🚘 Waymos unleashed

🚗 Waymo’s Partial Public Rollout

After a year of road testing, Waymo’s AI-powered driverless taxi service began offering rides to select public passengers covering about 60 square miles of Denver. But reactions are mixed and the launch comes with more than a few caveats. [Colorado Sun]

• Service is limited: It’s an invite-only system using “dozens” of cars. Waymo won’t say how many potential riders were contacted or how they were selected. If you’re one of the chosen few, keep in mind that DIA is off-limits, along with any freeway travel. [Westword]
• First fenderbender: The public launch comes only days after the city saw its first-ever driverless car crash, though Denver Police cited a real human driver for the incident. [Westword]
• Leadership approves: Both Governor Jared Polis and Mayor Mike Johnston welcomed the new tech, citing public safety and climate goals. [CBS News]

Public response: 60% of Denver voters say they’re unlikely to climb aboard, per the Colorado Polling Institute. [Denver Post]

• “Or we could invest in better public transit systems instead of putting cars with *no one in them* a significant portion of the time on the road, clogging our streets further.” - @forge8663.bsky.social
• “I’ll gladly pay a little more to be able to blast music and talk freely with my friends and not have to endure the awkward and often insane ramblings of an uber driver.” - u/Gold_Telephone_7192
• “There’s one that’s been stuck on the corner next to my house for over an hour, just blinking in the middle of the street.” - u/reyamica
• “As a cyclist, these make me nervous af.” - u/turtletaint911
• “As a woman who has had to deal with cracked-out weirdos coming on to me, thank god for this innovation. Sorry but the strange men driving for uber have completely turned me off to their service. This is how progress happens.” - u/imirish_1
• “Reminder that you can’t be anti-flock and pro Waymo.” - u/Ok_Bread302

❗ AG Candidate’s Data Exposed

After an error at Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office, personal data for 130,000 ‘confidential voters’ in Colorado was accessible for more than a week. El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen, who is also the republican candidate for state Attorney General, was one the eight voters in his county impacted by the exposure.

What about the data?: Griswold’s office says it contacted the Colorado State Patrol and the Denver District Attorney’s office to find affected voters, and stated “the Department has no information to suggest any specific public safety issues related to this matter.” [CPR]

🏈 Broncos Star Pleads ‘Not Guilty’

Star linebacker Jonathan Cooper was arrested on June 4 and again on June 11 after altercations with his then-girlfriend. He is now facing charges of felony second-degree assault by strangulation. After pleading ‘not guilty’ on Monday, Cooper is set to go to a jury trial on Nov. 10. [ESPN]

• Will he play in the meantime? Cooper is not expected to play, including the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14, until his legal situation is resolved. Prior to his plea, he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he cannot suit up with the team and his salary will not count against the salary cap. [New York Times]

🎭 Downtown Theater Blames City for Flop

After Denver’s Department of Economic Development & Opportunity accused them of “potential misuse” of public funding, Denver Immersive Repertory Theater co-owners Steve Wargo and Blair Russell are striking back. Russell says they failed to open their business on time because a $400,000 loan from the Denver Downtown Development Authority came in later than expected, creating a cascade of debts that they couldn’t overcome. [BusinessDen 🔒]

• They’ve got receipts: BusinessDen obtained an email Blair and Russell sent to the city in March explaining how the slower-than-anticipated transfer of funds was harming their business. At that time, they were also asking the DDA for an additional $280,000. That request was denied.
• To be transparent: DEDO is currently a sponsor of Keep It Local, our local shopping guide newsletter.

⚽ Summit Stadium Price Tag Grows

Last year Denver committed $70 million towards constructing a stadium for our new National Women’s Soccer League team, the Denver Summit FC. But now City Council has committed to designing and building a $20-plus million pedestrian bridge to connect the Broadway RTD station with the soccer stadium and surrounding developments. [Denver Gazette]

• Big picture: Denver is contributing a portion of the overall price tag, which could climb as high as $300 million. Economic impact studies indicate the stadium, which would only be the second in the nation dedicated to women’s soccer, could generate up to $2.2 billion over 30 years.

🍻 Iconic Colfax Business Faces Closure

After surviving on Colfax Avenue for nearly 100 years, the Nob Hill Inn is set to close at the end of September. “We used to have a lot of walk-in traffic, and then with the [bus rapid transit construction] going on, it's kind of hard right now for people to want to navigate that," said bartender Gabriel Ortega. [Denver7]

• Construction update: Work on the westernmost segment from Broadway to Williams Street, which includes Nob Hill, is nearing completion, though BRT service is still not expected to begin until the end of 2027. [City of Denver]