🏠 Denver’s top housing official is leaving

🏛️ Last of Denver’s Civil War Statue Finally Removed

The last remaining piece (the base) of the Civil War soldier statue that once stood outside the State Capitol building was removed earlier this week on Veteran’s Day. The statue, which in part commemorated the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, has been a source of division for the Colorado community in recent years. Protesters toppled the statue during 2020 George Floyd demonstrations. Currently, the statue is on display — in its full vandalized glory — at the History Colorado Center. [Westword]

🎨 The Economics of Art

The Colorado Business Committee For the Arts released a study this week showing that the arts sector contributed $3.12 billion to the local economy and that attendance at cultural events beat out professional sports attendance threefold. But what do these numbers say about the state of the arts for actual artists living in Denver? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

💳 State SNAP Benefits Resume

Food stamp payments for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who rely on SNAP benefits resumed yesterday, according to state officials. The White House signed legislation to end the federal government shutdown Wednesday night. [Denver Post 🔒]

• But still: Some payments may be delayed as Colorado officials scramble to play catch-up. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, check out our roundup of free Thanksgiving meal programs.

🏠 City’s Top Housing Official Resigns

Jamie Rife, executive director of the city’s Department of Housing Stability, will leave her position at the end of the month to take a new role as vice president of national housing nonprofit Housing Connector. Rife is credited with overseeing Mayor Mike Johnston’s ambitious housing goals over the last two years. “Tonight, thousands of Denverites will sleep in their own beds and not the streets because of the work of Jamie Rife,” the mayor said. [Denverite]

Last week’s answer: This mural is located on the north wall of Mozart’s Lounge in the Mayfair neighborhood (technically Montclair), located at 1417 Krameria Street, just half a block off East Colfax. Local reporting says the bar’s origins date back to the 1800s as a neighborhood haunt called Mozart’s Hall that was frequented by the city’s German immigrants. It then went through a few different iterations, before the current owners took over in 2016, bringing it back to its roots.

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

• Christina M. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Pamela H., Hannah H., Raych D., Annie E., and Joe C. weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where to find this gorgeous mural of La Catrina?
💡 Hint: the altar was a seasonal setup, but the painting is permanent.

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 Bridget B. for sending in this week’s photo 🙌

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