City Cast Denver

It’s Friday! And we’re looking back at the news of the week with one of our favorite returning guests — podcaster extraordinaire and weed expert Ann Marie Awad. She joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dig deep into two debates over the state of our streets. Does Denver suck at plowing snow? And should we decriminalize jaywalking? Plus, Bree has a few words of remembrance for the great architecture critic Mary Voelz Chandler who passed this week, and as usual, we’ll help you pick some cool stuff to do this weekend. We mentioned Michael Paglia’s remembrance of Mary Voelz Chandler for Westword (and her own excellent blog, Chandler in Denver, and her 2021 appearance on our show), Jim Charlier’s epic twitter thread on plowing policy, and this Denverite article on the plowing problem: Is Denver Bad at Snow Plowing?For more cool event recs and news from around the city, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenverLearn more about the sponsor of this episode:Westwood AcademyLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertiseWe reached out to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure for comments on the plowing situation. Here are their responses, edited for length:CCD: Do you know if DOTI has any plans to re-assess its snow removal strategy? If so, how does the changing climate factor into those plans? The storm we received on December 29 was a particularly challenging storm event in that it was a wet, heavy, spring-like snow that hit during the coldest time of year. The snow also fell at very fast rate (1 to 3 inches an hour). Conditions on the main streets improved with subsequent passes by the plows. It was unusual for us to have a spring-like storm in December. So, we will be looking at… was this a one-time thing? Or a new trend amid global warming? These are the things that we’ll look at --- any new trends over the course of several seasons and see if we need to adjust. Here is more on that:  we assess our snow program after every snow season, especially as we install more and new kinds of bike infrastructure, to evaluate what kinds of new equipment we might need, and so that we can make a budget ask for it.  we will want to keep main streets a priority to ensure emergency vehicles and people can get where they need to go. we’re interested in continuous improvement and in discussing snow removal approaches that better support alternative modes of travel during the winter months, and large-scale programmatic changes will require expansions in people and in equipment. COVID put us in budget reduction mode, but as our city recovers, there may be opportunities in upcoming budget cycles to reignite discussions about service level expansions that the administration and elected officials want to fund.  CCD: I saw that the budget for plowing was $3 million in 2019. I can’t seem to find a more current budget. Do you happen to have that figure as well?We have about $3M in 2023 as well. If we need additional dollars due to an unusually active snow season or a big event at the end of the year, we would ask for a supplemental. Safety comes first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grocery prices are through the roof, but gas is under $3 a gallon. The housing market in Denver finally seems to be cooling, but mortgage interest rates are high. Governor Polis campaigned for re-election on how well Colorado is doing, but some experts say a recession is looming. So, what gives? What’s going on with Denver’s — and Colorado’s — economy and how should we feel about it in 2023? Today on the show, host Bree Davies talks with Rich Wobbekind, senior economist at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, about inflation, the job market, and if we should be worried about that recession or not. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:Westwood AcademyLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Given the city’s strained resources, the expansion of recycling and compost service next year will be a significant burden that might not come with the hoped-for environmental benefits.” Denver’s auditor Tim O’Brien wrote those words back in November about the 2023 rollout of some big changes to our waste removal system. Denverites will soon have both compost and recycling pickup weekly for free — but residents will also be charged by volume for trash service. Plus, voters approved the Waste No More ballot initiative, making it mandatory for all private businesses (including apartment buildings) to offer compost and recycling. We wanted to see for ourselves how the rollout is going, so host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi took a trip to The Dump, AKA the Denver South Transfer Station on S. Cherry Creek Drive, to talk with Denver’s trash experts.Vanessa mentioned the waste directory that can help you figure out where to put your waste. You can find that at Denvergov.org/recycle. Bree mentioned the city’s waste information app, which you can find by searching “Denver trash and recycling” in the app store of your choice.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:Westwood AcademyLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Tuesday and we’re bringing you a midweek roundup of news across the metro area: As migrants and asylum seekers continue to show up in Denver, things get more complicated — we have the latest on Governor Polis’s recent people-moving plan. Plus, another dude jumps in the race for mayor, e-bike rebates are back, and why Su Teatro is burning their mortgage (it’s for a really good reason, we promise!) To round out the show, we help a listener with her burning question: how do adults make friends in Denver?Paul mentioned this tweet from mayoral candidate and Western wear enthusiast Kelly Brough. Here are some links to learn more about the stories we mentioned: Tattered Cover CEO Kwame Spearman Is Running for Denver Mayor [Westword] Letter to Colorado governor highlights growing frustration with migrant crisis [Denver7] Denver e-bike rebates are back, but smaller [Axios] Su Teatro’s 50th