🦫 Why Sen. Bennet is anti Buc-ee’s

We’re back with more recommendations from City Cast Denver Neighbors about their fave local people, spots, and organizations in the Mile High, so they can become your favorites too 💕

📣 Stewart G. wants to give a shoutout to Old Alt New, a residential architecture firm focused on low-carbon urban infill, additions, home renovations, and accessory dwelling units.

📣 Jack L. recommends Thick’s Gelato and Chocolates in Five Points. “It's very cute! I’ll be a regular for sure. Vegan, GF, and Keto options are available!”

Become a City Cast Denver Neighbor today to share your own shoutout in this newsletter and on the podcast 🎤

⛽ Sen. Bennet Condemns New Buc-ee’s Plan

Sen. Michael Bennet — a 2026 gubernatorial candidate — has joined the heated debate over plans for a new Buc-ee’s in Palmer Lake south of Denver. The senator says he cannot support the development of a mega gas station chain on land that “Colorado families have fought to protect for decades.” [9News]

• Next steps: Palmer Lake's Board of Trustees is scheduled to consider a revised annexation agreement for the land next month.
• The drama runs deep: The Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s debate has deeply divided the community and the mayor even resigned over the matter.

🏛️ What Came Out of the Special Session

Following six days of debates, Colorado lawmakers were able to pass some measures to help narrow the state’s nearly $800 million budget gap, but the bulk of it will be left to Gov. Polis to resolve either through spending cuts or the state’s reserves. [Denver Post 🔒]

• The AI Bill: Unable to agree on changes to a controversial, first-of-its-kind AI regulation bill passed into law last year, lawmakers decided to delay the law’s start date from February to June of next year so they could continue negotiations in the 2026 regular legislative session. [CO Sun]
• A prickly end: The session concluded with a nearly unanimous resolution condemning former Rep. Ryan Armagost for taking and sharing a photo of fellow lawmaker Rep. Yara Zokaie without permission earlier this year. Armagost resigned on Friday. [Denver Post 🔒]

😶‍🌫️ Who Stands With the Vape Shops?

Mayor Mike Johnston signed into law a ban on flavored tobacco products last December. But local vape shop owners say it’s going to put them out of business, so they raised the money and gathered enough signatures to put a possible repeal in front of Denver voters in November. What will Denverites do? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🎨 Sloan’s Lake Community Comes Together For Free Art

Community members in the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood are coming together to help create the Sloan’s Lake Fine Arts Center, a free, community-funded arts hub slated to open its doors next fall. It will offer free gallery spaces, music stages, live performances, and arts education materials for local public schools. All costs will be covered by a membership model starting at just $3.50 a month. [Westword]

• Get to know the neighborhood: Check out our recent guide to Sloan’s Lake.

Last week, 171 City of Denver employees lost their jobs in a sweeping round of layoffs that Mayor Mike Johnston hopes will help cover the city’s roughly $250 million budget deficit. We spoke with council member at-large Sarah Parady about it and got a reporter’s take from The Denver Post’s Elliott Wenzler. But we also heard from several impacted city workers (all of whom requested to remain anonymous).

One Denverite reached out on behalf of the city’s grant-funded workers:

“The city is forcing furlough days on grant-funded employees. None of the grant-funded positions are tied to city salary. Why are they being forced to take unpaid days off when their money isn't from the city in the first place? The city is stealing from their grants.”

One city worker described the working environment leading up to the layoffs akin to something out of “The Hunger Games.”

“[It’s] been a wasteland. Offices are empty, emails go unread, people have been quitting left and right. … It’s [created] an environment of fear and uncertainty. So a question for the mayor: How do you motivate a team or a person who has nothing to lose?”

Another listener/reader offers some food for thought on the merit vs. seniority debate:

“It seems to me like there may be a generational divide on this matter. Millennials and younger generations have experienced recessions and enough ‘unprecedented times’ that we know no job is safe. We don't feel like we are owed employment and so we don't take our jobs for granted. If layoffs have to happen we hope that they are merit based so that we can feel a modicum of control.

Older generations come from a time where, if you flew under the radar for long enough, you were guaranteed a gold watch and a pension. I'm not saying that older generations haven't worked hard, but they might not understand how competitive the recent job market has been, and how you have to go above and beyond to be hired in the first place.”