City Cast Denver

So far, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been nothing short of surreal. With protesters in the streets and no fans in the stands, the Opening Ceremony on Friday begged the question: Why is this even happening? And almost 50 years ago, that was that exact question that led Dick Lamm, a young Colorado state lawmaker who would go on to become governor, to lead a campaign to block the 1976 Winter Games from coming to Denver, setting the tone for half a century of Colorado politics. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Lamm to talk through that formative story, his surprising feelings about the Games, and what it would take for him to support a Denver Olympics bid in the future. For more on Denver’s unique relationship with the Olympics, check out our episode from July 23, titled “The Case for a Denver Olympics.” There’s a whole lot more to this City Cast Denver thing than just a podcast. We also have a newsletter, with the Denver news you need, as well as great event recommendations and other ways to help you connect with your city. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget about the tweets? @citycastdenver

Since he guest hosted the show this past week, you know that donnie l. betts is an activist, storyteller, filmmaker, and producer of audio dramas. So we couldn't help but share a little more of his work, especially since it connects with so many of the themes we discussed on the show this week. "The Tale of the Bullet" explores America's obsession with guns from the perspective of the bullet. He initially released it as an episode of his podcast, Destination Freedom: Black Radio Days, which is a revival of the first African-American radio drama by Richard Durham, and, like its predecessor, tells the stories of people of color and highlights important issues. The full version of "The Tale of the Bullet" ends with a conversation with activists and families who have been impacted by gun violence, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Find out more about Destination Freedom: Black Radio Days on donnie's website, and check out the original Destination Freedom show here. Don't miss our daily newsletter, delivered fresh to your inbox every weekday! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don't forget about the tweets! @CityCastDenver

The Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is tonight! Yes, they’re still calling it that, even though it’s definitely 2021. No, there won’t be fans in the stands. No, the Japanese public doesn’t want this to be happening. Yes, we’re feeling as conflicted about it as you are. But Denver’s relationship with the Games has always been conflicted. We were the first city to be awarded the Games that turned around and said, “no thanks.” And every 20 years or so since, some group of local boosters has tried to get them back. So today and Monday on the show, as the Tokyo Games get underway, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi is exploring Denver’s unique connection with the Olympics. First up, IMA Financial Group CEO and Chairman Robert Cohen. He led the most recent effort to bring the Games to Denver, and he’s on the show to share his case for a Denver Olympics. One hundred dollars. We’re giving it away, and it could be yours. All you’ve got to do is fill out our listener survey! It’ll only take a few minutes, and you’ll be helping us out a ton: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Did you hear that Lakeside Amusement Park opened for the summer last night? If not, you should really subscribe to our morning newsletter. It’s the best way to keep up with all the most important stuff happening in Denver. Get it here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Tweets! Get your tweets here! Fresh hot tweets!

It’s been two months since Denver lifted its mask mandate, and more than half of Coloradans are fully immunized against COVID-19. But many still aren’t, and the new, more contagious Delta variant is now the dominant strain. So are we going to see another mask mandate like they have in Los Angeles? And what’s going to happen when schools open in the fall? We had questions about the state of the pandemic, so City Cast Denver guest host donnie l. betts sat down with epidemiologist Dr. Jonathan Samet to talk about the Delta variant, the latest vaccination numbers, and what we can learn from the 1918 flu pandemic. It’s donnie’s last regular show with us for the time being, but be sure to follow him on Twitter @donniebetts! You can find out more about his films and other work at www.nocredits.com, including the radio drama Destination Freedom: Black Radio Days (which is also available on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts). Subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And catch the tweets here: @CityCastDenver

“Just when the government was about to let crowds of people congregate again so that we could play our horns once more, the lid was clamped down tighter than ever.” That’s how jazz legend Louis Armstrong remembered his experience of the 1918 pandemic in New Orleans in his 1954 memoir Satchmo. “Everybody was down with it, except me.” Because he managed to survive, jazz flourished across the country in the mid-20th century, including here in Denver, where Five Points earned a reputation for world-class jazz. Armstrong himself even played at the iconic Rossonian Hotel on Welton Street. So now that the government is again allowing some crowds to congregate, are we on the brink of a jazz renaissance? City Cast Denver guest host donnie l. betts visits one of Denver’s premier jazz clubs, Dazzle, to listen to some music and talk through this moment in Denver jazz with legendary pianist Purnell Steen, Dazzle co-owner Matt Ruff, and trombonist Stafford Hunter. If you’re interested in sampling some live jazz for yourself, Stafford Hunter’s Young Lions are playing a set at Dazzle tonight — July 21 at 7 p.m. — but if you can’t make it down there, Dazzle is offering a livestream to enjoy the performance from home. Find all the details right here. Looking to pocket an extra $100? All you’ve got to do is fill out our listener survey, and you’ll have a chance to win it all! It’ll only take a few minutes, and you’ll be helping us out a ton: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Get our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow us on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

