Gov. Polis vs. the NIMBYs, Preserving History, and Sister City Trivia
It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the stories that caught our eye this week. Housing has been top of mind for Coloradans and finally, Governor Jared Polis was poised to do something about it — in the form of a massive housing and land-use bill. But SB213 was gutted this week, thanks to Republicans and Democrats standing up for “the Colorado Way,” as they put it. So what went wrong? Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and returning favorite Jo Ann Allen to chat all things housing, along with a rousing round of Two Truths and a Lie inspired by Denver hosting the inaugural Cities Summit of the Americas this week. Then newsletter editor Peyton Garcia has some sweet recs for your weekend!
For the full backstory behind Governor Polis’s big push for housing density, catch up with all our coverage of housing at the Capitol this year:
- What You Need to Know About the ‘More Housing Now’ Bill (4/13/23)
- Does Denver Need Rent Control? (2/15/23)
- Can Governor Polis Fix Our Housing Problem? (1/30/23)
Paul mentioned Nick Campion’s concession video in the D7 City Council race, and Bree mentioned an editorial in the Aspen Daily News about the supposed “Californication” of Colorado.
Check out Jo Ann Allen’s podcast, Been There Done That!
Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein!
Here are the events we discussed happening this weekend:
- REI Pancake 5k and Nutrition Fair (Sat)
- Denver Astronomical Society open house at Chamberlin Observatory (Sat)
- Día del Niño (all weekend)
- Healthy Kids Day (Sat)
We are so sad to be saying goodbye this week to our producer Erin O’Toole. Erin helped us uncover the mystery of Denver's lost tunnels and took us inside Denver’s many sex rooms. We’ll miss you, Erin!
For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver online or 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 sponsor of this episode:
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Backlash Mounts Against Gov. Polis Over Tina Peters. Plus, Denver Halts Data Centers
Governor Jared Polis’ controversial decision to commute former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ prison sentence last week is still reverber...

What’s Tipping the Scale on Colorado’s Population?
After decades of super-charged economic and population growth, Colorado is at a turning point. So, is this state growing or shrinking? An...

Is Mayor Mike Coming for Mutual Aid Mondays? Plus, the Unhoused Woman Dividing Wash Park
Mayor Johnston promised to solve unsheltered homelessness in his first term – nearly three years into it, there are still questions about...

'Your City Could Be Better': Do DC’s Hated Traffic Cameras Really Make the City Safer? — Presented By City Cast Denver
Would Denver be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, Washington, DC, brought in nearly $270 million from more tha...

Was DIA Negligent in Plane Collision? Plus, the Oatmeal Creme Pie Bandit and Are You a Real Denverite?
It’s been exactly one week since a man named Michael Mott jumped over the 8-foot security fence around Denver International Airport and d...

Is Good Food Enough for a Denver Restaurant to Thrive?
Between Michelin stars and James Beard Awards, it’s safe to say that Denver has secured its place in the food world. But, a lot more goes...

Is Denver Constantly Watching You? Plus, Unvaxxed Singles and Bike Riders: Make Your Voices Heard!
Flock cameras have been dominating Denver’s recent conversations about surveillance technology, but since 2008 the city has been watching...

AI Talks End in ‘Near-Total Rewrite,’ Trump vs. Denver’s Assault Weapons Ban, and New Scooter Problems
The 2026 Colorado legislative session is in its final week, so we’re looking into the hot-button issue of AI, which continues to divide D...

After the Bandstand Fire, the Key to City Park’s Future Lies in the Past
After City Park’s iconic bandstand was damaged beyond repair in an overnight fire in late March, the park’s neighbors and city leaders ha...

'Your City Could Be Better': Philly's Bold Nightlife Experiment — Presented By City Cast Denver
Denverites, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking number o...

