Hi Bucket Listers! We have just over a week until election day, and this week’s newsletter demonstrates the power of collaborative journalism. Historically, news media outlets were fiercely competitive, but these days, we frequently work together to provide you with a better experience. As we’ve mentioned previously, Bucket List joined forces with the Voter Voices initiative and MSU Denver to cover the election. This week’s coverage includes stories and a podcast resulting from those collaborations, as well as reports from our team all over town.
Cost of Living and Housing Are Voters’ Top Issues
According to data obtained through our Voter Voices surveys, the economy is the top issue for citizens around Colorado. Citizens are concerned about the price of housing, groceries, gas, utility bills and everything else it takes to keep households running. To learn more about how candidates are responding, we’re spotlighting reporting done by Jennifer Brown of the Colorado Sun and Megan Verlee of Colorado Public Radio based on responses to the surveys.
Gen Z Voters Are “Annoyed” By Upcoming Election
Young people are particularly concerned about rising living costs, and they say neither political party is taking action. For our October episode of the Bucket List Community News podcast, our Ryland Scholes sat down with two MSU students for an in-depth discussion about the youth vote. Both Isabel Guzman and Travis Brooks shared that they were “annoyed” and “anxious” about being forced to choose between candidates they don’t feel represent them. To listen to the entire conversation, visit our website or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Podbean or Spotify.
Immigrants Discuss Being Used as Political Props
While citizens can voice their opinions in elections, immigrants in our community feel overlooked. The absence of long-term solutions, combined with the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and political rhetoric, has left this community yearning for genuine representation. As part of our election collaboration with MSU’s Met Media, we highlighted reporter Mariana Ortega Rivera‘s powerful story about how immigrants feel helpless as others decide their future.
Denver Elections Division Hosts Last Minute Voting Events
Despite Colorado sending ballots to people’s homes, thousands of voters remain inactive, and even more are not registered. This is why the Denver Elections Division’s get-out-the-vote efforts remain critical to ensuring that all citizens’ voices are heard. Daniel Montoya attended one of the agency’s Democracy Town Hall events at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance to learn about the organization’s last-minute efforts to encourage people to vote.
This Legal Team Is Looking Out For Your Pets
The aptly named Animal Law Firm was started in Colorado by Kristina Bergsten over ten years ago. Bergsten, an avid animal lover, saw a gap in the market for animal law, which defines pets as property, and has since expanded to locations in New Jersey, New York and Texas. Helena Fox-Mills provides information about the growing industry and its future.
Stuff We Noticed
Sorry, bikers, but the plans for a new protected lane on West 29th Avenue between Sheridan Boulevard and Zuni Street have been drastically reduced. Due to complaints from business owners along the strip, the project’s final version will only include a protected lane for about one and a half miles of its two-mile length in order to save parking spaces. Bicycle advocates have strongly opposed the plan’s reduction. For more information on the city’s approach to pedestrian safety on the road, check out our August podcast, which featured representatives from Denver Bicycle Lobby and Pedestrian Dignity.
Heads up and phones down, Colorado! Beginning January 1, 2025, the state will join 29 other states in prohibiting drivers from holding their phones while driving. According to CDOT’s findings, 77% of drivers use their phones while driving, and 45% believe a hands-free feature would help reduce distracted driving. You can still use a hands-free accessory to talk on the phone. This crackdown is intended to reduce crashes, which studies show increase by two to six times when people actively use their phone while driving.
Pour one out for Infinite Monkey Theorem. After 16 years of serving Colorado fine wine with locally grown grapes, the establishment is closing its doors. Current leadership cited rising industry costs and consumers’ shift to non-alcoholic beverages as reasons for shutting down operations at the end of the year. The taproom will remain open until December 31, and management states that they are “open” to someone buying the brand.
A couple things we want to make sure you know about. Bucket List Community News will be tabling at the Trunk or Treat at Mount Saint Vincent today from 5 to 7 p.m. They are rebranding as Intermountain Children’s Health—Mount Saint Vincent, but it’s still their mission to serve children in the Denver area. For other Halloween fun, check out our events page.
In the spirit of collaboration, high fives to our community stepping up to help The Denver VOICE, a newspaper that empowers those facing housing and financial insecurity. When the paper announced it would have to close, the community contributed $50,000. That is the type of partnership required to support community journalism. Thank you for everything you do to support Bucket List Community News. We can’t do this work without you. See you next week!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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