anniversary production: Torch a mortgage. This won’t be fiction. [Denverite] Mayoral candidate Chris Hansen’s spicy snow plow tweet Denver’s planning to shut down emergency migrant shelters at rec centers [Denverite] For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:Westwood AcademyLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Denver Broncos opened their 2022-23 season with Mile High expectations. A new ownership group led by deep-pocketed Walmart heirs made a big splash signing superstar quarterback Russell Wilson to a $245 million contract, and the new head coach Nathaniel Hackett boasted a championship pedigree (his father Paul Hackett coached Joe Montana to a Super Bowl victory in 1984.) Still, the losses piled up, and our Donkeys ended the season yesterday, far from playoff contention. We invited our sports guy Jake Shapiro of Denver Sports back to explain where the Broncos could go from here, what should be done about Russell Wilson, and what it all means for the long-rumored plans for a new stadium which, depending on if —or where— it gets built could reshape Denver as we know it. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:Westwood AcademyLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Friday and we’re back in studio rounding up the news of the week! The legislative session kicks off Monday, and after the GOP‘s face-plant in November, the Dems hold a super majority. So, what are they gonna do with all that power? Our official state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to dish her legislative speculation. Plus, we’re talking all about the Stock Show, which stampeded back into town on Thursday. Think you know about one of the biggest agricultural events in the region? Paul puts Justine and Bree’s Stock Show knowledge to the test. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the show for some sweet weekend recommendations and a bittersweet goodbye (and hello) for the City Cast Denver team. Definitely check out Dos Luces Brewery’s site for a better explanation of their special chicha and pulque brews.The events we considered for the Official City Cast Denver Maybe For Your Weekend: inspiraHike for the new year! Sensory friendly morning at the DAM Movies at the CO Symphony - Harry Potter Beer dinner at Dos Luces Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenverLearn 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next time you find yourself in LoDo or wandering around near Union Station, look down. Just below the streets of downtown, there’s a maze of old, out-of-commission tunnels that used to connect our hotels, restaurants, and stores of yore. Glimpses of these alternative pathways still exist at street level, if you know where to look. Today on the show, host Bree Davies talks with Tracy Beach, author of “The Tunnels Under Our Feet: Colorado’s Forgotten Hollow Sidewalks,” about this turn-of-the-last-century phenomenon. Beach explains what the tunnels were used for, who used them, and how to spot the remnants of these lost transit spaces today. Bree mentioned our tour last year of the Pueblo-themed Fuel & Iron Bar (which has since rebranded as Honor Farm), the racist anti-Chinese riot of 1880 (which she discussed with Dr. William Wei in 2021), and her interview with Coffee at the Point owner Ryan Cobbins from last year. Check out the Hey Denver newsletter for even more news, Denver history, and fun stuff to do! https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/We are on Twitter: @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:How to Buy a Home PodcastLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re catching you up on all the top stories of the week so far: The Broncos went from bad to worse. Tattered Cover’s OG owner passed away. Denver continues to greet busloads of migrants and asylum seekers, even as the city and aid groups are overwhelmed. The Suncor Oil Refinery was shut down temporarily, which could impact air quality (in a good way) and gas prices (in a bad way). Oh, and a 16th Street Mall institution may have closed its doors forever. We know you, our listeners, like our Friday news roundups, so host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are trying out this new mid-week wrangling of top stories and info! Let us know what you think: reach us via email denver@citycast.fm or leave us a message on the City Cast Denver hotline: (720) 500-5418‬.Bree mentioned Axios’s coverage of the migrant situation; if you’d like to help, the city has shared information on needs and donation options on its website.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenverLearn more about the sponsor of this episode:How to Buy a Home PodcastLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can’t predict Denver’s future, but — what if we could get some guidance from the universe on how our 2023 will be? To start off the new year, host Bree Davies called up her favorite tarot reader, astrologer, and astral guide Lady Speech for a reading. In a take on the traditional three-card tarot spread, Lady Speech pondered our big questions: Will Denver’s mysterious “downtown dilemma” be solved? Can the local arts scene keep thriving and bring some stability to our artists? What in the heck is going to happen with our 2023 mayoral election? For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver. And Instagram: @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:How to Buy a Home PodcastLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Programming Note: We’re taking some time off around the new year. We’ll be back with new episodes starting on January 3.All this week, Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi counted down Denver’s top five stories of 2022. Today, we’re revealing #1, what should be done about downtown?5. Hockeytown, USA4. Tipping Fatigue3. The Rise of Worker Power2. Legal Reefer Madness1. The Downtown DilemmaThis episode originally aired on April 1, 2022, and features Bree, Paul, former producer Xandra McMahon, and Denverite reporter Kyle Harris.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices