BONUS EPISODE - #1 Hot Nugs Conversation with Shirley Peel For Mayor of the City of Fort Collins

Shirley Peel is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the first of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast.  

Please visit https://shirleyforfoco.com/ to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025!

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Transcript

Speaker 7 0:36

Shirley Peele is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor. And join me for the first of our hot Nugs conversations, a collaboration between Loco Think Tank Matador, Mexican Grill, old Town Spice Shop, and the Loco Experience Podcast. Please visit Shirley for foco.com to learn more about our platform and make sure to vote by or before November 4th, 2025.

Speaker 0:59

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Loco Experience Podcast. This is part of our Hot Nugs conversation series. Today I'm here with Shirley Peele. Welcome Shirley.

Speaker 2 1:09

Thanks Kurt.

Speaker 1:10

Thanks for braving it.

Speaker 2 1:11

I just want you to know this is the very first podcast that I've ever been on before that's in my life, so I'm pretty excited. I'm honored. I'm honored. Yeah.

Speaker 1:19

And we do, we have a lot of, uh, first timers on this show. Oh, okay. You'll be okay. Yeah, I'm an old hand. Okay, good. Although I understand you are not a huge spice lover and so braving this when that's the case, uh, well, I want you to know that I'm gonna be all sweaty by the end of it. Okay. And like my hair is gonna be like a mohawk and so. No matter what happens, you're gonna look prettier than I do by the end.

Speaker 3 1:43

I don't know. I might be crying. I might be crying. Yeah.

Speaker 1:46

Don't get it. Any of your eyes or your nose, uh, just remember that. Okay. So, um, let's get started with just kind of a short introduction, um, maybe of a little bit of your background and, and, and a little bit of your why and be kind, becoming a mayoral candidate here for City of Fort Collins.

Speaker 4 2:03

Okay.

Speaker 2:04

And, uh, I'll give you a minute or two or whatever, whatever makes you comfortable.

Speaker 2 2:07

Okay. I can do that. Um, actually, I'll try to be short and sweet. I, my name is Shirley Peele and I've been in Fort Collins for 25 years. I have been married to my husband for 37 years and we raised four children here. Congratulations in Collins. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. Uh, my background is in education. I have started several education initiatives. I've served on several education boards and I. Was honored to be elected to be on the Fort Collins City Council in 2021, I believe. Okay. 20. Yes. I think. Um, and I served there for about three years and I tell people it was my, um, best job ever. Really. I really enjoyed it. What did you love about it? You know, I just, I love the people.

Speaker 5 2:56

Yeah.

Speaker 2 2:56

And I liked helping people with their problems with the city. I like solving problems.

Speaker 5 3:02

Yeah.

Speaker 2 3:03

And, uh, yeah, I just enjoyed it a lot. While I was on City council, I was on the Legislative affairs committee, I was on the finance committee, and I served on the, um, national League of Cities Youth and Family Advisory Board. Okay. So really busy. And currently, currently I'm serving on the Planning and zoning commission.

Speaker 4 3:28

Oh, wow.

Speaker 2 3:29

Which is, that's a whole new cup of worms to learn about, right? It is, it is. But I'm a little bit of a nerd, so I really like it and I'm learning a lot about our development review process. Yeah. And, um, and then our zoning and why I wanna be mayor. Well, my husband keeps asking me that. I bet your husband though. I'm on the random. Yeah, yeah. He keeps saying, why, why do you wanna do this? But it goes back to, um, I just really like being on council. I like serving, I like helping people. And one of the main reasons is my. Craig and I were very fortunate to raise our kids here, and our kids had so many opportunities and they were able to take advantage of all that Fort Collins has to offer. And I just wanna keep it that way for the next generation and the next generation. And the next generation. Yeah,

Speaker 4:23

I dig it. Um, well we are here for some hot nugs, so, um, Ava, are you ready with the first sauce and what is this first sauce, Shirley?

Speaker 2 4:36

It is, oh, sorry. It is the meador barbecue sauce.

Speaker 4:41

So just straight up barbecue sauce. Yeah. No fear here. Yeah,

Speaker 2 4:45

no fear. But we will share

Speaker 4:46

tasting notes, uh, okay. After each one. So, uh, cheers, I guess. Oh, I gotta get a little bit, a little bit more on there. There we go.

Speaker 2 4:59

Kind of, kind of stingy with the sauce.

Speaker 5:02

Yeah. Fill'em a little fuller. Next time. Maybe you have to, oh yeah. You said no double dipping.

Speaker 6 5:06

Yeah.

Speaker 5:07

You can double dip. We'll

Speaker 6 5:08

do the other one.

Speaker 5:09

Yeah. If you do the backside, we can do that, right? Yep. Okay, perfect. We, we have the same philosophy and it comes to double dipping.

Speaker 2 5:15

Okay. That has a, that's a little hint of spice. Mm-hmm. Not much.

Speaker 5:20

Yeah. Yeah. Very pleasant though.

Speaker 2 5:22

I, I grew up in Texas, so you got, you got to have really good barbecue sauce to impress me. And this is actually really good. Good job,

Speaker 5:30

Paul. And, and it's not too sweet, like it sweet, but it isn't like overpower you with that. Right. So our first question, when you finish chewing, I won't make you. Okay. Yeah. I got one more little bite chew. Our first question is from James Merkley with Story Path Creative, and James is a friend and a co-lab co collaborator here as well. Um, what's your fondest story to share about the people or community of Fort Collins?

Speaker 2 6:04

So, I, I'm gonna go at it from a little bit different perspective as one fondest story. I, I just wanna talk about memories and. There. I have no bad memories in Fort Collins and

Speaker 6:22

none.

Speaker 2 6:23

Well, no, I was trying to think about not even

Speaker 6:25

like a, a friend that didn't call you back when she said she, well, I

Speaker 2 6:29

mean, minor, maybe minor things, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. And I, when I think back on our time in Fort Collins, I think about like all the people that we've come in contact, uh, with through our kids' schools, activities, sports, and I, I just think on those are such good memories. And then, um, just the memories that my husband was at CSU, we have a lot of CSU memories. Okay. Is that what

Speaker 7:00

brought you here?

Speaker 2 7:01

Yeah. Yeah. We moved here from

Speaker 7:03

And where, where had you been?

Speaker 2 7:04

Uh, I grew up in Texas, so. Okay. Yeah, you mentioned that. Yeah. In city

Speaker 7:07

Texas. Country, Texas.

Speaker 2 7:09

Well, so we came. I grew up in West Texas. We went to school in San Angelo, Texas, and then, uh, we lived on the border for a while, and then Craig was at a and m, so we came here from Texas a and m. Okay. So Brian College station area. But, um, but yeah, we have a lot of memories with, um, cam, the ram. My husband was the faculty advisor, and so we had Cam at our house Oh wow. For years. And then, so consequently we had college students in and out our house. I mean, it was literally a revolving door. Oh,

Speaker 7:43

so you've really touched a lot of sectors. It seems to me like with between the education initiatives and I, I might wanna dig more into that. Yeah. But also part of CSU culture and the university is different than Right. You know, uh, what for post-secondary? What? No, that's post-secondary. Secondary what? Primary education is what they call the kiddos. Right. Primary. Yeah. Yeah. And then, um. But also then in government. Yeah.

Speaker 2 8:07

Yeah.

Speaker 8:08

And uh, yeah. So what do you think about um,

Speaker 2 8:12

well, when I run into, it's funny when I run into people and they say, do I know you? And I'm like, yeah, I think I know you. And so then we have to go through this whole list, kids, CSU education. Right? And so we're like, oh yeah. Oh yeah. I used to sit at the soccer club with, with you 2010. Yeah, exactly. When you're, when our boys were both 13. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's fun. It's fun to look back on all that and remember that. And it's good memories. Yeah. And my kids have good memories from here too.

