City Cast Denver

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How ‘Dangerous’ is Dining Downtown? Plus, New Flavors of the Old West Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

It’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re surveying the dining scene with Westword’s food editor Molly Martin and editor-in-chief Patty Calhoun. First, Molly’s recent piece about giving leftovers away to an unhoused person sparked a heated conversation online about how “dangerous” it is to dine out downtown right now. So we’re digging into that thorny topic, then Molly and Patty report back from visiting two iconic Denver-area Western restaurants: The Fort, which is turning 60 this year, and El Rancho, which was recently reopened with new owners and Chef Frank Bonanno.

Help celebrate The Fort’s 60th anniversary with a big party this Friday, Feb. 17. Get all the details here.

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The 50-Year Fight to Desegregate Denver Schools Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

In the wake of Brown v. Board of Education, Denver Public Schools created a de facto segregation that was so bad, a group of Park Hill parents sued and their case went all the way to the Supreme Court. That landmark decision in 1973 led to decades of busing, white flight, and now “school choice,” prompting many parents and activists to ask, has DPS become de facto segregated again? To mark the 50th anniversary of Keyes v. School District No. 1, Chalkbeat reporter Melanie Asmar worked with Historic Denver on a new project uncovering the half-century fight to desegregate Denver schools, the challenges that remain today, and the story of one school that’s been at the center of it all: Park Hill’s Stedman Elementary.

Parents, don’t forget! Round one of Denver Public Schools’ choice process ends on Tuesday, February 14.

Rachel B. Noel and educator Debbi Blair talk about the Noel Resolution in this clip from the Higher Education Diversity Summit.

For more on busing, check out this 2019 piece featuring locals recalling their own busing experiences.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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Mayoral Madness: Ean Thomas Tafoya on Xcel, Public Safety, and the Park Hill Golf Course Feb 12, 2023

Show notes

Ean Thomas Tafoya is an environmental justice advocate and community organizer with 20 years of experience working with and within local government, he led the campaign to pass the Waste No More ballot initiative in 2019, and he’s running for mayor. He sits down with producer Paul Karolyi to talk about Xcel Energy, Public Safety, and the Park Hill Golf Course.

Ean wants you to know that he remembered the name of the coffee shop he mentioned. It’s the Curious Coffee near Colorado Blvd. and I-25.

We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before the April 4 election. So far, we've talked to:

Renate Behrens

Leslie Herod

Lisa Calderón

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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Mayoral Madness: Lisa Calderón on Transit, the Police Budget, and the Downtown Dilemma Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

Lisa Calderón is the executive director of Emerge Colorado, previously served as chief of staff for City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, and she’s running for mayor. She sits down with Host Bree Davies to talk about her plan for “transformational transportation,” how she’d adjust the police budget, and her plan for downtown.

We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before the April 4 election. So far, we've talked to:

Renate Behrens

Leslie Herod

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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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Swingers in Centennial, Nasty Politics, and Our Valentine’s Day Recs Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

It’s Friday and we’re digging deep into all the local stories that mattered this week. First, the mayor’s race isn’t the only big decision facing Denver voters this April. We’ll be picking new City Council members too, and those races are starting to take shape — and in one case, getting pretty nasty. With host Bree Davies out of town, producers Erin O’Toole and Paul Karolyi are talking politics and swapping Valentine’s Day recs with CPR senior host and hopeless romantic Nathan Heffel.

We talked about the anonymous mailers attacking D9 councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, the big names in the at-large race, and the swingers club in Centennial.

Our picks for your Valentine’s Day:

And, the weekend events Adrian brought for our consideration:

City Cast Denver is hiring! We’re looking for a Senior Account Executive to join our revenue team. Do you know someone who might be a good fit? Are you someone who might be a good fit? Check out the full listing here and let us know if you have any questions!

