City Cast Denver

After the explosion of outrage over police violence last summer, many activists turned to the hard work of incremental criminal justice reform. One of those efforts came to a head earlier this week on the second to last day of the legislative session. Colorado Freedom Fund founder Elisabeth Epps was there pushing for change that, she says, would have kept more people out of jail (and out of harm’s way). City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Elisabeth for a raw discussion about what happened at the Capitol on Monday evening, the long road to get there, and what she’s going to work towards next. For more on the Colorado Freedom Fund, click here. And do yourself a favor and follow Elisabeth on Twitter @elisabeth. Don’t miss another City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow us for more news and fun from around the city: @citycastdenver

What happens to Denver if every service worker leaving the industry learns to code? Turing School of Software & Design trains programmer newbs for entry level tech jobs, and at the height of the pandemic they decided to make remote learning permanent. City Cast producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Turing’s executive director Jeff Casimir to talk through the data that led to that decision, what it says about the future of work, and how it’s going to affect the non-techies who have to live with it. And if you haven’t heard yesterday’s episode with Elle Taylor of Amethyst Coffee about the so-called labor shortage, you can find it here. Looking for ways to get a little more City Cast Denver in your life? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

As we slowly re-emerge from the pandemic, it seems like everyone is talking about a labor shortage. But is that really the problem? And is there a bigger story to tell about how our economy is changing? Today on the show, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Elle Taylor, co-owner and founder of Amethyst Coffee, to talk through her very different perspective on the so-called labor shortage. One year ago, as the coffee-buying people of Denver were sheltering in place, Amethyst eliminated tipping, raised prices, and increased wages for employees. Outside the Amethyst on Broadway, Paul and Elle discuss why she and her colleagues made that decision and why she hopes it was a just one small step towards a new, more equitable economy. We’re not done talking about the way our economy is changing. Watch your feed tomorrow for another take on the broader shifts and how they’re affecting Denver. Like what we do? Want more? Here ya go! Twitter: @CityCastDenver Newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Every legislative session begins with hopes and dreams. Lawmakers propose hundreds and hundreds of bills, and over the course of a few months their dreams are mostly dashed. But with the Colorado State Assembly set to adjourn some time this week, the Democrats in control already have one big win under their belts: a long-awaited, much-needed $5.4 billion bill to address our state’s deteriorating transportation infrastructure. Denver Post reporter Jon Murray has been covering the bill, and he joins producer Paul Karolyi to explain how we let our roads get into this sorry state, why there are so many weird conflicting ideas in this bill, and what it’s going to mean for the average Coloradan. For more on how Colorado funds its transportation needs, here’s a helpful explainer from the Colorado Department of Transportation. And if you haven’t heard The Taxman, Colorado Public Radio’s brilliant TABOR retrospective, check it out. We recommend listening to the podcast version, but there’s a text edition too, so you do you. Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter for more: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow City Cast Denver on Twitter: @citycastdenver

We've got another weekend bonus episode for you! It's a #listenlocal podcast recommendation from our friend Berry of Podcasts in Color, the largest database of podcasts produced by people of color in the world. Berry's pick this month is Bangin' & Slangin' with KMofo and Da Butcher, which they describe as "the podcast where anything goes." So yeah, this one's got some explicit content. Subscribe to Bangin' & Slangin' here and follow Berry on Twitter @podcastsincolor.

In-N-Out has been getting all the buzz — and insanely long lines — since it opened its first Denver area location last year. Five Guys is an East Coast favorite. Shake Shack strutted into town from NYC with a hip new look and a lot of big talk. But really, who do these transplant burger chains think they are, coming into our city thinking they can make burgers?! City Cast Denver’s crack team of eaters are here to settle it once it for all. And can any of them stand up against our homegrown fast food burger darling Good Times? Follow along with Bree, Paul, Xandra, and Peyton, then let us know what you think on Twitter @citycastdenver. Hit us with your favorite out-of-state burger chain and the hashtag #CityCastBurgerCrawl. Don’t miss the City Cast Denver newsletter for breaking burger updates and more news from around the city: denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ The excerpt of the oral history with Bill Clements Jr. in this episode comes courtesy of the oral history collection at History Colorado. You can listen to the whole conversation, including a wild story about Bill’s dad and Colonel Sanders right here.

