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06_18_25_Headlines Ainsley Coogan
City of Boulder introduces safety enhancements following Pearl Street attack
The city of Boulder will increase police presence downtown, following the attack that occurred on the Pearl Street Mall on June 1.
The Downtown Boulder Partnership – a nonprofit working to preserve and enhance Boulder – has already been working to improve public safety over the past year-and-a-half, as has the city. But following the attack, more precautions are being taken, according to KDVR.
The city’s plans focus on ramping up police presence in the area, enforcing the local camping ban, doing repair work downtown, and more.
According to a city press release, the Pearl Street attack on protestors who were demanding the release of Israeli hostages was not the impetus for these changes, but pushed the city and businesses to be “even more committed to the ongoing work of ensuring public safety.”
Colorado sheriff uses group chat for federal immigration enforcement
Federal immigration agents arrested a 19-year-old college student earlier this month after learning about her from local Colorado law enforcement.
Caroline Dias Goncalves was driving through Grand Junction earlier this month when a Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled her over for a traffic stop. The deputy shared her information in a group chat that included members of several law enforcement agencies, including federal agents. Shortly after the traffic stop, federal agents arrested Dias Goncalves, who is a University of Utah student.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the information in the chat was used by the feds to detain Dias Goncalves, as well as target people for immigration enforcement. Deputies were allegedly unaware any information would be used for federal immigration detentions, and were pulled from the group chat after Dias Goncalves’ arrest.
Colorado law explicitly prohibits local law enforcement from working with federal immigration officials to carry out enforcement, and largely blocks local police agencies from working with ICE.
Colorado state Senator Julie Gonzales told The Denver Post that there was no reason for the deputy to share any information about the college student in that group chat. She also feels doubtful that the deputy was actually unaware the shared information would be used for immigration enforcement.
Dias Goncalves is now detained in the GEO ICE Detention Center in Aurora. She has a pending application for asylum, but overstayed her tourist visa in the states when she was 7.
ICE arrests continue at Denver courthouse
That’s by no means the only arrest related to immigration that’s happened this month in Colorado – Immigration enforcement officials arrested a man at the federal courthouse in Denver yesterday morning.
The man was detained while attending a court hearing with his wife and young child on Stout Street.
According to Denverite, individuals at the courthouse saw ICE agents throw the wife of the man onto the floor of the women’s bathroom. The arrest separated the man from his family, and they were seen leaving the courthouse in tears.
Agents also temporarily detained another volunteer court observer, but they were later released.
Jordan Garcia with American Friends Service Committee told Denverite that this is one of multiple arrests this week alone around courthouses, and likely the ninth arrest at the Denver courthouse in recent weeks.
ICE agents initially had said they would target undocumented immigrants who committed crimes, but now seems like they’re just picking up anyone they can.
Polis launches dashboard showing federal funding cuts
A new public dashboard launched by Governor Jared Polis’ office this week shows that Colorado has lost tens of millions of federal dollars.
According to the dashboard, the state has lost more than $76 million in federal funding, with another $56 million at risk.
Meanwhile, some $280 million in federal funds that were previously cancelled, suspended, or delayed have been successfully restored.
Polis said in a statement that the money at risk “is federal funding that has already been allocated to states by Congress” and that Colorado is doing “everything in [its] power” to protect the funding – including pursuing legal action when necessary. He hopes the dashboard with help increase transparency and accountability.
The dashboard is not comprehensive. It doesn’t include freezes or cuts to institutions of higher education, local agencies, nonprofits, or other community partners.
You can find a link to that dashboard at kgnu.org.
Boulder city council candidates focus on housing finances
Seven candidates competing for a seat on Boulder City Council gathered last week for the first forum of the 2025 election season. The forum, hosted by the local political group Boulder Progressives, took place at Elks Lodge.
Boulder Reporting Lab says many consider the event to mark the start of this year’s city council race.
Questions at the forum focused on housing affordability, wildfire risk and city finances. The Boulder Pearl Street attack was not discussed. The four sitting councilmembers running for re-election are Matt Benjamin, Nicole Speer, Mark Wallach and Lauren Folkerts. Three more candidates are likely to enter the race: Jennifer Robins, Rachel Issacson and Rob Kaplan.
Voters will elect four council members on November 4 and the council race is likely to be the largest vote on this year’s ballot.
