During the August 4, 2025 West Chicago City Council meeting, a meeting where Mayor Bovey was absent, Ald. Alton Hallett—a Vietnam war veteran—publicly questioned Ald. Carreto-Muñoz on why she was standing during the Pledge of Allegiance rather than putting her hand on her heart. He questioned her on a number of things—including what the 13 red strips on the flag mean—prompting a quick reaction not from other members of the council, but from the public.

We play the audio from that interaction, and then talk to Denise about what was going through her head in that moment, what Ald. Hallett said to her after the meeting, and what it's like being one of the youngest members of the city council. She talks about her decision to run for office, and recaps the 'backyard chicken' ordinance (seomthing Ald. Hallett also voted for, despite vows in past meetings). We also cover the question of whether and which lawyers would be paid for their services to the city between May and August, 2025.

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