Two new sports arenas could dramatically change Salt Lake City: an MLB stadium on the Westside and a combined NHL/NBA arena in Downtown. But who benefits most from these proposals? Salt Lakers or the billionaires making the pitch? Salt Lake Tribune Jazz reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to break down how this “investment” in Salt Lake City could pan out and what taxpayers should be asking for in return. Resources and references: What Lawmakers Did About SLC Stadiums, Great Salt Lake, ...
Mar 25, 2024•28 min
A seat is very likely opening up on the Salt Lake City Council for the 2025 election. Could you be District 5’s new representative? Current Council Member Darin Mano joins host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means to dish on why he won’t run again — with one caveat — and why he wants you to. Plus, are there aliens in Utah? Also, Emily, Ali, and Council Member Mano share their picks of the week. Resources and references: Email Councilmember Darin Mano at Darin.Mano@slcgov.com The West ...
Mar 22, 2024•33 min
Salt Lake City is rapidly changing, but the plans that guide our growth haven’t kept up; some haven’t been updated for decades. Now, the city has newly defined “general plan” in its code. Salt Lake City planning director Nick Norris joins host Ali Vallarta to explain the do’s and don’ts of general plans and how neighborhoods can work together toward a common vision for our city. Resources and references: Mayor plans to roll out citywide form-based zoning this year [Building Salt Lake] Learn more...
Mar 21, 2024•24 min
Utahns could save more water by eating less cheese and beef — but will we? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the story and response by Gov. Spencer Cox. Plus, Ali quizzes Emily on how Utah ranks in women’s equality, and there’s one less queer bar in Salt Lake. Resources and references: A simple change could save the West from drought. You probably won’t like it. [Salt Lake Tribune] Gov. Spencer Cox’s response to eating less beef and cheese [X] Ballerina Farm is brin...
Mar 20, 2024•33 min
If Utahns thought they’d seen the last of Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow after her 2023 ski trial in Park City, they were wrong … kinda. “Gwyn” is back and center stage at Park City’s Egyptian Theatre for the U.S. premiere of “Gwyneth Goes Skiing,” a satirical play based on Paltrow’s ski-slope collision with retired optometrist Terry Sanderson and the courtroom showdown that followed. Joseph Martin and Linus Karp, writers and stars of the production, join host Ali Vallarta to share their f...
Mar 19, 2024•26 min
More than 25% of Utah adults have a disability. So why didn’t the Legislature pass two bills that could have made life better for them? Advocate and former journalist Shelby Hintze joins host Ali Vallarta to explain how Utah’s cultural approach to disability limits our local economies. Resources and references: Why Utah’s Discrimination Against Disabled People Matters for Everyone [Prism] Getting Arrested for More Accessible Transit [City Cast Salt Lake] Consider becoming a member of City Cast S...
Mar 18, 2024•29 min
The Utah Legislature set aside $25 million for a new, 600+ bed shelter. The big question is: Where will it go? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means talk about the future of the state’s homeless shelter system. Plus, the Utah Transit Authority TRAX system is getting an upgrade, and Ali and Emily share their picks of the week. Resources and references: What's next for Utah's evolving homeless shelter system? [Utah News Dispatch] Volunteer or donate to the Second & Second Coalit...
Mar 15, 2024•34 min
As Salt Lake City School District considers a hypothetical $600 million bond to rebuild Highland and West High Schools, the Glendale and Poplar Grove neighborhoods would like SLC taxpayers to consider making it a $900 million bond. Host Ali Vallarta asks longtime Glendale advocate and former SLC School District employee Jenny Mayer-Glenn why Glendale needs a high school and what lengths parents will go to to build one. Resources and references: Read the letter Glendale parents, students, and com...
Mar 14, 2024•25 min
Data show Utah’s housing crisis is — wait for it — still bad, especially for millennials. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means dig into the numbers and explore a new tool for renters and what Salt Lake City is doing about Airbnbs. Plus, in honor of the new state flag going up, featuring Utah’s ubiquitous beehive, Ali quizzes Emily on other state symbols. Resources and references: Tickets to Lauren Graham’s Book Tour, April 10 at the Union Event Center Salt Lake City’s new Consume...
Mar 13, 2024•31 min
The crescent moon was spotted on Sunday night, and thousands of Muslims across Salt Lake are now celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, which includes fasting from dawn to dusk. Nora Abu-Dan of the Emerald Project joins host Ali Vallarta to create a guide to being a good neighbor, manager, or co-worker over the next 28 days. This episode first aired on April 4, 2022. Resources and references: Tickets for Unity Iftar on Friday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cas...
