City Cast
July 12, 2023

Big Ideas for How Mike Johnston Can Bring Denver's Mojo Back

Mike Johnston will be sworn in as Denver’s 46th mayor on Monday, and he’s already making moves. He hired a transition team and packed his calendar with community listening sessions. But will he roll out his “micro-communities” plan for homelessness that he campaigned so hard on? What about handling the perceptions and realities of public safety that Denver has been struggling with? And our most pressing issue: Can Mike make downtown cool again? Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi and returning fave, Westword editor Patty Calhoun, to talk through this week’s cover story on how Denver’s new belt buckle-wearing mayor could really help Denver get its mojo back.


Patty mentioned Kyle Harris’s reporting for Denverite on the status of the permit for the Park Hill Golf Course, the Museum of Illusions coming to 16th St. Mall, and 9News’ recent reporting on 911 wait times. 


Patty also talked about Stephen Brackett’s idea to start a city office of a “night mayor.” He was on our show sharing more of his ideas to turn around Denver’s nightlife back in April. 


Where do you think Taylor Swift will be spotted around town this weekend? She’s playing two sold out shows at Empower Field, but she’ll probably see some sights, right? Call in to the Denver Era Hotline, text or leave us a voicemail with your name, neighborhood and best guess for where to spot T Swift, 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 by texting “Denver” to 66866


Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver


Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:


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

Hey Denver

Want to know what's happening in Denver? Sign up for our free newsletter, Hey Denver. Packed with local news, curated event recs, local life hacks, and more, it's your daily toolkit for getting the most out of the city you love.

Latest Episodes

See all
September 22

Denver’s Got Startup Fever, More Hotels Not Housing, and a Green Chile Debate

More than ten thousand people with big dreams arrived in the Mile High City for this year’s Denver Startup Week, and AI was the talk of the ...

Denver’s Got Startup Fever, More Hotels Not Housing, and a Green Chile Debate image
September 21

High Plains Comedy Turns 10, ‘Vandal Futurism,’ and Music for Beer-Drinking

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of what our guest calls “Comedy Christmas” — aka, the High Plains Comedy Festival. Returning fave J...

High Plains Comedy Turns 10, ‘Vandal Futurism,’ and Music for Beer-Drinking image
September 20

Should Denver Rename These 6 Parks?

At the height of the racial justice protests of 2020, Denverites — like the rest of the country — reckoned with our past. Statues depicting ...

Should Denver Rename These 6 Parks? image
September 19

Is the 'Homeless Bar' Real? Plus, Public Overdose Deaths Are on the Rise

It’s Tuesday, so host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are breaking down all the local stories that matter. First, a report of a so-cal...

Is the 'Homeless Bar' Real? Plus, Public Overdose Deaths Are on the Rise image
September 18

Has Denver’s Dumpling Moment Finally Arrived?

With the opening of Yuan Wonton’s new shared brick-and-mortar restaurant in Park Hill, the food trend of the fall is officially the humble d...

Has Denver’s Dumpling Moment Finally Arrived? image
September 15

Boebert’s Big Night Out, Paying Legislators, and a Trash-Eating Bear

U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert had a big night out at the theater in Denver this past weekend, complete with vaping, loud singing, and b...

Boebert’s Big Night Out, Paying Legislators, and a Trash-Eating Bear image
September 14

What Did CO’s New Michelin Stars Really Cost? Plus, Mountaintop Arby’s

After months of anticipation and rumors, the Michelin Guide bestowed five local restaurants a Michelin star at an exclusive ceremony in RiNo...

What Did CO’s New Michelin Stars Really Cost? Plus, Mountaintop Arby’s image
September 13

Do These Denver Icons Deserve 1-Star Reviews?

The humble user review — taken alone, is just one person’s opinion. But put a bunch together, and that aggregated star rating can make or br...

Do These Denver Icons Deserve 1-Star Reviews? image
September 12

What Do Denverites Really Think? A New Poll Shows All

It’s easy to walk down the streets of Denver and see the major issues facing our city — housing, homelessness, public safety, etc. It’s much...

What Do Denverites Really Think? A New Poll Shows All image
September 11

Is There Such Thing as a ‘Denver Accent’?

It’s easy to forget, but Denver is still a young city, constantly searching for an identity. So it’s confounding why there’s so little resea...

Is There Such Thing as a ‘Denver Accent’? image