Bennito L. Kelty
Audio By Carbonatix
This has been a busy time for Mayor Mike Johnston, who spent six hours testifying before a congressional committee this week, and his public appearances won’t end there. “I’m going to launch a guest-bartending program on Colfax for anyone who would have me,” he told City Cast last week. “I’m going to come in once a month and have events at bars and restaurants on East Colfax and just encourage all our neighbors to come. It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, gosh, construction is on Colfax, let’s go to 17th or go downtown or go to Wash Park.’ We want to have it be the opposite. This is a time when we should all go to Colfax while it’s under construction.
“What we’re trying to do,” he added, “is help support all these businesses and keep them alive in the process. Is it true that some businesses occasionally close, and that’s a regular cycle? Well, yes. But we really don’t want to see these long-term Denver businesses get lost. So we’re gonna do everything we can to drive traffic, expedite construction and provide relief where we can.”
But in their responses on the Westword Facebook page, many readers suggest that this isn’t the solution to solving the problems created by the Bus Rapid Transit construction. Says Jamie:
Tell me you are clueless without telling me you are clueless.
Adds Henry:
Is the mayor truly so TikTok famous that a guest appearance once a month will draw revenue explosions to save Colfax? This game is amusing; bring me your finest meats and cheeses.
Notes Matt:
An all-time example of Democrats thinking they’re celebrities and not public servants.
Wonders Andrea:
Should we start placing bets on how many drinks are tossed in his face?
Responds Austin:
Gonna be a line to get out the door.
Offers Gary:
Politics + alcohol… what could go wrong?
Comments Bobby:
Okay, so instead of creating an actual plan, he’ll just be getting people drunk so they forget about how terribly the city is being run? Denver, R U Ok?
Says Joel:
Thanks for writing about this. I was a steady patron of both the Lion’s Lair and the Squire for twenty years but don’t make it back to the old neighborhood much at all. I’ll make it a point to visit both bars more in the upcoming year for support.
And Kate reminds:
There are also many other businesses suffering that aren’t bars or restaurants. Not to undermine them, but the whole of Colfax is in threat of shuttering right now. Support local when you can!
What do you think of Mike Johnston’s plan to guest bartend at various Colfax establishments? Post a comment or share your thoughts at editorial@westword.com.
