thedenverpost--2020-09-04--Avalanche’s season ends with heartbreaking overtime loss to Dallas in Game 7

Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinal series was in the Avalanche ’ s injury-depleted hands Friday after Vladislav Namestnikov scored to give Colorado a one-goal lead with 3:40 remaining in regulation at Rogers Place in Edmonton .
Then the Game 7 curse hit — again .
Dallas Stars forward Joel Kiviranta , making his series debut , scored just 10 seconds after Namestnikov to tie the game , then blistered a one-timer home on a behind-the-net feed from Andrej Sekera at 7:24 of overtime to give Dallas a 5-4 victory .
Kiviranta , who also scored the Stars ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cogliano and became the first rookie in NHL history to record a hat trick in Game 7 .
The Avalanche was denied its first trip to the conference finals since 2002 , when it lost to Detroit in Game 7 .
It was the Avs ’ fifth consecutive Game 7 loss .
Colorado also lost Game 7 in the conference semifinals a year ago to San Jose .
“ I ’ m proud of how hard our guys played , the way they stuck with it , ” Avs coach Jared Bednar said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s an opportunity lost and that ’ s not anything taking away from Dallas.
” The Avalanche had seven players “ unfit to play , ” including left wing/team captain Gabe Landeskog , who was cut above the knee by a teammate ’ s skate blade in Wednesday ’ s Game 6 .
“ I would have liked to see our team fully healthy , that ’ s for sure , ” said Avs star center Nathan MacKinnon , who is now 0-3 in Game 7s .
“ We lost a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just the way it is .
You can call it an excuse or whatever you want , but that ’ s just the way it is … Obviously , it just ( stinks ) .
We caught the injury bug again .
We ’ ve had it all year .
“ But , yeah , it stings .
Our motivation was to win this game , get guys back , keep making our run , keep pushing .
It ’ s unfortunate.
” Three players in Game 7 had multiple goals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4-3 lead .
But that advantage was wiped out seconds later when Kiviranta put in a rebound past Avs third-string goalie Michael Hutchinson to force overtime .
Alexander Radulov had two power-play goals for the Stars , who finished 2-for-2 with the man-advantage .
Colorado was again defeated on special teams , going 1-of-4 on the power play and finishing 4-of-32 ( 12.5 % ) for the series .
Dallas was 9-for-23 ( 39 % ) .
“ Not good enough , ” Avs winger Mikko Rantanen said of the power play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better job .
Too late now .
We can ’ t look back anymore .
Series is over , but for sure , it wasn ’ t good enough.
” MacKinnon , the NHL playoff scoring leader , entered the game with a league playoff-high 62 shots but had just two in regulation .
He had produced a point in all 14 playoff games prior to Friday but was held pointless .
“ We felt like we were outplaying them in overtime and it was coming .
We felt good , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal unfold from the bench .
“ Just , I don ’ t know , we got hemmed in , the boys got gassed and they made a nice play .
But , yeah , just tough .
I mean , two straight years Game 7 losses , one-goal games , and it ’ s tough .
We have to find a way to break through .
There are no moral victories here .
We came here to win .
We didn ’ t get the job done.
” Tied 3-3 , Namestnikov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give Colorado its third lead of the game in the waning minute of regulation .
Ten seconds later , the Avs were a somber bunch , then nearly allowed the winning goal in the final seconds of the third period .
Radulov tied the game 3-3 at 11:28 of the third with J.T .
Compher in the penalty box for tripping the Russian winger .
Radulov redirected John Klingberg ’ s shot from the point for Dallas ’ second power-play goal in as many chances .
The Avs led 2-1 after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nazem Kadri ’ s power-play goal 5:45 into the second broke a 2-2 deadlock and Colorado ’ s 0-of-12 skid with the man-advantage .
The Avs were just 3-of-29 in the series on the man-advantage before Kadri poked in a rebound in front of the left post .
Radulov ’ s power-play goal 2:39 into the game gave Dallas a 1-0 lead while Rantanen was serving a tripping minor .
The Avs answered just 1:09 later with a goal from Namestnikov , who redirected Ian Cole ’ s shot from the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Andre Burakovsky picked up a turnover by Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and used his potent wrister from the left circle for an unassisted goal at 9:43 .
“ We had a real good team , real good togetherness and belief in our room .
I ’ m proud of all of our guys , ” Bednar said .
“ Disappointing at the end but I can ’ t fault our effort .
Our effort and commitment were really good .
“ We just ( have to ) find ways to get incrementally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can get beyond this second round .
”

Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinal series was in the Avalanche’s injury-depleted hands Friday after Vladislav Namestnikov scored to give Colorado a one-goal lead with 3:40 remaining in regulation at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Then the Game 7 curse hit — again.
Dallas Stars forward Joel Kiviranta, making his series debut, scored just 10 seconds after Namestnikov to tie the game, then blistered a one-timer home on a behind-the-net feed from Andrej Sekera at 7:24 of overtime to give Dallas a 5-4 victory.
Kiviranta, who also scored the Stars’ second goal, replaced the injured Andrew Cogliano and became the first rookie in NHL history to record a hat trick in Game 7. The Avalanche was denied its first trip to the conference finals since 2002, when it lost to Detroit in Game 7. It was the Avs’ fifth consecutive Game 7 loss.
Colorado also lost Game 7 in the conference semifinals a year ago to San Jose.
“I’m proud of how hard our guys played, the way they stuck with it,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s unfortunate because it’s an opportunity lost and that’s not anything taking away from Dallas.”
The Avalanche had seven players “unfit to play,” including left wing/team captain Gabe Landeskog, who was cut above the knee by a teammate’s skate blade in Wednesday’s Game 6.
“I would have liked to see our team fully healthy, that’s for sure,” said Avs star center Nathan MacKinnon, who is now 0-3 in Game 7s. “We lost a lot of key guys. That’s just the way it is. You can call it an excuse or whatever you want, but that’s just the way it is … Obviously, it just (stinks). We caught the injury bug again. We’ve had it all year.
“But, yeah, it stings. Our motivation was to win this game, get guys back, keep making our run, keep pushing. It’s unfortunate.”
Three players in Game 7 had multiple goals, including Namestnikov when he gave Colorado a 4-3 lead. But that advantage was wiped out seconds later when Kiviranta put in a rebound past Avs third-string goalie Michael Hutchinson to force overtime.
Alexander Radulov had two power-play goals for the Stars, who finished 2-for-2 with the man-advantage. Colorado was again defeated on special teams, going 1-of-4 on the power play and finishing 4-of-32 (12.5%) for the series. Dallas was 9-for-23 (39%).
“Not good enough,” Avs winger Mikko Rantanen said of the power play. “Everybody knows we could have done a better job. Too late now. We can’t look back anymore. Series is over, but for sure, it wasn’t good enough.”
MacKinnon, the NHL playoff scoring leader, entered the game with a league playoff-high 62 shots but had just two in regulation. He had produced a point in all 14 playoff games prior to Friday but was held pointless.
“We felt like we were outplaying them in overtime and it was coming. We felt good,” said MacKinnon, who saw the winning goal unfold from the bench. “Just, I don’t know, we got hemmed in, the boys got gassed and they made a nice play. But, yeah, just tough. I mean, two straight years Game 7 losses, one-goal games, and it’s tough. We have to find a way to break through. There are no moral victories here. We came here to win. We didn’t get the job done.”
Tied 3-3, Namestnikov chipped a rebound over goalie Anton Khudobin to give Colorado its third lead of the game in the waning minute of regulation. Ten seconds later, the Avs were a somber bunch, then nearly allowed the winning goal in the final seconds of the third period.
Radulov tied the game 3-3 at 11:28 of the third with J.T. Compher in the penalty box for tripping the Russian winger. Radulov redirected John Klingberg’s shot from the point for Dallas’ second power-play goal in as many chances.
The Avs led 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 following the second. Nazem Kadri’s power-play goal 5:45 into the second broke a 2-2 deadlock and Colorado’s 0-of-12 skid with the man-advantage. The Avs were just 3-of-29 in the series on the man-advantage before Kadri poked in a rebound in front of the left post.
Radulov’s power-play goal 2:39 into the game gave Dallas a 1-0 lead while Rantanen was serving a tripping minor. The Avs answered just 1:09 later with a goal from Namestnikov, who redirected Ian Cole’s shot from the point. And Colorado took its first lead when Andre Burakovsky picked up a turnover by Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and used his potent wrister from the left circle for an unassisted goal at 9:43.
“We had a real good team, real good togetherness and belief in our room. I’m proud of all of our guys,” Bednar said. “Disappointing at the end but I can’t fault our effort. Our effort and commitment were really good.
“We just (have to) find ways to get incrementally better as a team so next year we can get beyond this second round.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Endorsement: Yes on Proposition 113 to elect the U.S. president with the national popular vote

Editor ’ s note : This represents the opinion of The Denver Post editorial board , which is separate from the paper ’ s news operation .
It is in America ’ s best interests to walk away from the antiquated electoral college system and elect the future presidents of this great country using the outcome of the national vote tally .
To do so does not require a change in the U.S. Constitution , because the founders of this nation empowered states to decide how they would allocate their electoral votes .
The General Assembly in 2019 voted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states who have already agreed to give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote .
The compact will not take effect until the states that have joined equal 270 electoral votes , or enough to guarantee future presidents would be elected by the compact .
Currently , an additional 74 electoral votes are needed .
Concerned by the new law joining the compact , Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese and Monument Mayor Don Wilson began a signature-gathering campaign ( one specifically provided for in the Colorado Constitution to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give the final say on the compact to voters .
The irony of utilizing direct democracy to challenge a law supporting more-direct democracy is not lost on us , but we thank Pugliese and Wilson for bringing this issue to voters — it is a major change to a fundamental right and we are glad Coloradans will have the final say .
Lawmakers must honor the decision .
However , we urge voters to vote yes on Proposition 113 , and help this nation get to a popularly elected president .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but two states gives some votes more weight while stripping other votes of all their power .
For example , in Colorado in 2016 , 1.2 million people voted for President Donald Trump , but all nine of Colorado ’ s electoral votes went Hillary Clinton who earned 1.3 million votes .
The system also awarded less weight to the 1.3 million Colorado voters who supported Clinton than to the 174,419 voters in Wyoming who supported Trump .
Each of the three electoral votes Trump won in Wyoming represented 58,000 votes , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton represented about 162,000 votes .
Our votes for president – an increasingly powerful position — are being diluted or erased in a way that occurs for no other elected official in this nation .
This is a matter of preserving the sanctity of our votes across the nation .
We can no longer allow millions of voters to feel their vote for president is futile because they are in the minority in their state .
Republicans in California and Democrats in Texas should have their counts vote as much as the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foote , who sponsored the National Popular Vote Compact bill in Colorado , argues that candidates are ignoring four out of five states in favor of those battleground states like Michigan where swaying a few thousand voters can be the difference between zero electoral votes and 16 electoral votes .
Colorado once enjoyed the outsized attention that came with battleground status , but it seems unlikely that presidential candidates will visit as frequently as they did in 2016 .
Foote says that favoritism toward these swing states continues once the president is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even favorable treatment during times of distress .
The president should pay attention to the whole country and not just a handful of battleground states .
We are concerned that the national popular vote could just transfer that power over candidates to the dense urban cities .
However , Saul Anuzis , a Republican from Michigan who ran to be chair of the Republican National Committee , argues that the 100 largest cities in America account for 18 % of the population and 15 % of the vote .
In other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural or suburban America and still be elected .
We are hopeful it will have a moderating effect on our nation ’ s top office as most Americans don ’ t share extremist views .
The good news is if this experiment doesn ’ t work , Colorado voters or lawmakers can withdraw from the compact and if other states follow it will return America to the electoral college system .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit @ @ @ @ @

Editor’s note: This represents the opinion of The Denver Post editorial board, which is separate from the paper’s news operation.
It is in America’s best interests to walk away from the antiquated electoral college system and elect the future presidents of this great country using the outcome of the national vote tally.
To do so does not require a change in the U.S. Constitution, because the founders of this nation empowered states to decide how they would allocate their electoral votes.
The General Assembly in 2019 voted to opt Colorado into a compact with 15 other states who have already agreed to give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The compact will not take effect until the states that have joined equal 270 electoral votes, or enough to guarantee future presidents would be elected by the compact. Currently, an additional 74 electoral votes are needed.
Concerned by the new law joining the compact, Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese and Monument Mayor Don Wilson began a signature-gathering campaign (one specifically provided for in the Colorado Constitution to challenge new laws using direct democracy) to give the final say on the compact to voters. The irony of utilizing direct democracy to challenge a law supporting more-direct democracy is not lost on us, but we thank Pugliese and Wilson for bringing this issue to voters — it is a major change to a fundamental right and we are glad Coloradans will have the final say. Lawmakers must honor the decision.
However, we urge voters to vote yes on Proposition 113, and help this nation get to a popularly elected president.
The winner-takes-all electoral college system adopted by all but two states gives some votes more weight while stripping other votes of all their power. For example, in Colorado in 2016, 1.2 million people voted for President Donald Trump, but all nine of Colorado’s electoral votes went Hillary Clinton who earned 1.3 million votes.
The system also awarded less weight to the 1.3 million Colorado voters who supported Clinton than to the 174,419 voters in Wyoming who supported Trump. Each of the three electoral votes Trump won in Wyoming represented 58,000 votes, while in Colorado each electoral vote won by Clinton represented about 162,000 votes.
Our votes for president – an increasingly powerful position — are being diluted or erased in a way that occurs for no other elected official in this nation. This is a matter of preserving the sanctity of our votes across the nation. We can no longer allow millions of voters to feel their vote for president is futile because they are in the minority in their state. Republicans in California and Democrats in Texas should have their counts vote as much as the votes of their political counterparts.
Sen. Mike Foote, who sponsored the National Popular Vote Compact bill in Colorado, argues that candidates are ignoring four out of five states in favor of those battleground states like Michigan where swaying a few thousand voters can be the difference between zero electoral votes and 16 electoral votes.
Colorado once enjoyed the outsized attention that came with battleground status, but it seems unlikely that presidential candidates will visit as frequently as they did in 2016. Foote says that favoritism toward these swing states continues once the president is in office with tax breaks, favorable tariffs and even favorable treatment during times of distress. The president should pay attention to the whole country and not just a handful of battleground states.
We are concerned that the national popular vote could just transfer that power over candidates to the dense urban cities. However, Saul Anuzis, a Republican from Michigan who ran to be chair of the Republican National Committee, argues that the 100 largest cities in America account for 18% of the population and 15% of the vote. In other words, a candidate couldn’t ignore rural or suburban America and still be elected.
We are hopeful it will have a moderating effect on our nation’s top office as most Americans don’t share extremist views. The good news is if this experiment doesn’t work, Colorado voters or lawmakers can withdraw from the compact and if other states follow it will return America to the electoral college system.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Denver could have a new area code in just a few years as metro region runs out of phone numbers

All those new residents in metro Denver have done more than create a housing shortage .
The region is expected to run out of available phone numbers by the first half of 2023 , which will require a fifth area code in Colorado .
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator , a third-party group that assigns area codes on behalf of the telecommunications industry , has petitioned the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to “ overlay ” a new area code for the metro Denver area , which currently has the 303 and 720 prefixes assigned to it .
“ Absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the supply of central office codes in the 303/720 NPA complex is currently projected to exhaust during the second quarter of 2023 , ” Heidi Wayman , relief planner with NANPA , wrote the PUC in May .
She requested that the PUC issue an order by the end of next year and have a new area code in place by the first quarter of 2023 .
“ It ’ s still fairly early in the process .
Industry response on implementation issues is due Sept. 21 , ” said Terry Bote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has started work on adding a new area code .
Unlike when the 719 and 970 codes were added in Colorado , everyone can keep their current phone numbers .
And the new code , still to be determined , won ’ t start showing up until the last of the 303 and 720 numbers are gone , probably by the end of 2023 .
That said , the future area code will definitely shout “ newbie ” once it rolls out .
The disappearance of fax machines and residential cord-cutting have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the proliferation of cell phones has increased demand , although many people keep their original cell phone numbers when relocating from another area .
NANPA assigns area codes in the U.S. , Canada and Carribean countries and keeps a close eye on when numbers are about to run out .
Earlier this year , it added metro Denver to its list of 15 locations at risk of exhausting assignable phone numbers within the next three years .
The 303 area code launched in 1947 , with the zero in the second digit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pecking order .
Big and important cities were assigned a 1 as the second digit .
Colorado had only the 303 area code until 1988 , when the 719 area code was added for the southeastern and south-central part of the state , including Colorado Springs .
In 1995 , the 970 area code was added to cover the western part of the state and northern Colorado , including Fort Collins .
That left metro Denver with 303 , until it gained the 720 overlay in 1998 .
The 720 numbers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are expiring right on schedule .
Likewise , the new area code is expected to hold up for another 25 years .
The 303 and 720 area codes primarily cover Denver , Aurora , Boulder and nearby suburbs , reaching up to Lyons in the northeast , Georgetown to the west , Deckers to the southwest , Deer Trail to the east and Fort Lupton to the northeast .
The new code assignment highlights the degree to which population gains the past two decades have concentrated in the metro Denver area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1.43 million residents , with the Denver and Boulder region accounting for 815,000 of that gain , according to estimates from the State Demography Office .
Areas outside the Front Range have added only 132,158 residents , with the Eastern Plains adding a minimal 2,512 residents over the past two decades .
The 970 area code is expected to run out of numbers by the end of 2027 and the 719 area code is expected to hit its limit by 2038 , according to the PUC .

All those new residents in metro Denver have done more than create a housing shortage. The region is expected to run out of available phone numbers by the first half of 2023, which will require a fifth area code in Colorado.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, a third-party group that assigns area codes on behalf of the telecommunications industry, has petitioned the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to “overlay” a new area code for the metro Denver area, which currently has the 303 and 720 prefixes assigned to it.
“Absent NPA (number planning area) relief, the supply of central office codes in the 303/720 NPA complex is currently projected to exhaust during the second quarter of 2023,” Heidi Wayman, relief planner with NANPA, wrote the PUC in May.
She requested that the PUC issue an order by the end of next year and have a new area code in place by the first quarter of 2023.
“It’s still fairly early in the process. Industry response on implementation issues is due Sept. 21,” said Terry Bote, a spokesman for the PUC, which has started work on adding a new area code.
Unlike when the 719 and 970 codes were added in Colorado, everyone can keep their current phone numbers. And the new code, still to be determined, won’t start showing up until the last of the 303 and 720 numbers are gone, probably by the end of 2023. That said, the future area code will definitely shout “newbie” once it rolls out.
The disappearance of fax machines and residential cord-cutting have eased the pressure for new numbers, but the proliferation of cell phones has increased demand, although many people keep their original cell phone numbers when relocating from another area.
NANPA assigns area codes in the U.S., Canada and Carribean countries and keeps a close eye on when numbers are about to run out. Earlier this year, it added metro Denver to its list of 15 locations at risk of exhausting assignable phone numbers within the next three years.
The 303 area code launched in 1947, with the zero in the second digit reflecting Colorado’s low spot in the pecking order. Big and important cities were assigned a 1 as the second digit. Colorado had only the 303 area code until 1988, when the 719 area code was added for the southeastern and south-central part of the state, including Colorado Springs.
In 1995, the 970 area code was added to cover the western part of the state and northern Colorado, including Fort Collins. That left metro Denver with 303, until it gained the 720 overlay in 1998. The 720 numbers were expected to last 25 years, and they are expiring right on schedule. Likewise, the new area code is expected to hold up for another 25 years.
The 303 and 720 area codes primarily cover Denver, Aurora, Boulder and nearby suburbs, reaching up to Lyons in the northeast, Georgetown to the west, Deckers to the southwest, Deer Trail to the east and Fort Lupton to the northeast.
The new code assignment highlights the degree to which population gains the past two decades have concentrated in the metro Denver area. Since 2000, the state has added about 1.43 million residents, with the Denver and Boulder region accounting for 815,000 of that gain, according to estimates from the State Demography Office.
Areas outside the Front Range have added only 132,158 residents, with the Eastern Plains adding a minimal 2,512 residents over the past two decades.
The 970 area code is expected to run out of numbers by the end of 2027 and the 719 area code is expected to hit its limit by 2038, according to the PUC.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Shared streets move Denver further from car focus toward pedestrians, bicycles

Behind sunglasses , Nicole Pemberton surveys Franklin Street with a foot perched atop the stoop in her front yard and said she still sees too many cars .
City officials designated nine blocks of the street in Cole — and about nine other stretches throughout Denver — as shared streets in April , plopping down signs at intersections to slow car traffic and create a buffer for residents and visitors to venture onto the pavement .
The idea was to give cooped-up Denverites more outdoor space as the coronavirus pandemic shut down indoor activities and large gatherings .
Residents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re pleased with the experiment .
While some of the shared streets remain calm or empty , others sometimes fill with pedi-cabs , bicycles , skaters , walkers , runners musicians and more , jolting the spaces to life .
Many hope to take the pilot program a step further , adding to the trend that has already begun to tip Denver away from cars and toward other modes of transportation .
Strike while the iron is hot , they say , because allowing the shared streets to reopen solely to cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in the wrong direction .
“ We are wrestling for the soul of our city , ” City Councilman Chris Hinds said .
Following a request from Hinds and his fellow council members in May , the Hancock administration agreed to keep the shared streets as they are through the fall before deciding what to do next , said Department of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Nancy Kuhn .
Around the same time and as part of a similar program , DOTI permitted 193 businesses to expand their patios into public rights of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is meant to help keep those businesses — mostly restaurants , bars and cafes — afloat as they struggle to attract dine-in customers while keeping them six feet apart from each other , as required by state law .
About half of those businesses , and a few new ones , have asked for their permits to be extended beyond the original Sept. 7 expiration date to Oct. 31 , Kuhn said .
Similarly , the shared streets program should not only continue — well beyond this fall — but it should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But she thinks the city should designate and advertise the shared streets more forcefully to further cut car traffic and encourage bikes , scooters , strollers and pedestrians into the rights of way .
The experiment hasn ’ t hasn ’ t reached its full potential on Franklin Street , she said .
“ I don ’ t see any reason for ( the streets ) to reopen , ” Pemberton said .
“ They increase your community awareness .
They give you the ability to get out and connect.
” About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stump , who has lived on Franklin Street for 18 years , agreed .
He said he ’ s felt especially shut in since the pandemic hit , conversations limited to his pets .
But the shared streets have helped him see a bit more of his neighbors — an encouraging sight , he said .
“ People need to get out and exercise , ride bikes , ” Stump said .
With the coronavirus still spreading , “ it ’ s one of the safest things you can do .
… I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share streets .
Everyone pays taxes.
” But Tim Jackson , president and CEO of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association , said in his experience the pilot has not actually resulted in shared streets .
“ The streets were shared before , and they ’ re not now , ” Jackson said .
“ They ’ re not shared to the driver going through.
” Surveys commissioned by the association show that the vast majority of Denverites own motor vehicles and use them to get to work , Jackson noted .
Decreasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic worse , he said .
City Councilman Jolon Clark believes people are starting to realize that they need their cars less and less and they can instead rely on their bicycles , scooters , roller skates or their own two feet .
“ It ’ s created those spaces where people say ‘ Oh , this is what I ’ ve been giving up .
I didn ’ t realize I could have this , ’ ” Clark said .
“ They say , ‘ I feel like I can get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center .
I can do those things.
’ ” Posha Zubair said she ’ s one of those people who rides her bicycle much more often now than she did before the pandemic , and the shared streets have come in handy .
Before , Zubair said , traffic frightened her too much to ride her bike very often .
The same was true for her 10-year-old daughter .
But now the whole family uses the shared streets for recreational rides .
“ I just wish there were more , ” Zubair said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even the possibility of commuting on a bike , she said .
But Jackson , who also cycles , said he doesn ’ t feel as though the shared streets have expedited anybody ’ s commute .
Rather , he said , it has slowed his cycling trips because he ’ s had to navigate the “ super ugly ” road signs .
Still , it ’ s a more environmentally friendly option , Hinds said , in addition to bringing neighbors closer together .
The ultimate goal is to rearrange neighborhoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrive and survive will be within a 20-minute walk , ride or roll , ” he said .
And now is the time to build on the pilot rather than close down the shared streets at the end of the program , which would only be a regression , Clark said .
The best approach would be to connect shared streets to each other and to existing bike lanes and trails .
Expanding the network like that will encourage even more people to travel by something other than a car , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shared streets are perfect , Clark said .
Some could have been placed more intentionally .
“ The ones that are less successful have been ‘ Let ’ s just throw out a block-party barricade at the end of these two streets that says these streets are now shared , ’ but there ’ s not really anything beyond that , ” he said .
That ’ s how Jerry Anderson said he feels about the shared street along Irving Street from 2nd Avenue to Gill Place , where he visits his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Anderson said he wasn ’ t even aware the streets were shared .
He thought the signs the city put up meant the area would be under construction .
While he supports the concept , it ’ s not the most active neighborhood , he said , and city officials could have picked a better location for a shared street .
And they could have let neighbors know a bit more about the project , Anderson said .
Clark said he has heard similar feedback , but said the pilot project is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a good experiment in what can be done quickly with not a lot of infrastructure , ” Clark said .
“ I think there are a lot of really exciting ways we can think about completely reinventing the public right of way.
” Moving forward , council can encourage a shift further in that direction through the budget , he said .
“ We ’ re going to be coming around a corner , looking at the next bond issuance and instead of tens of millions for car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council can push those tens of millions of dollars to build out a complete bike network , ” Clark said .
“ Or overhauling the pedestrian spaces in our city.
” The shared streets program currently costs up to $ 70,000 a month to maintain and to ensure the barricades remain in place , Kuhn said .
While Mayor Michael Hancock ’ s administration is still assessing how the pilot worked , spokesperson Mike Strott said , the mayor is committed to transforming Denver into a “ more multimodal friendly city .
”

