🚌 DPS buses leave kids lost, late, stranded

👻 Broadway Halloween Parade Fights to See Another Year

Rising operation costs almost ended the beloved Broadway tradition for good last year before community donations got it to the finish line. Faced with even higher expenses this year — $99,000 to be exact — organizers have planned a Broadway Halloween Bar Crawl scheduled for Oct. 10 to raise the funds. [Westword]

• A long-term solution: If community members approve the creation of a Broadway corridor GID this November, the extra revenue could financially support the parade moving forward.

⛳ City Misses Park Hill Golf Course Opening Goal

It appears Mayor Mike Johnston will not be following through on his promise that the defunct Park Hill Golf Course would finally reopen as a public park before the end of summer. The city’s land swap deal with the current owners is still pending. Officials are hopeful they can close the deal by October. Johnston is so confident, in fact, that he’s setting aside millions of dollars for the park buildout in his 2026 city budget proposal. [Denverite]

• Seeking tips: Do you have insider info on the deal? We want to know 📧 👀

🏭 Historic Cole Building OK’d for Retail Redevelopment

City Council unanimously approved a redevelopment plan for the former Rock Drill Manufacturing facility, which includes a tax-incriment financing (TIF) deal — a form of a tax break — to entice development. The 7-acre property has sat vacant for over a decade and remained closed to the public for a century. Plans include retail, hotel, and office space, as well as preserving some historic structures. [Denver Post 🔒]

📱 How Political Arguments Online Are Affecting Denverites IRL

People have been fighting online since the internet began. But as algorithms and social media further divide Denverites, is it having an impact on laws and policymaking, too? One investigative reporter looked at how crime reporting in Colorado — and its discourse on the web — is becoming its own polarizing force and what that says about growing political divisions. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🚌 DPS Buses Leave Students Lost, Late, Stranded

Denver Parents have reported DPS buses arriving up to 60 minutes late for pick-up or dropping off young children at the wrong stops. Impacted families say district officials have been unresponsive. For its part, DPS says it acknowledges the issues and is working to fix them. [Denverite]

Looking for a way to get involved in hyperlocal issues facing the community and make your voice heard? You might consider joining a Registered Neighborhood Organization (or RNO).

RNOs pop up in the news often — like the group in City Park pushing back on the Denver Zoo’s new proposal to open a secondary zoo entrance. Mayor Mike Johnston also met with several local RNOs while campaigning his Vibrant Denver Bond package earlier this year.

So what exactly is an RNO? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is an RNO?

A Registered Neighborhood Organization is a group of residents and property owners in a certain neighborhood who register to be formally recognized by the city’s Community Planning and Development Department. Then, they meet regularly to discuss and help guide community issues and decisions. They also help foster neighborhood pride and connection with events like block parties or park clean-ups.

How Much Power Do RNOs Have?

RNOs don’t have the authority to vote on major city bills or ordinances, but they do have some sway. City leaders often confer with RNO groups for guidance, input, and feedback on things like zoning amendments, Planning Board hearings, and local business licenses.

Does My Neighborhood Have an RNO?

Most likely — seeing as there are 176 RNOs in Denver. You can find RNO options in your neighborhood with this interactive map from the City of Denver. It’s worth noting that RNO boundaries do not have to follow the boundaries of the city’s 78 statistical neighborhoods, and they can overlap with each other.

An important distinction: RNOs are not Homeowners Associations. They function differently. However, HOAs can register as RNOs — which you’ll notice on the city’s RNO map — if they meet the eligibility requirements.