In the absence of national support from Democrats, the movement to defund the police in the year since George Floyd's murder is shifting to the local level and cities like Denver.

Why it matters: The continued calls to overhaul policing in Denver come as crime reaches new highs and public safety is emerging as a potent political issue.

What's happening: Activists say city leaders have failed to take action toward meaningful change — and they're preparing for another protest-packed summer.

• "It is going to be a hot summer, and we are going to continue to hold the feet of those who are in this city to the fire so we see change," said Ru Johnson, a community organizer in Denver who helped develop a plan that calls for an "autonomous, community-led, non-law-enforcement institution" for public safety.

The backdrop: Mayor Michael Hancock's administration outlined a new strategy Monday to lower rising crime rates "without overpolicing."

• The blueprint represents an alternative to 112 recommendations from a public safety task force after the Hancock administration pulled out of talks with the group this year.

Hancock remains adamantly opposed to any cuts in police spending.

Keep reading

The difficulties faced by a Black woman in law enforcement are starkly clear in a new podcast that explores systemic racism in policing.

• The debut episode of Colorado Public Radio's new podcast series, "Systemic," follows Michelle Reed, a 10-year veteran sheriff's deputy in Colorado Springs.

"To be equal to my male counterparts, I have to do double the work," she told podcast host Jo Erickson, a former reporter for Minneapolis Public Radio and the BBC.

The big picture: The four-part series follows police officers, activists and others in the Black community in Colorado, Minneapolis and around the country who are working to reform policing.

• Listen here

When it comes to the future, Denver isn't so optimistic.

Driving the news: Out of 17 major metro areas, only four — Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston and Cleveland — ranked lower when it comes to sentiment about economic opportunity, according to a major new survey from McKinsey and Ipsos provided first to Axios.

• But Denver's average is still a shade better than the U.S. as a whole.

The big picture: What's worse is that economic optimism isn't evenly distributed, writes Axios' Felix Salmon. Men are broadly optimistic; women aren't. Parents see a brighter future than the childless. And naturally, the rich have a sunnier outlook than the poor.

Zoom in: The disparities in the Denver data are particularly pronounced.

• The portion of Black people who believe their race will impact their job prospects ranks highest (tied with Minneapolis) among the metro areas and well above the U.S. average.
• The same figures for Asian workers and women are also elevated above the national norm.

Go deeper

Alex Marrero, a school district administrator in suburban New York, is the sole finalist for the next superintendent of Denver Public Schools.

What to know: Marrero is a Cuban refugee and immigrant from the Dominican Republic.

• He was chosen to lead because of his ability to engage the community and bring people together, board president Carrie Olson said.

What he's saying: "You'll find me in the schools, collaborating with leaders, collaborating with teachers, staff and in the community, looking to learn and articulate the great work that is happening in our schools," Marrero said at a press conference yesterday.

What's next: The Denver school board is in active contract negotiations and expected to vote to appoint Marrero on June 3.

Go deeper with our reporting partners at Chalkbeat

• The newest member of the Arapahoe Sheriff's Office is Rex, a 10-week-old black lab puppy. He will start as the agency's therapy dog at Littleton Public Schools. (Twitter)
• New York-based tech company Datadog is adding 400 jobs and making Denver its Western home base. The company provides security to cloud applications and currently employs 98 in the city. (Denver Business Journal)
• Colorado is the first state to ban legacy admissions at state universities and colleges, and ended the requirement for students to submit SAT and ACT test scores. (Denver Post)
• The First Universalist Church near the Wellshire neighborhood is seeking permission to become a "safe parking site" for homeless people who own cars. (Business Den)
• Cimarex, Denver's fourth-largest oil and gas producer by revenue, is moving its headquarters to Houston as part of a $17 billion merger. (Denver Business Journal)
• Did you miss Wednesday's eclipse because of those clouds? Here are five photos. (Denver Post)

Now it really seems like Denver is beginning to return to normal.

What's happening: The summer events we all love are set to resume, starting this weekend with three free shows at the Levitt Pavilion.

From there, it's all happening:

• Santa Fe Art District's First Friday kicks off June 4 with masks and social distancing rules. The art walk continues on the first Friday of each month from 13th to Alameda avenues and Kalamath to Inca streets.
• City Park Jazz starts June 13 with "The Burroughs." Grab a picnic blanket and snacks for the two-hour show, which typically starts at 6pm in the park pavilion.
• The Juneteenth celebration begins June 18 with a concert and continues the next day with the annual parade, one of the city's longest-running. The two-day street festival runs from 2pm to 8pm in the Welton Street and Five Points corridors.
• Bookmark Aug. 27–29 for the return of the Underground Music Showcase. Tickets are on sale now, and the indie-music lineups are expected in July.