Denver mayor talks layoffs, Trump threats and burgers in Reddit AMA
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston participated in Reddit's "AMA" forum on Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy of the Denver Mayor's Office
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston fielded hundreds of questions in his third Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session Wednesday, a week after his administration cut more than 900 jobs.
Why it matters: The hour-long Q&A revealed how Denver residents are pressing Johnston on layoffs, national politics and city headaches from Colfax construction to traffic enforcement.
Here are some AMA highlights
❌ Layoffs: The mayor said cutting jobs "has been the hardest part" of his tenure but necessary to prevent deeper cuts.
- Still, he acknowledged trust with city employees must be rebuilt. "One of the most important ways" to do that, he said, "is to be able to protect the city from future financial uncertainty."
- Budgeting now assumes "0% growth" in 2026, he noted, to avoid future layoffs.
🪖 National Guard threat: President Trump's deployment of the National Guard into Washington, D.C. — and threats to send the military into other U.S. cities — is "unprecedented" and "dangerous," Johnston said.
- He vowed to sue "on Day 1" if troops come to Denver.
⭐ ️ City models: Johnston said for inspiration he looks to Boston for crime reduction, Austin for permitting, Houston for homelessness strategies and Detroit for "deep city spirit" and accountability dashboards.
👁️ Flock cameras: Despite City Council pushback over ICE data sharing, Johnston defended the tech as key to safety and said there's been no misuse in Denver.
🚧 Colfax construction: Johnston said he's exploring faster timelines, more parking options, direct grants and campaigns to "back the Fax" to curb the construction project's negative impacts on local businesses.
🚦 Traffic enforcement: He's "focused on increasing traffic enforcement" and supports installing more red-light and speed cameras. Car registrations in Denver have increased between 30-40%, he said, noting city police have issued nearly 19,000 traffic-related citations this year.
🤝 Council ties: The mayor claimed to have more regular contact with Denver City Council members "than any past administration," though members have criticized his office for lacking transparency.
🏈 Broncos stadium: Asked about a turf war with Douglas County over where the new stadium should be, Johnston quipped: "The first rule of fight club is we never talk about fight club."
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ support: He floated a "Queen City" brand tied to Denver's queer identity, saying the city is "loud and proud."
🍔 Best burger: That can be found at Cherry Cricket, said Johnston, who gets the Cricket Burger and adds pepper Jack cheese, jalapeño, egg "and sometimes onion ring strings."