Speaker 8:39

Was your, what was your favorite sport?

Speaker 2 8:43

Um, well, we're from Texas, so can you guess what our favorites kind football, I would guess Yes. Football. That, that was, and did several of your boys play? Uh, both my boys played. Both. Or both of your boys? Yeah. And I, football was my favorite like. Just favorite sport. My daughter, one of my daughters was a high level gymnast and I don't like gymnastics. I have PSD

Speaker 9:07

You get terrified every time she's up in the air. Yes, yes, yes. Trying to grab the bargain. Yeah.

Speaker 2 9:10

And she was actually an elite gymnast, so it was pretty intense. And um, and, but actually track, I loved watching track, so

Speaker 5 9:20

that's cool.

Speaker 2 9:21

And it, can I grab brag on my kids for a little bit? Sure, yeah. If you go to Rocky Mountain High School, both my girls are on the wall for state championships. Oh wow. So won in track and one in gymnastics.

Speaker 9:31

Oh, that's so cool. Yeah. What was the track stars? Uh, sport,

Speaker 2 9:34

uh, her race was the 800. So yeah,

Speaker 9:39

in the mid, which is the hardest, like some people are spinner and other people are long distances, but there aren't that many mids. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. So I think we're ready for the next, uh, okay. Next, uh, sample. This is a dry rub this time from Old Town Spice Shop. And what's the,

Speaker 2 9:55

this is a Buffalo hot wing rub.

Speaker 9:58

Buffalo little hot wing rub. So this would be, I guess, uh, kind of used for your wings if you want dry rub hot wing style. Yeah. Okay. So here we go. Ooh, that's pretty healthy.

Speaker 2 10:14

I'm just, I can smell it from here. I'm just gonna take a little dip.

Speaker 10:17

Yeah, that's good. That's good. You do that. Mm. That's not so bad.

Speaker 6 10:27

No.

Speaker 10:27

Mm, really yummy. Good job, Sean.

Speaker 2 10:34

That Dexter looks really good.

Speaker 10:36

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2 10:37

I'm trying to figure out what I'm tasting there. What are you tasting?

Speaker 10:41

Yeah, there's definitely, well, the cool thing is it almost tastes like it's got like the, the buttery flavor Yeah. Of like the, the proper buffalo hot wing sauce, right. Plus the Frankie's kind of flavors. So,

Speaker 6 10:54

yeah. I like that a lot actually.

Speaker 10:56

Yeah. Good job guys. They set this up just so we could brag about them. Oh. For 45 minutes or so while we eat nuggets, but we will ask questions. Paul is the next one from Matador Mexican Grill. The, uh, the creator of, or not the creator. These guys collaborate on sauces. So the sauces that Old Town Spice Shops sells, most of them are made by Paul too. Oh, okay. In this commissary, but they're designed by Sean.

Speaker 6 11:25

Okay, nice. So

Speaker 11:26

they got quite a, quite a system going there. So Paul says, what is your plan to help support small businesses to start and grow in Northern Colorado?

Speaker 2 11:36

Okay. Easy, easy. So small businesses, or actually local businesses are kind of my, um, they're kind of my soapbox these days. Okay. Right. Because. I, as you know, our economy is based on our local business, right. It's based on our tax base. So if our, if our business community's not healthy, then our economy's not healthy. We don't wet have cod milk. Right? Right. Exactly. And so I feel like I've been beating the drum for the last five years now about the health of our business community. And I, the first thing I wanna do is create a very pro business environment because if you, um. If you look back over the last 10 years, for some reason the opinion of the business community has taken a hit. I don't know why. Like what the business

Speaker 12:30

community thinks about or what people think about the business community. No. What

Speaker 2 12:33

people, yes. They've kind of become the bad guy.

Speaker 12:34

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2 12:35

And I think that's changed. I wrote about that

Speaker 12:37

last month. Okay. That trust and especially of what are perceived as the wealthy.

Speaker 2 12:41

Right.

Speaker 12:42

Like it's like eat the rich, kind of like 40% of people and like 55% of kids are like, eat the rich.

Speaker 3 12:49

Right. Right. I was just, and when

Speaker 12:51

you're a small business owner with a burrito shop and you're like not rich.

Speaker 3 12:55

Right.

Speaker 12:56

Not, not rich. Don't eat me, eat my burritos. Right. More of them please.

Speaker 2 13:00

Yes. And actually when I was on council, I would talk to businesses and they weren't shy about showing me their bottom line. Yeah. And Right. They're like a 3% margin. Yeah. Most of the small businesses here. Mm-hmm. So one little thing

Speaker 13:14

Totally

Speaker 2 13:15

will just wipe it out. Yeah. When insurance

Speaker 13:16

costs go way up and things like that. Yeah. Yeah. And so. But the city staff dedicated to small business has grown from five to 12 over the last 10 years. So they must be doing a lot more to help small business.

Speaker 2 13:29

Well, I think that was one of my points, so, so let me back up a little bit. So the other thing I wanna do is make sure that businesses, or I'm sorry, excuse me, the city is not hindering businesses with their regulations and their processes, which while I was on council, I had several. People in the business community reach out to me and say, Hey, I'm having so much trouble getting through this city process. Can you help me?

Speaker 13:56

Yeah. And

Speaker 2 13:56

so I was able to walk them through that. Um, so that's another thing. Are you trying

Speaker 14:01

to doge it at, at, uh, planning and zoning committee?

Speaker 2 14:03

No. No. And I will, can I give a shout out to the P and z?'cause right now I think there's, we have an excellent PNC. Cool.

Speaker 14:10

Good.

Speaker 2 14:11

Um, very balanced. It's the process, right? Mm. You have to adhere to the processes and the, you're stuck with kind of what We got the stand right now, right? What we got, so, no, no, doge. Um, but, so anyway, processes. We wanna be efficient, right? And we wanna be timely. And then the last thing, you know, you're talking about the increase, right? At the city, on the city staff. I, I would like to take a look and see exactly what we're doing. Because I, it seems like we could be doing a better job if we've increased that much and we're still having issues. I think we need to, well, a lot of resources

Speaker 14:49

seem to be dedicated to bringing new businesses into Fort Collins from afar.

Speaker 2 14:53

Yeah.

Speaker 14:53

But we don't have any place for them to build or any water for them to buy if they're a big employer. So it's hard.

Speaker 4 14:59

Yeah. Yeah. So, so,

Speaker 15:01

but the, yeah. Yeah. So there's Then they go to Greeley. Yeah. After they visit Fort Collins. I know. That's why our

Speaker 2 15:06

tech base is going south and east, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So,

Speaker 15:10

well, that probably seems like a hairy enough answer for, yeah. For, for now on that question. Um, who's your, do you want give any small business shout outs? Some, uh, um, places, not as a candidate, not because they donated to your campaign, but just ones that you moved here, here and you're like, these are awesome.

Speaker 2 15:27

Yes. Well, when we first moved here, three, three margaritas was Oh yeah. The place to go.'cause on Tuesday night, your kids. I think they used to eat for free. Yeah. Yeah. Or reduced or something. So that, that was our oldest favorite one. Um, currently our favorite is Taco Stop. Oh yeah. Yeah. And then I do a lot of business at, uh, not business, but I meet a lot of people at Lima Coffee and uh, uh, happy Trails Coffee. Hmm. That those have Oh yeah. Have kind of become my office Happy Trails.

Speaker 15:58

Is is, uh, the, the snack attack? Yeah. Folks.

Speaker 2 16:02

Yeah, they're right there. It's,

Speaker 16:02

it's out of my like Yeah. I don't go that way much. Yeah. But I've been meaning to check it out'cause I've been increasingly stopping in the snack attack, so I felt figured I should check out that coffee shop too. Yeah.

Speaker 2 16:12

It's great. It's central to meet people, so.

Speaker 16:15

Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Um, onto the next, okay. Are you ready for us? Yeah. Okay. Ava, Sue,

Speaker 2 16:22

we, oh, I might cry on this one. Uhoh honey. Jalapeno sauce.

Speaker 16:28

Oh. That's interesting. It looks like honey.

Speaker 2 16:31

Yeah. Maybe the honey will cut the, the spice.

Speaker 16:36

I'm not scared. Okay. You go first. Okay. I'll pass it to you so you can get a good old, you can just do light spa first time. Okay.

Speaker 2 16:44

Oh, it's got the flakes in it. Mm. Okay. All right. So is spicy.

Speaker 16:50

No, no. Like, like, kind of a little bit, but like, have you ever had jalapeno jelly? Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2 16:57

Oh, it tastes

Speaker 16:57

like that. Yeah. See?

Speaker 2 16:59

Yeah.

Speaker 17:00

Yeah.

Speaker 2 17:00

Yeah. Jalapeno jelly is a staple in Texas.

Speaker 17:04

I'm good. I've got enough here. Okay. Mm. Tasting. That's a really nice,

Speaker 2 17:09

yeah, I like that too.

Speaker 17:12

But it is, I can feel I'm getting a little, it's getting a little hotter. Yeah, I'm getting a little glow,

Speaker 2 17:16

but, but I'm not crying yet, so we're good. Yeah, that's good. That's good.

Speaker 17:19

Is that your reaction as you cry, like your eyes tear up and stuff?

Speaker 4 17:23

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 17:24

That's when I hear sad stories.

Speaker 4 17:26

Right.

Speaker 17:28

Usually a good job of shielding your chewing. So I'm just flopping away over here, by the way. We can take a break whenever we choose.

Speaker 4 17:39

Oh, okay.

Speaker 17:43

Might be more important later. We can do a milk break too. Oh yeah. Shout out to morning fresh dairy. Okay. If we're donating, uh, root beer and milk Okay. For us to have here, if we want to, we decided we would just go with, uh, red wine and bourbon, uh, with bubble water for the first little bit. Hmm. I kind of want to like drink that one. I know. That's really good. Excuse me. Um, but yes. Good job. And is that one must be Old Town Spice Shop branded? Uh, no, it's, no, that's Matador. Uh, Matador. Okay. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. So good job, Paul. Once again. Um, third question. Okay. This one is from, uh, mayor Emeritus, Wade Trel. You probably know Wade. I do know Wade. Everybody knows Wade. Uh, Eddie's, uh, pa twice past guests or maybe, yeah, at least twice. Okay. And, uh, Eddie listens regularly. He'll gimme shout outs from time to time. He is like, oh, I like that episode. Yeah. So shout out to Wade. His question is, uh, actually a repeat of a, of a recent question that you guys faced in a, in a in-person event, but it wasn't live, right. So, Fort Collins has been described as the choice city of Colorado and is known for beers, bikes, and bands and more. What is your vision for the evolving brand for the city of Fort Collins 30 years from now? What might we be known for?

Speaker 2 19:10

Okay, so I, I don't know if you would think that this is a brand, but, but I really, um, I really want this wholeheartedly. I, 30 years from now, I want people to look at Fort Collins and say they got it right. They got their zoning right. They got their infrastructure right. They got their, um, distribution of water. Right. They got the safety in their neighborhoods. Right?

Speaker 19:46

Yeah. And their relationship with the university, right? Yes.

Speaker 2 19:49

Right. Everything I, I, I wanted, I want us to be such an example that people from all over the country go, wow, we need to look at what they're doing in Fort, but won't

Speaker 19:59

they just try to move here then? Yeah. And make our housing costs too much,

Speaker 3 20:03

you know, maybe, but, but if we get our zoning

Speaker 20:07

right, yeah. And maybe figure it out a little bit better. Maybe we can actually have enough housing and enough water.

Speaker 2 20:12

Yes. Exactly. And just, that's one hard thing about being on council is sometimes I get paralyzed trying to make a decision because I'm trying to see down the road at what the cons, unintended consequences are. And because I so wanna get everything right, I want, you know, I want us to be the, were you like the

Speaker 20:32

super A plus student? Like all through school and stuff, you wanted to get everything right? Yes. And I

Speaker 2 20:36

was a yes. And I am, I'm a perfectionist, but that's why I had four kids.'cause you can't be a perfectionist. That took some of it outta you. Yes, yes. So, but yeah, I just want them to say, wow, they planned for the future really well.

Speaker 20:50

Yeah. I, uh, one of my favorite bumper stickers is, uh, save the Pooter. Yeah. Store it in Glade.

Speaker 3 20:58

Yeah, I'm not gonna touch that. I'm not touching that.

Speaker 21:04

Alright. Alright. I'm not touching that. I could be that guy. You don't have to be that lady. Um, did we cover, I think we covered that question pretty

Speaker 3 21:15

well. Yes, I think so. A little

Speaker 21:15

bit of accessories. Yeah. Um, the next sauce, madam, and by the way, Ava, if you wanna drink the rest of that honey jalapeno stuff, I will not judge you. Lemme just this really quick. It's so good.

Speaker 2 21:29

Okay. This one sounds like it might be getting a little scary, uh, rebel uprising. Oh yeah. This is Brewhouse sauces. Is that a difference?

Speaker 21:38

Yeah. It's actually one of Sean's brands. Oh, okay. Uh, from Old Town Spice Shop. And this is his question. Okay. Um, well, I guess we asked the question after we dip, huh? Yes, I dip. You dip, you dip. We dip Here. I'll ladies first if you like.

Speaker 2 21:55

All right. Little nervous about this one. You did a

Speaker 21:58

nice healthy dip there for a, I know nervous gal. Appreciate your enthusiasm.

Speaker 6 22:06

Okay. I, I won't. Yeah. That one's been a little mm-hmm. Too much,

Speaker 22:14

but nice. Yeah. I think even as a spice skeptic, you're Yeah. Finding the joy in there.

Speaker 2 22:21

I like the flavor. I'm into the

Speaker 22:22

backside,

Speaker 2 22:23

but my mouth is starting to burn a little,

Speaker 3 22:26

but not too bad.

Speaker 22:27

It's neat how it's got a, like, sometimes the tomato flavor doesn't really come through once a sauce. Mm-hmm. It gets this spicy, but this one still has a really nice Yep. Almost like a salsa vibe going on.

Speaker 2 22:40

It's also kind of got a, like a, I don't know what you would say, like a zing or a tart. Taste. Yeah. Yeah, yeah,

Speaker 22:50

yeah. Yeah. Very nice job guys.

Speaker 2 22:53

My eyes are watering a little. My,

Speaker 22:54

actually it's, I'm starting to drip. Yeah. My forehead is starting to drip. Uh, you could probably see it.

Speaker 6 22:59

I think you as big as baby as I am. Oh, yeah.

Speaker 23:02

But my, my mouth can take it. My, my stomach can take it. Oh, my digestive system. Not quite as much. And definitely my face and sweaty forehead. It's gonna get ugly from here. Just to remind you.

Speaker 3 23:16

I might, I might need the milk in a minute though. Okay. Well

Speaker 23:18

actually I think we'll take a break'cause we'll be halfway done after this question. Okay. And then we can prepare ourselves with some milk and, uh, I might have a little bit of that red wine. Okay. Because it seems just a little nicer with this than Yeah. With the bourbon. And first Sean's question. Question. The proposed, um, paid on-street parking, the proposal for paid on-street parking in Fort Collins, AMSU address revenues and parking turnover. How do you plan to balance the city's need for revenue and parking management with concerns of business owners and customers regarding accessibility and affordability?

Speaker 2 23:55

Yeah, so

Speaker 23:56

very old town specific.

Speaker 2 23:57

Right. And uh, so I actually, you know, when you're running for mayor, everybody expects you to be an expert on everything, right? Well, you

Speaker 24:08

planning, zoning committee. Yeah.

Speaker 2 24:09

You know, just kidding. Yeah. So I actually, to be completely transparent, I have just started like researching this and diving into it and, um, trying to figure out the thing. The thing that concerns me right now is I'm hearing that businesses were not consulted about this, and they're feeling kind of blindsided by this.

Speaker 24:33

So like, well, I think I read that Fort Collins like hired this big consultancy to like study it.

Speaker 6 24:38

Parking plan wouldn't.

Speaker 24:40

Like interviewing like a hundred small businesses downtown. Be part of a good engagement in that regard,

Speaker 2 24:46

right? Yes. But

Speaker 24:47

nobody did. Or not most people did, or that's

Speaker 2 24:50

what I'm hearing from the business community. Okay. Gotcha. Right. I haven't, and like I said, I'm just starting to investigate. So

Speaker 24:56

the city needs to share kind of some of their process. Yes. At least.

Speaker 2 24:59

Yes. And we, so at the very least, the business community in downtown needs to be at the table. Yeah. Any discussion on that? And then second of all, whatever solution we come up with it, it needs to make sure it's not on the backs of the businesses and it, uh, needs to make sure that it's not making it harder for them. Well, if it chase people

Speaker 25:22

out of coming to downtown, like people already kind of avoid downtown. Right. Like southsiders and stuff. Right, right, right. Yeah. But if that became contagious, it would be rough. Yes. You know, we wouldn't have that vibrant downtown with the dogs and the people and the sunny days and all the things

Speaker 2 25:37

and. Um, I can't remember the percentage of our tax base that comes from downtown, but it's, it's pretty significant Right. Compared to the rest of the city. Yeah. With the declining sales,

Speaker 25:48

it's not like the mall is pulling its weight. Right. You know?

Speaker 2 25:51

Right. Yeah.

Speaker 25:52

Um, do you know like how full are the parking garages downtown? Like are they full up already?

Speaker 6 25:59

Um, I,

Speaker 25:59

or like, are people just avoiding the parking garages?'cause you gotta pay.

Speaker 2 26:04

Well, because that's a

Speaker 26:04

challenge of it too, right?

Speaker 2 26:06

Well, I think, I don't. It's not, the parking garages are not that much. They're

Speaker 26:10

so cheap.

Speaker 2 26:10

Right. I think it's more of a convenience factor. Right. People want to park like right where they wanna go. Yeah. They don't wanna walk basically.

Speaker 26:20

So we need more parking garages that charge just a little bit. And you can play the lottery for free parking on the street. Yeah. I don't know. But they just fight for it. Yeah, I know. Like, and I, you keep

Speaker 3 26:28

driving around looking for it. Explore

Speaker 26:30

it with, uh, ginger, you know, ginger and bakery.

Speaker 3 26:33

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Like

Speaker 26:33

they, I don't know how much, like if the city helps'em pay the rent on the parking lot that they rent from Moss's Lumber.

Speaker 5 26:39

Right.

Speaker 26:39

Doubt it Kind of. But like, it seems like if the city of Fort Collins wants there to be. A north side corridor, which they've wanted to do forever. Right. Well, they've got a certain element of obligation into providing parking for things that need

Speaker 2 26:53

parking. Right. Right. Yes. And parking, the parking issue is not gonna go away. Yeah. So again, it's something that we need to get right. Maybe all of our tallest

Speaker 27:03

buildings in Fort College to just all be parking garages. Right. Like everything else needs to be three stories and below.'cause it can't get through P and Z otherwise.

Speaker 3 27:09

Right, right. Well,

Speaker 2 27:11

I think with the new land use code, the commercial piece that's coming out, I think they're gonna relax that a little bit. Okay. I haven't, I haven't looked at all warm variety of potentially and stuff too, so yeah,

Speaker 27:22

go. Yeah. You ready for a break? Sure. Okay, let's do it. And here we are back from our break. And, uh, so far so good. Okay. Yeah, we survived it.

Speaker 3 28:20

I know. We're having fun.

Speaker 28:21

This is, uh, we're told similarly hot the next couple before they get a little hotter again. Okay. Um, and this is the Matador Buffalo, that right?

Speaker 2 28:31

Yes, the me, yes. Matador, buffalo sauce.

Speaker 28:34

Okay. You ready? Yeah. Okay. We'll do it ladies first.

Speaker 2 28:42

Oh, shoot. Sorry. That's all right.

Speaker 28:48

Hmm.

Speaker 2 28:49

Oh,

Speaker 28:51

nope,

Speaker 2 28:55

that one's too. Tomato, I think, or

Speaker 28:59

Hmm,

Speaker 2 28:59

too.

Speaker 29:01

Oh, so it's not the spice that's turning you off. It's something else. Yeah. Okay. Sorry guys. Spice Spice isnt bad. First time. They surely didn't like it.

Speaker 2 29:07

I know. The spice is not bad. No, I think it's just right. But the

Speaker 29:14

but the, the buffalo powder better recreates the flavor I'm looking for when I'm buffaloing than that. Right. There's too, I, I agree. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Paul retune it a little bit. There's a little bit more of that tomato flavor out there.

Speaker 2 29:26

Yeah, it's too, it's too strong or something. I dunno.

Speaker 29:29

And I have right here the, uh, root beer from morning fresh dairy, which is delicious. You're not onto the milk yet'cause you don't need it stick I don't mean the milk with the red wine in my way. I'll

Speaker 3 29:44

stick with the red wine. Yeah.

Speaker 29:46

So our fifth question is, Ooh, the social hot topic. How would you rate the city of Fort Collins on its homelessness initiatives in recent decades and recent years, and what changes would you recommend to the program going forward,

Speaker 2 30:07

you think? Um, so I do think the city of Fort Collins is doing a good job in some aspects, right? I think the, the outreach for Collins that they, you know, the pro, that program, I actually walked along with them on it. Yeah. They came to a rotary

Speaker 30:26

club, uh, about eight months ago or something, and I was like, oh wow, that's actually pretty cool.

Speaker 2 30:31

Yes, it is. And they're very good at what they do.

Speaker 30:33

Yeah.

Speaker 2 30:34

And.

Speaker 30:35

And to activate volunteers to do that kind of important work. Yes. Like frankly, the city don't have enough money to do it

Speaker 2 30:41

Right.

Speaker 30:42

All itself. Right. You kind of have to activate people that care about that cause they

Speaker 2 30:45

do. Yes. And they are very dedicated. Yeah. Very dedicated. So, so that, I've also done a ride along with the mental health team, with the Fort Cols pd. Okay. I think that is an excellent program. Um, that's

Speaker 30:59

like where they send like a counselor along with a cop mm-hmm. Or something instead of just a cop.

Speaker 2 31:03

Yep. So they have a mental health worker. Right. Talk to

Speaker 31:05

em instead of just shoot'em.

Speaker 2 31:06

Yes. Just kidding. Exactly. We hope they always do that. But, but yes. And I've actually been along with, you know, the mental health worker and the, the police officer. So that is a really good program. I think the way they clean up the camps where they go and give notice. Right. And then they don't just, you know, clean it up and throw it away. They, um. Store their stuff. Oh, really? And tell where they can find it. You can check it out further. It's very compassionate, but it's also not allowing them to trespass, whether they're not, can't have you be here on this person's property. Right. Or in a park where people want to Yes, yes. Whatever. So, and then I think even though I'm not a big fan of where they're putting the new shelter, yeah. I think it's needed. And I think that's gonna, um, that's gonna help a lot. What I would like to see them do better is I do think there needs to be stronger consequences for, for criminality. For criminality. Yes. And especially as it affects our. Businesses, our old town residents and our North College residents.'cause that seems to be, it's a hot bus where people are having the most trouble. Well, and sometimes

Speaker 32:25

I go ride my bike early in the morning on putter trail or things like that. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm cool. But if I was my wife, I would not ride my bike through here Right. At this time of day.

Speaker 2 32:36

Right.

Speaker 32:36

Because this is scary a little bit.

Speaker 2 32:37

Right. It's, yeah. And you, you know, and I know that, um, and it'll be interesting. I don't know if you've been paying attention to what's going on. I'm totally uninformed of what I, I don't believe that if the fed, the federal level where they're, um, the current administration has kind of reinstated where people can. Be, you know, placed in an institution if they need serious mental health and Well,

Speaker 33:09

good. Kind of like, yeah,

Speaker 2 33:11

I know you don't, you know, we

Speaker 33:12

had the state hospital in North Dakota, in my hometown in Jamestown, North Dakota. Oh,

Speaker 2 33:16

okay. Yeah. And,

Speaker 33:17

and actually my, my mom's brother was institutionalized for much of his adult life.

Speaker 4 33:21

Yeah. And

Speaker 33:22

for good reason.

Speaker 4 33:23

Right.

Speaker 33:24

Because otherwise he would've been one of those people that just decided to go Stab you. Stab you

Speaker 2 33:28

right.

Speaker 33:29

On the subway or something, you know? Um, and God bless him. I hope not, but I know.

Speaker 2 33:34

Well, you know, because we need pla we have a friend actually, and I think he's getting help through the VA now, but he would essentially be homeless because he served in the military and he has pretty severe brain damage. Yeah. And he's never gonna be able to live

Speaker 33:50

Right. Hold a good job on his own Right.

Speaker 2 33:51

Anymore. And so there, you know, as much as we don't wanna talk about. Putting people in a Right. Just giving him a social

Speaker 34:01

security disability check and a little VA pension isn't gonna fix him. Right. Or make him safe for people to be right there needs to living with or be around

Speaker 2 34:08

needs. Yeah. There needs to be a place to go for these people to get help. And sitting in front of the

Speaker 34:12

Aggie Theater is not a great place for him either. Right. Less good.

Speaker 2 34:16

It's not helping.

Speaker 34:17

Right. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. Okay, so intriguing. Thank you. Seems like you're very thoughtful on topic. Oh, well, uh, what, what, uh, is there big changes that you would make then? I guess just mostly around, another,

Speaker 2 34:29

another one I forgot about is, um, yes, the stronger consequences for criminal behavior, but also too, um, every person I've talked to that works with the unhoused population says, do not give them cash across the board. I don't care who you talk to that works in that space, says, do not give them cash.

Speaker 5 34:52

Yeah.

Speaker 2 34:52

Show them where to get services. Give them a sandwich or buy them a meal. Yeah, exactly. And so I think, I can't remember if it's out in Johnstown or somewhere, but I can't remember where I saw this, but there's very kind signs that says, that talks about not giving cash to the unhoused. Interesting. So I feel like the city can do things like that in, in a, like

Speaker 35:19

even education around that. Yes.

Speaker 2 35:20

Education. Well, and education

Speaker 35:21

is, is your thing. I, I, right. I wanted to come back to you, you said, as part of your introduction, I, I launched a few initiatives or something like that and education space, but can we touch on that and, and like, especially the first one, tell me about your place in life at the time and, and what did you do? Okay.

Speaker 2 35:40

Yeah. So, because that was kinda

Speaker 35:42

your first entrepreneurial pop, right? Right. Yes. I suspect,

Speaker 2 35:45

yes. So we, when we first got married, we lived in Del Rio and, uh. We went to church in this little church in this small town. Pretty impoverished. And the school district was, I, I always hate to narc on schools'cause they're doing the best they can with what they have. Yeah. But it was, they weren't doing a great job. It was impoverished and Yes. And they weren't. And so, and corrupt, I don't think it was corrupt. I think not doing well first of all, it's hard to get teachers to live there and teach. Right, right. All that. Yeah. So anyway, uh, I just started a pre-K program for underserved children there so that they could be ready to go to try to kind of take kindergarten, help kids be not such

Speaker 36:34

a burden on the system when they get to kindergarten.

Speaker 2 36:36

Yes. And it was, um, tuition free. Oh, wow. And so I So you just organized a bunch of volunteers? Yeah. Kind of. Or got some grants or our church subsidized it. Oh, wow. So, yeah. Oh, cool. Yeah. So that was the first. First thing,

Speaker 36:48

and I'm familiar with, uh, a school, you, they're still going here in Fort Collins. Yeah.'cause a few of my church members put their kids through, uh, yeah.

Speaker 2 36:56

Christian Core Academy. Yeah. Yeah. I've been to your

Speaker 36:58

fundraiser a handful of

Speaker 2 36:59

times. Yeah, that's right. Yeah.

Speaker 37:00

Um, and so tell me about that. Like, what was that initiative about?

Speaker 2 37:05

So that initiative was about, um, we, I really wanted kids. Um, so my faith is very important to me and I, in our household, we tell our kids love God and love people whenever, every time they went out the door, that's what we said. Okay. You know, they started rolling their eyes. Right. Like, yeah. And, and to, to love people, you have to have a heart of service. And so we, I just started this school because I wanted it to be. One highly academic and it is, we use the core knowledge curriculum and I also wanted to teach kids that when you have a faith that is centered around loving God and loving people, that you can't just keep it to yourself. Hmm. You have to go out and actually put it into practice. So

Speaker 38:03

that's probably the teachers that you hire? Yes. And the kids that come through. Yes. Or wanting to be looking for that. Yes.

Speaker 2 38:08

And it turned out, because it's a, it's kind of a hybrid because the kids only go to school Monday to Thursday from eight to 1215, and then they do all their seat work at home. And so the parents still had a big voice Yeah. In their kids' lives. It's

Speaker 38:24

not, it's easier than homeschooling. Yes. But it requires a little bit more of the parents than otherwise, right?

Speaker 2 38:28

Yes. And we actually ended up attracting a lot of boys because I think it was. Uh, easier for boys to sit half a day. Yeah. Four hours sounds a lot easier than day, right? Yeah. Right. And then we, uh, attracted a lot of people that, um, had adopted kids and their kids just needed to be in a smaller environment. Yeah. Yeah. And so it kind of ended up just being a little,

Speaker 38:56

it's easier to be loved in a small classroom than it is in a big one.

Speaker 2 38:58

Right. And the kids didn't fall through the cracks there. Yeah. And so, yeah. Cool. So I've since stepped away, um, just because of what I'm doing now, but, um, it's still going, so.

Speaker 39:11

Yeah. Yeah. Good for you. Yeah. Um, next sus. Oh yeah. Oh wait, I didn't warn you Ava, but you're probably ready, you put that way

Speaker 2 39:19

we can interview. Oh, Jamaican jerk. Oh, Jamaican jerk seasoning. And it says hot.

Speaker 39:25

Don't be scared.

Speaker 6 39:28

Okay. Let's see. Let's see what we gotta good.

Speaker 39:31

Oh, this one doesn't stick as good, so, okay. You're gonna be happy about that. Probably. Probably, oh no, it doesn't. Hmm.

Speaker 2 39:47

I didn't get very much, I don't think. Yeah. I'm gonna

Speaker 39:49

do this. Oh, there you go. That was smarter.

Speaker 6 39:57

Oh, that's a lot.

Speaker 2 40:00

Let's try that. I do like the flavor, though. It's very nice. Yeah.

Speaker 40:03

This is a, a, a step down on heat though. Definitely from the last couple. Hmm. It's authentic. It tastes like what Jamaican jerk season is supposed to taste like.

Speaker 2 40:14

That's really good on

Speaker 40:15

a, on a chicken thigh. Yeah. Uh, slow smoked at like two 40 on the, on the pellet grill. Yeah. Mm. That'd be great.

Speaker 2 40:22

I like that. And I, I can taste the salt too. I, I'm a salty person, so.