The sun’s out, the rain’s finally cleared up, and it’s never been a better time to hop on a bike. And if you need help finding good trails and bike paths, Bike Streets has a map for you. Founded by Avi Stopper, the community bike advocacy group wants to get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes, with community pledges, group rides, and informational resources. But one thing Avi’s not super focused on? Pushing for more bike infrastructure, like bike lanes. Today on the show, he chats with producer Paul Karolyi about why he thinks expensive bike lane projects might be more risky than they’re worth. Join Avi and take the #2Miles pledge! https://www.bikestreets.com/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

At 60, Longmont Pastor Paula Stone Williams came out to her friends, family, and coworkers as trans. She had been a leader in the conservative evangelical community, but take one guess how that went over. Paula’s got a new memoir out this week about all that and what she learned along the way. It’s called “As a Woman: What I Learned about Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy after I Transitioned.” Today on the show, City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon sits down with Paula to talk through her unique perspective on gender, swap stories about life in evangelical Colorado, and offer some advice for anyone out there struggling with who they are. And if you want to hear another perspective on Paula’s story, Paula’s son Jonathan Williams was recently on past City Cast Denver guest Nadia Bolz-Weber’s podcast The Confessional. Find that episode here. For more Denver news worth knowing, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Since last June, the City of Denver has been trying something new with its 911 emergency response system. In an effort to reduce violent conflicts with police, some calls are being redirected to a new team of paramedics and social workers, called STAR, or Support Team Assisted Response. The pilot program has proven enormously popular, with the team responding to almost 1,400 calls over the course of the year with zero referrals to police. Host Bree Davies sits down with one of STAR’s mental health clinicians Carleigh Sailon to hear what it’s like to respond to a 911 call and what she hopes for the future of the program. Here’s how to request assistance from STAR directly if you ever need to: 720-913-STAR (7827) For more on the STAR program and other Denver news worth knowing, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

The local theater community is slowly emerging from its pandemic-induced hibernation, and they’ve got some wild new ideas to share. Like Control Group Productions, they’re putting on a new show starting next week called After the Flood. It’s an “immersive nature stroll” that combines live dance, music, history, and ecology in Littleton’s South Platte Park. City Cast Denver’s resident theater buff Xandra McMahon caught a preview of the performance last week, and today on the show she sits down with Control Group’s artistic director Patrick Mueller to talk about the David-and-Goliath story that inspired the performance and his family ties to the park that has become his stage. After the Flood is set to run in the evenings between June 2 and June 19, and Patrick says tickets are going fast. Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://controlgroup.wellattended.com/events/after-the-flood Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

When The Center on Colfax announced that law enforcement agencies would not be allowed to participate in this year’s Pride, CEO Rex Fuller said the response was “largely negative” — despite the long history of tension between police and the LGBTQ+ community. And if these tensions stretch back to the days of Stonewall — Pride’s origin story — then why do this now? Host Bree Davies sits down with Rex to talk about how The Center has been navigating the complicated relationship between Pride and the police, how they came to this controversial decision, and what it means for police who are also members of the LGBTQ+ community. For more from Rex, here’s a link to his recent op-ed in the Colorado Sentinel explaining The Center’s decision. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

The NBA is known for elite athleticism, but it’s also the storylines, off-the-court fashion, and personal drama that make pro basketball so fun to watch. And it’s also why Denver Nuggets superstar (and presumptive NBA MVP) Nikola Jokic stands out. He plays an unorthodox style for a big man and is known for his lack of ego. Yet, it’s all but certain that he’ll be named MVP of the NBA this season. Today on the show, Locked on Nuggets and DNVR Nuggets Podcast co-host Adam Mares joins host Bree Davies to talk about Jokic's surprising rise from unknown second round draft pick to the biggest big man in the league. Plus, City Cast Contributor Eli Imadali ventures into the city with listener Troy Farkas to figure out just how adults make friends in Denver. For more from Troy, check out his podcast, The Troy Farkas Show. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

Denver’s best known bookseller is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and it’s come a long way from that very first shop in Cherry Creek. As of last December, Tattered Cover has new owners. And as of this summer, they’ll have a new flagship location at McGregor Square, that fancy new development going in across from Coors Field. Host Bree Davies sits down with one of Tattered’s new owners, Kwame Spearman, to hear how they’re maintaining that familiar Tattered feeling and what they’re planning for the new downtown location. Kwame’s also got a book recommendation for you. Plus, Bree shares some City Cast Denver news. Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @citycastdenver

