City Cast Denver

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Did We Really Need to Close Civic Center Park? Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

On September 15, the City of Denver set up metal barricades around Civic Center Park, blocking people from taking in all the new public art, eating lunch on the steps of the amphitheater, and strolling among the flower beds. But of course, that’s not what this was about. City officials describe the temporary shutdown as an essential measure to stem violence, crime, drug use and unsanitary conditions. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with past guest Ean Thomas Tafoya, who organizes what he calls “compassionate trash service” in the park, for a practical conversation about Denver’s housing crisis and other ways to make Civic Center Park more welcoming for everyone.

👉 What you can do: The Civic Center Conservancy and City of Denver are hosting a virtual, public workshop to help reimagine Civic Center Park tonight, September 23, at 5:30 pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/1528587610814267/?ref=newsfeed

Mayor Michael Hancock announced a “STAR-like” program for Denver’s jails last week. What the heck does that mean? We’ve got a full breakdown in our newsletter today, which you can read and subscribe to here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Smash that follow button: @citycastdenver

Breakfast at the New Zaidy's with David Sirota Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

Zaidy’s is back! Once a Cherry Creek staple, the Jewish deli’s owners decided it was time to close up shop after 35 years at the height of the pandemic in 2020. But thanks to a few enterprising Denverites, the restaurant returned last month — this time in the heart of southeast Denver’s Jewish community, where the new owners hope copious parking, a new event space, and a bakery will help Zaidy’s flourish for decades to come. One Denverite who was particularly happy about the new Zaidy’s? Journalist, political figure, and southeast Denver resident David Sirota. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies met up with Sirota for breakfast at the new Zaidy’s to talk about his relationship with the restaurant, his thoughts on Denver’s secret bagel wars, and how Zaidy’s fits into its new neighborhood, Virginia Vale.

For more on the new Zaidy’s, including some sweet pics courtesy of past City Cast Denver guest Kevin Beaty, here’s Denverite’s report on their reopening last month: https://denverite.com/2021/08/17/zaidys-reopens-in-virginia-vale-starting-a-new-chapter-for-the-beloved-jewish-deli/

Want more news delivered to your inbox each weekday morning? Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Have strong opinions on Denver’s bagel scene? Tweet us: @citycastdenver

A Better Way To Feed Denver’s Hungry Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

After being unhoused and struggling with food insecurity himself, Jim Scharper knew he wanted to help others. What started out as Jim making and handing out sandwiches to unhoused folks turned into Feeding Denver’s Hungry, a full-scale food access operation that connects Denverites with free groceries. Friends and strangers alike showed up to help Jim and now, eight years into this work, Feeding Denver’s Hungry connects thousands of community members with groceries of their choice. That idea of giving people a choice is crucial for Jim; he works to ensure that the people who utilize his services are able to maintain a sense of dignity — especially in a time of struggle. Host Bree Davies and producer Xandra McMahon met up with Jim and his crew at the Feeding Denver’s Hungry free grocery store in Montbello to learn more about this food access organization.

Plus, we’ve got another installment of our series “VOICE on the Street,” this time with Denver VOICE vendor LarMarques Smith. LarMarques takes us on a journey from his drag performer days in Indianapolis to his current life here in Denver. Learn more about the Denver VOICE’s work and read a current issue of the paper: denvervoice.org. Donate directly to The Denver VOICE via Venmo: @DenverVOICE

Get more news in your inbox every weekday morning by subscribing to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Breaking Down the Tay Anderson Investigation Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

Back in March, Black Lives Matter 5280 issued a statement on behalf of a woman who said that Denver Public Schools Board Member Tay Anderson had sexually assaulted her. From there, other claims of misconduct and assault surfaced, including statements by another woman who claimed to be speaking on behalf of more than 60 DPS students who Anderson supposedly assaulted. Anderson, who is also an influential activist leader and champion of local progressive politics, has maintained his innocence since the beginning. In response, DPS hired an outside investigative team to look into the claims, and last week the investigators published their findings. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Chalkbeat Colorado reporter Melanie Asmar to parse the report and lay out a timeline of this complex, ongoing saga involving one of Colorado’s youngest political figures and activists.

Tay Anderson is planning to address the community about his future with Denver Public Schools tonight — Monday, September 20 — at 6 pm at 2863 Welton St. For details, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2995835457304477/?ref=newsfeed

Read Melanie’s coverage of the investigation for Chalkbeat Colorado: https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/15/22674564/tay-anderson-colorado-investigation-results-released

Read the full 96-page investigative report: https://go.boarddocs.com/co/dpsk12/Board.nsf/files/C6VTCC76B280/$file/FINAL%20PUBLIC%20ILG%20REPORT%2020210915.pdf

Get more local news from the City Cast Denver daily newsletter by subscribing: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Follow the City Cast Denver team on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Concert Vaccination Protocols, Palm Scanning and Shotgun Willie’s Sep 17, 2021

Show notes

As more businesses and events require a COVID vaccine, and Gov. Jared Polis chomps at the bit for booster shots, the City Cast Denver crew asks the really tough questions: What’s it even like to go to a concert right now? When do you need to show proof of vaccination? Should you be wearing a mask? How much is it the ticket-takers' or security’s responsibility to uphold these big mandates?

Plus, Paul, Bree, and Xandra talk about Red Rocks’ dystopian, Bezos-approved ticket entry system. And a new segment is introduced that focuses on Glendale’s shenanigans, the tiny town in the middle of Denver that Paul warmly refers to as “the fully-loaded nacho lodged in Denver’s throat.” For example: How come Shotgun Willie’s is no longer bankrupt?

Here’s the whole letter to Fiddler’s Green that’s referenced in the episode: https://www.reddit.com/r/CoronavirusColorado/comments/po82j3/an_open_letter_to_fiddlers_green/

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We’re also on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

From Denver Catholic School to the E! Network: Justine Marino Talks High Plains Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

The High Plains Comedy Festival returns to South Broadway this weekend and the line-up is stacked with funny people, including Denver’s own Justine Marino who went from a “girl who loves the Cherry Creek Mall” to LA-minted stand-up comedian with her own show on E! to boot. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with her longtime friend and former Catholic school rival to discuss the festival, Justine’s own podcasting venture, and why Denver’s mall scene is so much better than LA’s.

Hey it seems like you enjoy podcasts. Check out Justine’s! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glitter-and-garbage/id1506683181

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We would love to be friends on Twitter! Follow us @citycastdenver

A Dead Accountant, 33 Zombie Businesses, and $2.3 Million in Fraud Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

Jeremy Jojola and Zack Newman were doing what they normally do as journalists at 9News: Poking around. What they came across though was a $2.3 million PPP loan fraud that could be traced back to a single office suite in Denver. We still don’t know who exactly was behind this fraud, but the bigger question is, how did they pull it off? Turns out, it’s not that hard to take over dormant business licenses in the state of Colorado. So what can the state do to close these loopholes and prevent further fraud? City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Jeremy and Zack to get the story behind the investigation and talk through the regulatory challenges around this kind of fraud prevention.

Have a tip for Zack, Jeremy and the 9Wants to Know team? Email them: blowthewhistle@9news.com

Stay up to date on what’s happening in Denver without ever leaving your inbox: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Connect with us on Twitter! @citycastdenver

What Happens When a County Breaks Up With Its Health Department? Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

It was one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the Denver metro area — the 1965 South Platte River floods — that initially led Douglas County to join the Tri-County Health Department in 1966. As DougCo grew and grew since then, Tri-County provided residents with crucial public health services ranging from syringe disposal to restaurant health inspections. But after 55 years and one global pandemic, their relationship has come to an end. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies speaks with Elliott Wenzler, who covers DougCo for Colorado Community Media, about why conservative-leaning Douglas County is breaking up with the Tri-County Health Department and what it’s going to mean for the health and safety of DougCo residents.

For more on the break-up with Tri-County Health and other goings-on in Douglas County, you can find all of Elliott’s stories at coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Want more Denver news and cool things to do in your inbox every weekday morning? You should subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

We’ve been saving some of our best tweets for today. Don’t miss them! @citycastdenver

How One Brewery Is Promoting Vaccines to Denver's Undervaxxed Latino Community Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

For breweries in Colorado, September is typically a month of fests. There’s Oktoberfest, of course. And then there’s the Great American Beer Fest to prepare for in early October. But with the Delta variant on the rise and increasing fears of breakthrough cases, the party is canceled — mostly. A community hub for Latino beer fans on Denver’s Westside, Raices Brewing Co. is bringing back Suave Fest this Saturday, and this year it comes with a gentle, thoughtful nudge in the direction of a COVID-19 vaccine. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Raices co-founder Tamil Maldonado to talk about her personal experience with COVID-19, the Latino community’s lagging vaccination rate, and how Raices is working to get more shots in her customers’ arms.

We’ve got plenty more Denver news and cool events you should know about in our newsletter. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Got a favorite local beer event that we should know about? We’re thirsty and listening: @citycastdenver

#ListenLocal: Escaping Denver Sep 11, 2021

Show notes

Our friend and resident podcast connoisseur Berry of Podcasts in Color is back with another recommendation to spice up your podcast feed with a little more local flavor. Berry’s pick this month is Escaping Denver, a fiction podcast that may or may not explore the conspiracy theories surrounding Denver International Airport.

For more podcast news and gossip, we recommend following Berry on Twitter @podcastsincolor. While you’re there, say hi to us @citycastdenver!

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