Speaker 40:26

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It does. It, it has a nice seasoning mix. It's not just spice. There's a lot. Yeah. Fun. Thanks. Good job, Sean. I assume that's an old town Spice Shop one.

Speaker 6 40:36

Mm-hmm. Yep.

Speaker 40:40

So the next question we have here, oh, the grab bag. This is the Ping Pong Ball Challenge carried over from our traditional Loco Experience podcast episodes. And, but for you and you only, well this whole series, but you can pick three and then I'll let you just choose one question to answer. Okay. Okay. So you're preferred, but just grab all three balls out of there. Okay?

Speaker 3 41:05

Okay.

Speaker 41:07

Okay. Okay. Okay. And I'll ask you all three questions and then you can choose which one. Okay. I might make you ask an answer a second one if I think it's funny enough. Okay. So you got 12, nine, and 22. 22. So 12. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about business? You're like, I, nobody's really giving me business advice, but in education and government.

Speaker 3 41:39

Yeah. Yeah. Can we, do we, should we pass that one? We move to the next one, so that's

Speaker 41:43

fine. Nine. What's the strangest way you've ever injured yourself?

Speaker 2 41:50

Strangest way. I've heard, I'm really careful. I don't injure yourself. Very Never. Not really. No

Speaker 41:58

broken bones. I,

Speaker 3 42:00

yeah. Don't, don't

Speaker 2 42:01

jinx

Speaker 3 42:01

me,

Speaker 2 42:01

please. No

Speaker 42:02

black eyes, no, no nothing. Oh man. I. Okay. Well

Speaker 2 42:07

this one is kind of weird, but one night my husband, he turned over and he accidentally kicked my, uh, top of my foot.

Speaker 5 42:17

Oh.

Speaker 2 42:18

And it dislocated one of those little bones on.

Speaker 3 42:22

I was so mad at him. He's like, I didn't mean to I, and did

Speaker 42:25

you have to get a cast or something? No. But you just hurt for a month or something? No, it just

Speaker 3 42:29

hurt and we just kind of massaged it back into place. Interesting. It was so random. Huh?

Speaker 42:37

That is a, that's very scary. Yes, I know. I'm like, I, I'm not that fragile. High, uh, 22. Oh, you didn't have to answer that one. Oh, you could have passed it, I guess. Oh, yeah. I could have passed it. If you could live anywhere for three months, a year, where would it be and why?

Speaker 2 42:54

Oh my gosh. I,

Speaker 42:57

we'll just give you the pass option. Yeah. You don't have to pass.

Speaker 2 43:00

Oh, well I can answer that. Yeah, you should. I think you'll like to answer this

Speaker 43:03

one.

Speaker 2 43:03

I have lots of places to live, um, that I wanna live. I love Mexico, so I would live at the beach in Mexico. I would also love to live in Italy for three months.

Speaker 43:19

My wife and I are hosting an exchange student from Italy right now. Oh, nice. From Ravenna. Okay. Uh, and we hosted her brother three years ago. Oh, nice. So we definitely think we have a place in the beach to stay in the future. Yeah. Because the folks have such a place, right. That's not why you're doing it, right. No, but it is why we chose Italy instead of Finland. Yeah, no, just kidding. Right. Um, I actually wanted to ask you a question that you wouldn't be expecting, but there was, uh, like a state of the. City kind of thing up at the Budweiser Event Center, like maybe two summers ago or something. And you said something completely awkward. It wasn't the state of the city. It was,

Speaker 2 43:56

it was a chamber. It was,

Speaker 43:57

yeah. The chambers celebration of business kind of thing. Yes, yes. Do you remember what you said? I do remember what I said. Are you, you, thank you for bringing that out. Willing to share that story.'cause I thought it was so funny. Oh my

Speaker 2 44:06

gosh. Okay. So first of all, I have to say, I'm usually very careful about what I say. My husband on the other hand is not, but sometimes he rubs off on me. And so I was, I was speaking and I didn't even have anything to drink, right? Like, I was like, I don't know what happened. But, um, I think I was channeling my husband for a minute because the lights went off and I just looked over and I'm like, well, there's not a pole here. Everybody just

Speaker 3 44:38

died and my husband was out there going, what? Just what

Speaker 44:46

You turned a couple shades of and red. I know.

Speaker 3 44:48

Because that is totally something he would've said. Right. And I was like, okay. Sorry. Sorry Anne. Sorry.

Speaker 44:56

It was awesome. It was the best part of any of the Chamber events I've been to in recent years. I

Speaker 3 45:01

know people still remember that. And remind me of that.

Speaker 45:06

Um, I think that was the question we have already. Yeah. We did the grab bag. So now it's time for the next

Speaker 5 45:12

Okay. Flavor.

Speaker 2 45:15

Oh, Matador. The red. The red. Yes. Okay. Very nice label.

Speaker 45:20

It's very pretty. This is probably gonna be a little warmer again.

Speaker 3 45:25

Yeah. Okay. You go first. I'll go first.

Speaker 4 45:28

There you are.

Speaker 45:33

Hmm. Hmm. Okay.

Speaker 6 45:41

I don't like that.

Speaker 45:44

It's okay. You don't have to. I'm gonna dip again'cause I do like it. What don't you like about it? I

Speaker 2 45:51

don't think I, well, first of all, it's burning my mouth. I'm gonna, I'm, you have the milk. I'm gonna do the milk. Ready for the milk? I'm gonna do the milk. I think it's too vinegar or something.

Speaker 46:03

Yeah. I could acknowledge that. I like vinegar. Oh yeah. Um, quite a bit. Yeah. Um, I brew kombucha at home, actually.

Speaker 2 46:12

Mm.

Speaker 46:13

I just basically like vinegar water, if you let it sit long enough.

Speaker 2 46:15

I like kombucha. Okay. But. Uh, yeah, that one's a little strong. Well, except

Speaker 46:19

for it's too expensive. It costs as much as beer to buy it. Right. So that's why I brew it at home. Oh, yeah. I wish it was easier to brew beer at home too.

Speaker 6 46:25

Right. Although I'm not a beer. Maybe I could, I don't know.

Speaker 46:29

I I would feel guilty brewing beer at home. I mean, not really.

Speaker 2 46:33

Right. Because you're not supporting local business

Speaker 46:35

kind of. And I would know that, like, I'm definitely drinking way too much beer. Oh

Speaker 2 46:40

yeah.

Speaker 3 46:40

There's that, like, this way I

Speaker 46:41

could keep kind of a loose record that counts and what I do drink beer in supporting local business. Yeah. Hmm. That's nice. I I actually think I, I mean, it's not one of my top three. Yeah. But the red is something that I would put in my Yeah. Cabinet and use it. It would be actually really nice in a Bloody Mary. Oh

Speaker 2 46:58

yeah. I think my husband would like that one.

Speaker 47:00

Yeah. So the community hot topic question. How can the city of Fort Collins maintain financial strength in light of declining sales tax collection trends? What mix of cost cutting and revenue enhancement strategies do you envision as being important to maintain these, the fiscal health and or bring more sales tax back. Right, right,

Speaker 2 47:25

right. Yeah. Well then I think it goes back to, sorry, I think it goes back to what we were talking about is the healthy business community. Yeah. Right. I think we should

Speaker 47:35

just jail people for shopping on Amazon.

Speaker 2 47:38

Okay.

Speaker 47:40

I mean, it would, it would do a lot, it would make a lot of impact on sales tax collections. Yeah. Wow. Anyway, I didn't I cut you off? That was No,

Speaker 3 47:47

no. I was thinking, well, I, I kind of like my Amazon

Speaker 47:52

always shop local first, but I

Speaker 2 47:54

do shop local. Um, but yes, it goes back to creating that healthy, um, business environment. And I wanted to, I was gonna say this, the business question earlier, but I don't know if you had a chance to look at the. Survey, the community survey. I didn't, no. It just came out. And so the,

Speaker 48:16

oh, I think I did, I think I took it.

