🎙️ Gov. Polis is on the podcast!

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 💕

📣 Natasia P. is shouting out Project Bridge Colorado at CU Anschutz — a program “connecting science and community” — and its Science Gong Shows, where scientists share their research projects to the public in a fun and simplified manner.

📣 Kyra R. is shouting out Novel Strand Brewing Co., a Baker neighborhood brewpub, cafe, and community hub that offers “events for all tastes, excellent drinks from morning to evening, and amazing people!”

📣 Dan K. is shouting out Los Carboncitos. “My favourite Mexican restaurant in Denver!” Dan recommends the huarache con bistec y nopal 😋

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

💡 Gov. Jared Polis and His Big Ideas

Inspired by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s new book “Abundance,” liberals across the country are looking to Colorado’s governor as an example of a red-tape cutting, supply-minded Democrat for the future. So how does Polis feel about all this new attention? And how does his record on housing density, RTD, and nuclear power stack up to the hype? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

💰 Mayor Agrees to Add $4M More to 2026 Budget

Mayor Mike Johnston has addressed 11 of 16 amendments suggested by city council for the city’s 2026 budget, including an additional $2.9 million in rental assistance, $800,000 to the clerk and recorder’s office, and $125,000 for immigrant legal services, among other things. Council has until Nov. 3 to suggest more amendments. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Does that mean more layoffs? If this version of the budget passes, Johnston said that extra $4 million would come out of interest on one-time-only federal pandemic dollars.
• Reminder: Denverites can view the latest draft of the city’s 2026 budget in-person at the city council office from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. this week ahead of the public hearing scheduled for next Monday, Oct. 27. You can sign up to speak here.

🔎 How Much Did the 16th Street Renovation Really Cost?

With the city facing a $200 million budget deficit, Auditor Tim O’Brien plans to take a closer look at some of the city’s priciest projects from the last several years, including the 16th Street renovation, Vision Zero, and Mayor Johnston’s homelessness initiative in the name of “financial health and budgetary accountability.” [Denverite]

🚗 City to Bring Parking Disputes Back Online

Following weeks of complaints, the city’s transportation department is creating a new parking ticket dispute process starting in 2026. Since the city laid off all its parking magistrates last month, Denverites have been required to schedule in-person court dates in a process that is often cumbersome and inconvenient. [9News]

Facing a $200 million budget deficit for2026, Mayor Mike Johnston has made some unpopular decisions lately — like laying off 169 city workers, ordering employees to take furlough days, and asking departments to cut, scrimp, and save in any way they can.

A closer look at the mayor’s proposed budget reveals that one department seems to have avoided the mayor’s red pen, even going as far as to offer staff raises over the next two years: The Denver Fire Department.

Chief Desmond Fulton agreed to sit down with City Cast Denver for a rare and exclusive interview to answer some of the tough questions Denverites have about his department.

(Listen to the full interview ⬇️)

Why the Fire Department’s Budget is Increasing

Not only did Mayor Johnston not propose a budget cut for the Denver Fire Department in 2026, the proposed budget for operations and administration next year is actually up — from $156,821,121 appropriated in 2025 to $158,081,466 requested for 2026.

Why? “Raises,” Fulton explained, citing statistics on how dangerous the firefighting profession is and how the trauma of a career providing emergency services can affect a person. He also says he did propose some cuts to help address the shortfall, but not enough to offset the costs of raises. Denver Firefighters Local 858 negotiated with the mayor this past spring and won 10% raises for firefighters to be implemented over the next two years.

In similar economic situations, former mayors Michael Hancock and John Hickenlooper asked unions to delay such raises in order to avoid layoffs. But Fulton says he doesn’t remember if Johnston asked about a delay. Instead, Fulton says the mayor asked: “‘What's realistic for you guys as far as givebacks and what can we reduce?’ And my answer was very, very clear. We can't reduce the way we respond, we can't reduce the way we staff, but as the leader of the organization, I will take it upon myself to find ways that we could be better.” Fulton says the Fire Department did cut staff and is going into 2026 with one less division chief, which “has never been done before.”

Answering For the Comp Time Scandal

In April of 2024, CBS investigative reporter Brian Maass revealed that Chief Fulton and his top commanders were awarding themselves comp time for attending routine events, like retirement ceremonies and firefighter memorials, then cashing out those hours at the end of every year. Fulton himself reportedly took home about $42,000 in unused vacation days between 2021 and 2023 — on top of his $230,000 per year salary.

“We've changed the way we do business, and I take full responsibility,” Fulton says. He added that he stopped taking comp time for these routine job functions after the CBS report.

After an independent city-ordered investigation called the chief’s use of comp time “an organizational failing” and a “problematic practice,” the firefighters held a vote of “no confidence” in Chief Fulton with 64% of them calling on him to resign.

“When that many people stated that they don't have confidence in you, it doesn't feel good, I'm not gonna lie,” he says. “But at the same time, you pick yourself up and you take a hard look in the mirror and [ask], how can I be better?”