Almost a year after George Floyd's murder, communities across the country are still grappling with police accountability. In Denver, a group of civic leaders, non-profit organizations and community members came together to address this issue, creating a Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety. They’ve spent the last year working on a massive report with more than 112 recommendations, and today city officials will get their first look at their report. Dr. Robert Davis, one of the lead organizers of the task force, says this goes beyond policing. It’s also about issues of housing, support for formerly incarcerated people and more. Dr. Davis joins host Bree Davies to dive into this ground-breaking report and talk about how the city can implement the task force’s recommendations. Click here to read the task force’s full list of 5 strategies and 112 recommendations: http://www.denvertaskforce.org/uploads/1/2/5/5/125541169/reimagining__public_safety__recommendations_.pdf And here’s the best place to find contact information for your City Council representative: https://www.denvergov.org/maps/map/councildistricts Today at 4 p.m., the task force is hosting a rally outside the City and County Building in support of their 112 recommendations for change. Click here for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/4073110239378407/ Finally, sign up for the City Cast Denver newsletter for more on police accountability and other issues shaping Denver: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

If the past year has left us with anything good, it’s a feeling of righteous urgency to make the most of the time we have with our loved ones. Enter: Mamabird Interviews, a new company founded by a local teacher and some of his students to help families embrace and preserve their histories. When we heard about the work they’re doing, we needed to know more, so we had City Cast Denver’s very own Peyton Garcia, who you know from our newsletter, try it out. Today on the show, host Bree Davies sits down with Peyton and one of Mamabird’s co-founders Areyana Proctor to talk through Peyton’s experience and the value of preserving family history. BTW, when she’s not working with Mamabird, Areyana is kicking butt all up and down the quad. Last month, she was named Newman Civic Fellow at CU Boulder! Learn more about Mamabird here: https://www.mamabirdinterviews.com/ And if you want, Peyton will send you an email every weekday morning with important Denver news and cool events. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get more from us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Denver’s urban camping ban has been controversial to say the least. Though it has remained popular with a majority of the voting public since it was implemented in 2012, the ban has led to the near-constant sweeping of encampments and displacement of the people living in them. The ban has stoked distrust and exacerbated the precarious nature of life for our unhoused neighbors. So when Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced plans earlier this week to propose a similar ban for Colorado’s third largest city, it came as a surprise. Today on the show, host Bree Davies, a vocal opponent of Denver’s camping ban, sits down with Mayor Coffman to hear how he came to this proposal and how his week-long stint pretending to be homeless back in December informs his approach to Aurora’s growing homelessness problem. Mayor Coffman’s proposal will need the support of Aurora’s City Council, where it has already received some strong criticism. The City of Aurora is currently reviewing a variety of alternative housing options to address their growing homelessness population. Residents are invited to review the options and provide feedback here through May 31: https://engageaurora.org/Homelessness For more on the effects of Denver’s camping ban, make sure to listen to our episode from last month with David Gordon, in which he discusses his personal experience living in fear of a sweep: https://pod.link/citycastdenver/episode/36ef60a78752e3b83ba090e2bbc1c40a Looking for a little more City Cast Denver in your mornings? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver And get the tweets: @citycastdenver

It seemed like a simple request to the city: Shawn Johnson and his husband Ben wanted to build an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, at their Sunnyside home so Shawn’s disabled mother could live close. But little did they know, this plan would send them down a rabbit hole of bureaucracy and bring them face to face with an inconspicuous board that holds a lot of power when it comes to zoning — the city’s main tool for managing our explosive growth. Today, host Bree Davies sits down with Ben and Shawn who say their struggle with the Board of Adjustments for Zoning Appeals reveals a system rooted in implicit bias. Read the piece by Kathryn White in The Denver North Star that tipped us off to Shawn and Ben’s story! We have included more of the BOA’s response to our story on Twitter: @CityCastDenver Subscribe to our newsletter for more news: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

After less than two years on the job, Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova resigned last fall. She said it was because she got an amazing job opportunity in Dallas, Texas, but some think she was pushed out by a school board that disagreed with her vision. At the center of that conflict? Education Reform, a nationwide movement that found a fertile testing ground here in Denver about 15 years ago under then superintendent Michael Bennet (Yes, that Michael Bennet). So what is Education Reform? How did it get so controversial? And what does the board’s search for a new superintendent say about the future of the reform movement here in Denver? On the show today, host Bree Davies sits down with Melanie Asmar, who covers DPS for Chalkbeat and has reported extensively on the reform movement. Melanie breaks down the reform movement’s history in Denver, how the superintendent search plays into it, and what it all means for Denver as a whole — not just parents and kids. For more on the superintendent search, here’s Melanie’s latest on the three finalists: https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/5/14/22436681/denver-superintendent-finalists-student-teacher-interviews Also, follow Melanie on Twitter for more updates: @melanieasmar Follow us @citycastdenver And subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter for more Denver news and events: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

