📱 Who’s influencing the Vibrant Denver bond vote?

📹 Another Knock Against Flock

Littleton police falsely accused a Denver woman of stealing a package off of someone’s porch, claiming Flock camera footage placed her near the scene of the crime. She ended up having to compile her own surveillance evidence to prove that she was not, in fact, the thief. While proponents have touted the tech as a game-changer for crime-fighting, this recent event has many Denverites more worried than ever that this type of surveillance isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

• Council intervention: Nine city council members have asked City Auditor Tim O’Brien to step in and block Mayor Mike Johnston’s controversial contract extension with Flock, accusing him of deliberately circumventing council’s oversight authority to push the contract through. [CBS]
• The mayor stands firm: In a recent interview with City Cast Denver, he told us his actions were “entirely what the law allows and requires in Denver.”

🏟️ New Details Revealed in Ball Arena Redevelopment

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has unveiled an updated timeline for the massive project. The estimate? Around 30 years — for full completion, at least. The biggest elements of the plan — including a performance venue, a hotel, two residential buildings, and a pedestrian bridge — will hopefully be finished by 2032. [Denver Business Journal 🔒]

📱 Vibrant Denver Campaign Takes to Social Media

The campaign team behind the nearly $1 billion Vibrant Denver bond package that will appear on the ballot next week is trying to tap into a fresh source of voters through social media. A spokesperson for the campaign says they contracted 10 local influencers specializing in a range of content — and who are already supportive of the bond — to “speak authentically in their advocacy” to their online audiences. [Denverite]

✏️ Denver School Board Discusses Censuring Problematic Member

The Denver School Board is considering censuring member John Youngquist following a third-party investigation that found his behavior toward other district staff was “belittling, dismissive, and condescending.” The investigation was spurred earlier this year by claims from district superintendent Alex Marrero that Youngquist created a hostile work environment, particularly for staff of color. [Denver Post 🔒]

• The other side: Youngquist says the allegations are just an attempt to “intimidate and diminish” him.

Last week’s answer: This mural of late local jazz legend Ron Miles by Denver artist Detour can be found at Dazzle Jazz Club located inside the Denver Art Complex. Miles — a renowned trumpeter, cornetist, composer, and music educator — was born in Indianapolis, but raised in the Mile High where he built his musical legacy. He died at the age of 58 in 2022 and was posthumously inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

📣 A special shoutout for this week’s correct guessers:

• Tobias K. was the first to write in — with the correct location and artist to boot!
• But Joe C., Katherine W., Bob E., Arsya N., and Shannon G., weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do you know where to find this punk rock tin man? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

Thanks to Hey Denver reader Jack L. for submitting this week’s pic ✨

📸 Want to submit a photo? Send me a snapshot of somewhere in Denver, and I’ll consider it for an upcoming photo trivia segment!