🤔 Who’s really in charge of your utility rates

🏗️ Vibrant Denver Bond Projects Begin

City officials plan to issue $410 million in March to start work on the 58 projects outlined in the Vibrant Denver Bond package approved by voters last fall. The Mayor’s Office anticipates the bond projects will generate some 7,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in economic activity over the next several years. The plan is to start on every project this year and have all of them completed by 2031. [Denver Business Journals 🔒]

⚖️ CU Denver Staff Allege Gender Discrimination

Female faculty members at the University of Colorado Denver have come together in a class action lawsuit against the college alleging wage disparities based on gender, thus violating Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The plaintiffs are seeking a trial by jury. [CPR]

👪 What Happens If Colorado Loses Federal Child Care Funding?

After President Trump ordered a freeze on millions of federal dollars for child care and low-income family support programs, Colorado immediately filed a lawsuit to block it. A judge issued a restraining order to temporarily halt the freeze. But child care advocates still predict long-term economic impacts that could affect more than just Denverites with families and those working in early childhood education. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🔑 Shelter Residents Lose Key Card Access

Residents at The Aspen, a city-run non-congregate homeless shelter in a former DoubleTree hotel, will no longer have key cards to their personal rooms. It’s just one new rule imposed by Urban Alchemy — the nonprofit that took over operations at the start of the year. Current residents say this comes in addition to room checks three times a day and no longer being allowed to invite guests inside. [Denverite]

• The other side: Despite already drawing scrutiny for their choice in Urban Alchemy, city officials have backed the new policy as an attempt to foster more touch points between staff and residents.

🚨 Aurora City Council Condemns ICE

Aurora City Council flexed its new progressive majority this week when it voted 6-4 on a resolution to publicly condemn the federal immigration agency and call for city leaders to limit cooperation with ICE agents. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain opposed the move. [Westword]

• Related: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is planning to launch an online portal for residents to share concerns and report misconduct by ICE agents. The webpage should be up by next week at coag.gov.