Speaker 2 48:18

Oh yeah.

Speaker 48:19

The results just came out though. Yeah, they just came out. Okay, cool. So yeah,

Speaker 2 48:22

so the, the city's performance from very good or good, encouraging a variety of businesses, it's was 51%, and that was up from last year, but it was way down from 10 years ago, attracting new businesses, 42% was good or very good, again, up from two years, but way down from 10 years ago. But retaining existing businesses, the city's 32% said that the city was doing good or very good. And that is way down from two years ago and 10 years ago. Yeah. So like over half said

Speaker 48:58

not so good. Yeah. Neutral or not good. Right,

Speaker 2 49:00

right. So, yeah. So again, we, we have, so to get our budget under control, we, we need to have a strong tax base. And that's a healthy business community. Also, you know, government is just the nature of government. It over time becomes notoriously inefficient. And I know that we pass all these things and one, a lot of times we don't have metrics around what success is and we don't measure

Speaker 49:29

what it's supposed to do. Right.

Speaker 2 49:31

Right.

Speaker 49:31

Like California's homelessness thing too. Right? It's like, oh, we spent$40 billion. Yes. But we didn't really track outcomes, so.

Speaker 2 49:38

Right.

Speaker 49:38

Couldn't tell you.

Speaker 2 49:39

Right, exactly. So anything we, I don't think we track things very well. And also I don't think we ever go back and if something's not working, get rid of it. Right. Right. Like,

Speaker 4 49:53

right, right.

Speaker 2 49:54

And so I think there needs to be the efficiency component of that. And then I think there has to be an overreach and philosophy of. I'm responsible for the taxpayer's money and I need to spend it in a way that one takes care of our core services, two takes care of our community amenities. And then three takes care of people, right? Because the city, at the end of the day, the city's job is to keep the lights on, to keep the infrastructure in good shape, keep the parks,

Speaker 50:31

make the electricity affordable ish, whatever, right?

Speaker 2 50:33

Yes. And so, and then,'cause I think we've gotten away from that a little, not a little bit, a lot of just chasing the next shiny new thing, right?

Speaker 50:43

We're gonna be the greenest city in the west.

Speaker 2 50:45

Right? Right.

Speaker 50:46

Well, is that really worth all this effort or is it just a for a little badge on my greatest city in the west Right thing. And it doesn't make most people's lives any better.

Speaker 2 50:56

Exactly. And. You have to ask yourself the question, how good is good enough? Right? Like, you can keep spending money on we do things right, is what you were saying. Yeah. Right. Yeah. But

Speaker 51:08

that also comes with some level of balance.

Speaker 2 51:12

Exactly. You know,

Speaker 51:12

everything taken too far is too much.

Speaker 2 51:14

Exactly. And then the last piece of that philosophy is we need to spend every expenditure should be for the greatest benefit of the most people. Right. Like, you, you need to, you, you can't, don't have niche spending. Right, right. Exactly.

Speaker 51:34

2 million to the something something. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I'm scared to say what I was gonna say too. I know.

Speaker 3 51:42

Thank you for backing outta that. Well, it is,

Speaker 51:44

it is, you know, activism. Is important.

Speaker 4 51:49

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 51:50

And like on a pro ratta basis, I mean some of the, the doji stuff exposed and stuff is like,

Speaker 4 51:56

yeah,

Speaker 51:57

oh we got, you know, we sent 23 million to Somalia to do A-L-G-B-T-Q play.

Speaker 2 52:06

Right.

Speaker 52:06

Maybe not that, but

Speaker 2 52:07

Well no, but, but

Speaker 52:08

some of the stuff was pretty still. Right.

Speaker 2 52:10

The philosophy has to be that it needs to benefit, but a lot of people that are actually been

Speaker 52:15

impacted by it. Right.

Speaker 2 52:16

Alright. Fair. And the people that are actually paying taxes. How about like parks

Speaker 52:21

and open spaces and stuff? Do you feel good about the city's level of investment there?'cause they, their history has been kind of build it then, then the money to maintain it down the road will come from somewhere.

Speaker 2 52:31

Yes. And I don't like that. I would encourage you'd have

Speaker 52:37

fewer parks, but better maintained, or at least not so many. Well, first of

Speaker 2 52:41

all, I would stop building parks right now,

Speaker 52:43

at least for the moment.

Speaker 2 52:44

Right. Until we get this under control. Yeah. Right. Until we figure out how, and it, it is better since that, um, quarter, was it quarter cents sales tax that for parks? Yeah. But

Speaker 52:54

that's just making business harder too. You know, every quarter sent sales text. Right. You know, you just make it a little harder to sell anything. Yes. Instead of going to Amazon.

Speaker 2 53:03

I knew I shouldn't have said that. I don't go to Amazon that much. It's cool. It's cool. Um, but yes, and so I'm like, why do we keep building parks when we can't figure out how to maintain the ones? That we already have. Yeah. And so you're right. I think we need to stop and say, how are we going to maintain these to a level that Right. Safety. Like what if

Speaker 53:28

online shopping becomes even more worse?

Speaker 2 53:31

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I just wanna say, you do know that we get sales tax from online shopping?

Speaker 53:36

We do. Yes. You're right.

Speaker 2 53:37

Okay. So, um,

Speaker 53:38

oh yeah. So that's, so quit trying to make feel bad. That isn't really the driving thing.

Speaker 3 53:42

Right? It's not,

Speaker 53:43

so what is like, is it just consumer spending that isn't actually down? Well, I think, or people are going, instead, they're going to south somewhere Cool.

Speaker 2 53:53

They're going

Speaker 53:53

south, going to Loveland or something to shop there. Or maybe in the future to Martin's new thingy with the waterfalls and the what? The hooah.

Speaker 2 53:59

cause even if we're, even if we're getting the, the, so Fort Collins

Speaker 54:04

used to be the only game in town, so we benefited extraordinarily Right. From excess shopping almost. Right. And now we're just kind of getting. The what for put to us.

Speaker 2 54:13

Right. And, and by Costco one,

Speaker 54:15

Tim N and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 54:16

And I also have to point out that when they make a budget, they do a projected sales tax.

Speaker 5 54:23

Yeah.

Speaker 2 54:23

So they projected that the sales tax would increase 3%. Hmm. But it's only increasing 1%. Hmm. So it's not like, I mean, yes, we're losing sales tax, but Yeah. It's just a projection to shift

Speaker 54:36

it back to Amazon.'cause it makes you uncomfortable. They don't pay any, well, they do a little bit on that PR property They build, but they other other stuff they don't pay though. You know, they don't, they're not, they don't, they haven't donated money to youth sports. Right. They're not,

Speaker 2 54:47

or employ people. I mean, they employ people. Yeah. Not, not lot in crappy jobs

Speaker 54:52

that they don't really want. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And soon that'll just be robots from Tesla anyway. Yeah.

Speaker 2 54:57

Or drones.

Speaker 54:58

Both. Both. And, all right. I think we're ready. I've beat this topic up pretty good. David. Someone looks. It's dangerous. This one might be a, this one might be a, this. The ghost pepper one. This is the Ghost Pepper. One. Ghost Pepper. So, uh, this is called, what is it called? Oh, sorry, this one because it's a big reach room two 17. This is, oh, it's like the room they lock you up in when you lose your marbles.'cause this sauce was too hot,

Speaker 3 55:23

but, okay. Alright. You go first. All right, I'll go first. You go first.

Speaker 55:28

I'm gonna like hold my emotions so that you can't

Speaker 3 55:31

tell

Speaker 55:32

proceed. But I'm taking a nice, oh, this is the last dab. So this is the last question. So you're supposed to get extra.

Speaker 5 55:37

Oh, I don't want to do it.

