💸 Why no TABOR checks are coming this year

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 💕

📣 John C. shouts out South Broadway’s Compass Fitness for its “amazing community, classes for everyone, and unbelievable instructors!”

📣 Scott K. shouts out the Denver Fire Department, adding “their quick action to save homes and businesses near the Leetsdale apartment fire was heroic! Thank you for your service keeping our neighborhood safe.”

📣 Lindsey D. shouts out El Sistema Colorado, a Denver nonprofit providing a 100% free youth orchestra program for local kids ages 13-18.

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

🍻 RiNo Welcomes Denver’s First Official Common Consumption Area

Denver City Council has approved a 14-acre area surrounding Mission Ballroom as the city’s first licensed common consumption area since Denver began accepting applications in 2021. Patrons within the boundaries will be able to take alcoholic beverages between participating businesses (though that does not include Mission Ballroom itself). [Denver Post 🔒]

• A distinction: While Mayor Mike Johnston announced a common consumption area along 16th Street last spring, that space is not formally licensed and is subject to more restrictions. [Axios Denver]

💸 No TABOR Checks for Coloradans This Year

While submitting revised budget requests for Colorado’s next two fiscal years, Gov. Jared Polis announced last week that residents will not receive refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights this year. Due to the state’s current budget deficit, there won’t be any surplus money to pass around. [Denver Gazette 🔒]

🔮 Our 2026 Predictions for Denver

Will 16th Street be overtaken by customer service robots? Could the Broncos really make it to the Super Bowl? Will Rep. Lauren Boebert and musician Kid Rock make it “official”? The City Cast Denver team makes our predictions for these hot local topics and everything else in store for the Mile High City in 2026! [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🥶 Trump Freezes Food Aid, Childcare Funds for CO

Colorado is one of five Democrat-led states that will not be receiving its usual allotment of Child Care and Development Funds and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Federal officials cited concerns that the benefits were fraudulently going to non-citizens, though to some it appears to be just the latest retaliatory strike against states unaligned with the president’s agenda. [CPR]