City Cast Denver

A senior state employee filed a lawsuit last week alleging that Governor Jared Polis has violated state law by cooperating with a subpoena for information from ICE. Anti-ICE protesters have been marching in Denver’s streets all week and Polis was already in hot water with Democrats after he set his personal record for vetoing bills, so why would he do this now? David Seligman is a candidate for state attorney general and the executive director of Towards Justice, a non-profit law firm that just joined the lawsuit against Polis, and he’s on with host Bree Davies to break down the case and try to imagine what the governor is thinking. After we recorded this conversation, we heard back from Governor Polis’s spokesperson. She send us the following statement:  “The Governor is committed to preventing the illegal exploitation and trafficking of children. This lawsuit is unfortunately delaying an investigation focused on looking into child exploitation and trafficking. The decision to respond to this federal subpoena to support the investigation into crimes against vulnerable minors was carefully considered in accordance with Colorado law, which allows for sharing information to support timely criminal investigations. Keeping kids safe is a top priority, child exploitation is a deeply concerning issue, and has no place in our state. Complying with this federal subpoena meets the requirements laid out in state law and providing this information is in service of investigating and preventing  criminal activity, which Governor Polis is deeply committed to.”  What do you think about this lawsuit? Or about the anti-ICE protests playing out in Denver right now? 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 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 If you enjoyed this interview with Kelsey Simpkins from Regional Air Quality Council, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 12th episode: RAQC Central City Opera Denver Health Multipass Edgewater Music Festival Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denverites are paying higher rates for water this year, in part, to fund construction on the expansion of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County. But longtime Denverites will be forgiven for asking: Didn’t dam-building in the West go the way of the dodo decades ago? Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Denver Water’s new CEO/Manager Alan Salazar to talk about the legal battle his agency has been waging with environmentalists over the expansion of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County and how he’s thinking about Denver’s future growth.  For more on the details of the legal fight over Gross Reservoir, we recommend the Colorado Sun’s ongoing coverage. And if you haven’t seen it, you should really check out “I water that way” by the Splashstreet Boys.  What do you think about Denver Water’s expansion of Gross Reservoir? 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 Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 11th episode: RAQC Central City Opera Denver Health Multipass Edgewater Music Festival Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The podcast dives into the fierce housing debates erupting in Denver's suburbs, focusing on the clash between YIMBYs and NIMBYs. It examines a major lawsuit against Governor Polis’ push for increased housing density and the community's response to proposed developments in Littleton and Lakewood. Listeners will hear about the impact of zoning laws, grassroots activism, and local concerns over parking and environmental implications. The conversation sheds light on the ongoing struggle to balance growth with community preservation.

