Is the City Getting Safer? Plus, Grocery Store Competition Heats Up and Denver’s DNC Bid Is Official

It’s official: Mayor Mike Johnston confirmed that Denver is throwing its hat in the ring for the 2028 Democratic National Convention. But twenty years ago when the Mile High City previously played host to the DNC, the city and the economy looked a lot different — and the protests were big. Then, German grocery store chain Aldi is coming to Colorado — could more competition mean better prices for consumers? Host Bree Davies is joined by Westword editor in-chief Patty Calhoun to dig into these big stories, plus discuss homicide and car theft rates going down, more thoughts on President Trump and the Tina Peters situation, and hear a comment from a listener on Denver’s department stores of yore.

Bree talked about the “new” Dozens Restaurant location at 14th Street and Court Place and our 2023 interview with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority. Patty mentioned Westword’s reporting on issues in the Golden Triangle and their paper’s member event tonight at the Westword offices, looking back at 2025 and eyeing this year’s celebration of the state’s 150th birthday.

Check out Mark Barnhouse’s books on the heyday of shopping in the Mile High: Lost Department Stores of Denver and The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped with Confidence.

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