City Cast Denver

Harbingers of dystopia or the hottest trend in tech — Kalshi, Polymarket, and other prediction market platforms have come for local politics. You can right now bet on buzzy issues like the hotly contested race to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, but also on the utterly banal, like the temperature in Denver today. City Cast Denver contributor and founder of investigative journalism site The Lever David Sirota joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dissect the local prediction markets. Plus, City Council approves Mayor Mike Johnston’s new contract for Axon license plate readers, and Sirota’s got a rec for the best pet supply store in town. 

Subscribe to “Keep It Local,” our new Thursday afternoon shopping guide for curated recommendations of local small businesses. Paul also mentioned the podcast Election Profit Makers and our recent episode with Dr. Paul Teske of CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs.

Do you have a gambling problem? In Colorado, you call the 24/7 confidential hotline or text 1-800-GAMBLER

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What do you think about the prediction markets for local issues? We want to hear your take on Kalshi and Polymarket! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Spring is springing! Flowers are blooming! Who was hoping for a a real winter this year, anyway? Denverites are up and about, and the city is buzzing with great new places to eat and cool things to do. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable place to drink a beer while the kiddos play or searching your new favorite coffee shop that also serves as a revolutionary reading library, we’ve got plenty of very real, personal recommendations for how to make the most of April in Denver. Plus, if you were assembling the perfect Denver picnic, what locally produced or made foods would need to be in there? And where are you plopping down your blanket?

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What’s in your Ultimate Denver Picnic Box? We want to hear the great stuff we missed! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

If you enjoyed today's interview with Andy Cambron, the CEO of Multipass,⁠ ⁠⁠learn more here.⁠

Check out the upcoming events Andy mentioned here:

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While many Denverites were protesting at No Kings, watching the Denver Summit FC kickoff, or just enjoying the sun, Democrats from all over the state descended on Pueblo for their state assembly to nominate candidates for the primary election in June. Producer Paul Karolyi was in Pueblo following the action, and he’s on with Westword editor Patty Calhoun to share his reporting on some allegations against the frontrunner attorney general candidate, Jena Griswold, which surfaced mere hours before the vote. Plus, Patty discusses the news that she is retiring from Westword, and we hear from host Bree Davies who was on location Monday morning with green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval for a press conference at the Corky Gonzalez Library.

Patty mentioned retired judge Ann Frick’s op-ed for Westword about Secretary of State Jena Griswold – “⁠Jena Griswold’s Fabrications Are Disqualifying in AG’s Race⁠.” She also discussed ⁠Westword’s past coverage of Griswold’s “reign of error”⁠ as secretary of state and ⁠her own work⁠ on the former nuclear bomb plant Rocky Flats. 

Paul discussed the new allegations from former Griswold staffer Reese Edwards (⁠Part 1⁠ and ⁠Part 2⁠)

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Do you have a gardening question for our expert? Ann Marie Awad is ready to dig in and do the research to get you the answer you (and your plants) need. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Lakewood City Council passed a massive zoning ordinance last year to make it easier to build more types of housing. But implementation is on hold – several neighborhood groups gathered enough signatures, and now all of Lakewood will decide in a special election on April 7. So, today we’re bringing you both sides of the debate: First, Karen Gordey, manager of the “yes” campaign, joins host Bree Davies to lay out why some neighbors are concerned about the character of Lakewood being lost to density. Then, City Council member Roger Low explains why people like him on the “no” side of the debate want to keep new zoning rules and encourage housing density.

What do you think about the density debate in Lakewood? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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More affordable housing is needed in places like Denver. Some cities, however, are doing better than others at meeting this need. Austin, Texas, for example, is building more affordable housing than any other American city right now — 50% more, by some measures, than the second most successful city. However, this fast-growing city is also seeing a shortage in housing that middle- and lower-income residents can afford. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Austin podcast host Nikki DaVaughn about this paradox, the city’s affordable housing successes, and where Austin’s still falling short. Plus, how far is too far to walk to a neighbor’s house?

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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The fight for Congressional District 8 is heating up – known to swing both ways, the race is anyone’s game. In a party with a growing divide, democratic centrist Shannon Bird and progressive Manny Rutinel are both vying for the seat, so how will things shake out for the dems? Green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to discuss the CD8 tossup, plus talk about ⁠new over-the-top snacks⁠ coming to Coors Field, Westword editor-in-chief Patty Calhoun’s ⁠big retirement announcement⁠, and of course, our wins and fails of the week. 

Paul talked about Welton Street Café winning its $1 million case ⁠against a shoddy contractor⁠, and the ⁠GoFundMe for Eduardo Morales⁠, a TSA agent who was killed in a hit and run accident. Justine talked about the panaderia saving Jim’s Burger Haven from a ⁠big bun shortage⁠. Bree mentioned the Denver Post’s reporting on ⁠Bruce Brown’s mustache⁠.  

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Ski season is ending prematurely, spring flowers are popping up early, and well, it’s been hot! After our unseasonably warm and dry winter, Denver Water’s Board of Commissioners yesterday enacted Stage 1 drought restrictions. So what will that mean for Denverites? Contributor Joshua Emerson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love and host Bree Davies to confess their toxic water traits and talk about the regional context of drought conditions. Plus, they get into the debate over a new lot-splitting bill at the state legislature and pitch their ideas for Denver Summit FC’s mascot.

Bree mentioned this, but you can sign up now for City Cast Denver’s new weekly shopping guide newsletter Keep It Local! You can also email us at [email protected] if you have a local business you think we should feature.

What do you think should be Denver Summit FC’s mascot? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Tickets are still available for that Denver Summit FC home opener at Empower Field on Saturday!

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A video went viral last week showing Denver’s Congresswoman Diana DeGette ⁠being confronted by activists⁠ about her stance on military aid to Israel – but there’s a deeper story behind what the footage seems to show. Producer Paul Karolyi did some digging and shares the backstory with host Bree Davies and returning guest Adrian Felix. Plus, they dig into Denver City Council’s decision to ⁠postpone the vote⁠ on a new license plate camera reader contract and discuss the ⁠fallout of another bookstore⁠ disassociating itself from former Tattered Cover CEO Kwame Spearman.

Bree mentioned ⁠Spearman’s op-ed⁠ in Westword.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Neighbors of Burnham Yard – the proposed site of a future Broncos stadium in La Alma Lincoln Park – are ⁠concerned about the development’s impact⁠ on traffic flow, parking, and how pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure will be a part of the plan. Can team ownership be trusted to fully address these big picture transit issues? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to share what she heard from neighbors and what’s next for this city-transforming project. Plus, they look at the connections between ⁠a new lawsuit against the city⁠ filed by a lawyer for the city, and what it could mean for the future of federal funding for Denver International Airport.

Elliott talked about the ⁠conceptual map of plans to address traffic⁠ in and out of the Burnham Yard site.

What do you think about the plan for Burnham Yard? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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It’s been less than a week since the New York Times reported on allegations of sexual assault against labor movement icon César Chávez, and the City of Denver is already moving to rename the holiday, park, and federal building that carries his name. But what’s next? And what can labor organizers and activists learn from the story of Dolores Huerta? Former City Council president Ramona Martinez and our green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval join host Bree Davies to discuss the JBS strike, the role of Chicano and Latino women in these movements, and their advice for people holding on to open secrets. 

What do you think Denver should rename the park on Tennyson? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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