Mayor Mike Johnston revealed his proposed budget for 2026 this week — the vibes are off and the numbers are down. But what can we read between the lines of his proposals to see where the city is going next? Our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the mayor’s new priorities on homelessness and other secrets hidden in the budget. Plus, some City Park neighbors are big mad about the Denver Zoo’s proposal to reopen a long-shuttered West Gate, so we’re talking about one of our favorite topics — parking — and all our other wins and fails of the week. Plus, Justine has a big announcement. 

Paul talked about a landmark preservation debate in Wash Park, rising homelessness in Houston, exceptions to Waste No More, and Denver’s gun violence dashboard. Bree talked about the Federal Theater reopening. Justine discussed the recent debates over the Mestizo-Curtis Park Pool and Park Hill Park. We also discussed the La Loma green chile situation. 

What do you think about the Zoo reopening the old West Gate? We want to hear from you! Especially if you live in City Park West. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Fighting on the internet is nothing new. But as our social media becomes more algorithmically siloed, the outrage machines are reshaping our policy outcomes in very real ways. Chris Vanderveen is an investigative reporter for 9News and has seen firsthand how online discourse is getting more divisive and subjective — especially when it comes to news coverage of crime. He joins host Bree Davies to talk about some recent stories he’s covered, why he engages with anonymous commenters on X.com, and how all the outrage is impacting laws and policy-making in Colorado.

What do you think about online outrage in Denver right now? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Here’s one of Chris’ X threads about the Denver bus stabbings, and his post about getting offline. 

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Is it possible to capture the feeling of life in Denver in a song? Many, many people have tried, and the results are … mixed. But there’s a new banger out this year that we think shows off the magic of the city! So we invited the rappers behind the track — “Next Stop Denver” by Nelo (Feat. Wayne Watts)  — to join host Bree Davies and Denver Post entertainment reporter John Wenzel to break down their creative process and talk about all the songs they think embody our city best. 

What did we miss? We want to hear your picks for the songs that embody Denver! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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If you enjoyed this interview with Window Nation's Sales Manager, Ryan Quinnell, learn more here.

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The 2025 Michelin Guide has officially dropped and everyone from a seasoned sushi chef to a restaurant that just opened this summer picked up accolades. So, how did our Michelin predictions from last week pan out? Then, as Evergreen reels from the shooting last week, local businesses and a rival school are stepping up to support the community. Host Bree Davies and producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love discuss the latest news, plus respond to listener comments about our recent coverage of the school shooting and the killing of Charlie Kirk.  

The Colorado Healing Fund is collecting donations to support shooting victims and needs of the Evergreen community; there is also a GoFundMe for Evergreen shooting survivor Matthew Silverstone. Paul mentioned Don’t Name Them, which like “No Notoriety” campaign was founded by families of victims of the Aurora theater shooting.

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Denver’s dating scene is changing, and it will soon be on display for the whole world to see when Netflix’s “Love is Blind” premieres on October 1. The trailer dropped last week, featuring a brand new cast of Denverites hoping to find love. They’ve been filming in the city for the past year and reality dating show lovers are excited. So we’re revisiting a conversation host Bree Davies had with snow-former Denver Post reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton and Westword reporter Hannah Metzger, who had each been looking into the local story of dating apps, bars, creeps, and the persistent stereotype of ‘Menver.’

This episode originally aired on July 25, 2024.

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Are you excited to watch this season of Love is Blind? What do you think of the Denverites they picked? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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As Colorado was rocked by yet another school shooting Wednesday afternoon, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was also shot and killed on a college campus in Utah. Coloradans are shocked, saddened, and enraged as the conversation yet again turns to guns, violence, and our polarized media. Then, the Broncos have officially announced that their future stadium will be built in Denver proper. Are we gonna call this one Mile High Stadium, too? Comedian Adam Cayton-Holland joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to dig into these stories, plus our wins and fails of the week.

Paul talked about Ben Roy’s Facebook post about social media, Westword’s coverage of the scandal at the Mexican Consulate in Denver, and his friend Jem’s album release concert at The Bug this Saturday. Bree discussed the passing of photojournalist Corky Scholl and his Save the Signs project and SarahFest happening this weekend at Manos Sagrados. Adam mentioned yet another Rockies record-breaking loss, the rare wood stork sighting in Broomfield, and next weekend’s High Plains Comedy Festival (which is still looking for volunteers!)   

ICYMI: We are launching the City Cast Denver Creator Community It's a network of local creators elevating the stories that matter most in their communities. Sound up your alley? Apply here or send to a friend who could be a good fit.

Should we call the new Broncos stadium Mile High? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Colorado’s Michelin Era enters year three on Monday, with another fancy party for the local restaurant industry and some prestigious awards at stake. So who will the French tire company recognize this year? And will the big awards help buoy restaurant industry struggling with rising costs and increasingly discerning diners? Westword food editor Molly Martin is back with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dish on the cream of Denver’s restaurant crop, with rumors, gossip, predictions, and speculation about the upcoming Michelin Guide to Colorado, 2025 edition.

Paul mentioned this great New York Times article about Michelin’s arrival in Colorado from 2023.

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What do you think about the Michelin Guide? Do you think they are recognizing the right spots? Who do you think deserves a star this year? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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La Loma has been serving its beloved green chile in Denver for more than 5 decades. But behind the scenes, a bitter divorce has put ownership of restaurant’s name and its closely guarded green chile recipe in jeopardy. Denver Post food reporter Miguel Otárola sits down with host Bree Davies to lay out the future of the restaurant’s name, a judge’s ruling on the claims of intellectual property of a recipe, and explain what connection, if any, owners Renee and William Brinkerhoff have to “Grandma” Savina Mendoza and her green chile magic that put La Loma on the map.

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What do you think about La Loma’s green chile? Is it worth all this hullabaloo? We want to know what you think! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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The number of Denverites who don’t like Mayor Mike Johnston has grown by a lot, according to a new poll from the Colorado Polling Institute. But at the same time, Denverites are more optimistic about the city’s future and think it’s safer than it was when he was inaugurated. So what’s going on? Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dissect the new CPI poll and how some big recent stories might be affecting the numbers. Plus, we’re checking in on some of our predictions for 2025 and a listener calls in to demand an update on the long-awaited animatronic dinos in RiNo. 

What do you think about the future of the city? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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When a new national women’s soccer stadium was announced earlier this year, a lot of Denverites were excited. But when the mayor proposed around $70 million to support the project, the debate became contentious. And no, post-layoffs, the prospects are looking murky. So host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are sitting down with City Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, who was a big booster of the project in her District 7, to talk through the latest and all the other big issues facing her district, including Broadway businesses’ recent struggles and why she thinks the mayor’s hyper focus on downtown might mean he’s neglecting other parts of the city.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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