Depending on who you ask, Denver is either a great place to live or a crime-ridden hellhole. So how does the Denver Police Department approach such a problem of perception versus reality? Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas has an answer. He sits down with host Bree Davies to discuss the ongoing battle of narratives around safety in the city, as well as the recent controversy around DPD’s use of Flock surveillance cameras and whether ICE can access that surveillance data. Plus, the chief addresses DoBetterDNVR’s constant complaining and answers listener questions on everything from “bad apple” cops to graffiti problems in RiNo. 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 What do you think about the job DPD Chief Thomas has been doing? 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 Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 9th episode: RAQC Central City Opera Denver Health Multipass Edgewater Music Festival Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is in Denver this week for a defamation trial over his claim that a local election worker rigged the 2020 presidential election. His antics inside and outside the courtroom are getting lots of attention, and he’s calling it the “trial of the century.” But what’s really at stake? Then, will the Rockies continue their historic losing streak? Regardless of how much they suck, Coors Field is still drawing big crowds. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are joined by capitol insider Deep Singh Badhesha to dig through all the news, plus our wins and fails of the week.  What do you think about the Rockies? Boycott or buy a ticket to watch the historic ineptitude for yourself? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Deep talked about a previous episode involving Aaron Gordon’s chicken parties. Bree mentioned 9News’ coverage of the Mike Lindell trial, Adam Cayton-Holland’s piece on the Rockies, and the newish skatepark in Barnum Park. Paul talked about former mayor Wellington Webb’s ideas for the old Park Hill Golf Course and alluded to some concerns raised about the Denver NWSL’s new general manager.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Watch the Friday show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver 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: Denver Botanic Gardens Elizabeth Martinez with PorchLight Real Estate Do you have a question about Denver real estate? Submit your questions for Elizabeth Martinez HERE, and she might answer in next week’s segment. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Can you really beat a simple bomb pop on a hot summer day? These days in Denver, you definitely can! The Mile High is chock full of chocolate, bursting with boba, and overflowing with all kinds of over-the-top ice cream confections. So now that summer temps are here, producer Olivia Jewell Love and our food contributor Helen Xu join host Bree Davies to swap recommendations of their favorite indulgent, nostalgic and just plain delicious cool treats from across the metro area.  By coincidence, Denverite published a profile of one of Olivia’s picks yesterday — Ichigo Matcha.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. What’s your favorite cool treat for summer? We want to hear about your fave! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 5th episode: Denver Botanic Gardens Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Business in Denver is not booming the way it used too. Sales and property taxes are way down, and Mayor Johnston recently announced that city staff can expect layoffs and furloughs as a result. So what’s the plan to open the city back up for business? Adeeb Khan is the executive director of Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, which means it’s his job to help Mayor Johnston figure it out. He joins host Bree Davies to discuss what it means for Denver to be more “vibrant” and “scrappy,” and how he’s implementing the mayor’s plan to get the city back on track. 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 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 other sponsors of this June 4th episode: Denver Botanic Gardens Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

On Sunday in Boulder, a man wielding what authorities are calling a “makeshift flamethrower” injured eight people who had gathered on the Pearl St. Mall to call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies discuss what is known about the situation — as of the afternoon of June 2, when this show was recorded — and talk about the state of the conversation around Israel and Gaza here in Denver. 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 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 other sponsors of this June 3rd episode: Denver Botanic Gardens Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for 40% off all men's apparel and more.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Palestinian solidarity protesters interrupted two congressional town halls in the metro area last week, calling attention to Rep. Jason Crow and Senator Michael Bennet’s support for Israel, but also the role of one of Denver’s largest and most mysterious companies: Palantir Technologies. So we’re revisiting a conversation producer Paul Karolyi had a few years ago with Bloomberg Businessweek reporter Max Chafkin about his reporting on the defense contractor’s co-founder Peter Thiel, how Palantir makes money, and why it moved to Denver in 2020.  This episode first aired on October 18, 2021.  Chafkin’s biography of Peter Thiel is called “The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power.” Host Bree Davies mentioned two stories about former Palantir workers — one about a group of employees who sent an open letter to NPR and another from More Perfect Union about a former worker who became disillusioned about the company.  What do you think about Palantir? We want to know what you think about our new neighbor! 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 Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 2nd episode: Denver Botanic Gardens Xcel Energy Denver Fringe Festival Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

After almost a year of slowdowns, RTD announced this week that every light rail line is finally back up to full speed. But will riders return to the trains? State Representative Alex Valdez joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to talk about the pandemonium in our streets, from RTD’s plateaued ridership to Gov. Jared Polis’s veto of the big Uber sexual assault bill. Plus, we discuss a fantastic Denverite article about Denver Health’s ambulance crews and share our wins and fails of the week.  Do you have a question for Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas? We’re sitting down with the chief soon, and we want to know what you think we should ask him. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and we might put your question to Chief Thomas: 720-500-5418 Paul talked about Blazing Bird, downtown bike lanes, and the sexual assault statistics that Uber and Lyft have reported. Alex discussed City Council’s vote on the NWSL stadium proposal and new condos for sale downtown. Bree mentioned the recent spate of measles cases in Colorado. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Watch the Friday show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver 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 May 30th episode: Central City Opera - use the code CITYCAST to get 20% off select dates Xcel Energy Denver Fringe Festival Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise