diff --git a/appview/ingester.go b/appview/ingester.go
--- a/appview/ingester.go
+++ b/appview/ingester.go
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@
 			return err
 		}
 
-		issue := db.IssueFromRecord(did, rkey, record)
+		issue := models.IssueFromRecord(did, rkey, record)
 
 		if err := i.Validator.ValidateIssue(&issue); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to validate issue: %w", err)
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid record: %w", err)
 		}
 
-		comment, err := db.IssueCommentFromRecord(did, rkey, record)
+		comment, err := models.IssueCommentFromRecord(did, rkey, record)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse comment from record: %w", err)
 		}
diff --git a/appview/db/issues.go b/appview/db/issues.go
--- a/appview/db/issues.go
+++ b/appview/db/issues.go
@@ -10,196 +10,11 @@
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
-	"tangled.org/core/api/tangled"
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/models"
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/pagination"
 )
 
-type Issue struct {
-	Id      int64
-	Did     string
-	Rkey    string
-	RepoAt  syntax.ATURI
-	IssueId int
-	Created time.Time
-	Edited  *time.Time
-	Deleted *time.Time
-	Title   string
-	Body    string
-	Open    bool
-
-	// optionally, populate this when querying for reverse mappings
-	// like comment counts, parent repo etc.
-	Comments []IssueComment
-	Labels   models.LabelState
-	Repo     *models.Repo
-}
-
-func (i *Issue) AtUri() syntax.ATURI {
-	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", i.Did, tangled.RepoIssueNSID, i.Rkey))
-}
-
-func (i *Issue) AsRecord() tangled.RepoIssue {
-	return tangled.RepoIssue{
-		Repo:      i.RepoAt.String(),
-		Title:     i.Title,
-		Body:      &i.Body,
-		CreatedAt: i.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
-	}
-}
-
-func (i *Issue) State() string {
-	if i.Open {
-		return "open"
-	}
-	return "closed"
-}
-
-type CommentListItem struct {
-	Self    *IssueComment
-	Replies []*IssueComment
-}
-
-func (i *Issue) CommentList() []CommentListItem {
-	// Create a map to quickly find comments by their aturi
-	toplevel := make(map[string]*CommentListItem)
-	var replies []*IssueComment
-
-	// collect top level comments into the map
-	for _, comment := range i.Comments {
-		if comment.IsTopLevel() {
-			toplevel[comment.AtUri().String()] = &CommentListItem{
-				Self: &comment,
-			}
-		} else {
-			replies = append(replies, &comment)
-		}
-	}
-
-	for _, r := range replies {
-		parentAt := *r.ReplyTo
-		if parent, exists := toplevel[parentAt]; exists {
-			parent.Replies = append(parent.Replies, r)
-		}
-	}
-
-	var listing []CommentListItem
-	for _, v := range toplevel {
-		listing = append(listing, *v)
-	}
-
-	// sort everything
-	sortFunc := func(a, b *IssueComment) bool {
-		return a.Created.Before(b.Created)
-	}
-	sort.Slice(listing, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return sortFunc(listing[i].Self, listing[j].Self)
-	})
-	for _, r := range listing {
-		sort.Slice(r.Replies, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return sortFunc(r.Replies[i], r.Replies[j])
-		})
-	}
-
-	return listing
-}
-
-func (i *Issue) Participants() []string {
-	participantSet := make(map[string]struct{})
-	participants := []string{}
-
-	addParticipant := func(did string) {
-		if _, exists := participantSet[did]; !exists {
-			participantSet[did] = struct{}{}
-			participants = append(participants, did)
-		}
-	}
-
-	addParticipant(i.Did)
-
-	for _, c := range i.Comments {
-		addParticipant(c.Did)
-	}
-
-	return participants
-}
-
-func IssueFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.RepoIssue) Issue {
-	created, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.CreatedAt)
-	if err != nil {
-		created = time.Now()
-	}
-
-	body := ""
-	if record.Body != nil {
-		body = *record.Body
-	}
-
-	return Issue{
-		RepoAt:  syntax.ATURI(record.Repo),
-		Did:     did,
-		Rkey:    rkey,
-		Created: created,
-		Title:   record.Title,
-		Body:    body,
-		Open:    true, // new issues are open by default
-	}
-}
-
-type IssueComment struct {
-	Id      int64
-	Did     string
-	Rkey    string
-	IssueAt string
-	ReplyTo *string
-	Body    string
-	Created time.Time
-	Edited  *time.Time
-	Deleted *time.Time
-}
-
-func (i *IssueComment) AtUri() syntax.ATURI {
-	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", i.Did, tangled.RepoIssueCommentNSID, i.Rkey))
-}
-
-func (i *IssueComment) AsRecord() tangled.RepoIssueComment {
-	return tangled.RepoIssueComment{
-		Body:      i.Body,
-		Issue:     i.IssueAt,
-		CreatedAt: i.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
-		ReplyTo:   i.ReplyTo,
-	}
-}
-
-func (i *IssueComment) IsTopLevel() bool {
-	return i.ReplyTo == nil
-}
-
-func IssueCommentFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.RepoIssueComment) (*IssueComment, error) {
-	created, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.CreatedAt)
-	if err != nil {
-		created = time.Now()
-	}
-
-	ownerDid := did
-
-	if _, err = syntax.ParseATURI(record.Issue); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	comment := IssueComment{
-		Did:     ownerDid,
-		Rkey:    rkey,
-		Body:    record.Body,
-		IssueAt: record.Issue,
-		ReplyTo: record.ReplyTo,
-		Created: created,
-	}
-
-	return &comment, nil
-}
-
-func PutIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *Issue) error {
+func PutIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *models.Issue) error {
 	// ensure sequence exists
 	_, err := tx.Exec(`
 		insert or ignore into repo_issue_seqs (repo_at, next_issue_id)
@@ -234,7 +49,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-func createNewIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *Issue) error {
+func createNewIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *models.Issue) error {
 	// get next issue_id
 	var newIssueId int
 	err := tx.QueryRow(`
@@ -257,7 +72,7 @@
 	return row.Scan(&issue.Id, &issue.IssueId)
 }
 
-func updateIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *Issue) error {
+func updateIssue(tx *sql.Tx, issue *models.Issue) error {
 	// update existing issue
 	_, err := tx.Exec(`
 		update issues
@@ -267,8 +82,8 @@
 	return err
 }
 
-func GetIssuesPaginated(e Execer, page pagination.Page, filters ...filter) ([]Issue, error) {
-	issueMap := make(map[string]*Issue) // at-uri -> issue
+func GetIssuesPaginated(e Execer, page pagination.Page, filters ...filter) ([]models.Issue, error) {
+	issueMap := make(map[string]*models.Issue) // at-uri -> issue
 
 	var conditions []string
 	var args []any
@@ -323,7 +138,7 @@
 	defer rows.Close()
 
 	for rows.Next() {
-		var issue Issue
+		var issue models.Issue
 		var createdAt string
 		var editedAt, deletedAt sql.Null[string]
 		var rowNum int64
@@ -416,7 +231,7 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	var issues []Issue
+	var issues []models.Issue
 	for _, i := range issueMap {
 		issues = append(issues, *i)
 	}
@@ -428,15 +243,15 @@
 	return issues, nil
 }
 
-func GetIssues(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]Issue, error) {
+func GetIssues(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]models.Issue, error) {
 	return GetIssuesPaginated(e, pagination.FirstPage(), filters...)
 }
 
-func GetIssue(e Execer, repoAt syntax.ATURI, issueId int) (*Issue, error) {
+func GetIssue(e Execer, repoAt syntax.ATURI, issueId int) (*models.Issue, error) {
 	query := `select id, owner_did, rkey, created, title, body, open from issues where repo_at = ? and issue_id = ?`
 	row := e.QueryRow(query, repoAt, issueId)
 
-	var issue Issue
+	var issue models.Issue
 	var createdAt string
 	err := row.Scan(&issue.Id, &issue.Did, &issue.Rkey, &createdAt, &issue.Title, &issue.Body, &issue.Open)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -452,7 +267,7 @@
 	return &issue, nil
 }
 
-func AddIssueComment(e Execer, c IssueComment) (int64, error) {
+func AddIssueComment(e Execer, c models.IssueComment) (int64, error) {
 	result, err := e.Exec(
 		`insert into issue_comments (
 			did,
@@ -514,8 +329,8 @@
 	return err
 }
 
-func GetIssueComments(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]IssueComment, error) {
-	var comments []IssueComment
+func GetIssueComments(e Execer, filters ...filter) ([]models.IssueComment, error) {
+	var comments []models.IssueComment
 
 	var conditions []string
 	var args []any
@@ -551,7 +366,7 @@
 	}
 
 	for rows.Next() {
-		var comment IssueComment
+		var comment models.IssueComment
 		var created string
 		var rkey, edited, deleted, replyTo sql.Null[string]
 		err := rows.Scan(
@@ -670,7 +485,7 @@
 
 	var count models.IssueCount
 	if err := row.Scan(&count.Open, &count.Closed); err != nil {
-		return models.IssueCount{0, 0}, err
+		return models.IssueCount{}, err
 	}
 
 	return count, nil
diff --git a/appview/db/profile.go b/appview/db/profile.go
--- a/appview/db/profile.go
+++ b/appview/db/profile.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 }
 
 type IssueEvents struct {
-	Items []*Issue
+	Items []*models.Issue
 }
 
 type IssueEventStats struct {
diff --git a/appview/issues/issues.go b/appview/issues/issues.go
--- a/appview/issues/issues.go
+++ b/appview/issues/issues.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Notice(w, noticeId, "Failed to delete issue.")
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@
 		replyTo = &replyToUri
 	}
 
-	comment := db.IssueComment{
+	comment := models.IssueComment{
 		Did:     user.Did,
 		Rkey:    tid.TID(),
 		IssueAt: issue.AtUri().String(),
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@
 		return
 	}
 
-	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*db.Issue)
+	issue, ok := r.Context().Value("issue").(*models.Issue)
 	if !ok {
 		l.Error("failed to get issue")
 		rp.pages.Error404(w)
@@ -829,7 +829,7 @@
 			RepoInfo:     f.RepoInfo(user),
 		})
 	case http.MethodPost:
-		issue := &db.Issue{
+		issue := &models.Issue{
 			RepoAt:  f.RepoAt(),
 			Rkey:    tid.TID(),
 			Title:   r.FormValue("title"),
diff --git a/appview/models/issue.go b/appview/models/issue.go
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appview/models/issue.go
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+package models
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
+	"tangled.org/core/api/tangled"
+)
+
+type Issue struct {
+	Id      int64
+	Did     string
+	Rkey    string
+	RepoAt  syntax.ATURI
+	IssueId int
+	Created time.Time
+	Edited  *time.Time
+	Deleted *time.Time
+	Title   string
+	Body    string
+	Open    bool
+
+	// optionally, populate this when querying for reverse mappings
+	// like comment counts, parent repo etc.
+	Comments []IssueComment
+	Labels   LabelState
+	Repo     *Repo
+}
+
+func (i *Issue) AtUri() syntax.ATURI {
+	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", i.Did, tangled.RepoIssueNSID, i.Rkey))
+}
+
+func (i *Issue) AsRecord() tangled.RepoIssue {
+	return tangled.RepoIssue{
+		Repo:      i.RepoAt.String(),
+		Title:     i.Title,
+		Body:      &i.Body,
+		CreatedAt: i.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+}
+
+func (i *Issue) State() string {
+	if i.Open {
+		return "open"
+	}
+	return "closed"
+}
+
+type CommentListItem struct {
+	Self    *IssueComment
+	Replies []*IssueComment
+}
+
+func (i *Issue) CommentList() []CommentListItem {
+	// Create a map to quickly find comments by their aturi
+	toplevel := make(map[string]*CommentListItem)
+	var replies []*IssueComment
+
+	// collect top level comments into the map
+	for _, comment := range i.Comments {
+		if comment.IsTopLevel() {
+			toplevel[comment.AtUri().String()] = &CommentListItem{
+				Self: &comment,
+			}
+		} else {
+			replies = append(replies, &comment)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, r := range replies {
+		parentAt := *r.ReplyTo
+		if parent, exists := toplevel[parentAt]; exists {
+			parent.Replies = append(parent.Replies, r)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var listing []CommentListItem
+	for _, v := range toplevel {
+		listing = append(listing, *v)
+	}
+
+	// sort everything
+	sortFunc := func(a, b *IssueComment) bool {
+		return a.Created.Before(b.Created)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(listing, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return sortFunc(listing[i].Self, listing[j].Self)
+	})
+	for _, r := range listing {
+		sort.Slice(r.Replies, func(i, j int) bool {
+			return sortFunc(r.Replies[i], r.Replies[j])
+		})
+	}
+
+	return listing
+}
+
+func (i *Issue) Participants() []string {
+	participantSet := make(map[string]struct{})
+	participants := []string{}
+
+	addParticipant := func(did string) {
+		if _, exists := participantSet[did]; !exists {
+			participantSet[did] = struct{}{}
+			participants = append(participants, did)
+		}
+	}
+
+	addParticipant(i.Did)
+
+	for _, c := range i.Comments {
+		addParticipant(c.Did)
+	}
+
+	return participants
+}
+
+func IssueFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.RepoIssue) Issue {
+	created, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.CreatedAt)
+	if err != nil {
+		created = time.Now()
+	}
+
+	body := ""
+	if record.Body != nil {
+		body = *record.Body
+	}
+
+	return Issue{
+		RepoAt:  syntax.ATURI(record.Repo),
+		Did:     did,
+		Rkey:    rkey,
+		Created: created,
+		Title:   record.Title,
+		Body:    body,
+		Open:    true, // new issues are open by default
+	}
+}
+
+type IssueComment struct {
+	Id      int64
+	Did     string
+	Rkey    string
+	IssueAt string
+	ReplyTo *string
+	Body    string
+	Created time.Time
+	Edited  *time.Time
+	Deleted *time.Time
+}
+
+func (i *IssueComment) AtUri() syntax.ATURI {
+	return syntax.ATURI(fmt.Sprintf("at://%s/%s/%s", i.Did, tangled.RepoIssueCommentNSID, i.Rkey))
+}
+
+func (i *IssueComment) AsRecord() tangled.RepoIssueComment {
+	return tangled.RepoIssueComment{
+		Body:      i.Body,
+		Issue:     i.IssueAt,
+		CreatedAt: i.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+		ReplyTo:   i.ReplyTo,
+	}
+}
+
+func (i *IssueComment) IsTopLevel() bool {
+	return i.ReplyTo == nil
+}
+
+func IssueCommentFromRecord(did, rkey string, record tangled.RepoIssueComment) (*IssueComment, error) {
+	created, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, record.CreatedAt)
+	if err != nil {
+		created = time.Now()
+	}
+
+	ownerDid := did
+
+	if _, err = syntax.ParseATURI(record.Issue); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	comment := IssueComment{
+		Did:     ownerDid,
+		Rkey:    rkey,
+		Body:    record.Body,
+		IssueAt: record.Issue,
+		ReplyTo: record.ReplyTo,
+		Created: created,
+	}
+
+	return &comment, nil
+}
diff --git a/appview/notify/merged_notifier.go b/appview/notify/merged_notifier.go
--- a/appview/notify/merged_notifier.go
+++ b/appview/notify/merged_notifier.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *mergedNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *db.Issue) {
+func (m *mergedNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *models.Issue) {
 	for _, notifier := range m.notifiers {
 		notifier.NewIssue(ctx, issue)
 	}
diff --git a/appview/notify/notifier.go b/appview/notify/notifier.go
--- a/appview/notify/notifier.go
+++ b/appview/notify/notifier.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 	NewStar(ctx context.Context, star *db.Star)
 	DeleteStar(ctx context.Context, star *db.Star)
 