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How to Buy a Home Podcast

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How Former Mayor Federico Peña Would Fix Downtown (Again) Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Nearly three years of a global pandemic have done a number on downtown Denver — high vacancy rates, shuttering businesses, low foot traffic, and crime and safety concerns abound. It’s clear every mayoral candidate is going to need a plan to bring life back to our economic center, but the question is how? When Federico Peña was elected mayor in 1983, he faced a very similar set of challenges downtown. But he turned it around with his campaign to “Imagine a Great City,” leading to a period of sustained growth and prosperity. So as we gear up for the mayoral election on April 4, producer Paul Karolyi spoke with Peña about how he did it and what he’s hoping to hear from candidates today.

City Cast Denver is looking for a Senior Account Executive to join our revenue team. Do you know someone who might be a good fit? Are you that person? Check out the full listing here.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Help us find Denver’s best hot sauce! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and we’ll track down that hot sauce: (720) 500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:

How to Buy a Home Podcast

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$5.49 per hour?! Gig Drivers Speak Out Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

When you pay $80 for an Uber to the airport, how much of that fare goes to the driver? A recent survey of local gig drivers showed that they’re only making an average of $5.49 per hour. That data has brought the debate over gig work back to the state legislature, where some lawmakers are pushing a new “Gig Worker Transparency” bill to require these tech platforms to disclose information about payments to both the drivers and their customers. Today host Bree Davies talks with Uber and Lyft drivers Munir Abuzawida, Michael Machar, and Zaw Tun to get a full picture of what it’s like to work in the gig economy in Denver in 2023.

For more from Michael Machar on their recent advocacy work, here’s an op-ed he recently published with the Colorado Sun. Michael, Munir, and Zaw have been organizing with other drivers through a new organization called Colorado Independent Drivers United.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:

How to Buy a Home Podcast

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

Queer Catholic Teacher Fired, Local Business Gossip, and Which Mayoral Candidate is Lying? Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

It’s Tuesday and we’re breaking down the big stories of the week so far: The mayor’s race is heating up, and we’re finally getting to know the lesser known candidates — like Andy Rougeot, who made some big claims on AM radio recently, which 9News promptly investigated. Then, there’s the story of Maggie Barton, a teacher who was fired from All Souls Catholic school in Englewood — the Archdiocese claims it wasn’t because she’s gay. Later, we talk local business, with VF Corp’s recent slump and Duffeyroll’s surprising growth. Finally, we debut “Paul’s Movie Corner” so producer Paul Karolyi has an excuse to talk about a weird Netflix movie starring Kevin James as the Broncos incoming head coach, Sean Peyton. (Oh, and we have a Casa Bonita update, but shhhh it’s top secret!)

Thanks to 9News, CPR, and Denver Business Journal for their reporting and to Bree’s unnamed friend who may or may not have snuck her a photo of the inside of a still-in-progress Casa Bonita renovation.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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Should we invite some expert guests to watch the Sean Payton biopic with us? Let us know with a text or a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬

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The Lost History of Colorado’s Black Pioneers Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

It’s Black History Month, and we’re thinking about the people and experiences that have been foundational to this place. Much of who and what has been depicted as Coloradohistory paints a picture that is not very diverse, let alone accurate. But Colorado’s history is Black history — today on the show, host Bree Davies talks with Dexter Nelson II, History Colorado’s associate curator of African American History and Cultural Heritage, about The Dry, a Black homestead that dried up long ago. The tale of The Dry is one of Black excellence and perseverance in the face of harsh environmental and social conditions.

You can learn more about the Black Heritage Trail and download the new History Colorado app.

Additional music in this episode is by Jason Shaw and adapted here under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.

In the newscast, Bree mentioned the cute baby sloth born last week at the Denver Zoo, which you can see here.

Want to work for City Cast Denver? Check out our latest job posting for a Senior Account Executive.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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 sponsor of this episode:

How To Buy a Home podcast

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

Mayoral Madness: Renate Behrens on Housing, Transit, and What We Can Learn From Germany Feb 05, 2023

Show notes

Renate Behrens worked as a caretaker in Germany before moving to Colorado to get married, and she wants to be Denver’s next mayor. She speaks with producer Paul Karolyi about transportation, homelessness, and Casa Bonita.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬

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