🗳️ Every issue on the Denver ballot, explained

🎤 Colorado’s Indie Venues Need Help

Colorado relies on independent live performance venues — like Levitt Pavilion, Swallow Hill Music, and Comedy Works — for roughly $2.3 billion in economic output and nearly 6,700 jobs, according to the National Independent Venue Association. But a new report from NIVA found that only 41% of Colorado's small indie venues were profitable in 2024, citing inflation, anti-competitive practices, and predatory ticket scalping as the reasons. [Axios Denver]

🏘️ It’s RNO Summer

City council members Paul Kashmann and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez are spearheading an effort to update Denver's regulations for Registered Neighborhood Organizations. The city’s current RNO ordinance hasn’t been updated since it was established in 1979. The two council members say a “wealth of knowledge” is being squandered because so many residents don’t know anything about RNOs or how to utilize them successfully. [Denverite]

• What exactly is an RNO? Community governance at its finest.
• Get involved: Join one of the upcoming community meetings hosted by Kashmann and Gonzales-Gutierrez as part of their “Summer of RNO Reform” series.

🇺🇸 The Race for Governor is Getting Expensive

The Democratic primary race for Colorado’s next governor is shaping up to be a big-money showdown between two of the many candidates, Attorney General Phil Weiser and Senator Michael Bennet. Weiser entered the race as the early frontrunner with $3 million in direct campaign funds, while Bennet recently received a $500,000 cash infusion from billionaire Michael Bloomberg, giving him a significant edge in outside funding. Combined fundraising so far rings up at roughly $9 million. [CPR]