-	NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *db.Issue)
+	NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *models.Issue)
 
 	NewFollow(ctx context.Context, follow *models.Follow)
 	DeleteFollow(ctx context.Context, follow *models.Follow)
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 func (m *BaseNotifier) NewStar(ctx context.Context, star *db.Star)    {}
 func (m *BaseNotifier) DeleteStar(ctx context.Context, star *db.Star) {}
 
-func (m *BaseNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *db.Issue) {}
+func (m *BaseNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *models.Issue) {}
 
 func (m *BaseNotifier) NewFollow(ctx context.Context, follow *models.Follow)    {}
 func (m *BaseNotifier) DeleteFollow(ctx context.Context, follow *models.Follow) {}
diff --git a/appview/pages/pages.go b/appview/pages/pages.go
--- a/appview/pages/pages.go
+++ b/appview/pages/pages.go
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@
 	LoggedInUser    *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo        repoinfo.RepoInfo
 	Active          string
-	Issues          []db.Issue
+	Issues          []models.Issue
 	LabelDefs       map[string]*models.LabelDefinition
 	Page            pagination.Page
 	FilteringByOpen bool
@@ -904,8 +904,8 @@
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
 	Active       string
-	Issue        *db.Issue
-	CommentList  []db.CommentListItem
+	Issue        *models.Issue
+	CommentList  []models.CommentListItem
 	LabelDefs    map[string]*models.LabelDefinition
 
 	OrderedReactionKinds []db.ReactionKind
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@
 type EditIssueParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue
+	Issue        *models.Issue
 	Action       string
 }
 
