It’s been a fun summer with the Pearl Street Arts Festival and weekly free concerts at Bands on the Bricks. We’ve welcomed a number of new businesses, and visitors are out in full force. But it’s no secret that this summer has also brought its fair share of challenges to our beloved Downtown. The troubles started after a rainy but bustling Memorial Day weekend full of beloved traditions like the Bolder Boulder and Creekfest, when our community was shaken by a troubling incident of violence and vandalism that began downtown and culminated in an assault of a Downtown Boulder Ambassador working on University Hill. This kind and dedicated gentleman—whose work focuses on supporting the vibrancy, cleanliness, and accessibility of our shared public spaces—was attacked near the RTD bus stop at Broadway and Euclid. The good news is that he is recovering and the assailant is in custody. The bad news is that this event was eclipsed by the horrific attack on our Jewish community on June 1, just a week later.
Unfortunately, these were not isolated incidents. This summer, while overall crime statistics are down, we have experienced a string of unpredictable and, for lack of a better word, “freak” safety issues downtown—unprovoked assaults, property damage, and several frightening situations involving individuals who appear to be in acute mental health crisis. While these events are rare in comparison to the thousands of positive daily interactions that happen in our city center, they are a stark reminder of the challenges facing communities across the nation: that mental illness, substance use, and trauma experienced by those without adequate support systems can result in decidedly dangerous anti-social behavior.
These challenges play out not just in Boulder, but across the country, affecting the entire community, including both housed and unhoused individuals, young and old, business owners, visitors, residents, and workers alike.
Our Downtown Ambassadors, employed through the Block by Block program and supported by the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District, City of Boulder, and CU Boulder, are on the front lines of this work every day. They clean messes, remove graffiti, help visitors find their way, and extend a welcoming hand to all who spend time in our public spaces. Some have lived experience with homelessness and bring deep empathy and resilience to their work. Yet, as this summer has shown, their jobs increasingly intersect with moments of crisis that require skilled intervention and robust community support.
That is why strong partnerships—with law enforcement, local businesses, nonprofits, and public health providers—are essential. The quick response from Boulder Police and RTD officers during all these unsettling incidents of this summer helped prevent further harm, and the outpouring of support from the community is inspiring. The Jewish Festival went forward a week after the June 1 attack with thousands in attendance, and the GoFundMe campaign, launched by businesses on The Hill, exceeded its goal to support the injured Ambassador, a familiar and beloved figure known for his warm smile, kind words, and unwavering dedication.
Even with these strong partnerships, there is an urgent need for expanded mental health services in Boulder County. County Commissioners will vote on August 12 on whether to place a sales tax initiative on the ballot that they say will help expand mental health services. If approved, it won’[t be a silver bullet, but it could provide a sustainable way to help people in crisis before situations escalate into harm—for themselves or others. We’ll be paying careful attention to the details as they unfold.
This moment calls us to action: to thank and support our Ambassadors, to continue building resilient partnerships, and to invest in compassionate solutions that address the root causes of these challenges. If you see an ambassador in a blue shirt or you see a police officer downtown, please take a moment to say thank you. They deserve our gratitude.
-Bettina Swigger, CEO, Downtown Boulder Partnership
This article was originally published in the Daily Camera on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Tagged: Downtown Boulder CEO Update