City Cast Denver

This past year, Cherry Creek was more of a respite than ever. It’s the place to see world-class murals, walk with friends, and go for bike rides, but it’s a heckuva lot more important to Denver than just recreation. When City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi stumbled on a massive new creek renovation project last year, he uncovered a fascinating history of creek management (and mismanagement). Today on the show, Paul explores that history with Jesse Clark, a landscape architect the Mile High Flood District contracted to help reimagine our urban waterways and facilitate a healthier relationship between us humans and our beloved Cherry Creek. To see what this stretch of Cherry Creek between Quebec and Iliff is supposed to look like in a few years, here’s a mockup flyover Jesse shared with us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErfDZs0N2qUFor even more on our urban waterways, past City Cast Denver guest Michael Booth has a great story this week in the Colorado Sun about a proposed rule change that would affect how much pollution gets into our water.Don’t miss another morning with the City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/And get the tweets: @citycastdenver 

In the past 12 years, Denver has experienced an explosion of economic growth (as well as a slew of growing pains, such as increasing rates of inequality, homelessness, traffic, and gentrification). And it just so happens that those are the same 12 years that Kelly Brough served as a leader for the business community in her role as president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She’s made or influenced many key decisions that shaped Denver into what it is today, but no more! On September 1, she’ll be stepping down from the chamber to pursue other opportunities. So City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Kelly to talk through the ups and downs of the past 12 years, how she sees the current economic moment, and how she feels about the rumors of a mayoral bid. Want to meet more of the people shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Get the tweets: @citycastdenver

The City of Denver finally recognized Juneteenth as a commemorative holiday earlier this year. But for many Denverites, it’s always been a big deal. The Juneteenth Music Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and every year the event gets bigger and the message gets stronger. And as we learned this week, it’s something of a family affair for organizer Norman Harris III. City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon tagged along with Norman as he made some final preparations for the concert, parade, and food festival. So take a trip down Welton Street with Norman and Xandra, and hear about the festival’s humble beginnings in a building developed by Norman’s grandfather and what it means to Norman to see Juneteenth become what it is today. Check out the full slate of events for this year’s Juneteenth Music Festival: https://www.juneteenthmusicfestival.com/Don’t miss another morning with the City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Oh, and we’re friends on Twitter too, right?? @CityCastDenver

A few months ago, the Nuggets and the Avalanche both looked like championship contenders, but both teams flamed out hard in the playoffs. So what happened? City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi commiserates with Sports Guy Jake Shapiro (who also happens to be a breaking news reporter for the Denver Post). Plus, City Cast Denver’s resident foodie Peyton Garcia ate at Denver’s buzziest new fine-dining restaurant, Sunday Vinyl, and she’s here to tell you whether it’s a must-visit or a skip. Catch more Denver news and events with Peyton every weekday morning in the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Don’t miss the tweets either: @citycastdenver

When The North Face refused to print co-branded jackets for a Houston-based fracking company, Denver oil and gas execs cried foul, sparking a months-long trolling campaign to highlight what they see as hypocrisy in the outdoor recreation industry. It’s a showdown between one of Denver’s most powerful legacy industries and the new kid in town, VF Corp, the multi-billion dollar company that moved here in 2019 and owns The North Face, Jansport and dozens of other outdoor-oriented apparel brands. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Denver Business Journal reporter Greg Avery to get the whole backstory and talk through what it all says about Colorado’s relationships with climate change and our own history.Want to learn more about the people and ideas shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Don’t miss the tweets: @citycastdenver

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to kickstart an economic recovery that at the same time addressed our climate crisis? Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse thinks there is one. He’s proposing to bring back a popular program from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time — the Civilian Conservation Corps. Starting in the early 1930s, the CCC was meant to get people back to work after the Great Depression, and it left a lasting legacy here in Colorado — they built Red Rocks! But Neguse’s 21st-century version would look a little different. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sat down with the congressman to talk about the new and improved Civilian Climate Corps, and how it could affect life in Denver sooner than you might think.Want to learn more about the people and ideas shaping Denver today? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Don’t miss the tweets: @citycastdenver

When Councilperson Candi CdeBaca learned that Denverites were being evicted from their homes last year despite the federal eviction moratorium, she knew something had to change. The progressive young politician partnered up with Councilperson Amanda Sawyer on a new measure to help renters, and it passed unanimously on Monday night. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Candi to talk through some of the challenges she faces passing measures like this one and how she believes the new policy is going to help everyone in Denver — not just renters. Plus, Paul gets Candi on the record on some recent issues we’ve featured on the show, including the Park Hill Golf Course, the Reimagine Police and Public Safety Task Force recommendations, and which playoff run she’s been rooting for harder: Nuggets or Avs.If you live in Candi’s District 9 (Five Points, downtown, etc.), we recommend signing up for her newsletter. You’ll get regular updates on what Candi is working on and how you can get involved.And of course you’re already signed up for the City Cast Denver newsletter, right? If not, here’s the link you’re looking for: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Get the tweets @citycastdenver 

After the explosion of outrage over police violence last summer, many activists turned to the hard work of incremental criminal justice reform. One of those efforts came to a head earlier this week on the second to last day of the legislative session. Colorado Freedom Fund founder Elisabeth Epps was there pushing for change that, she says, would have kept more people out of jail (and out of harm’s way). City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Elisabeth for a raw discussion about what happened at the Capitol on Monday evening, the long road to get there, and what she’s going to work towards next.For more on the Colorado Freedom Fund, click here. And do yourself a favor and follow Elisabeth on Twitter @elisabeth. Don’t miss another City Cast Denver newsletter! Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/And follow us for more news and fun from around the city: @citycastdenver

What happens to Denver if every service worker leaving the industry learns to code? Turing School of Software & Design trains programmer newbs for entry level tech jobs, and at the height of the pandemic they decided to make remote learning permanent. City Cast producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Turing’s executive director Jeff Casimir to talk through the data that led to that decision, what it says about the future of work, and how it’s going to affect the non-techies who have to live with it. And if you haven’t heard yesterday’s episode with Elle Taylor of Amethyst Coffee about the so-called labor shortage, you can find it here.Looking for ways to get a little more City Cast Denver in your life? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/And get the tweets @citycastdenver

As we slowly re-emerge from the pandemic, it seems like everyone is talking about a labor shortage. But is that really the problem? And is there a bigger story to tell about how our economy is changing? Today on the show, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Elle Taylor, co-owner and founder of Amethyst Coffee, to talk through her very different perspective on the so-called labor shortage. One year ago, as the coffee-buying people of Denver were sheltering in place, Amethyst eliminated tipping, raised prices, and increased wages for employees. Outside the Amethyst on Broadway, Paul and Elle discuss why she and her colleagues made that decision and why she hopes it was a just one small step towards a new, more equitable economy. We’re not done talking about the way our economy is changing. Watch your feed tomorrow for another take on the broader shifts and how they’re affecting Denver. Like what we do? Want more? Here ya go!Twitter: @CityCastDenverNewsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/