These are boom times for gun sellers in Colorado, with more gun purchases reported in 2020 than in 2000, 2001 and 2002 combined, according to the Denver Post. Look a little closer at those numbers, and the story gets a little more complicated, especially for Black people in Denver. City Cast Denver guest host donnie l. betts sits down with Alton Clark, the founder of 5280 Steel, a local gun club that saw its membership double in the past year. Then, he takes a tour of 1770 Armory and Gun Club, a new virtual firing range that opened in Five Points last September, with one of its founders, Shawn McWilliams. They discuss their personal relationships with guns, the taboo of gun ownership in the Black community, and what they think is driving the recent boom in gun sales. To hear donnie’s production of The Knock-Kneed Man: The Story of Crispus Attucks Freedom Fighter, click here. Want to win $100? All you have to do is tell us what you think about City Cast Denver. Take our listener survey, and you’ll be entered to win! https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

Earlier this year, journalist Julian Rubinstein published The Holly, a thorough and revealing look at the history of gang violence in Denver, focusing in particular on the story of one former gang member turned anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts. It’s a fascinating book that answered many questions about a little-understood issue in our city, and it landed as violent crime is once again on the rise. So is the current spike in homicides and shootings related to gang violence? And how big is Denver’s gang problem anyways? City Cast Denver guest host donnie l. betts sat down with the new head of Denver’s anti-gang efforts, Nicole Monroe, to talk through how gangs operate in Denver today and what her office is doing about it. For more on gang violence in Denver, here’s a link to our episode earlier this year with Julian Rubinstein and Terrance Roberts. Want to get your hands on some ferociously cool City Cast Denver swag? Sign up for our new perks program. Get your personal referral link here, and start sharing with friends you think would appreciate a little more Denver in their days. If just one person uses your link to sign up, we’ll send you our personal recommendations for summer fun in Denver. Learn more and get started: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ And if you’re not already getting the City Cast Denver newsletter, you can subscribe right here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Don’t miss the tweets: @citycastdenver

It's time for another #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 The Taxman, Colorado Public Radio's three-parter on Douglas Bruce, the man behind the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and his legacy in Colorado today. Initially published in 2017, this is still a must-listen for any Coloradan who has ever wondered why our state has such a complicated relationship with taxes. The Taxman was produced by CPR News, specifically Rachel Estabrook, Ben Markus, and past City Cast Denver guest Nate Minor. Listen to the whole series here and follow Berry on Twitter @podcastsincolor. Catch up with the rest of CPR's podcast slate here.

TGIF! We’re back with another news round-up for you today, and this week City Cast Denver producers Paul Karolyi and Xandra McMahon are joined by award-winning storyteller, inventor, and activist donnie betts. We’re excited to have him on the show today, and to announce that he’ll be guest hosting City Cast Denver all next week! But first, listen in to this conversation about the week’s top stories, “meh” stories, and each person’s highlight of the week. If you want to hear more from donnie before he starts guest-hosting the show on Monday, do yourself a favor and listen to a few episodes of his podcast Destination Freedom: Black Radio Days. Speaking of highlights, did you know we put together a list of our favorite things to do in Denver in the summer? Refer just one person to the City Cast Denver newsletter, and you’ll get these recommendations in your inbox. Want to refer more people? We got some swag for you! Find out more and get your referral link here: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ If you have a few minutes, fill out our listener survey and let us know what you think of the podcast! It’ll really help us out, plus you’ll be entered in a drawing to win $100! Subscribe to the newsletter and stay on top of all the happenings: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! @CityCastDenver

History Colorado has been documenting the state’s stories since 1879, just three years after Colorado became a state. And the way we teach history has changed a lot in the last 142 years. In the organization’s recent past, controversy around a 2013 Sand Creek Massacre exhibit propelled History Colorado towards a more community-centered mission. And just this past week, the organization announced a new executive director, Dawn DiPrince. City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon sits down with Dawn to talk about History Colorado’s past, present, and future. Like the show? Have an idea of how we could make it better? Take our listener survey and get a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Want even more City Cast Denver in your life? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget about the tweets! @citycastdenver

What do Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead have in common? If you guessed music, good for you, that’s correct. But more specifically, they all played shows at a long-forgotten hippie rock club in southwest Denver that was only open for 10 months in 1967 and 1968. DU professor Scott Montgomery and filmmaker Dan Obarski made a documentary, The Tale of the Dog, which argues that without that short-lived little club, Denver would never have been able to attract such high-profile acts and become the live music destination we know it as today. City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon sits down with Scott and Dan to talk through the six years of research that went into their documentary, the Family Dog’s lasting legacy, and the real story behind Canned Heat’s famous run-in with Denver police. The Tale of the Dog is available for streaming now. Find out more at thetaleofthedog.com. Do you love the show? Are there things we’re doing you want more of? Less of? We want to hear from you! Take our listener survey and be entered for a chance to win $100. It’ll only take a few minutes. Here’s the link: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Want even more City Cast Denver in your life? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget about the tweets! @citycastdenver

Housing activists and our unhoused neighbors say that the City of Denver has been increasing sweeps of homeless encampments ahead of today’s MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field, and many have accused Mayor Michael Hancock of attempting to whitewash our housing crisis for the TV cameras. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Denverite reporter Kevin Beaty filed records requests to get a better picture of the underlying data, and he sits down with City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon to unpack it. For an even deeper dive into the data Kevin dug up, here’s his report for Denverite. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

The Globeville and Elyria-Swansea (GES) neighborhoods never seem to get a fair shake. Hemmed in by industrial polluters, highways, and massive commercial real estate developments, the area has long been among the poorest and most marginalized in the city. So when the City of Denver suspended work on one piece of the redevelopment of the new National Western Center during the pandemic, they saw an opportunity to claim some community control. City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon sits down with the director of the GES Coalition Organizing for Health and Housing Justice, Nola Miguel, and GES Coalition organizer and lifelong resident Alfonso Espino to talk about reparations and their new campaign to establish a “community-driven” planning process for that land. Read the GES Coalition’s whole plan for The Triangle right here. Have you been hoping for a way to support your favorite local daily news podcast? We want to make the best show we can, and we could use your help. Take just a few minutes to fill out this listener survey, and you’ll be entered to win $100: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ Want even more City Cast Denver in your life? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget about the tweets! @citycastdenver

Happy Friday! We’re shaking things up a bit and have 15 minutes of news catch-up for you. City Cast Denver producers Paul Karolyi and Xandra McMahon chat about the top stories from the week, that huge upcoming sporting event, and the news that made them feel “meh.” Want a shot at a $100? All you’ve got to do is fill out our new listener survey here: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ It’ll take 5 minutes, and no matter what we’ll be grateful! And you can get some sweet City Cast Denver swag FOR FREE if you refer some of your friends to subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter. If just one of them signs up, you get our personal recommendations for summer in the city. How cool is that! Grab your referral link and get started here: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ Subscribe to the newsletter and be caught up on the news all the time: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

Earlier this week, City Cast Denver listeners brought to our attention the story of Lakewood resident Ameer Allen and the alleged police brutality he experienced in February. He says he was the victim in an altercation with a tow truck driver, but when the police arrived, they too assaulted him. He was arrested and now faces four misdemeanor charges. Since then, a Lakewood city council member who heard his story has taken up his case, which goes to trial in August. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi talked with Ameer and Moe Clark, the journalist who broke the story, about the incident itself and its aftermath. Want a shot at a $100? All you’ve got to do is fill out our new listener survey here: https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/ It’ll take 5 minutes, and no matter what we’ll be grateful! Hey, do you think some of your friends or family members would enjoy the podcast and our awesome newsletter? Refer them with this link: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ and get hooked up with swag! Subscribe to the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And find the tweets here: @CityCastDenver

We are smack in the middle of Great Outdoors Season, and it might be a good time to remind you that no, you should not touch that cute baby animal. City Cast Denver Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Jason Clay of Colorado Parks and Wildlife to talk this year’s wildlife trends. Plus, a new VOICE on the Street! This time, Denver VOICE vendor Raelene Johnson shares a poem she wrote about gun violence. The Denver VOICE provides opportunities to Denverites experiencing homelessness and other forms of economic inequity. If you’d like to support VOICE vendors like Raelene, head over to denvervoice.org/donate. They even have Venmo, so if you want to get a little help directly to Raelene, follow this link and add her name to the note attached to your transfer. Subscribe to the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Feast your eyes on the tweets: @CityCastDenver Hey, do you think some of your friends or family members would enjoy the podcast and our stellar newsletter? Refer them with this link: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ and get hooked up with swag!

Lisa Calderón is one of those people in Denver politics that everybody knows. Whether she’s running to be Denver’s first female mayor or making change by working as Chief of Staff for her friend, Councilperson Candi CdeBaca, she’s built power around her name. And now she’s taking that power and reputation to Emerge Colorado — an organization that trains Democratic women on how to run for office. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Lisa to chat about her plans as the organization’s new executive director and why, in 2021, women still aren’t equitably represented in politics. Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of moths? We know. It’s that time of year, when the miller moths complete their annual migration from the plains to the mountains, wreaking havoc on Coloradans along the way. This year, we caught it all on mic … except, not really. Enjoy this dramatic audio presentation from the City Cast Denver crew, which is a loose adaptation of Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds. For moth removal tips, check out this article. To learn more about the miller moths in particular, this CSU fact sheet should answer all your questions. Looking for some fun stuff to spice up your summer? Sign up for our new perks program and get personal summer recs from the City Cast Denver crew if JUST ONE of your friends subscribes with your referral link. Get your link here, and start sharing now! Learn more and get started: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ The tweets! Won’t someone please think of the tweets!? @citycastdenver

When longtime CEO of Denver International Airport Kim Day announced her retirement back in May, Mayor Michael Hancock called up an old friend and colleague to see if he wanted the job. That friend, former RTD CEO Phil Washington, jumped at the chance to move back from Los Angeles — can you blame him? But now that some pretty serious allegations about his time with LA Metro have come to light, Phil has got some explaining to do. Axios Denver’s Alayna Alvarez has been covering the allegations, and she chats with City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi to break it down. Plus, producer Xandra McMahon was there yesterday when City Council members questioned Phil Washington on his record, the allegations, and his plans for the future of the airport. For more on Phil Washington’s record with RTD and LA Metro, past and future City Cast Denver guest Jon Murray has the story for the Denver Post. Want to get your hands on some ferociously cool City Cast Denver swag? Sign up for our new perks program. Get your personal referral link here, and start sharing with friends you think would appreciate a little more Denver in their days. If just one person uses your link to sign up, we’ll send you our personal recommendations for summer fun in Denver. Learn more and get started: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/ And if you’re not already getting the City Cast Denver newsletter, you can subscribe right here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Two years ago, Kayvan Khalatbari was running to be mayor of Denver. He had started a chain of pizza shops, helped legalize cannabis, supported numerous arts organizations, and he had big plans for managing Denver’s growth. Now he’s the ringleader of a growing group of progressive-minded Denverites decamping for Trinidad, Colorado, a small rundown town on the New Mexico border. Mutiny Information Cafe is opening an outpost down there this summer. So are the owners of Grandma’s House Brewery and the Hi-Dive. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Kayvan to talk about what he sees in Trinidad that he no longer sees in Denver. Plus, we’ll hear from another Trinidad booster, Denver’s iconic historical preservationist, Dana Crawford. Don’t miss another morning with the City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets @citycastdenver

Free love, psychedelic drugs, and the Grateful Dead: These are the tenets of Denver’s thriving jam band scene. But for decades, jam musicians say they’ve been dealing with a gatekeeper who projects a positive image while walking all over them. After some much more serious allegations against Denver’s ‘Grandfather of Jam Music’ came to light in March, some of those frustrated musicians are taking a stand. Two of the organizers behind the new Colorado Musicians Union, Aidan Pagnani and Sarah Mount, are on the show today to talk about Jay Bianchi’s role in the scene, their boycott campaign, and their plan for a more equitable local music community. Plus, one of the women accusing Jay Bianchi of sexual assault shares her story. Past (and future) City Cast Denver guest John Wenzel has been covering the allegations against Jay Bianchi for the Denver Post. Click here to read Jay’s response and more about the case. The Colorado Musicians Union is organizing a picket/protest outside So Many Roads Brewery at 5:30pm on July 1. More details are available on their Facebook page. Craving a little more Denver in your day? Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

