💧 Water fines could be coming

💧 The West’s Water Woes

Declining reservoir levels and thousands of overwatering complaints have Denver Water considering further restrictions — and future fines. The Colorado reservoirs responsible for supplying 1.5 million local residents with water are around 20% below capacity, meaning Denver residents need to keep cutting back on water usage.

• It’s not just Denver: Cities, states, and tribes across the West are facing hot weather, wildfires, and minimal rainfall, exacerbating water shortages as the Colorado River Basin continues to dwindle.
• What’s next? Officials are currently deadlocked on making a decision about exactly how to conserve water, but it’s likely a federal plan will come to fruition sometime this summer. That could have ripple effects across the country, impacting everything from the price of vegetables to outdoor recreation. [The Washington Post].
• What can you do? Denver Water says that customers should follow their twice-a-week watering schedule and skip watering if rain is in the forecast — small steps with significant impact. [KDVR]

👮 Judge’s Ruling Suggests a Shift in DPD Accountability

A Black man facing an illegal firearm charge has had his case dismissed after a judge deemed the initial traffic stop unconstitutional. The two Denver Police officers who pulled the driver over said they did so because he had broken taillights and failed to stop at stop signs… but there were no stop signs on the route and the condition of the taillights did not violate state law.

• Denver Police officers are not legally allowed to pull over drivers for minor traffic infractions unless they have a second reason for doing so, such as the suspected involvement of the driver in a more serious crime. Still, the defendant’s attorney said, “I think Denver is patrolling Colfax looking for young Black men driving nice cars.” [Denver Post 🔐]

🌯 Local Burrito Wins Big

El Taco De Mexico secured Colorado’s only spot on a recent roundup of the best burritos nationwide. The spotlight shined on their chile relleno burrito, which features a “cheese-stuffed fried pepper” and “slow-simmered green chile,” for the best of two dishes in one. [Denver Post 🔐]

⛑️ Wait…They Rescued Two People From What?

In two separate incidents this week, officials rescued people who were trapped in an abandoned Cold War-era missile silo in Arapahoe County. Over the past few years, the defunct underground facilities have caught the attention of urban explorers, but first responders say they are highly dangerous. [Denver7; CPR]

🎶 Music Venue Employees Move To Unionize

Audio engineers at Denver’s Oriental Theater, Federal Theatre, and HQ Denver have voted in favor of collective bargaining despite opposition from venue owners. The employees hope unionizing will improve their ability to negotiate, alleviate staffing concerns, and create a better experience for both the audience and the artists who perform there. [Westword]