Behind sunglasses, Nicole Pemberton surveys Franklin Street with a foot perched atop the stoop in her front yard and said she still sees too many cars.
City officials designated nine blocks of the street in Cole — and about nine other stretches throughout Denver — as shared streets in April, plopping down signs at intersections to slow car traffic and create a buffer for residents and visitors to venture onto the pavement. The idea was to give cooped-up Denverites more outdoor space as the coronavirus pandemic shut down indoor activities and large gatherings.
Residents, passersby and city officials largely say they’re pleased with the experiment. While some of the shared streets remain calm or empty, others sometimes fill with pedi-cabs, bicycles, skaters, walkers, runners musicians and more, jolting the spaces to life.
Many hope to take the pilot program a step further, adding to the trend that has already begun to tip Denver away from cars and toward other modes of transportation. Strike while the iron is hot, they say, because allowing the shared streets to reopen solely to cars in the coming months would be a step in the wrong direction.
“We are wrestling for the soul of our city,” City Councilman Chris Hinds said.
Following a request from Hinds and his fellow council members in May, the Hancock administration agreed to keep the shared streets as they are through the fall before deciding what to do next, said Department of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Nancy Kuhn.
Around the same time and as part of a similar program, DOTI permitted 193 businesses to expand their patios into public rights of way, Kuhn said.
That expansion is meant to help keep those businesses — mostly restaurants, bars and cafes — afloat as they struggle to attract dine-in customers while keeping them six feet apart from each other, as required by state law.
About half of those businesses, and a few new ones, have asked for their permits to be extended beyond the original Sept. 7 expiration date to Oct. 31, Kuhn said.
Similarly, the shared streets program should not only continue — well beyond this fall — but it should also expand, Hinds said.
Pemberton agrees. But she thinks the city should designate and advertise the shared streets more forcefully to further cut car traffic and encourage bikes, scooters, strollers and pedestrians into the rights of way. The experiment hasn’t hasn’t reached its full potential on Franklin Street, she said.
“I don’t see any reason for (the streets) to reopen,” Pemberton said. “They increase your community awareness. They give you the ability to get out and connect.”
About a block to the north, Mike Stump, who has lived on Franklin Street for 18 years, agreed. He said he’s felt especially shut in since the pandemic hit, conversations limited to his pets. But the shared streets have helped him see a bit more of his neighbors — an encouraging sight, he said.
“People need to get out and exercise, ride bikes,” Stump said. With the coronavirus still spreading, “it’s one of the safest things you can do. … I hate the thought of people not wanting to share streets. Everyone pays taxes.”
But Tim Jackson, president and CEO of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association, said in his experience the pilot has not actually resulted in shared streets.
“The streets were shared before, and they’re not now,” Jackson said. “They’re not shared to the driver going through.”
Surveys commissioned by the association show that the vast majority of Denverites own motor vehicles and use them to get to work, Jackson noted. Decreasing street space for those vehicles only makes traffic worse, he said.
City Councilman Jolon Clark believes people are starting to realize that they need their cars less and less and they can instead rely on their bicycles, scooters, roller skates or their own two feet.
“It’s created those spaces where people say ‘Oh, this is what I’ve been giving up. I didn’t realize I could have this,’” Clark said. “They say, ‘I feel like I can get to work, the library, the rec center. I can do those things.’”
Posha Zubair said she’s one of those people who rides her bicycle much more often now than she did before the pandemic, and the shared streets have come in handy.
Before, Zubair said, traffic frightened her too much to ride her bike very often. The same was true for her 10-year-old daughter. But now the whole family uses the shared streets for recreational rides.
“I just wish there were more,” Zubair said.
That would mean more fun rides and even the possibility of commuting on a bike, she said.
But Jackson, who also cycles, said he doesn’t feel as though the shared streets have expedited anybody’s commute. Rather, he said, it has slowed his cycling trips because he’s had to navigate the “super ugly” road signs.
Still, it’s a more environmentally friendly option, Hinds said, in addition to bringing neighbors closer together. The ultimate goal is to rearrange neighborhoods so that “everything you need to thrive and survive will be within a 20-minute walk, ride or roll,” he said.
And now is the time to build on the pilot rather than close down the shared streets at the end of the program, which would only be a regression, Clark said. The best approach would be to connect shared streets to each other and to existing bike lanes and trails. Expanding the network like that will encourage even more people to travel by something other than a car, he said.
That’s not to say the shared streets are perfect, Clark said. Some could have been placed more intentionally.
“The ones that are less successful have been ‘Let’s just throw out a block-party barricade at the end of these two streets that says these streets are now shared,’ but there’s not really anything beyond that,” he said.
That’s how Jerry Anderson said he feels about the shared street along Irving Street from 2nd Avenue to Gill Place, where he visits his mother-in-law almost every day.
In fact, Anderson said he wasn’t even aware the streets were shared. He thought the signs the city put up meant the area would be under construction. While he supports the concept, it’s not the most active neighborhood, he said, and city officials could have picked a better location for a shared street.
And they could have let neighbors know a bit more about the project, Anderson said.
Clark said he has heard similar feedback, but said the pilot project is a foundation upon which Denver can build.
“It’s a good experiment in what can be done quickly with not a lot of infrastructure,” Clark said. “I think there are a lot of really exciting ways we can think about completely reinventing the public right of way.”
Moving forward, council can encourage a shift further in that direction through the budget, he said.
“We’re going to be coming around a corner, looking at the next bond issuance and instead of tens of millions for car projects, this is an opportunity where council can push those tens of millions of dollars to build out a complete bike network,” Clark said. “Or overhauling the pedestrian spaces in our city.”
The shared streets program currently costs up to $70,000 a month to maintain and to ensure the barricades remain in place, Kuhn said.
While Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration is still assessing how the pilot worked, spokesperson Mike Strott said, the mayor is committed to transforming Denver into a “more multimodal friendly city.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Unites Airlines updates Denver furlough plan, more than 900 workers to be sent home after Oct. 1

United Airlines officials say the carrier will furlough 913 employees at Denver International Airport this fall , part of 16,370 job cuts company-wide that could take effect as soon as Oct. 1 .
The 913 figure is more than 1/8th of the roughly 7,000 people who worked for United in Denver as of earlier this year , but is far fewer than the 2,820 cuts the airline was considering in the city when it first announced plans to furlough employees in July .
At that time , United leadership filed employment notices with state labor departments across the country alerting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airline ’ s U.S. employees might be involuntarily furloughed after Oct. 1 , the day after federal payroll support for the airline industry authorized through the CARES Act runs out .
The COVID-19 pandemic has pummeled airline traffic through the spring and summer .
United ’ s July schedule was down 75 % compared to 2019 .
The significantly lower furlough numbers the airline released this week don ’ t mean United is faring better in the face of the pandemic .
The airline ’ s September schedule is down 63 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said Friday .
It ’ s more a sign that the company ’ s efforts to work with its employee unions on programs that would encourage workers to leave voluntarily are succeeding .
In a July 21 news release , United highlight that more than 6,000 workers had opted for a voluntary separation package that included ongoing flight benefits and pay through Nov. 30 .
In a letter sent to employees Thursday , United leadership highlighted efforts to cut costs , raise money and find other avenues to keep the airline afloat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furloughs would be necessary .
“ The pandemic has drawn us in deeper and lasted longer than almost any expert predicted , and in an environment where travel demand is so depressed , United can not continue with staffing levels that significantly exceed the schedule we fly , ” the letter read .
United is not the only airline planning to cut jobs at DIA in the months ahead .
Denver-based Frontier Airlines plans to furlough 398 DIA employees after Oct. 1 , and American Airlines has filed notice that it will do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport in addition to dismissing two people .
Cash-rich Southwest Airlines has announced plans to keep all its workers on payroll through the end of the year .

United Airlines officials say the carrier will furlough 913 employees at Denver International Airport this fall, part of 16,370 job cuts company-wide that could take effect as soon as Oct. 1.
The 913 figure is more than 1/8th of the roughly 7,000 people who worked for United in Denver as of earlier this year, but is far fewer than the 2,820 cuts the airline was considering in the city when it first announced plans to furlough employees in July.
At that time, United leadership filed employment notices with state labor departments across the country alerting them that as many as 36,000 of the airline’s U.S. employees might be involuntarily furloughed after Oct. 1, the day after federal payroll support for the airline industry authorized through the CARES Act runs out.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pummeled airline traffic through the spring and summer. United’s July schedule was down 75% compared to 2019.
The significantly lower furlough numbers the airline released this week don’t mean United is faring better in the face of the pandemic. The airline’s September schedule is down 63% compared to last year, a company official said Friday.
It’s more a sign that the company’s efforts to work with its employee unions on programs that would encourage workers to leave voluntarily are succeeding. In a July 21 news release, United highlight that more than 6,000 workers had opted for a voluntary separation package that included ongoing flight benefits and pay through Nov. 30.
In a letter sent to employees Thursday, United leadership highlighted efforts to cut costs, raise money and find other avenues to keep the airline afloat amid COVID, but acknowledged that indefinite furloughs would be necessary.
“The pandemic has drawn us in deeper and lasted longer than almost any expert predicted, and in an environment where travel demand is so depressed, United cannot continue with staffing levels that significantly exceed the schedule we fly,” the letter read.
United is not the only airline planning to cut jobs at DIA in the months ahead. Denver-based Frontier Airlines plans to furlough 398 DIA employees after Oct. 1, and American Airlines has filed notice that it will do the same to 107 employees at the airport in addition to dismissing two people.
Cash-rich Southwest Airlines has announced plans to keep all its workers on payroll through the end of the year.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--In Colorado mountain towns, restaurant owners shocked by a surprisingly strong summer

“ Fantastic , ” “ crazy busy , ” “ packed.
” These aren ’ t the words you would expect to hear from restaurateurs after six months of operating during a pandemic .
But in Colorado ’ s resort and mountain towns , business owners say they were baffled by their numbers once they opened their doors in July and August .
Heading into the holiday weekend and this last push of summer , from Aspen and Snowmass to the Vail Valley and on up to Steamboat , restaurants are capitalizing on tourism while they can , because winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I sincerely contemplated just writing off the summer and not opening till December , ” said Scott Engelman , a restaurateur in Steamboat and incoming chairman of the board for the Colorado Restaurant Association .
After three months closed during and after the shutdown , Engelman sat down to crunch the numbers and weigh the cost of reopening his gondola-side restaurant , the Truffle Pig , at all this season .
He and his partners decided to open five days a week instead of seven , with just one operating crew , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope we got some traffic , ” he said .
Instead , they hit their projected summer sales within three weeks of opening .
“ People were eager to get out and have the experience of going out to eat .
So then , we did great , ” Engelman explained .
“ It ’ s a complete 180 ( degrees ) from what we ’ re anticipating for the winter.
” Back in town , at his sports bar Carl ’ s Tavern , Engelman said business was also up year over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tavern would have lost more than 60 % of its capacity had it not been able to expand seating onto the sidewalk , but seating was down by only 30 % once the outdoor tables were added .
Sales jumped from 80 % lower year over year between March and Memorial Day , back up to just 25 % lower by June before reaching higher than their typical July and August .
Engelman said he thinks this was due in large part to Steamboat Springs ’ downtown pedestrian entertainment district , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some members of the city council were concerned “ it was going to become a frat party down here , and the park would be overrun , ” he said of the district .
But without waiting areas and bars in restaurants , the streets provided walking space for diners before and after their meals .
With fewer tables available immediately , patrons could hang around outside with a beer or wine and then take away cocktails for a stroll after dinner .
“ We would put a drink in their hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of downtown , and we would ping them when the table was ready , ” Engelman said of a process that turned out to be crucial .
In the Vail Valley , Edwards restaurateur Chris Schmidt said business at his Craftsman sandwich shop was booming this summer as well because of a few key ingredients .
Schmidt added outdoor tent seating in addition to his existing patio .
He shortened the business ’ operating hours slightly and closed on Mondays .
And he kept up to-go service , which has turned into 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s revenue .
“ Overall revenue is down a little bit , but our bottom line is up , ” Schmidt said .
“ We actually have done better this summer ( than last ) , which is crazy to say.
” Schmidt also timed the opening of his Thai-style fried chicken shop just right over July 4 weekend at Outer Range Brewing in Frisco .
While he couldn ’ t have known when he started planning the new concept over a year ago , fried chicken and takeaway have been big hits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Craft has been steady since it started .
RELATED : Giving diners the bird : More and more restaurants turning to fried chicken during the pandemic Aspen and Snowmass chef Mawa McQueen had a similar story to tell about her two restaurants , The Crepe Shack and Mawa ’ s Kitchen .
“ I think this is the last push , ” she said of Labor Day weekend , “ but I don ’ t think it ’ s going to slow down as much as it usually does .
Nobody wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we ’ ll see.
” These resort and mountain town restaurateurs seemed to agree that a combination of city-fleeing tourists and second homeowners contributed largely to their bump in sales .
But the wealth wasn ’ t spread evenly over Colorado ’ s summer destinations .
In Grand Junction , restaurateur Josh Niernberg says his restaurants are experiencing summer sales closer to those in Denver , which are down significantly year over year .
“ By end of September , we will have seen a million dollar loss in revenue , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 707 Foodbar .
The tourism Niernberg sees in this part of Colorado is mostly outdoor-recreation based , “ which is great for our community and the economy as a whole , but not necessarily for a destination restaurant , ” he explained .
To accommodate , Niernberg has focused on keeping business up at his quick-service restaurant , Taco Party , while opening an entirely new lunch restaurant , Bin Burger , to make up for the lost daytime business at 707 .
All spring , he wrote a new menu every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shutdown with takeaway service .
And he ’ s been able to retain 97 % of his staff throughout the process .
But then came the wildfires , I-70 closing in the midst of peak season and schools reopening , signaling the end of summer .
Niernberg is now “ considering options ” as his 10-year lease on Bin 707 Foodbar comes to an end in February .
“ What Bin 707 has been since it opened in 2009 , that type or style of restaurant , at the place that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just not even feasible at this point , ” he said , adding , “ The story of regionality through food is so little and unimportant compared to some of the larger challenges that the industry is facing.
” Those challenges deal with access to meals at a time when more and more Americans are facing food insecurity and homelessness , and the ability for workers to survive in an industry that ’ s always been fraught and is now failing .
“ When we opened , our mission was to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Fast-forward 10 years , most of our salaried staff is working 40 hours a week and making 10-20 % more than they would in Denver.
” He ’ s already thinking about a few new projects for 2021 that would lower price points for quality food and serve a broad range of customers .
“ Let ’ s pay well , make it easy for people to ( get ) good food , and sort of use that as the driver , ” he added .
Whether they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners across the state are preparing for a shift as soon as Labor Day is over and the countdown begins toward ski season .
Schmidt , of Craftsman , sat in his empty dining room while patrons outside enjoyed the end of summer .
Engelman said he was thinking ahead to the presidential election and working with the Colorado Restaurant Association and state and local governments in the meantime to figure out next steps for his and others ’ businesses .
He says the mountain towns have been successful this summer because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ ll be in the same position as Denver , or maybe worse off because of one big unknown factor .
“ I think for this winter , mountain towns are at the mercy of the ski resorts , ” Engelman said .
“ We ’ re at the mercy of the protocols they ’ re going to implement , and how it ’ s going to affect traffic both at the ski areas and at the towns .
And if there ’ s this limited reservation system , who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come out here ?
Because the guarantee of being able to ski on the mountain is not necessarily there .
“ We ’ re all sitting here having a conversation about it but unsure of what is going to evolve , ” he added .
“ At dinner time , it ’ s going to be survival of the fittest , I suppose.
” Subscribe to our food newsletter , Stuffed , to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox .

“Fantastic,” “crazy busy,” “packed.” These aren’t the words you would expect to hear from restaurateurs after six months of operating during a pandemic. But in Colorado’s resort and mountain towns, business owners say they were baffled by their numbers once they opened their doors in July and August.
Heading into the holiday weekend and this last push of summer, from Aspen and Snowmass to the Vail Valley and on up to Steamboat, restaurants are capitalizing on tourism while they can, because winter will be another story altogether.
“I sincerely contemplated just writing off the summer and not opening till December,” said Scott Engelman, a restaurateur in Steamboat and incoming chairman of the board for the Colorado Restaurant Association.
After three months closed during and after the shutdown, Engelman sat down to crunch the numbers and weigh the cost of reopening his gondola-side restaurant, the Truffle Pig, at all this season. He and his partners decided to open five days a week instead of seven, with just one operating crew, and “kind of cross our fingers and hope we got some traffic,” he said.
Instead, they hit their projected summer sales within three weeks of opening.
“People were eager to get out and have the experience of going out to eat. So then, we did great,” Engelman explained. “It’s a complete 180 (degrees) from what we’re anticipating for the winter.”
Back in town, at his sports bar Carl’s Tavern, Engelman said business was also up year over year, even without the mountainside patio. The tavern would have lost more than 60% of its capacity had it not been able to expand seating onto the sidewalk, but seating was down by only 30% once the outdoor tables were added.
Sales jumped from 80% lower year over year between March and Memorial Day, back up to just 25% lower by June before reaching higher than their typical July and August. Engelman said he thinks this was due in large part to Steamboat Springs’ downtown pedestrian entertainment district, which allowed for open containers through mid-September.
Some members of the city council were concerned “it was going to become a frat party down here, and the park would be overrun,” he said of the district. But without waiting areas and bars in restaurants, the streets provided walking space for diners before and after their meals. With fewer tables available immediately, patrons could hang around outside with a beer or wine and then take away cocktails for a stroll after dinner.
“We would put a drink in their hand and let them walk around the core of downtown, and we would ping them when the table was ready,” Engelman said of a process that turned out to be crucial.
In the Vail Valley, Edwards restaurateur Chris Schmidt said business at his Craftsman sandwich shop was booming this summer as well because of a few key ingredients. Schmidt added outdoor tent seating in addition to his existing patio. He shortened the business’ operating hours slightly and closed on Mondays. And he kept up to-go service, which has turned into 60 or 70% of the restaurant’s revenue.
“Overall revenue is down a little bit, but our bottom line is up,” Schmidt said. “We actually have done better this summer (than last), which is crazy to say.” Schmidt also timed the opening of his Thai-style fried chicken shop just right over July 4 weekend at Outer Range Brewing in Frisco. While he couldn’t have known when he started planning the new concept over a year ago, fried chicken and takeaway have been big hits during the pandemic. Business at Bird Craft has been steady since it started.
RELATED: Giving diners the bird: More and more restaurants turning to fried chicken during the pandemic
Aspen and Snowmass chef Mawa McQueen had a similar story to tell about her two restaurants, The Crepe Shack and Mawa’s Kitchen. “I think this is the last push,” she said of Labor Day weekend, “but I don’t think it’s going to slow down as much as it usually does. Nobody wants to go to the big cities still, so we’ll see.”
These resort and mountain town restaurateurs seemed to agree that a combination of city-fleeing tourists and second homeowners contributed largely to their bump in sales.
“Thank god that’s gonna save us,” McQueen said.
But the wealth wasn’t spread evenly over Colorado’s summer destinations. In Grand Junction, restaurateur Josh Niernberg says his restaurants are experiencing summer sales closer to those in Denver, which are down significantly year over year.
“By end of September, we will have seen a million dollar loss in revenue,” he said of his decade-old flagship Bin 707 Foodbar. The tourism Niernberg sees in this part of Colorado is mostly outdoor-recreation based, “which is great for our community and the economy as a whole, but not necessarily for a destination restaurant,” he explained.
To accommodate, Niernberg has focused on keeping business up at his quick-service restaurant, Taco Party, while opening an entirely new lunch restaurant, Bin Burger, to make up for the lost daytime business at 707. All spring, he wrote a new menu every day for that restaurant to attempt to survive the shutdown with takeaway service. And he’s been able to retain 97% of his staff throughout the process.
But then came the wildfires, I-70 closing in the midst of peak season and schools reopening, signaling the end of summer. Niernberg is now “considering options” as his 10-year lease on Bin 707 Foodbar comes to an end in February.
“What Bin 707 has been since it opened in 2009, that type or style of restaurant, at the place that we are in the world, it’s just not even feasible at this point,” he said, adding, “The story of regionality through food is so little and unimportant compared to some of the larger challenges that the industry is facing.”
Those challenges deal with access to meals at a time when more and more Americans are facing food insecurity and homelessness, and the ability for workers to survive in an industry that’s always been fraught and is now failing.
“When we opened, our mission was to create longterm well-paying hospitality jobs,” Niernberg said. “Fast-forward 10 years, most of our salaried staff is working 40 hours a week and making 10-20% more than they would in Denver.” He’s already thinking about a few new projects for 2021 that would lower price points for quality food and serve a broad range of customers.
“Let’s pay well, make it easy for people to (get) good food, and sort of use that as the driver,” he added.
Whether they’re considering that shared future or not restaurant owners across the state are preparing for a shift as soon as Labor Day is over and the countdown begins toward ski season.
Schmidt, of Craftsman, sat in his empty dining room while patrons outside enjoyed the end of summer. Engelman said he was thinking ahead to the presidential election and working with the Colorado Restaurant Association and state and local governments in the meantime to figure out next steps for his and others’ businesses.
He says the mountain towns have been successful this summer because of the weather and tourists, but soon, they’ll be in the same position as Denver, or maybe worse off because of one big unknown factor.
“I think for this winter, mountain towns are at the mercy of the ski resorts,” Engelman said. “We’re at the mercy of the protocols they’re going to implement, and how it’s going to affect traffic both at the ski areas and at the towns. And if there’s this limited reservation system, who’s really going to book a trip to come out here? Because the guarantee of being able to ski on the mountain is not necessarily there.
“We’re all sitting here having a conversation about it but unsure of what is going to evolve,” he added. “At dinner time, it’s going to be survival of the fittest, I suppose.”
Subscribe to our food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Saunders: Are the Rockies’ too uptight? And a tribute to Tom Seaver

* It ’ s been my supposition that the 2020 Rockies , led by the nose-to-the-grindstone trio of Charlie Blackmon , Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story , are a very serious bunch .
Too serious , and perhaps that hurts the Rockies when times get tough .
“ I think we have a really good mix of focus and intensity , and then we have some fun with it , ” he told me .
“ We enjoy winning and I think we do a good job of keeping it in perspective .
“ I don ’ t think we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think we need more funny jokes .
I don ’ t think that ’ s the case.
” * Tributes to ballplayers are always special , but the New York Mets ’ tribute to the late Tom Seaver was terrific .
On Thursday , every member of the Mets put dirt on his right knee to symbolize Seaver ’ s timeless drop-and-drive delivery .
As each player took the field , he stopped at his position and tipped his cap to Seaver ’ s No .
41 , which hangs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Citi Field .
Seaver , who became known in New York as simply “ The Franchise , ” died Monday at the age of 75 due to complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19 .
His death was announced Wednesday night , just a few hours after the Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles , the team the Miracle Mets upset in the 1969 World Series .
Add Seaver .
Check out this elegant passage from the New York Times ’ obituary of “ Tom Terrific : ” “ At 6-foot-1 and 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a thick waist and tree-trunk legs that helped generate the velocity on his fastball and hard slider and the spin on his curveball , Seaver at work was a picture of kinetic grace .
He had a smooth windup , a leg kick with his left knee raised high , and a stride so long after pushing off the mound that his right knee often grazed the dirt.
” “ … He was also a cerebral sort , a thinker who studied opposing hitters and pored over the details of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , its location .
As he aged and his arm strength diminished , it was his strategic thinking and experience that extended his career.
” * Rockies manager Bud Black , who faced Seaver twice toward the end of Seaver ’ s Hall of Fame career , said he was “ in awe ” of the right-hander .
“ Check out those complete games for Seaver in his career , I mean incredible , ” Black said .
How incredible ?
Seaver started 647 games in his 20-year career and tossed 231 complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before specialization — when pitchers took pride in battling through to the ninth inning .
No wonder games used to take only 2 1/2 hours .
* Lost in the haze of the Rockies ’ overall poor offensive performance has been the maturation of outfielder Raimel Tapia .
As I write this , he just led off Friday night ’ s game against the Dodgers with a home run , his first dinger of the year .
Tapia was batting .125 ( 2-for-16 ) through his first eight games this season , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hitting .342 ( 25-for-73 ) by hitting safely in 15 of his past 20 games .
But it ’ s not just that Tapia is learning to be an effective leadoff hitter .
He ’ s matured as an outfielder and as a baserunner .
Some of his mistakes — overthrowing the cutoff man , taking bad angles on line drives , swinging at pitches well outside the strike zone — made me wonder if he would ever turn the corner .
It sure looks like he has .

Quick hits from my beat writer’s notebook:
* It’s been my supposition that the 2020 Rockies, led by the nose-to-the-grindstone trio of Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, are a very serious bunch. Too serious, and perhaps that hurts the Rockies when times get tough.
Blackmon, however, doesn’t buy my theory.
“I think we have a really good mix of focus and intensity, and then we have some fun with it,” he told me. “We enjoy winning and I think we do a good job of keeping it in perspective.
“I don’t think we need to be more relaxed. I don’t think we need more funny jokes. I don’t think that’s the case.”
* Tributes to ballplayers are always special, but the New York Mets’ tribute to the late Tom Seaver was terrific. On Thursday, every member of the Mets put dirt on his right knee to symbolize Seaver’s timeless drop-and-drive delivery. As each player took the field, he stopped at his position and tipped his cap to Seaver’s No. 41, which hangs in the upper deck in left field at Citi Field.
Seaver, who became known in New York as simply “The Franchise,” died Monday at the age of 75 due to complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19. His death was announced Wednesday night, just a few hours after the Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles, the team the Miracle Mets upset in the 1969 World Series.
Add Seaver. Check out this elegant passage from the New York Times’ obituary of “Tom Terrific:”
“At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, give or take a few, with a thick waist and tree-trunk legs that helped generate the velocity on his fastball and hard slider and the spin on his curveball, Seaver at work was a picture of kinetic grace. He had a smooth windup, a leg kick with his left knee raised high, and a stride so long after pushing off the mound that his right knee often grazed the dirt.”
“… He was also a cerebral sort, a thinker who studied opposing hitters and pored over the details of each pitch — its break, its speed, its location. As he aged and his arm strength diminished, it was his strategic thinking and experience that extended his career.”
* Rockies manager Bud Black, who faced Seaver twice toward the end of Seaver’s Hall of Fame career, said he was “in awe” of the right-hander.
“Check out those complete games for Seaver in his career, I mean incredible,” Black said.
How incredible? Seaver started 647 games in his 20-year career and tossed 231 complete games. That was another era — before specialization — when pitchers took pride in battling through to the ninth inning. No wonder games used to take only 2 1/2 hours.
* Lost in the haze of the Rockies’ overall poor offensive performance has been the maturation of outfielder Raimel Tapia. As I write this, he just led off Friday night’s game against the Dodgers with a home run, his first dinger of the year.
Tapia was batting .125 (2-for-16) through his first eight games this season, but entering Friday night’s game he was hitting .342 (25-for-73) by hitting safely in 15 of his past 20 games. But it’s not just that Tapia is learning to be an effective leadoff hitter. He’s matured as an outfielder and as a baserunner. Some of his mistakes — overthrowing the cutoff man, taking bad angles on line drives, swinging at pitches well outside the strike zone — made me wonder if he would ever turn the corner.
It sure looks like he has.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Colorado regulators hear dueling testimony on how close fracking should be to homes, schools

Dueling health studies , conflicting conclusions and differing reports from people living near oil and gas sites and from companies dominated a hearing Friday on rules for how far wells should be from homes and schools .
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission heard from its staff as well as oil and gas companies , environmental organizations and people concerned about the potential health risks from drilling in populated areas .
Setbacks , the distance between wells and sites such as homes or schools , are among a series of proposals the COGCC is considering as it undertakes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas regulations .
But the distance of setbacks is one of the most controversial aspects of an issue that has roiled communities and policy makers for the past several years — expansion of oil and gas development in Colorado , particularly in and near neighborhoods .
“ It ’ s a critical rule that has received a great deal of attention .
It has also caught the attention of the state of Colorado over the course of many of the last years I have worked for the commission , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The staff crafted the proposed setbacks after a careful review “ of the wealth of scientific information ” on health effects , a review of other states ’ regulations and meeting with different interest groups , Murphy said .
The COGCC staff has recommended a minimum setback of 2,000 feet from a school or child care center .
For homes , the requirement would be 500 feet for fewer than 10 residential units or a minimum of 1,500 feet from 10 or more residential buildings or multi-unit residences .
Dave Devanney recently moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in Battlement Mesa in western Colorado .
He headed Battlement Concerned Citizens , which sued to try to stop drilling near homes in the western Colorado community .
“ Listen and talk to the people who have lived near oil and gas , ” Devanney told The Denver Post .
“ I don ’ t think anyone who ’ s lived there will tell you that 500 feet is adequate.
” The current residential setback is 500 feet in certain areas , said Greg Deranleau , the COGCC ’ s environmental manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a de facto setback and makes it a statewide requirement , ” Deranleau said .
Another difference is that the setback would be measured from the edge of the well pad rather than the well head and other production equipment , which might be in the center of the pad , he added .
Several environmental and community organizations support setbacks of at least 2,500 feet .
Industry representatives generally supported the proposed setbacks , while voicing concerns about their application to the different densities of buildings .
In 2018 , Colorado voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for oil and gas wells .
Tami McMullin , a toxicology consultant formerly with the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment , was part of an industry panel .
She oversaw the development of a state health report released in 2019 that said people living within 2,000 feet of fracking sites could face an elevated risk of short-term health impacts — such as nosebleeds , headaches , breathing trouble and dizziness — in worst-case scenarios .
While with the state and afterward , McMullin said she and other researchers rigorously reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado .
She said the samples showed that concentrations of toxins were below levels considered harmful .
“ Based upon the weight of evidence and the extensive body of monitoring data , there is no causal data demonstrating the need for further risk-reduction measures beyond those which are already being applied , ” McMullin said .
“ Specifically , there is no credible evidence supporting the need for greater setback distances in order to protect public health.
” A pediatrician from Pennsylvania and a consultant for the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Ned Ketyer said a growing body of peer-reviewed research shows that living near oil and gas operations is hazardous to public health .
He said there is a growing consensus that the minimum setbacks from wells should be greater than the current 500 feet in place both in Colorado and Pennsylvania .
“ In my opinion , even a 2,500-foot setback is too close , ” Ketyer said .