It’s beach-reading season, people. And one of Denver’s best novelists is back with an absolute corker of a mystery. Since he left a career in criminal justice, Manuel Ramos has published 11 novels and one short story collection — all revolving around Denver and specifically the Chicano community Manuel knows so well. His latest is Angels in the Wind: A Mile High Noir. It follows ex-con private investigator Gus Corral out of his native Northside and onto the Eastern Plains for a story rooted in family and the urban-rural divide. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Manuel to talk about Chicano Noir and how the genre allows him space to explore some of the darker aspects of life in Colorado. In addition to his many novels and short stories, which you can find here, Manuel is also co-founder and a regular contributor to La Bloga, the award-winning Chicana Chicano, Latina Latino literary blog. For more local authors of color, Manuel recommends checking out Mario Acevedo, who writes mysteries and thrillers with a supernatural twist; Rudy Garcia, who writes supernatural fiction geared toward young adults and children; and David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an indigenous author whose book Winter Counts was nominated for the 2021 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The 2021 Colorado Book Awards were awarded this past Saturday. For a full breakdown of nominees and winners, click here. Looking for a little more Denver news and culture in your life? Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

We’re doing things a little bit differently today. It’s Friday and it’s Pride weekend, so City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon invited her friend and fellow journalist Danika Worthington to hang out and talk all things Denver Pride at the city’s last lesbian bar, Blush & Blu, which also happens to be one of the last lesbian bars in the whole country. Xandra and Danika talk about what Blush & Blu means to them, why they think lesbian bars are going away, and how they’re planning to celebrate Pride this weekend. If you haven’t heard our episode with Rex Fuller, CEO of The Center on Colfax, about his organization’s tough decision to block the police from formally participating in Pride this year, definitely go back and listen to that one this weekend. For more on Blush & Blu, here’s Danika’s profile of the place from the Denver Post back in 2017. If you’re still planning your Pride weekend, here’s a few helpful guides: How to Celebrate Pride in Denver This Week [Westword] Yes, there are in-person Denver PrideFest events this year. Here’s what you need to know. [Denver Post] Denver Pride [The Center on Colfax] Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets @citycastdenver

In the world of single-use plastics and Styrofoam, big changes are on the horizon for Coloradans … eventually. While Denverites will have to start paying for plastic and paper bags in July, the rest of Colorado won’t see the effects of a new bill until 2023 (if Polis signs it, of course). CPR News reporter Miguel Otárola has been following this potential plastics ban as it’s progressed through the legislature, and now that it’s poised to become law, he sat down with City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi to talk about what exactly is — and isn’t — in the bill, who opposed it, and what it means for restaurants, grocery stores, and the health of our planet. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

The economic recession caused by the pandemic is driving a wedge through Denver — and all of America. While many people have lost jobs or worked in dangerous conditions, many others have seen their lots in life improve, leading to explosive growth in the real estate, car, and furniture markets. It’s not an easy thing to talk about, and it’s way harder to do anything about it. That’s where Resource Generation comes in. It’s a nonprofit that helps young people with access to wealth and/or class privilege equitably redistribute money, land, and power. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi chats with two members of Resource Generation’s Colorado chapter who are each an heir to a family fortune. They talk about why they’re sharing their stories now, what they plan to do with that money, and how concentrated wealth can shape our city. Craving a little more Denver in your day? Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

This past year, Cherry Creek was more of a respite than ever. It’s the place to see world-class murals, walk with friends, and go for bike rides, but it’s a heckuva lot more important to Denver than just recreation. When City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi stumbled on a massive new creek renovation project last year, he uncovered a fascinating history of creek management (and mismanagement). Today on the show, Paul explores that history with Jesse Clark, a landscape architect the Mile High Flood District contracted to help reimagine our urban waterways and facilitate a healthier relationship between us humans and our beloved Cherry Creek. To see what this stretch of Cherry Creek between Quebec and Iliff is supposed to look like in a few years, here’s a mockup flyover Jesse shared with us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErfDZs0N2qU For even more on our urban waterways, past City Cast Denver guest Michael Booth has a great story this week in the Colorado Sun about a proposed rule change that would affect how much pollution gets into our water. Don’t miss another morning with the City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets: @citycastdenver