Basically no one wants to keep a golf course on those 155 acres of open space in Northeast Park Hill, but that poses a big question: What do we want? Should we restrict development, as former mayoral candidate and open spaces advocate Penfield Tate argued on the show last week, or should we aim for a new kind of people-first development? That’s the case today’s guests are here to make. In part two of our series on the PHGC development fight, host Bree Davies sits down with the developers who own the land: Kenneth Ho, principal with Westside Investment Partners, and Norman Harris, co-founder and managing partner with The Holleran Group. If you want to make your voice heard after hearing from Penfield, Kenneth, and Norman, we’ve collected a bunch of good links for you: Tomorrow, Tuesday May 18, the Department of Community Planning and Development is hosting a public comment period at the end of the PHGC Steering Committee meeting (5:30-7:30 p.m.). You must register for the zoom meeting AND sign up to speak if you want your turn. Do all that here: https://denvergov.org/Government/Departments/Community-Planning-and-Development/Community-Engagement/CPD-Calendar/Park-Hill-Golf-Course-May-Steering-Committee-Meeting If you can’t make it, you can submit your thoughts on the future of the PHGC site at any time to the Department of Community Planning and Development: https://us.openforms.com/Form/68f78400-f89a-4450-ac8a-93eecf6c865c To learn more about Kenneth and Norman’s plans for the site, here’s Westside Investment Partners’ site about the project: https://www.parkhillgolfcoursereimagined.info/ If you’re interested in Penfield’s YES on Open Space Campaign, you can read more here: https://yesopenspace.org/ And here’s a link to the site for Save Open Space Denver, the community group pushing to maintain the old golf course as some kind of open space: https://sosdenver.net/ Did you know City Cast Denver has a newsletter? Subscribe right now for a friendly weekday morning roundup of Denver news and events: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver.

There will come a time this summer when you’re hanging out in a park or walking around downtown, and someone with a clipboard is going to approach you about the future of the Park Hill Golf Course. They’ll talk about the need for more open space in the city or maybe they’ll allude to the Big Bad Developer coming in to change a historic neighborhood, and they’ll ask for your signature. What are you going to do? City Cast Denver is here to help. In this first episode of a two-parter on the PHGC site (and the extremely contentious/complicated debate over its future), host Bree Davies speaks with former mayoral candidate Penfield Tate about his personal connection with the old course and his work to wrench the future of those valuable 155 acres out of the hands of developers. Oh, and on Monday, we hear from the developers themselves who give their side of the story. For more on Penfield’s ballot initiative, go to yesopenspace.org. Get the tweets: @citycastdenver Get the morning newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

When it comes to barbecue, Colorado tends to get left out of the national conversation. But it turns out, we have our very own barbecue story to tell, and our Black community is at the center of it all. James Beard award-winner Adrian E. Miller has that story and more in his new book, “Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.” He joins host Bree Davies on the show today to talk about everything Colorado barbecue, from the 1898 barbecue riot to the legacy of “Daddy” Bruce Randolph and his son Bruce Jr. Learn more about Adrian and his new book at adrianemiller.com Head over to our Twitter @citycastdenver for a recipe straight from Adrian’s book for pork belly burnt ends! Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

There’s a new book out about gang violence in Denver, and it’s causing quite a stir. Award-winning journalist Julian Rubinstein spent seven years reporting the story of Terrance Roberts, a former gang member turned anti-gang activist who shot someone before a peace rally he himself had organized on September 20, 2013. Julian says Terrance’s story has been widely misunderstood, and he hopes to correct the record with his new book, “The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun, and the Struggle to Save An American Neighborhood.” They both join host Bree Davies on the show today to talk about that day in 2013, the nature of gang violence in Denver, and what it all means for Terrance’s neighborhood, Northeast Park Hill. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! And we’re celebrating with a look into Denver’s fascinating Japanese American history with journalist and community leader Gil Asakawa. Host Bree Davies speaks with Gil about his personal connection with Sakura Square, the lasting legacy of former governor Ralph Carr, and special meaning of AAPI Heritage Month this year. Plus, Gil shares a local restaurant recommendation if you're looking for a good bowl of ramen. Follow Gil on Instagram for more Asian American food tips (and some sweet cat pics): @gilasakawa Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