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@
 type RepoNewIssueParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue // existing issue if any -- passed when editing
+	Issue        *models.Issue // existing issue if any -- passed when editing
 	Active       string
 	Action       string
 }
@@ -958,8 +958,8 @@
 type EditIssueCommentParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue
-	Comment      *db.IssueComment
+	Issue        *models.Issue
+	Comment      *models.IssueComment
 }
 
 func (p *Pages) EditIssueCommentFragment(w io.Writer, params EditIssueCommentParams) error {
@@ -969,8 +969,8 @@
 type ReplyIssueCommentPlaceholderParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue
-	Comment      *db.IssueComment
+	Issue        *models.Issue
+	Comment      *models.IssueComment
 }
 
 func (p *Pages) ReplyIssueCommentPlaceholderFragment(w io.Writer, params ReplyIssueCommentPlaceholderParams) error {
@@ -980,8 +980,8 @@
 type ReplyIssueCommentParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue
-	Comment      *db.IssueComment
+	Issue        *models.Issue
+	Comment      *models.IssueComment
 }
 
 func (p *Pages) ReplyIssueCommentFragment(w io.Writer, params ReplyIssueCommentParams) error {
@@ -991,8 +991,8 @@
 type IssueCommentBodyParams struct {
 	LoggedInUser *oauth.User
 	RepoInfo     repoinfo.RepoInfo
-	Issue        *db.Issue
-	Comment      *db.IssueComment
+	Issue        *models.Issue
+	Comment      *models.IssueComment
 }
 
 func (p *Pages) IssueCommentBodyFragment(w io.Writer, params IssueCommentBodyParams) error {
diff --git a/appview/posthog/notifier.go b/appview/posthog/notifier.go
--- a/appview/posthog/notifier.go
+++ b/appview/posthog/notifier.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *posthogNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *db.Issue) {
+func (n *posthogNotifier) NewIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *models.Issue) {
 	err := n.client.Enqueue(posthog.Capture{
 		DistinctId: issue.Did,
 		Event:      "new_issue",
diff --git a/appview/repo/feed.go b/appview/repo/feed.go
--- a/appview/repo/feed.go
+++ b/appview/repo/feed.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 	"time"
 
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/db"
+	"tangled.org/core/appview/models"
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/pagination"
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/reporesolver"
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@
 	return items, nil
 }
 
-func (rp *Repo) createIssueItem(ctx context.Context, issue db.Issue, f *reporesolver.ResolvedRepo) (*feeds.Item, error) {
+func (rp *Repo) createIssueItem(ctx context.Context, issue models.Issue, f *reporesolver.ResolvedRepo) (*feeds.Item, error) {
 	owner, err := rp.idResolver.ResolveIdent(ctx, issue.Did)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/appview/state/profile.go b/appview/state/profile.go
--- a/appview/state/profile.go
+++ b/appview/state/profile.go
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (s *State) addIssueItems(ctx context.Context, feed *feeds.Feed, issues []*db.Issue, author *feeds.Author) error {
+func (s *State) addIssueItems(ctx context.Context, feed *feeds.Feed, issues []*models.Issue, author *feeds.Author) error {
 	for _, issue := range issues {
 		owner, err := s.idResolver.ResolveIdent(ctx, issue.Repo.Did)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *State) createIssueItem(issue *db.Issue, owner *identity.Identity, author *feeds.Author) *feeds.Item {
+func (s *State) createIssueItem(issue *models.Issue, owner *identity.Identity, author *feeds.Author) *feeds.Item {
 	return &feeds.Item{
 		Title:   fmt.Sprintf("%s created issue '%s' in @%s/%s", author.Name, issue.Title, owner.Handle, issue.Repo.Name),
 		Link:    &feeds.Link{Href: fmt.Sprintf("%s/@%s/%s/issues/%d", s.config.Core.AppviewHost, owner.Handle, issue.Repo.Name, issue.IssueId), Type: "text/html", Rel: "alternate"},
diff --git a/appview/validator/issue.go b/appview/validator/issue.go
--- a/appview/validator/issue.go
+++ b/appview/validator/issue.go
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 	"strings"
 
 	"tangled.org/core/appview/db"
+	"tangled.org/core/appview/models"
 )
 
-func (v *Validator) ValidateIssueComment(comment *db.IssueComment) error {
+func (v *Validator) ValidateIssueComment(comment *models.IssueComment) error {
 	// if comments have parents, only ingest ones that are 1 level deep
 	if comment.ReplyTo != nil {
 		parents, err := db.GetIssueComments(v.db, db.FilterEq("at_uri", *comment.ReplyTo))
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (v *Validator) ValidateIssue(issue *db.Issue) error {
+func (v *Validator) ValidateIssue(issue *models.Issue) error {
 	if issue.Title == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("issue title is empty")
 	}