In the past 12 years, Denver has experienced an explosion of economic growth (as well as a slew of growing pains, such as increasing rates of inequality, homelessness, traffic, and gentrification). And it just so happens that those are the same 12 years that Kelly Brough served as a leader for the business community in her role as president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She’s made or influenced many key decisions that shaped Denver into what it is today, but no more! On September 1, she’ll be stepping down from the chamber to pursue other opportunities. So City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Kelly to talk through the ups and downs of the past 12 years, how she sees the current economic moment, and how she feels about the rumors of a mayoral bid. Want to meet more of the people shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets: @citycastdenver

The City of Denver finally recognized Juneteenth as a commemorative holiday earlier this year. But for many Denverites, it’s always been a big deal. The Juneteenth Music Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and every year the event gets bigger and the message gets stronger. And as we learned this week, it’s something of a family affair for organizer Norman Harris III. City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon tagged along with Norman as he made some final preparations for the concert, parade, and food festival. So take a trip down Welton Street with Norman and Xandra, and hear about the festival’s humble beginnings in a building developed by Norman’s grandfather and what it means to Norman to see Juneteenth become what it is today. Check out the full slate of events for this year’s Juneteenth Music Festival: https://www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com/ Don’t miss another morning with the City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Oh, and we’re friends on Twitter too, right?? @CityCastDenver

A few months ago, the Nuggets and the Avalanche both looked like championship contenders, but both teams flamed out hard in the playoffs. So what happened? City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi commiserates with Sports Guy Jake Shapiro (who also happens to be a breaking news reporter for the Denver Post). Plus, City Cast Denver’s resident foodie Peyton Garcia ate at Denver’s buzziest new fine-dining restaurant, Sunday Vinyl, and she’s here to tell you whether it’s a must-visit or a skip. Catch more Denver news and events with Peyton every weekday morning in the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Don’t miss the tweets either: @citycastdenver

When The North Face refused to print co-branded jackets for a Houston-based fracking company, Denver oil and gas execs cried foul, sparking a months-long trolling campaign to highlight what they see as hypocrisy in the outdoor recreation industry. It’s a showdown between one of Denver’s most powerful legacy industries and the new kid in town, VF Corp, the multi-billion dollar company that moved here in 2019 and owns The North Face, Jansport and dozens of other outdoor-oriented apparel brands. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Denver Business Journal reporter Greg Avery to get the whole backstory and talk through what it all says about Colorado’s relationships with climate change and our own history. Want to learn more about the people and ideas shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Don’t miss the tweets: @citycastdenver

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to kickstart an economic recovery that at the same time addressed our climate crisis? Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse thinks there is one. He’s proposing to bring back a popular program from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time — the Civilian Conservation Corps. Starting in the early 1930s, the CCC was meant to get people back to work after the Great Depression, and it left a lasting legacy here in Colorado — they built Red Rocks! But Neguse’s 21st-century version would look a little different. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with the congressman to talk about the new and improved Civilian Climate Corps, and how it could affect life in Denver sooner than you might think. Want to learn more about the people and ideas shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Don’t miss the tweets: @citycastdenver

When Councilperson Candi CdeBaca learned that Denverites were being evicted from their homes last year despite the federal eviction moratorium, she knew something had to change. The progressive young politician partnered up with Councilperson Amanda Sawyer on a new measure to help renters, and it passed unanimously on Monday night. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Candi to talk through some of the challenges she faces passing measures like this one and how she believes the new policy is going to help everyone in Denver — not just renters. Plus, Paul gets Candi on the record on some recent issues we’ve featured on the show, including the Park Hill Golf Course, the Reimagine Police and Public Safety Task Force recommendations, and which playoff run she’s been rooting for harder: Nuggets or Avs. If you live in Candi’s District 9 (Five Points, downtown, etc.), we recommend signing up for her newsletter. You’ll get regular updates on what Candi is working on and how you can get involved. And of course you’re already signed up for the City Cast Denver newsletter, right? If not, here’s the link you’re looking for: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get the tweets @citycastdenver

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