4 APRIL 16-22, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 6 SMOKE ALARM Colorado cannabis is under fi re as profi ts and performance stumble. BY THOMAS MITCHELL 14 THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX After a decade of nomadic art, Black Cube expands local events while developing new projects across the country. BY TONI TRESCA 17 DAILY DEALS Where to fi nd food bargains every day of the week. BY MOLLY MARTIN 19 SELF LOVE HOME has released a debut EP of heartwarming R&B ahead of her FoCoMX performance. BY CLEO MIRZA 14 Culture 17 Cafe 19 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 21 26 Marijuana CANNABIS CALENDAR ............................ 26 HIGH NOTES ............................................. XX VOLUME 49 NUMBER 33 APRIL 16-22, 2026 E D I T O R I A L Editor Patricia Calhoun News Editor Thomas Mitchell Food and Drink Editor Molly Martin Music Editor Emily Ferguson Culture Editor Kristen Fiore Social Media Editor Katrina Leibee Staff Writers Bennito L. 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I had not considered the accessibility as- pect, and how these vehicles help people who lack mobility options. My bad. But still, I think the city would be better off without any scooters. They are menaces to public safety. Thanks for Hannah Metzger’s story. I hope Denver City Council votes no on all three companies. Trey Miller Denver The scooters are a cluttered eyesore. Forget the contracts: What about the ditch- ing and pitching of these dangerous rides in the right-of-way? I’m tired of the scooters as neighborhood clutter. My vote is for no scooters. Reduce city liability. Another model to consider for respect of aesthetics, safety, the scooter’s longevity, maintenance and care for both the scooter company expense and the contract with the city: Require that the scooters go back to a bike-rack-type compound to reduce the dump and run. When a scooter is not returned to a designated area, the scooter user gets charged until it’s properly stowed away. Creating designated areas creates the expectation of use and safety for all. We don’t allow vehicle parking at just any random spot. The scooters impede the safety of pedestrians, visibility (with the many moving parts in a city) and ADA ac- cessibility: wheelchair access, elderly with instability, blind people who now suddenly navigate these unexpected obstacles. I have personally moved many of these scooters away from sidewalks to allow for access. I’m sure there’s an insurance company that can quantify the number of injuries to people, in or around the dumping and use of the scooters. M. Long Denver My friends and I were almost run over by an asshole on one of these scooters going al- most 30 mph on a sidewalk a couple of weeks ago while we were walking to the Avs game. As far as I’m concerned, they can all go away. Neil Bergin Westminster I have been nearly hit by scooters many times, and they have been left in my drive- way and blocked my sidewalk more times than I can count. They need to be regulated much more. Jane Feldman Denver A note of thanks for Hannah Metzger’s reporting on the issues surrounding this program. It’s both accurate and bal- anced, and gives more depth and clarity to a situation that, frankly, gets mostly superfi cial, politically positioned coverage. But not here. As she points out, driving behaviors are a major issue involving safety – but the control over who can actually activate these vehicles versus who can then ride away on them is a black hole. There is currently no way to stop someone with an account from activating fi ve of these devices for other people to ride, including underage riders. And what they call the “GEO fencing” – control to stop dangerous rider behavor, which is supposed to limit riders from sidewalks – has not yet been perfected. I am not against Denver’s micromobility program; the issues involve overall safety for the general public. Cameron Beattie Denver “A BIG IDEA FOR LITTLE ITALY,” HANNAH METZGER, MARCH 22 T H E N E X T B E S T F E S T A new historic district to honor the Italian heritage? Absolutely!! Bring it on! I would support this area and the undoubtedly awe- some restaurants and businesses to come in a heartbeat. What a cool place to go. As a lover of events, festivals and music, I bet this would be a perfect place for all of this. Let’s get this together. Chris Pedone Golden
