof edge. [CO Sun]

🚄 Polis’ Big Plans for Denver Drivers, Bikers, and Pedestrians

Last month, Gov. Jared Polis unveiled his grand new vision for Colorado transportation over the next decade. So, how does he plan to actually build the more than 3,000 miles of new bike lanes his plan proposes? And how does housing densification and affordability fit into the state’s climate goals? One transportation and land use expert weighs in on Polis’ vision. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

One hundred-fifty years ago, Alfred Packer began a wild, grisly journey into the San Juan mountains that would eventually cement him in Colorado history. Known today as the “Colorado Cannibal,” Packer has remained a key character in local lore and legend for a century and a half, inspiring 5Ks, festivals, films, TV specials, and even a cookbook.

In fact, this Saturday, Dec. 14, Denver Film’s Scream Screen series is hosting a special showing of “Cannibal! The Musical,” a low-budget comedic production that was written/directed by and starred Trey Parker (yes, that Trey Parker of “South Park” and Casa Bonita fame) during his time as a student at CU Boulder in 1993.

Intrigued? This is the story of the “Colorado Cannibal.”

A Grisly Tale of Desperation

Alfred Packer (sometimes spelled Alferd), born in Pennsylvania, made his way to Colorado in the late 19th century. Like many young frontiersmen of that era, he was lured by the promise of adventure, gold, and new horizons. What makes his story different though, is an ill-advised 1874 expedition into the wintery San Juan mountains that began with six eager gold-hunters and ended with only one man left standing — and a whole lot of concerning questions.

When 31-year-old Packer emerged from the frozen wilderness two months after the start of his journey without his five fellow travelers, he shared a tale of being abandoned by his companions, claiming not to know what happened to them. But when authorities began poking holes in his account, Packer’s story changed.

He recounted the details of the men dying one-by-one from hunger and exposure to the harsh elements. Starving, the group resorted to eating each of their fallen compatriots for survival until Packer was the only man left. But when the bodies of the five others were discovered a few months later, the physical evidence didn’t support Packer’s version of events…

Was Packer a victim of circumstance? Or a cold-blooded killer?