Dueling health studies, conflicting conclusions and differing reports from people living near oil and gas sites and from companies dominated a hearing Friday on rules for how far wells should be from homes and schools.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission heard from its staff as well as oil and gas companies, environmental organizations and people concerned about the potential health risks from drilling in populated areas. Setbacks, the distance between wells and sites such as homes or schools, are among a series of proposals the COGCC is considering as it undertakes a mandated overhaul of the state’s oil and gas regulations.
But the distance of setbacks is one of the most controversial aspects of an issue that has roiled communities and policy makers for the past several years — expansion of oil and gas development in Colorado, particularly in and near neighborhoods.
“It’s a critical rule that has received a great deal of attention. It has also caught the attention of the state of Colorado over the course of many of the last years I have worked for the commission,” said Julie Murphy, the COGCC director.
The staff crafted the proposed setbacks after a careful review “of the wealth of scientific information” on health effects, a review of other states’ regulations and meeting with different interest groups, Murphy said.
The COGCC staff has recommended a minimum setback of 2,000 feet from a school or child care center. For homes, the requirement would be 500 feet for fewer than 10 residential units or a minimum of 1,500 feet from 10 or more residential buildings or multi-unit residences.
Dave Devanney recently moved to the Front Range after years of living in Battlement Mesa in western Colorado. He headed Battlement Concerned Citizens, which sued to try to stop drilling near homes in the western Colorado community.
“Listen and talk to the people who have lived near oil and gas,” Devanney told The Denver Post. “I don’t think anyone who’s lived there will tell you that 500 feet is adequate.”
The current residential setback is 500 feet in certain areas, said Greg Deranleau, the COGCC’s environmental manager.
“This setback takes what was a de facto setback and makes it a statewide requirement,” Deranleau said.
Another difference is that the setback would be measured from the edge of the well pad rather than the well head and other production equipment, which might be in the center of the pad, he added.
Several environmental and community organizations support setbacks of at least 2,500 feet. Industry representatives generally supported the proposed setbacks, while voicing concerns about their application to the different densities of buildings.
In 2018, Colorado voters rejected an initiative to mandate 2,500-foot setbacks for oil and gas wells.
Tami McMullin, a toxicology consultant formerly with the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, was part of an industry panel. She oversaw the development of a state health report released in 2019 that said people living within 2,000 feet of fracking sites could face an elevated risk of short-term health impacts — such as nosebleeds, headaches, breathing trouble and dizziness — in worst-case scenarios.
While with the state and afterward, McMullin said she and other researchers rigorously reviewed data and extensive air samples collected across Colorado. She said the samples showed that concentrations of toxins were below levels considered harmful.
“Based upon the weight of evidence and the extensive body of monitoring data, there is no causal data demonstrating the need for further risk-reduction measures beyond those which are already being applied,” McMullin said. “Specifically, there is no credible evidence supporting the need for greater setback distances in order to protect public health.”
A pediatrician from Pennsylvania and a consultant for the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project cited research to convey a different message. Dr. Ned Ketyer said a growing body of peer-reviewed research shows that living near oil and gas operations is hazardous to public health. He said there is a growing consensus that the minimum setbacks from wells should be greater than the current 500 feet in place both in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
“In my opinion, even a 2,500-foot setback is too close,” Ketyer said.
The hearing will continue Tuesday.


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Apple, Google make it easier to opt in to coronavirus tracing

Several state governments may soon send residents an alert asking them to turn on “ exposure notifications.
” On Tuesday , Apple and Google said they would make it easier for states to use their new technology that detects phones that come close to one another and can notify people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus .
States that sign on will be able to send a notice directly to smartphones asking people to opt in to the technology .
Previous versions of the technology had required people to seek out a state health agency ’ s app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popularity of such virus alert technology in the United States by significantly lowering the hurdles for its use .
Maryland , Virginia , Nevada and Washington , D.C. , already plan to use the new system , Apple and Google said , and about 25 other states were exploring using the earlier app version .
In a statement , Apple and Google called the changes a “ next step in our work with public health authorities.
” They said the shifts would help “ public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project ’ s core tenets of user privacy and security.
” In April , Apple and Google announced they were developing the technology , which uses Bluetooth signals to enable iPhones and Android devices to detect nearby phones .
If someone using the technology tests positive for the virus , that person can enter the positive result into the system using a unique authentication code .
An automatic notification would then go to other phones that had opted in and had been in close contact .
As the pandemic took hold this spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deploy virus apps to help track and quarantine people .
But some of the apps were mandatory and invasive , sending users ’ locations and health details to their governments .
Many apps were also rife with security flaws .
The Apple-Google technology , by contrast , does not collect personal health details or track users ’ locations .
That has made the system attractive in Europe and elsewhere .
Germany , Denmark and Ireland have already released apps using the technology , and millions of people in Europe have downloaded them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies in Virginia , Arizona , Nevada , Alabama , North Dakota and Wyoming have also created such apps , although the uptake has been slower .
The Alabama app , released in mid-August , has had about 44,000 downloads .
To make the virus alert apps from different U.S. states interoperable , the Association of Public Health Laboratories announced in July that it would host a national server for the data .
That means users of Alabama ’ s app may someday be able to detect nearby phones when they travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use Apple and Google ’ s technology , state public-health authorities simply need to provide certain parameters to the companies , such as how close people need to be to trigger an exposure notification and recommendations for those with possible exposures .
Google would then create an app for the state , while Apple would enable the technology on the iPhone software .
The system would then use approximate location data to send an alert to residents ’ phones in that state , asking if they would like to enroll .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ button , while Android users are prompted to download the state ’ s app . )
Apple and Google have said they designed their technology to protect people ’ s privacy .
The system does not share people ’ s identities with Apple , Google or other users , the companies said , and it does not share location data with health authorities or the companies .
Google initially required Android users of the virus alert apps to turn on location services , which could have allowed Google to collect their location data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Google said it would stop requiring location services to be on to enable the apps .
Still , security researchers have warned that the technology could also be misused to send false alerts , spreading unnecessary alarm .
While they acknowledged the companies ’ desire to help stem the pandemic , a few said they were troubled by Apple and Google ’ s power to set global standards for public health agencies .
Ashkan Soltani , an independent security researcher , also warned that the companies could at some point turn on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to worry about rapidly deploying a new technology to nearly everyone ’ s device , ” he said , “ especially when the decision to do so isn ’ t done by policymakers but unilaterally by these platforms .
”

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

Several state governments may soon send residents an alert asking them to turn on “exposure notifications.”
On Tuesday, Apple and Google said they would make it easier for states to use their new technology that detects phones that come close to one another and can notify people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
States that sign on will be able to send a notice directly to smartphones asking people to opt in to the technology. Previous versions of the technology had required people to seek out a state health agency’s app.
The new approach could spur the popularity of such virus alert technology in the United States by significantly lowering the hurdles for its use. Maryland, Virginia, Nevada and Washington, D.C., already plan to use the new system, Apple and Google said, and about 25 other states were exploring using the earlier app version.
In a statement, Apple and Google called the changes a “next step in our work with public health authorities.” They said the shifts would help “public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project’s core tenets of user privacy and security.”
In April, Apple and Google announced they were developing the technology, which uses Bluetooth signals to enable iPhones and Android devices to detect nearby phones. If someone using the technology tests positive for the virus, that person can enter the positive result into the system using a unique authentication code. An automatic notification would then go to other phones that had opted in and had been in close contact.
As the pandemic took hold this spring, countries around the world raced to deploy virus apps to help track and quarantine people. But some of the apps were mandatory and invasive, sending users’ locations and health details to their governments. Many apps were also rife with security flaws.
The Apple-Google technology, by contrast, does not collect personal health details or track users’ locations. That has made the system attractive in Europe and elsewhere. Germany, Denmark and Ireland have already released apps using the technology, and millions of people in Europe have downloaded them.
In the United States, public health agencies in Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, Alabama, North Dakota and Wyoming have also created such apps, although the uptake has been slower. The Alabama app, released in mid-August, has had about 44,000 downloads.
To make the virus alert apps from different U.S. states interoperable, the Association of Public Health Laboratories announced in July that it would host a national server for the data. That means users of Alabama’s app may someday be able to detect nearby phones when they travel to Virginia and vice versa.
Now, to use Apple and Google’s technology, state public-health authorities simply need to provide certain parameters to the companies, such as how close people need to be to trigger an exposure notification and recommendations for those with possible exposures. Google would then create an app for the state, while Apple would enable the technology on the iPhone software. The system would then use approximate location data to send an alert to residents’ phones in that state, asking if they would like to enroll. (On iPhones, enrolling requires tapping a button, while Android users are prompted to download the state’s app.)
Apple and Google have said they designed their technology to protect people’s privacy. The system does not share people’s identities with Apple, Google or other users, the companies said, and it does not share location data with health authorities or the companies.
Google initially required Android users of the virus alert apps to turn on location services, which could have allowed Google to collect their location data. After health officials in Europe complained, Google said it would stop requiring location services to be on to enable the apps.
Still, security researchers have warned that the technology could also be misused to send false alerts, spreading unnecessary alarm. While they acknowledged the companies’ desire to help stem the pandemic, a few said they were troubled by Apple and Google’s power to set global standards for public health agencies.
Ashkan Soltani, an independent security researcher, also warned that the companies could at some point turn on virus notifications by default. “I continue to worry about rapidly deploying a new technology to nearly everyone’s device,” he said, “especially when the decision to do so isn’t done by policymakers but unilaterally by these platforms.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-05--Broncos 2020: Game-by-game predictions

Broncos 2020: Game-by-game predictions

The Denver Post beat reporter Ryan O ’ Halloran breaks down the 2020 season : New Broncos defensive end Jurrell Casey faces his old team , which gave him away for a seventh-round pick .
The run defense will be tested by NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry .
Both teams playing on a short week , but at least the Steelers are at home .
Ben Roethlisberger is sacked five times , but throws three touchdowns .
Tom Brady is 4-6 all-time at Mile High , including 0-2 in the playoffs .
He likely makes his final appearance in Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy , who scores two touchdowns .
The bad news : The Broncos have to fly four hours on a short week .
The good news : They get to play the Jets .
Before camp started , the Jets traded safety Jamal Adams and saw linebacker C.J .
Mosley opt out .
at New England 11 a.m. , KCNC-4 The Broncos have lost six consecutive games in Foxborough ; their last win was in 2006 .
A trap game after a 3-1 start and mini-bye weekend .
Julian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the NFL office gets its way and prevents teams from staying out west or east for consecutive road games , a big advantage here to the Broncos because Miami plays at San Francisco in Week 5 .
The classic measuring stick game .
The Broncos have lost nine straight to the Chiefs , who outscored them 53-9 last year .
This will be close , but the champs prevail to send the Broncos into the bye at 4-3 .
The Broncos ’ season will come into focus : Playoff contender or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ first trip to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium , which opened in 2017 .
Drew Lock throws four touchdowns .
The Broncos ’ first trip to Allegiant Stadium would have produced packed flights from Denver to Las Vegas .
But fans will have to watch on television as Jeudy outduels fellow Alabama first-round receiver Henry Ruggs .
The Chargers may have moved to rookie quarterback Justin Hebert by this point , but the big subplot is Broncos running back Melvin Gordon and Chargers cornerback Chris Harris facing their old teams .
Courtland Sutton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role last October when Emmanuel Sanders was traded to San Francisco .
He signed with the Saints in free agency to be one of Drew Brees ’ targets .
If the game isn ’ t flexed , it will be the Broncos ’ first Sunday night appearance since 2016 .
Justin Simmons intercepts Patrick Mahomes twice , but the Chiefs kick a field goal as time expires .
The most winnable road game on the Broncos ’ schedule and they will win even though Panthers running back/Denver area native Christian McCaffrey will total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Bills ’ defense flexed its muscles , holding the Broncos to 134 yards and nine measly first downs in a 20-3 snoozer .
A few days later , Drew Lock began taking starter practice reps .
The Broncos ’ first trip to SoFi Stadium is a missed chance for fans to make the trip from Denver .
Entering the final two games , the Broncos know they need two wins and some help to make playoffs .
The seventh and final AFC playoff spot , and a first-round trip to second-seeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Derek Carr will complete 75 % of his passes , but A.J .
Bouye will score on an interception return .

The Denver Post beat reporter Ryan O’Halloran breaks down the 2020 season:
WEEK 1 — Sept. 14: vs. Tennessee
8:10 p.m., ESPN
New Broncos defensive end Jurrell Casey faces his old team, which gave him away for a seventh-round pick. The run defense will be tested by NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry.
The call: Broncos 20, Titans 17
WEEK 2 — Sept. 20: at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., KCNC-4
Both teams playing on a short week, but at least the Steelers are at home. Ben Roethlisberger is sacked five times, but throws three touchdowns.
The call: Steelers 27, Broncos 14.
WEEK 3 — Sept. 27: vs. Tampa Bay
2:25 p.m., KDVR-31
Tom Brady is 4-6 all-time at Mile High, including 0-2 in the playoffs. He likely makes his final appearance in Denver, but he’ll be overshadowed by Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy, who scores two touchdowns.
The call: Broncos 38, Buccaneers 34
WEEK 4 — Oct. 1: at N.Y. Jets
6:20 p.m., NFL Network
The bad news: The Broncos have to fly four hours on a short week. The good news: They get to play the Jets. Before camp started, the Jets traded safety Jamal Adams and saw linebacker C.J. Mosley opt out.
The call: Broncos 24, Jets 10
WEEK 5 — Oct. 11: at New England
11 a.m., KCNC-4
The Broncos have lost six consecutive games in Foxborough; their last win was in 2006. A trap game after a 3-1 start and mini-bye weekend. Julian Edelman catches and throws one touchdown apiece.
The call: Patriots 31, Broncos 27
WEEK 6 — Oct. 18: vs. Miami
2:05 p.m, KCNC-4
If the NFL office gets its way and prevents teams from staying out west or east for consecutive road games, a big advantage here to the Broncos because Miami plays at San Francisco in Week 5.
The call: Broncos 28, Dolphins 17
WEEK 7 — Oct. 25: vs. Kansas City
2:25 p.m., KCNC-4
The classic measuring stick game. The Broncos have lost nine straight to the Chiefs, who outscored them 53-9 last year. This will be close, but the champs prevail to send the Broncos into the bye at 4-3.
The call: Chiefs 31, Broncos 24
WEEK 8: Bye
WEEK 9 — Nov. 8: at Atlanta
11 a.m., KCNC-4
The Broncos’ season will come into focus: Playoff contender or also-ran? This will be the Broncos’ first trip to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017. Drew Lock throws three touchdowns.
The call: Broncos 24, Falcons 20
WEEK 10 — Nov. 15: at Las Vegas
2:05 p.m., KCNC-4
The Broncos’ first trip to Allegiant Stadium would have produced packed flights from Denver to Las Vegas. But fans will have to watch on television as Jeudy outduels fellow Alabama first-round receiver Henry Ruggs.
The call: Raiders 17, Broncos 13
WEEK 11 — Nov. 22: vs. L.A. Chargers
2:05 p.m., KCNC-4
The Chargers may have moved to rookie quarterback Justin Hebert by this point, but the big subplot is Broncos running back Melvin Gordon and Chargers cornerback Chris Harris facing their old teams.
The call: Broncos 26, Chargers 16
WEEK 12 — Nov. 29: vs. New Orleans
2:05 p.m., KDVR-31
Courtland Sutton assumed the no-doubt No. 1 receiver role last October when Emmanuel Sanders was traded to San Francisco. He signed with the Saints in free agency to be one of Drew Brees’ targets.
The call: Saints 37, Broncos 27
WEEK 13 — Dec. 6: at Kansas City
6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
If the game isn’t flexed, it will be the Broncos’ first Sunday night appearance since 2016. Justin Simmons intercepts Patrick Mahomes twice, but the Chiefs kick a field goal as time expires.
The call: Chiefs 23, Broncos 21
WEEK 14 — Dec. 13: at Carolina
11 a.m., KCNC-4
The most winnable road game on the Broncos’ schedule and they will win even though Panthers running back/Denver area native Christian McCaffrey will total 250 yards total offense.
The call: Broncos 34, Panthers 24
WEEK 15 — Dec. 19-20: vs. Buffalo
TBD, TV TBA
Last November, the Bills’ defense flexed its muscles, holding the Broncos to 134 yards and nine measly first downs in a 20-3 snoozer. A few days later, Drew Lock began taking starter practice reps.
The call: Bills 17, Broncos 13
WEEK 16 — Dec. 26-27: at L.A. Chargers
TBD, TV TBA
The Broncos’ first trip to SoFi Stadium is a missed chance for fans to make the trip from Denver. Entering the final two games, the Broncos know they need two wins and some help to make playoffs.
The call: Broncos 28, Chargers 23
WEEK 17 — Jan. 3: vs. Las Vegas
2:25 p.m., KCNC-4
The seventh and final AFC playoff spot, and a first-round trip to second-seeded Baltimore, could be on the line. Derek Carr will complete 75% of his passes, but A.J. Bouye will score on an interception return.
The call: Broncos 34, Raiders 21
Final record: 9-7