City Cast Denver

Goodbye, FirstBank! While PNC promised a smooth transition after it acquired the legacy “Colorado bank for you” for $4.1 billion, many customers are reporting real problems – like the woman who suddenly had access to her mother’s bank accounts. Green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval is back on the pod with host Bree Davies to talk about local banking brand loyalty, long wait times at the DMV, and the city’s plan to staff up and write more parking tickets. Plus, a bonus segment only for City Cast Denver Neighbors about why DPS superintendent Alex Marrero can’t seem to keep his desire to get out of Denver a secret.

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Bree discussed our episode on population trends, Joy’s Kitchen’s new location, and the child who died in a Veo e-bike accident last month. Justine mentioned Colorado’s struggle to find geriatric care doctors and Kelsey Pfendler’s record-breaking solo boat row from California to Hawaii. Check out City Cast’s national show, Your City Could Be Better!

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Do you have a nightmarish – or pleasant – DMV story? 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 this interview with Danny Feely, the Director of FP&A at TaskRabbit, learn more here.

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Did Denver really figure out how to solve homelessness? British news magazine The Economist recently touted Mayor Mike Johnston’s long-term initiative to get people into shelter, and the 64% drop in unsheltered homelessness since 2023 – but what did they miss? City Cast Denver regular Michelle Jackson joins host Bree Davies to discuss the mayor’s “all in” shelter plan. They also compare the latest homelessness work in Denver to Aurora’s new tiered shelter and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman’s decision to sleep at a shelter one night a week since February. Plus, they debate the merits of McDonald’s throwback fried apple pie and talk about the state of vendor variety – or lack thereof – at local farmers markets.

Bree mentioned her conversation about the behind-the-scenes work at farmers markets with City Park Farmers Market co-owner Peter Wanberg.

Sign up for Keep it Local! It’s our weekly shopping guide to Denver’s best local businesses. We pick a timely theme and give you specific recommendations for what to buy and where to eat. This week has got all our favorite places to get a fun, flirty, and most importantly cold drink ahead of this weekend’s heat wave! Sign up for the weekly newsletter now.

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Where’s your favorite local bakery to get a handheld apple pie? 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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Since voting to unionize back in November of 2024, Casa Bonita performers have gone to the table 14 times to negotiate wages, security issues, and workplace safety protocols, but have yet to reach a compromise with CB’s billionaire owners Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Pink Palace actor, union member, and City Cast Denver regular Joshua Emerson sits down with host Bree Davies to take us inside the ongoing labor fight. Then, they discuss the lawsuit and pending eviction of the Denver Immersive Repertory Theater, and Joshua shares a special top five list involving LeBron James, Taco Tuesday, and the Denver Nuggets!

For more on the labor situation at Casa Bonita, you can see for yourself the 10 recorded unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board and the one recorded OSHA complaint. Casa Bonita also responded to our interview request for Parker and Stone with the following statement: 

“At Casa Bonita, we value all of our team members and their well-being. As a policy we do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations.”

- Casa Bonita management 

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What do you think Denver could do to lure LeBron James to the Nuggets? 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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Is the city’s new $5 downtown parking program worth it to Denverites? After Mayor Mike Johnston came on the show last week to talk up his grand new plan to get people downtown, our dear listeners had a lot of thoughts and feelings about it. Jill Locantore, executive director of the Denver Streets Partnership, took particular issue with Johnston’s approach to the topic of drinking and driving – she joins host Bree Davies to share her perspective on the mayor’s new parking plan and some big ideas to fix Denver’s problems with car storage. Jill and Bree also discuss the Glendale City Council’s “no build” vote on bus rapid transit on Colorado Boulevard, the state of the Denver Deserves Sidewalks initiative, and more.