Denver City Council is deciding the fate of the Denver7 building on Speer tonight. Will they side with the owners, paving the way for a sale and demolition? Or will they decide it’s a landmark worth preserving? Host Bree Davies speaks with art and architecture critic Mary Voelz Chandler, who wrote for the Rocky Mountain News for many years, about the architectural merits of the building, the origins of Brutalism, and Denver’s contentious relationship with its own history. Plus, Amazon responds to our report on an alleged lack of Spanish-language COVID safety communications at their warehouse in Thornton. Read Mary’s writing on Denver architecture and more at her blog: http://chandlerindenver.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @citycastDenver Subscribe to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

What happens when a worker at an Amazon warehouse sees something concerning and speaks up? Today on the show, we bring you the story of Linda Rodriguez, a local grandmother who got a job at the Amazon fulfillment center in Thornton right before the pandemic started. Host Bree Davies speaks with Linda’s attorney David Seligman, who portrays her as a woman caught in an impossible situation, compelled to stand up for what she thought was right. We also hear from Linda herself about the conditions inside DEN3, the Amazon fulfillment center in Thornton where she says Amazon neglected to communicate important COVID safety information with its Spanish-speaking workforce. David Seligman is also executive director of the local legal nonprofit Towards Justice, which you can learn more about here: https://towardsjustice.org/ If you want to read more about Linda’s case, here’s a link to the formal complaint David and his colleagues at Swain Law LLC filed with the Department of Labor and Employment on Thursday: https://towardsjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/5.6.21-amazon-final.pdf Get the tweets: @citycastdenver Get the newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

Punch Bowl Social was a Denver success story — emphasis on the “was.” Starting with that one location on South Broadway in 2012, the arcade/bowling alley/bar quickly expanded across the country, operating 20 locations and raking in tens of millions of dollars per year at its peak. But then the pandemic hit, setting CEO and founder Robert Thompson off on a year of twists, turns, and tough decisions. With the original Punch Bowl Social re-opening next week, host Bree Davies speaks with Denver Business Journal reporter Ed Sealover, who’s been in touch with Robert through it all. Bree and Ed talk through Punch Bowl’s rise, fall, and the unclear future of "eatertainment." Get Ed’s tweets: @ESealoverDenBiz Get ours: @citycastdenver Subscribe to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/citycast/denver

It’s Cinco de Mayo and that means cruising — especially on Federal. But over the last year, Chicano car clubs have stopped meeting up along the strip, while at the same time, police have had an increased presence. It looks like a law enforcement crackdown, but is it? Councilperson Jamie Torres joins the show today to help get to the bottom of this issue of vanishing car clubs. We also hear from an OG low rider about the deep roots of the car club tradition. And hey! We’re still hoping to hear more of your Elitch’s memories. Are you an Old Elitch’s person? Or a New Elitch’s person? Use Voice Memos, Voice Recorder, or another app to record your memory and send it to us at [email protected], and we might play it on the show. Just remember to say your name and whether you’re an Old Elitch’s person or a New Elitch’s person. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

More than a third of foster children in Colorado will end up homeless by the time they are 21. A new bill making its way through the Colorado General Assembly would allow them to re-enter the system after they’re 18 and get help with things that many of us take for granted — like opening bank accounts and getting a driver’s license. Foster parent Natasha Pepperl has seen first-hand how much this support is needed. She joins host Bree Davies on the show today to talk parenting and the messy cracks that make navigating the foster care system so challenging. Check out Natasha’s podcast, Just As Special, right here. And check out our newsletter for even more…you guessed it — news.

On our show last Friday, we featured a deeply human story from one man, David Gordon, about his experience living inside one of the most important new efforts to address Denver’s homelessness crisis. After a three-month stay at a Safe Outdoor Space, he said Denver should absolutely invest in this housing option. But the leases at the first two locations are up at the end of the month, and it’s unclear whether there’s much appetite for making this temporary pandemic relief measure permanent. On the show today are Cole Chandler, executive director of the Colorado Village Collaborative, the organization administering the SOS program, and Pastor Nathan Adams of Park Hill United Methodist Church. Host Bree Davies asks them how South Park Hill is reacting to their decision to invite unhoused neighbors into the community, why they believe in this new type of shelter, and how you can help make it permanent. The best way to reach Nathan is through Park Hill United Methodist Church, which you can learn more about here. You can donate to Colorado Village Collaborative here. Hey, don’t forget to listen to our first part of this conversation about Safe Outdoor Spaces with Denver VOICE vendor David Gordon who lived in the one on Pearl St. for three months. Are you an Old Elitch’s person? Or a New Elitch’s person? Use Voice Memos, Voice Recorder, or another app to record your Elitch’s memory and send it to us at [email protected], and we might play it on the show. Just remember to say your name and whether you’re an Old Elitch’s person or a New Elitch’s person. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

