City Cast Denver

A new poll shows that Coloradans are “slightly” optimistic about the direction of the state. But a closer look at those numbers reveals a heckuva lot more. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by returning faves — politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval and Joshua Emerson, comedian, Casa Bonita employee, and co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission — to break down the data. Plus, we’re crowning Denver’s most epic wins and fails of 2023. 

Bree mentioned a piece she was quoted in about thriving DIY spaces. Paul wants you to know that the most prominent challenger to Lauren Boebert in the CD3 Republican primary is Jeff Hurd. 

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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The beverage of the moment here in Denver — like the rest of the country — comes from an unlikely purveyor: Panera Bread. But as our producer Olivia Jewell Love has been watching, local Paneras are making their new “charged” lemonade harder to access, as the company faces lawsuits alleging that the highly caffeinated sweet treat is more deadly than it seems. Olivia joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk through her reporting on the local lemonade situation, and then they break down the latest fight in RiNo over car-free streets. Finally, we’ve got some recommendations for your Denver weekend. 

Paul cited Axios Denver and BusinessDen’s coverage of the car-free streets. Bree mentioned the survey the City of Denver and RiNo Art District are running to ask for opinions on the closed block in RiNo. 

Here are links to our picks for your weekend:

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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What do you think are the biggest Denver wins and fails of 2023? We want to hear what you think are the wins and fails that defined the year in Denver. 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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Cold weather is a fact of life up here in Mile High. But current city policy says that Denver’s emergency warming centers should only open after temperatures dip down to 20 degrees — well below the point when the human body can experience hypothermia. Recently, Dr. Joshua Barocas, a medical doctor and associate professor at the CU School for Medicine, made a presentation to City Council arguing for a simple change to Denver’s approach to keeping people warm. Dr. Barocas joins host Bree Davies to explain why opening our warming centers before Denver gets too cold can save lives — and also save the city money.

The proposal to change temperature thresholds for Denver’s warming centers goes before the City Council’s Safety Committee December 20 as part of a cold weather shelter plan; if it passes, all of council may vote on the issue in January.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

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What do you think are the biggest Denver wins and fails of 2023? We want to hear what you think are the wins and fails that defined the year in Denver. 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 Central and South American migrants started arriving in Denver almost exactly one year ago, more than 30,000 people have arrived looking for support, housing, and all kinds of other help. While city officials are scrambling, everyday Denverites are stepping up — but still, the struggle to help migrants is clashing with Mayor Mike Johnston’s last-minute push to house 1,000 people already living in Denver by the end of the year. Host Bree Davies is joined by green chile and politics correspondent Justine Sandoval for a ground-level look at the neighborhood aid work happening across the city. Plus, a listener question pits Blucifer against the Big Blue Bear. And could the solution for our empty office buildings be daycare? 

Bree mentioned the City of Denver’s Newcomers Fund to help migrants, where you can find the city-run toy drive, and Justine mentioned this Denver Post article about Tamales by La Casita. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

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What do you think are the biggest Denver wins and fails of 2023? We want to hear what you think are the wins and fails that defined the year in Denver. 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 episode:

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The numbers are in and it’s official, Denver is not the car theft capital of the country. Car thefts are even down at DIA! So how did that happen? Host Bree Davies sits down with Director Robert Force and Cale Gould of the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority to talk about how new legislation and a mission from the governor’s office gave them the tools to turn around not just Denver’s auto theft problem, but to bring down year-over-year auto theft rates across Colorado in 2023 by 23%.

To see an auto theft heat map of Denver and learn more about decreasing your risk of car theft, check out the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority. The City of Denver also offers several crime dashboards and information on its car theft tracking system, DenverTrack. Bree mentioned the “Denver Boot.” 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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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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Colorado Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is a popular Denver holiday tradition, but ticket prices have barely increased in the last 25 years. So who’s really paying for it? And as the end of the year approaches, the Oxford English Dictionary has chosen “rizz” as the word of 2023. We want to know: If Denver had a word of the year, what would it be? Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by Lee Robinson and Kate McLachlan, co-hosts of the Dyketopia podcast and monthly comedy show, to discuss ticket pricing, Denver words, and of course, their Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows of the week. 

Lee and Kate’s A Very Merry Dyketopia live show this weekend is sold out, but sign up for their mailing list to get a heads-up on future events. 

Paul mentioned the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia across Denver, Adam Sandler, and Gov. Polis’s Dyketopia shout-out. Bree talked about a new DIY space. Lee discussed Front Range Passenger Rail and straight pride flags in schools. Kate talked about the Broncos and Call Your Mother.

What do you think should be Denver’s Word of the Year? Should it be “unhoused” or “micro-community” or something else entirely? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

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The hottest trend in Denver dining right now is the holiday pop-up. These timely takeovers have been popping up everywhere over the past few years, but this year it’s a bona fide eruption of campy, Christmas-y fun, with new stand-outs, contrarians, and even a Tiki-themed trend within a trend. Food writer Linnea Covington is Denver’s go-to holiday pop-up enthusiast, reporting on the trend for Westword and the Denver Post, and she’s on today with host Bree Davies and newsletter editor Peyton Garcia to talk about what’s hot and what’s not. Plus, they share their picks for your weekend.

Linnea mentioned her reporting on the Call to Arms Brewery’s pop-up “Big Holiday Energy.”

Here are some links to our weekend picks: 

What’s your favorite holiday pop-up bar? We need to know! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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The holidays are in full swing, but December is just getting started! From holiday markets in picturesque mountain towns to daytime New Year’s Eve parties for kiddos, there’s a lot happening in and around Denver before 2023 comes to an end. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love share their picks for fun ways to spend your days and nights in December. 

Here are some links to our picks:

Bree mentioned RTD’s final report on the ‘Zero Fare for Better Air’ program. For more, our pal Nate Minor at CPR has a helpful breakdown. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

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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

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

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Over the summer a show at Red Rocks was hit by a hailstorm that injured several people and left hundreds scrambling for cover. A lawsuit filed by 9News and reporter Steve Staeger reveals text messages between Red Rocks and city employees and law enforcement were not so sympathetic to the situation. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi dig into the texting drama plus other stories that matter this week, like the latest in findings around RTD’s Zero Fare For Better Air campaign and a new building the City hopes to buy.

Paul mentioned RTD’s final report on the Zero Fare for Better Air months this year and last. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

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Tim Hernández came on our show for the first time two years ago as a 24-year-old teacher who was not just burned out but burned up. He spoke out and suffered the consequences, losing his job with DPS but also becoming kinda Denver famous. Then this year, two things happened. First, Hernández was picked by Democratic leaders to fill a vacant seat in the state legislature. Second, on October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. The next day, Hernández went to a protest, talked to someone on camera about Gaza, and went crazy viral. Host Bree Davies sat down with Hernández to talk about what happened next. 

Check out some of Hernández’s early appearances on our show:

Here is the full text of the statement Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) sent us:

As I said publicly, I had several conversations with Representative Hernandez in which I urged him to condemn the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Following these conversations, I released a statement expressing my disappointment in the representative’s initial reluctance to condemn the attack and for his promotion of offensive social media posts that appeared to support it. I appreciated his apology, and I know he is working hard to learn from his actions. Finally, I want to be clear that I never discussed electoral implications with Rep. Hernandez, and I don’t know from where he heard that. I’m not going to comment further on the specific details of private conversations that I have with members.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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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

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise