🗣️ Denver City Councilmember resigns

🧑‍⚖️ A Free Tina Peters Gets Back to Talking

Soon after former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was released from prison yesterday, she appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast, War Room, echoing the election conspiracy claims that helped put her behind bars. On the program, Peters claimed that Democrats were “cheating,” and repeated theories of stolen votes and malfunctioning voting equipment, saying “No one is really addressing the problem that I spent my time in prison as retribution for.”

Such statements raise questions about whether Tina Peters has remorse for her actions — a core reason Governor Jared Polis says he commuted her sentence. Polis further justified the move by stating that, while he does not agree with Peters’ claims of fraud in the 2020 election, those beliefs are protected under First Amendment rights and should not be grounds for unduly harsh punishment. [AP News; Rocky Mountain PBS]

• What will Peters’ parole entail? Nothing about this commutation is ordinary, so there aren’t well-defined guidelines for what comes next. Polis has already defended Peters’ right to speak her mind, but it’s unclear if she will be able to say anything she wants, on any platform, at any time.
• What will Tina do? Peters is already banned from interacting with anyone who testified against her; however, some election workers are reportedly afraid of Peters due to her history of violating no-contact laws. This, plus her allyship with Trump, could mean she tries to stay politically involved. [Colorado Sun]
• Did Polis get his facts wrong? The governor has faced significant backlash for granting Peters clemency. State Democrats voted to censure him for bowing to pressure from President Trump. National media outlets have also accused Polis of using “false and misleading claims” to minimize Peter’s damage and justify the decision. [CNN]

📃 Polis Vetos Union Organizing Bill (Again)

For the second time, Governor Jared Polis struck down a bill that could've made it easier for labor unions to organize in Colorado. Specifically, the bill would’ve eliminated a law that says workers can’t negotiate the fees they pay for collective bargaining rights — unless they have support from 75% of the company. Polis also vetoed a social media safety bill and a bill that would’ve funded youth mental health programs with video games via a tax on in-game purchases. [Colorado Sun; Complete Colorado]

• This year’s vetoes continue a trend from 2025, when Polis vetoed a bill that would’ve banned rent-setting algorithms and a safety measure intended to protect rideshare passengers from sexual assault. [CPR; KUNC]

🗯️ Councilmember to Resign Due to Illness

Denver City Councilmember Sarah Parady announced her resignation in her newsletter on Monday, citing an undisclosed illness. “It is devastating to me to have reached this point,” she wrote, “because I love being here working for us as a collective every single day.” Since Parady was elected to one of Denver City Council’s two at-large seats in 2023, she has been a leading progressive voice on a variety of issues, from her pushback on Mayor Mike Johnston’s use of automated license plate reader technology (aka, Flock) to her votes against public subsidies for the planned NWSL stadium. [City Cast Denver]

• What happens next? Parady plans to formally resign on August 5, allowing the clerk’s office to put the special election to fill her seat on this November’s ballot.

📫 Denver Mail Carriers Experience Dog Attacks at High Rates

The Mile High City made it to number three on the list of cities with the most dog attacks on mail carriers nationwide, according to new data from USPS. The report, which collected incidents from 2025, clocked Denver with 45 dog attacks, just behind Dallas at number two with 50, and Los Angeles at number one with 70. The postal service hopes this information will make mail carriers safer and encourage owners to secure their dogs and prevent these kinds of incidents. [9News]

🚧 Controversial Asia Center Concept Withdrawn

A proposed concept for redeveloping the Asia Center on Federal Boulevard is now in a “closed” or “withdrawn” status, according to Denver County records. The redevelopment concept drew concern from community members because the space holds cultural significance that many felt wasn’t being considered. Construction planning appears to be ongoing, so the public can expect to see another design proposal. [Naked Denver]

🛒 One King Soopers Closes, Another One Opens

The King Soopers on Colorado Boulevard in the Belcaro Shopping Center will close today. The grocery store is located in a strip mall and parking lot that’s being replaced by a multifamily housing development. A brand new King Soopers with a Starbucks and a gas station is opening a mile away in Virginia Village tomorrow, so shoppers will still have a store to visit. [Denverite]