There are more than 4,000 people experiencing homelessness in Denver, according to the latest Point in Time Survey from Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. And that was back in January 2020, two months before the global pandemic caused a massive economic downturn. Last summer, the city sponsored a new effort to help house some of those people, but it’s been controversial to say the least. So this time on the show, we’re going inside one of the new “Safe Outdoor Spaces” to hear how it has benefitted one man, David Gordon, a longtime vendor with the Denver VOICE. We initially recorded this episode as an installment of VOICE on the Street, our partnership with Denver’s street paper, the Denver VOICE, which provides opportunities to Denverites experiencing homelessness and other forms of economic inequity. If you’d like to support VOICE vendors like David Gordon, head over to denvervoice.org/donate. They even have Venmo, so if you want to get a little help directly to David, follow this link and add his name to the note attached to your transfer. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: denver.citycast.fm Get the tweets: @citycastdenver

Elitch Gardens is so much more than a theme park. It’s more like a nostalgia factory with roller coasters, and it’s been in business for over 100 years. The New Elitch’s, as the current incarnation is commonly known, is opening this weekend, so Bree invited three-time Emmy winning comedy writer Hallie Haglund and zero-time Emmy winning City Cast producer Paul Karolyi on the show to talk about everything Elitch’s — from the oldest of the old to the unclear future. Are you an Old Elitch’s person? Or a New Elitch’s person? Use Voice Memos, Voice Recorder, or another app to record your Elitch’s memory and send it to us at [email protected], and we might play it on the show. Just remember to say your name and whether you’re an Old Elitch’s person or a New Elitch’s person. The excerpt of the oral history with Mrs. Harold Robinson (née Laura Besser) heard in this episode comes courtesy of the oral history collection at History Colorado. You can listen to the whole conversation, including a few more juicy Elitch’s tidbits right here. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: denver.citycast.fm Get the tweets: @citycastdenver

Nadia Bolz-Weber is on the show today to talk about the new season of her podcast, The Confessional, which she describes as “a carwash for our shame and secrets.” Nadia tells Bree about how she helps people process the worst moments in their lives and offers some tips for broaching difficult conversations. Bree interviewed Nadia for the first time in 2012, one year before Nadia published her first best-selling book, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint. Read that story here, and hey, since you’re already clicking on links we give you, why not click one more and subscribe to our newsletter?

Even if we don’t always like it, a city’s got to change. And your Denver might look very different from someone else’s Denver. Award-winning cartoonist Karl Christian Krumpholz explores this theme in his new illustrated history of Denver, “Queen City.” He joins host Bree Davies to talk about the book and how he brought places that have closed or been demolished back to life, while paying homage to living legends. The Breakfast King, Gabor’s and Satire Lounge all make appearances in this conversation, and can be seen throughout this book’s beautiful images and colorful Denver backstory. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter and learn more about us at denver.citycast.fm. Get the tweets @citycastdenver.

In a city that’s been grappling with affordable housing issues for years, Denver landlords seem to hold all the power. Councilperson Stacie Gilmore wants to change that dynamic, with a new proposal that would strengthen renter protections and require landlords to be more accountable for their properties. Stacie is on the show today to talk through her proposal, including her personal motivation for getting it passed. The City Council is set to discuss her rental licensing proposal tonight (and vote on it next Monday), so now is the time to find your representative and make your voice heard! Plus, City Cast Denver contributor JD Lopez attended the Save Casa Bonita rally on Saturday morning to hear more about the community effort to make sure the old pink palace sticks around. Get the rest of the story in our April 15th episode, “Inside the Fight to Save Casa Bonita.” For more on that rental in Green Valley Ranch that Councilperson Gilmore mentioned, here’s the first report about it, from CBS4 in 2019. And here’s the CBS4 follow-up about what happened to the family that lived there.

Here at City Cast Denver, we love podcasts. There are so many different styles and topics; each one is a window into its own world. So what better way to explore different parts of Denver than through the many podcasts made here? We invited the biggest podcast fan we know, Berry of Podcasts in Color, to recommend a good place to start. So in this first weekend bonus episode, please enjoy Berry’s #ListenLocal pick: The COnnect with Graffiti, interviewing Denver’s own Suzi Q. Smith. Subscribe to The COnnect here and follow Berry on Twitter @podcastsincolor.

When is an “immersive art experience” worth the ticket price? What makes an art installation truly transformational and not just a cool place to take selfies? From Van Gogh to Star Wars to dinosaurs, Denver has been inundated with these “immersive” experiences. Today on the show, Denver Post arts and culture reporter and critic John Wenzel stops by to talk about the wave of all-consuming, immersive art installations that have set up shop in Denver and offer some advice on how to ride that wave. Plus, our resident foodie Peyton Garcia joins Bree to talk about Cho77, Linger, and STK, her top picks for the best spots to visit during Denver Restaurant Week, which starts today and runs through May 2. And if you haven’t signed up for our newsletter yet, subscribe now and Peyton will be your inbox buddy! Get the tweets @citycastdenver.

Chicano history runs deep in Denver’s Westside, particularly in its collection of murals. Many have already been lost to time and development, but now, a proposed Historic Cultural District and a city-wide campaign to recognize more Chicano and Latino historical sites are in the works to help protect what’s left. With the guidance of mural expert and archaeologist Lucha Martínez de Luna, director of the Chicano/a Murals of Colorado Project, this new push for historic preservation is working to incorporate the cultural and historic context that anchors the La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood. Lucha is on the show today to share her personal connection with the murals and the some of that important context. The City of Denver is holding two community meetings, on April 28 and May 15, to talk about the proposed Historic Cultural District. For more information, go here.

Derek Chauvin is guilty of murdering George Floyd. With the verdict yesterday, the country exhaled after holding its collective breath through weeks of trial and 10 hours of jury deliberations. Here in Colorado, legislators gathered to share their reactions, their grief, and their plans to advance police accountability in our state. On the show today, some of their comments, some context, and a memory from last year’s uprisings in Civic Center Park. For more on the legislation mentioned in this episode, here is Bree’s interview with State Rep. Leslie Herod from last week.

Happy 420, Denver. Sorry you can’t celebrate with Snoop Dogg in Civic Center Park this year, but we’ve got a weed day treat for you. Ann Marie Awad, who hosts Colorado Public Radio’s "On Something," joins the show to talk about the current state of weed culture and the fight for social equity in the cannabis industry — a topic that just so happens to be the theme of On Something’s upcoming third season. The trailer just dropped today, hear that here. Let us know how you’re celebrating the second pandemic 420! Tweet us at @CityCastDenver. And subscribe to our newsletter for more Denver news here.

The numbers don’t add up. According to recent polling, 38% of Coloradans are not currently planning to sign up for the vaccine. That hesitation breaks down along political lines, with Republicans far more likely to skip the vaccine or, at the very least, take a “wait and see” approach. Herd immunity will require at least 70% of a population to be vaccinated or carry antibodies, according to the CDC. So, what are we to do? Denver Post columnist Krista Kafer, who identifies as center-right on the political spectrum, is on the show today to talk about her decision to get vaccinated and how she’s talking about it with her Republican friends. You know what goes great with a daily podcast? A daily newsletter. Subscribe to ours and learn more about us at citycast.fm/denver.

Colorado’s music scene does big business for our economy. But since the pandemic began, live music has been silenced, with many venues shutting down temporarily or closing altogether. Venue operators large and small across the state have been working together to find ways to keep them alive and now, with COVID restrictions lifting, live concerts are coming back. But what is live music going to feel like? Chris Zacher, CEO of Levitt Pavilion Denver, has been working around the clock to make sure live music venues are equipped to return and thrive. Zacher joins the show today to explain just how much has gone into making sure Coloradans get to experience live concerts again. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

Get Eric Cartman on the phone, Casa Bonita needs help. More than a year into the pandemic, the iconic Mexican restaurant slash immersive entertainment experience filed for bankruptcy earlier this week. There have been reports of community efforts to raise money to save the place, but until now it’s been unclear exactly how that might work. Andrew Novick, who’s visited Casa Bonita 300 times, and entrepreneur Danny Newman, who helped save My Brother’s Bar, have been working behind the scenes, and they’re on the show today to explain their strategy and how you can help. Novick, Newman, and company are holding a “Save Casa Bonita” rally on Saturday morning in front of the restaurant. Find details here. (Yes, Bananas the monkey may make an appearance.) And support the cause here. Did you like the segment at the end of the show today? Then you should read Sam Brasch’s story that inspired it! Additional music in this episode comes courtesy of Kevin MacLeod. We’re using it under a CC BY 3.0 license. Subscribe to our podcast and newsletter right here.