Bree mentioned Jill’s last appearance on the pod, when they discussed the idea of establishing parking benefits districts. Jill mentioned Families for Safe Streets’ recent recommendation for regulations on autonomous vehicles. Bree also talked about the ballot measure Denverites passed to create funding to fix, build, and replace sidewalks on a recent episode of Your City Could Be Better, City Cast’s national podcast!

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What do you think about BRT along Colorado Boulevard? 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 Tess Rowser, the Marketing Manager of the Water Lantern Festival, learn more here.

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Two years ago, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi interviewed a bona fide Colorado legend – two-term former Senator Gary Hart. He was the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987, but became notorious for how his campaign ended, with a shocking sex scandal. At the time of the call, Hart was 87, and City Cast Denver was working on our big Lauren Boebert project. Paul had questions only Hart could answer about how politics has become personal and the changing of the guard – themes that resonate from last week’s primaries. So, for the first time, we are sharing this interview about the warping effect of the media, Colorado’s political establishment, and the threat of nuclear war. 

Paul mentions Matt Bai and his brilliant book about Gary Hart, which was adapted into a pretty good movie starring Hugh Jackman – “All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid”

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What do you think about Gary Hart’s point of view? We’d love 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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See if your Denver knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with journalist and historian Alexandra Petri to see who knows more about U.S. history, geography, and celebrities ahead of the country’s semiquincentennial. Sean McPherson, trivia wiz and City Cast Twin Cities host, leads four riveting rounds of questions covering everything from The Declaration of Independence to the hottest college rivalries, and all 13 City Cast cities make an appearance. See how you stack up!

Mentioned on the show:

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

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The primaries on Tuesday ushered in historic change to our Mile High City, with a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist primed to take over the 1st Congressional District seat from a 30-year incumbent. But what exactly can we expect from Melat Kiros in Congress? And what change will Attorney General Phil Weiser bring if he can defeat the Republican nominee for governor in November? The Lever editor-in-chief David Sirota joins producer Paul Karolyi to question the narratives coming out of the Colorado primary elections this week, sort out the true winners and losers, and finish up with a special non-election-related Wins and Fails of the Week.

Paul talked about redistricting and a new housing development planned at York St. Yards. David talked about ice cream and his friend Bret Saunders. 

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What do you think Denverites should expect from Melat Kiros if she wins the general in November? 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

If you enjoyed today's interview with Tess Rowser, the Marketing Manager of the Water Lantern Festival, learn more here.

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The eyes of the nation were on Colorado yesterday as “anti-establishment” candidates took on some of Colorado’s longest tenured elected officials in the crucial Democratic primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, and Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love were at the victory parties, up late for the latest results, and they are breaking down what we know so far. Like, how 29-year-old Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros defeated incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette and how Attorney General Phil Weiser was able to edge out Sen. Michael Bennet in the governor’s race.

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What do you think about the Kiros and Weiser victories? 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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There’s one issue Denverites can never seem to agree on – parking. Does the city have too much or too little? Is parking too expensive or too cheap? Mayor Mike Johnston has his own idea of what’s wrong with parking in Denver, especially downtown, and he joins Westword editor-in-chief Patty Calhoun and producer Paul Karolyi today to discuss it. Plus, the mayor shares some thoughts on America’s semiquincentennial ahead of the Fourth of July holiday this weekend. 

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What do you think about the mayor’s $5 parking idea? 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

Did you enjoy this interview with Andy Caler from Energy Outreach Colorado? Learn more here.

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It’s birthday time in Denver! With America’s 250th birthday on the Fourth of July, and Colorado’s 150th birthday coming up on August 1st, the City Cast Denver team is in a mood to celebrate. The hilarious host of Good Night Denver, Miriam Moreno, joins producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi to share their pro tips on drones vs. fireworks, the best thrift stores to use the restroom, and the happy hour you can get to even if you don’t get off work until late.

For even more tips on how to make the most of July in Denver, check out Hey Denvers’s take on what to do this month. 

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What are you looking forward to in July? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 29th episode:

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