Denver’s First Lobby Day: A Push for Citizen Involvement

“Many times, those of us in the community do not have the financial resources to really put pressure on our elected officials,” said Robert Davis, member of the Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety, in his opening remarks at the first Denver Resident Lobby Day.

Held in the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building in June, the City and County of Denver organized the event to educate residents about how they can enact change in their communities through the Denver City Council.

“If we don’t have the paid lobbyists and the full staff who spend all day every day drawing up legislation and pressuring elected officials to do what we want them to do, then how do we get things done on our behalf?” Davis said. “We come together, and we become our own lobbying firm.”

In her “City Council 101” presentation,  Jessica Zender, senior aide for at-large Councilwoman Sarah Parady, gave an overview of how the city council functions and the process to get budgets passed. Zender also outlined some of the ways residents can make their voices heard by emailing council members, setting up meetings, and attending public comment forums.

Bre Huizar-Arellano, constituent services director for District 8 Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, emphasized the importance of the Lobby Day as a way for citizens in the district to get involved, even if they haven’t previously participated in local government.

“We have a lot of frequent flyers in District 8,” said Huizar-Arellano. “We want new faces and new voices sometimes.”

A Hiring Freeze and Furloughs in Denver

A bleak economic outlook for the City of Denver has led to a hiring freeze, and most city employees will take furlough days between now and Dec. 31. The furloughs won’t apply to the police, fire, and sheriff departments or 911 personnel.

In addition, there will be two citywide furlough days when the City will be closed for business: Aug. 29 and Nov. 28.

The hiring freeze started in May for future job openings, not including 911, airport, or  uniformed personnel. The freeze is expected to last through at least Sept. 15, the deadline for the mayor to submit his proposed 2026 budget to the Denver City Council. Layoffs and other cuts are also possible as early as August.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said a $250 million two-year deficit in the 2025 and 2026 budget created the need for immediate action.

“The economic downturn and volatility brought on by President Trump is a major challenge facing Denver,” said Johnston. “This uncertainty, coupled with declining revenues and significant growth in the cost of city government over the past decade, require us to immediately address the city’s structural budget deficit while protecting essential services and positioning Denver for economic growth in 2026 and beyond.”

The capital funds, which the City says are backed by more stable revenue sources like property taxes, are in better shape. Those funds are used to invest in infrastructure projects like the National Women’s Soccer League stadium site and National Western Center expansion.

1) Changes Made After the Death of a Bald Eagle

The electrocution death of a bald eagle that made its home and nest at Bluff Lake Nature Center (BLNC) in Denver brought public calls for change.

In June, the power transmission pole responsible for the electrocution was retrofitted by Xcel Energy to minimize future raptor electrocutions.

“Thanks to everyone who contributed information and sightings about this event to help us better understand the hazards bald eagles and other raptors face in Denver’s metro environment,” Bruce Snyder, manager of Bald Eagle Watch, said in an email to BLNC.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife worked with Xcel to get protective measures installed.

The eagle FSV44 was also known as Sonic to the kids in BLNC’s forest school educational program who watched him and his mate regularly.

FSV44 was tagged at Xcel Energy’s Fort St. Vrain webcam nest in Platteville, Colorado, in 2021 and his life was followed on Facebook by fans and by researchers who closely followed his movements.

In January, the eagle found a mate at BLNC, the first pair of breeding eagles at the Denver wildlife area at the edge of Central Park. Bird watchers and visitors delighted in watching the activity around the nest, which had previously been occupied by red-tailed hawks, until FSV44’s death in early May.

2) A Busy Summer at Stanley Marketplace

There has been a lot of activity around Stanley Marketplace in northwest Aurora. In June, the Sky Rink roller rink and patio bar opened through a collaboration with Non-Plus Ultra, a real estate and event partner company.

Skating is available through reservation Thursday–Sundays, through September. Visit stanley-skyrink.com. $19.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids 3–11.

Across the parking lot at The Stanley Beer Hall, new garage doors were being installed on the back patio of the restaurant so that it can be fully enclosed. Inside the building, the Local Drive Hangar was officially opened to the public, and there’s a new restaurant coming into the former Comida space. A spray-painted message outside the construction area announced Molino Chido would be opening in the long-vacant spot.

And the women’s clothing store Sterre is now Nouveau Home, the second business for the owner of Trunk Nouveau. Sterre owner Danielle Van Ede said this is not just a traditional business transaction. “It’s one proud business owner aligning with another one for success.” She added she wants the store to be successful and “a magnet” for anyone visiting Stanley Marketplace.

Openings and Closings

3) Yumcha Beer Garden: 10195 E. 29th Ave., Denver.

4) Cycleton: 7480 E. 29th Ave., Denver.

5) A Summer Place to Play at the Denver Zoo

Wild Village is now open, inside the zoo, with nine nature-themed play structures for children to run, climb, and enjoy the outdoors. The area includes nature paths and work by local artists.

Families will find a bird’s nest, a honeycomb, and other structures to help kids rethink how they look at nature.