As the world watches the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis and protests continue over this week’s police killing of Daunte Wright in another Minnesota town, Colorado lawmakers are building on the major police accountability reform they passed last year. Democratic State Rep. Leslie Herod chats with Bree today about the new bill she’s sponsoring that would further limit the police’s ability to use lethal force in Colorado. Have strong feelings about the bill? Make your voice heard! You can find your representative and how to get in contact with them here. Hey, let’s take this relationship to the next level! Subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter at citycast.fm/denver.

Governor Polis has wanted it for ages. Lawmakers at the Colorado State Assembly are crossing party lines to back it. President Biden asked Congress for enough money to fund it. And now, after years — no, decades! — of dreaming, hoping and planning for a passenger rail line running all up and down the Front Range, it finally feels like it might happen. Colorado Public Radio transportation and growth reporter Nate Minor joins the show today to get Bree up to speed on the long-awaited train line. The Polis Express, Blucifer’s Dream, The Columbine Cruiser (that’s Nate’s pick): What would you name the new Front Range passenger rail? Tweet your best answers at @citycastdenver and we’ll retweet our faves! If you like City Cast Denver: The Podcast, you’ll love City Cast Denver: The Newsletter. Subscribe and learn more at citycast.fm/denver.

It’s National Poetry Month! And what better way to understand Denver’s many diverse neighborhoods than through poetry — or at least that’s the idea behind History Colorado’s new podcast Living Denver. Bree speaks with the podcast’s director, Becca Mendoza Nunziato, and the poet featured in the first episode, Kenya “Mahogany” Fashaw, about Kenya’s Five Points, gentrification, and the lived experience of neighborhood change. You can subscribe to Living Denver wherever you get City Cast Denver. Just click right here and find your app. Living Denver is also just one part of a broader initiative from History Colorado, called Building Denver: Visions of the Capital City, which includes a new exhibit on Denver’s growth, urban development, and architecture that’s set to open on May 29. Have you seen the City Cast Denver newsletter? You’re going to love it. Subscribe and learn more at citycast.fm/denver. Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

So what exactly is Denver-style Mexican food? How do we differentiate our particular brand of Mexican food? (Hint: We’re talking green chile. On everything.) Food writer Gustavo Arellano and Westword editor and Den-Mex super fan Patty Calhoun break down where it came from, what we need to do to protect it, and what makes Den-Mex so special. Warning: Side effects of this episode may include a growling stomach and watering mouth. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

Earlier this year, Colorado’s cannabis industry passed a major milestone: $10 billion in revenues since legalization. But the vast majority of that money is ending up in the same old white hands. Bree speaks with Hashim Coates, executive director of Black, Brown and Red Badged, an organization founded in 2019 to speak on behalf of cannabis business owners of color. He explains why he thinks the local lawmakers working to address this issue aren’t going far enough. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

When Major League Baseball decided to move their All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver in protest of Georgia’s restrictive new elections law, Georgia governor Brian Kemp went on Fox News to complain. He claimed there isn’t much of a difference between elections law in Colorado and Georgia, “so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.” Well, Gov. Kemp, it makes sense to us. On the show today, Bree speaks with Denver’s Clerk and Recorder Paul López, who administers elections here in Denver, about the differences between elections in the two states and how he plans to enjoy the All-Star Game in July. Plus, our sports guy Jake Shapiro is back to give us a little historical context on the MLB’s decision to take such a strong political stance. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

When former 9News reporter Lori Lizarraga came to Denver, she knew it was going to be a challenge to gain the trust of sources in Black and Brown communities. What she wasn’t prepared for were the battles she would have to fight in her own newsroom to get their stories to air. After Lori’s contract was not renewed at the ratings giant, she wrote a piece in Westword last week that detailed years of discrimination and an inequitable newsroom. She joins the show today to share more of those experiences and why it’s so important for communities of color to be covered by journalists of color. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

For the first time in a year, sports fans were welcomed back to Denver’s stadiums and arenas this weekend. The Rockies played an opening series against the L.A. Dodgers and did…alright? The Nuggets and Avalanche continue to kick ass. But let’s talk what people are wearing. Like what’s up with those “Fire Bridich” and “Sent from my iPad” shirts we saw at Coors Field? Sports guy Jake Shapiro breaks it down and shares some construction and development gossip involving Rockies ownership. Plus, our producer Paul Karolyi tracked down the backstory behind those weird new Avalanche uniforms. Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more Denver news, and follow us on Twitter @citycastdenver.