Debating Democracy, RTD’s Rough Week, and Indian Restaurant Ripoffs
It’s Friday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, local multimillionaire Kent Thiry is bankrolling a new campaign to reform Colorado’s elections, and the signature-gathering kicked off this week. Will you give the DaVita founder’s ideas your John Hancock? Plus, public transit riders face “mounting disruptions” as RTD struggles with outages and maintenance issues, according the Denver Post. Colorado Newsline senior reporter Chase Woodruff and our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval join producer Paul Karolyi to break down those stories and, of course, share our wins and fails of the week.
Confused about how ranked choice voting works? Check out the explainer we published in our newsletter this week.
Paul referenced Chase’s excellent analysis of how effective Kent Thiry’s last few election reforms and suggests this longread from The Lever on Kent Thiry’s political ambitions. He also referenced CoLab’s recent Voter Voices survey, and the John Oliver clip of Kent Thiry.
Justine talked about Sony Pictures buying Alamo Drafthouse and the labor organizing at local Live Nation venues. Paul highlighted this BusinessDen article about Indian restaurants. Chase talked about the new Denver museum and Manny Barella.
What do you think about ranked choice voting? Would you prefer voting that way? Or not? 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/Denver
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Downtown's Ups and Downs, Liquor License Losers, and Mesa Verde's Massive Repatriation
Thirty-six years after the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Mesa Verde National Park is returning m...
Will Denverites Move Downtown For This Developer's Utopian Dream?
While office vacancies remain high downtown, one developer thinks this excess of commercial real estate could be better used as housing....
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast Denver
It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Denver, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzl...
Anti-Trans Hysteria Coming to Your Ballots, Victor Marx's AI Fail, and No Comedy Fest This Year
Ballots will be in the mail in less than a month, and there are a lot of initiatives for voters to consider – including Proposition 134,...
Who's Ready for Another Mayor's Race? Plus, a DPS Phone Ban Mega-Mailbag
Mayor Mike Johnston officially rolled out his campaign for reelection earlier this week with a big party at Town Hall Collaborative and a...
10 Years in Prison for Manipulating More Than a Thousand DNA Investigations
After pleading guilty to four felonies in June, a Jefferson County judge sentenced former Colorado Bureau of Investigation scientist Yvon...
The Aurora Report: New Data Center Regulations, a Massive 'Teen Takeover,' and City Council Hijinx
What’s up in Aurora lately? Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has been taking a new and low-key approach to homelessness; data center regulations...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Nashville Is Beating Flock — Presented By City Cast Denver
Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in Denver? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures...
De-Gooping Sloan's Lake, Going Viral in Denver, and Water Narcs: Data Center Edition
Denver is finally getting serious about saving Sloan’s Lake, with Mayor Johnston announcing Wednesday a new $50 million proposal to dredg...
Previewing Friday’s Anti-ICE Walkout, a Creepy New Meme, and 'Governor for a Day'
With school starting and phone bans going in effect, kids in Colorado already have a lot on their plates this fall. Over 160 schools acro...