Speaker 55:44

Hmm hmm. Okay.

Speaker 4 55:48

Hmm mm-hmm.

Speaker 55:50

Not like milk, please. No, no. Give this to your husband. No, I surely you're such a sport. I,

Speaker 2 56:01

okay. That was mean.'cause we've jumped from. Mild to really hot.

Speaker 56:07

But you're doing great. And I know that the answer, your answer to this question is gonna be like, this is when the tears come. I don't know. One time I forgot to pay for gas and I forgot what, no, just kidding. Your local experience. So this is, uh, from me, your last dab, uh, the craziest experience of your lifetime that you're willing to share with our listeners. And Yes, I'm sweating heavily at this point. I can't

Speaker 2 56:34

even talk,

Speaker 56:35

so, so it could be, you know, just a moment, you know, starting a couple of education initiatives is pretty cool. Um, could be a, a season of life. I, did you ever go to Peace Corps or No. You know, leave your husband for just a weekend for a wild girls trip to Vegas. Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2 56:54

Some of those, but I wanna, I wanna go back to Cam, the Ram. Okay.'cause having Cam the ram at our house was a wild ride.

Speaker 4 57:02

Okay.

Speaker 57:02

Yeah. Are you talking about the actual ram?

Speaker 2 57:04

Yeah, the live, the live mascot. Okay. I was thinking

Speaker 57:06

the ma the, the, like the kid that plays that mascot. Oh, so you hosted Yeah. Yeah. Like you were an exchange student Kind of

Speaker 2 57:13

because my husband was the

Speaker 57:15

Yeah, you want a freshman s Oh my gosh, I

Speaker 2 57:17

can't even talk.

Speaker 57:18

That's the point.

Speaker 2 57:19

Uh, all right. That was just mean

Speaker 57:24

and that is, uh, old Town Spice Shop back again right now. Yeah. Yeah. Sean, that was mean, but I'm gonna dip again. Do you wanna dip again too? There a couple of nuggets left

Speaker 4 57:32

Uhuh

Speaker 57:35

I wanna see I can get before you done answering this question.

Speaker 2 57:37

Okay. So for about, I think it was about 12 years, my husband was the faculty advisor for Cam the Ram. And we have so many funny stories, starting with when my youngest was four and my husband wasn't paying attention and. And Cam hit him from behind and just like launched him across our, our launch. So my, my 4-year-old at the time was scarred for the rest of his life. He still hates Cam and he went to see you Boulder.'cause he hates Cam so much. Oh wow. And then there was a time that my husband decided to breed

Speaker 58:19

Okay. Uh, u Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 58:21

And, and have baby cams. And so they ended up with three, uh, lambs. Oh wow. Or from one

Speaker 58:27

U, which is unusual, right. Triples actually two u's. Okay. So it was Oh, twins and a single.

Speaker 2 58:33

And so, oh my gosh. The CSU world went crazy. They, they had contests on naming the babies. They had like nine news at our house doing interviews over lambs. Right. Interesting. And it was really funny. And then there was a time that. Because we say in our household that sheep are born looking for a place to die.'cause they will literally wake up one day, they're that stupid kinda and say, I'm gonna die today. Oh really? They do. They seriously do. And so well I've just

Speaker 59:05

seen'em jump into a bunch of holes and dump things like that. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 59:07

No, but they were literally laid down and just die. Oh really? And, and this cam was a little bit older, not too old, but he was older. And it was the CU CSU football game. And this ram decides to die on the day of the football game. Oh dang. Yes. And so we had a baby ram in training. Right? Yeah. And so the kids, but that was the

Speaker 59:29

point of breeding it, maybe even. Right? Right.

Speaker 2 59:31

So we had one up and coming. And so we were already in Denver and the kids told the, the ram handlers call my husband, the dog's peel. The ram's dead. What do you want us to do? And he's like. Don't say a word to anybody and just put the, the baby Ram in the trailer and come to Denver. And so we were in Denver for a football game for our son. And so then we go to the CSU game and we pull up, and Ralphie's Handler was one of Craig's former students. He said, Hey, Dr. Bill, I heard the Ram was dead. Craig's like, where'd you

Speaker 3 1:00:10

hear that? Like, oh, the CSU or the CU Spirit squad. Oh shoot. So I don't know. I don't know how he, news travels fast. It does travel fast. And Tony Frank was calling my husband and he is like, I don't, he tried to just swap out this little I know. So anyway, there was that. And then

Speaker 1:00:28

what, I'm sorry, go ahead. I don't need to interrupt, but. Was your husband like a sheep expert or something like that? Well, he Is that why he was in this role? Like, did he have another job too? Or he just took care of this sheep? No, he was a professor at c. C. Okay, good. Right. So it seemed like a big job. Yeah. So

Speaker 2 1:00:40

he was a faculty advisor and he got that because he used to be a county agent in Okay. When we lived in Del Rio. Like

Speaker 1:00:47

an extension office almost. Yes. And they, he was, he's just smart about everything guy, guys. Yeah, they,

Speaker 2 1:00:51

well, and they had, um, it's big sheep country down there. Gotcha, gotcha. So he does actually know a lot about cattle, sheep, and everything. Gotcha, gotcha. Anyway, come back to where you Yeah. Jumped off. So, so anyway, that was funny. And then not so funny, I think the last year we actually had cam at our house, at our barn. Our barn. This is the

Speaker 1:01:09

cam number two. Yes. I guess. Yes. The replacement. Yes. Team. Um,

Speaker 2 1:01:13

our barn burned down. Oh no. So fortunately. All the animals were outside in their runs. Okay. So they, every, the horses, everybody got out and Kim got out. But I, I was just like, oh my gosh.

Speaker 1:01:26

There was a few sined hairs and, uh, everything else. Yes. I was just like, can you imagine that that would've been quite the story, the nightmare. You've had reporters there, again, checking in.

Speaker 3 1:01:33

Anyway, so we've had some really fun Kim stories over the years.

Speaker 1:01:37

So we're gonna send you with your favorite sauce. Good job, by the way. You did a really nice job. Oh, thank you. Um, and so we're doing rank choice voting this year. Okay. But, um, so I'm gonna just say just I want your favorite vote. Which one would you take home? Which one would I take? Um, just for you.

Speaker 2 1:01:57

Yeah. Um, well, it would be between this one and this one.

Speaker 1:02:05

Okay. Yeah. Very nice. Do you wanna, uh, so that's the, the buffalo wing shake? Yeah. And the rebel.

Speaker 2 1:02:11

Yeah. But I think, I, I think this was my favorite

Speaker 1:02:14

buffalo wing shake. Yeah.

Speaker 2 1:02:15

Okay. So, um,

Speaker 1:02:17

we're not doing rain chase wedding because I would probably do the honey, honey jalapeno. Oh, right up there for me.

Speaker 2 1:02:22

Oh yeah, that one is good. I forgot about that one.

Speaker 1:02:26

Um, and on a scale, actually, go ahead. Actually you want that one instead?

Speaker 2 1:02:29

Maybe,

Speaker 3 1:02:31

I dunno. You

Speaker 1:02:32

can, you can get more of any of these right online or in person at Old Town Space Shop. That's true. Or Matador Mexican girl. I think I will still go with this one then. Yeah. Well, Shirley, thank you. I think we're brought up at our time deadline. Do you have any last questions of me?

Speaker 2 1:02:48

No, but you sure are sweating.

Speaker 1:02:50

I'm sweaty. I'm sweaty. Betty, thanks for pointing it out.

Speaker 3 1:02:56

I want, I just wanna point out you're sweat. Sweat. I'm not sweating. Sweat. No sweat. And I didn't cry. You didn't

Speaker 1:03:01

cry so well, good luck in November. Well thank you. And uh, thanks for being here today.

Speaker 3 1:03:06

Yeah, thanks for having me. Cut. Speed