Mar 12, 2024•19 min
Salt Lakers often hear from local officials that all roads lead to the Utah Legislature — and that’s largely true. But there are creative ways that local government can flex its muscles against unpopular ideas from Capitol Hill. Former Salt Lake County Council member Shireen Ghorbani joins host Ali Vallarta to offer a post-Legislature pep talk and break down what cities and counties could do to push back against three “culture war” issues: banning abortion, policies that target transgender peopl...
Mar 11, 2024•25 min
It’s back to (local) business for the City Cast team. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means comb through what happened in Salt Lake City this week, including the SLC Council’s new public comment policy and construction in Sugar House. Plus, they share their picks of the week and learn a new word. Resources and references: Housing is Coming. Where Will State Street’s Beloved Restaurants Go? [City Cast Salt Lake] Apply for a small business construction mitigation grant. Everything f...
Mar 08, 2024•33 min
Salt Lake City Public Lands has released three different design concepts to reimagine the Jordan River corridor, which flows straight into the shrinking Great Salt Lake. Park Ranger Owen Carroll joins host Ali Vallarta to mythbust nasty rumors about SLC’s “Emerald Ribbon” before you vote on your favorite. Take the online survey, or attend an open house on Wednesday, March 13 from 4-8 p.m. at Sorenson Unity Center or Thursday, March 14 from 4-8 p.m. at Mestizo Coffee. Consider becoming a founding...
Mar 07, 2024•26 min
In just 45 days, Utah lawmakers passed nearly 600 bills. It’s a lot to take in. Fortunately, FOX 13 Capitol Hill reporter Ben Winslow was paying close attention. Ben joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what legislators did about the issues Salt Lakers care about most — from housing and homelessness to the air we breathe. Related: What Lawmakers Did About SLC Stadiums, Great Salt Lake, and Calendars [City Cast Salt Lake] Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the...
Mar 06, 2024•27 min
The Utah Legislature passed a record 591 bills during its 45-day general session. What the heck happened up on Capitol Hill, and how will it impact Salt Lakers? Fox 13 reporter Ben Winslow joins host Ali Vallarta to break down where the MLB and NHL stadium bills landed, what legislators did for the Great Salt Lake, and how they made their day-to-day actions more opaque to the public. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help ...
Mar 05, 2024•27 min
We’re springing into March in full force, so executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to settle some debts for the Ides of March. They break down how to make the most of the month, from where to eat escargot, to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, and taking advantage of community resources for tax season. Plus, where to get free gardening supplies for those with green thumbs. Resources, references, and events mentioned: Salt Lake City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16 The Leprechaun...
Mar 04, 2024•36 min
The Utah Legislature’s 45-day general session ends today, and all we got was a Futurama rendering of a proposed sports complex in downtown Salt Lake City. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means unpack billionaire Ryan Smith’s vision for a brand new NHL/NBA arena. Plus, who was in the right during the altercation between a gun-toting Brighton resident and backcountry snowboarder? Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work ...
Mar 01, 2024•37 min
Salt Lake City police are asking for an extra $1.8 million from the City Council to keep cracking down on illegal camps. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that since October, officers have made 60 arrests and written up 152 citations. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will soon decide whether cities can punish people for sleeping outside when there’s no shelter available. But when folks have nowhere to go, what are their options? Taylor Hastings, an attorney with the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association,...
Feb 29, 2024•21 min
Salt Lake City brings the hammer down on a longstanding yard party in the 15th and 15th neighborhood, after a neighbor complained about noise and traffic. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means muse on what the story says about the need for more community connection in Salt Lake. Plus, funding is available for neighborhood projects, and Ali and Emily share local shoutouts. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and he...
Feb 28, 2024•31 min
State Street in Salt Lake City is getting an extreme makeover. Picture high-density housing where strip malls and motels have stood for decades and an urban hospital to anchor it all. But what do we gain and lose in the facelift? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the future of life on State Street. Related: What’s Your Vision For State Street? [City Cast Salt Lake] As Sears Comes Down, We Flirt With State Street’s Past [City Cast Salt Lake] Consider ...
Feb 27, 2024•25 min
Utah has a shiny, new strategic plan for outdoor recreation; the first of its kind. What does it mean for the places visitors and residents “love to death”? Draper Republican Rep. Jeff Stenquist, the chair of Utah’s Outdoor Adventure Commission, joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the strategy for delivering on “the nation’s most well-funded and well-managed outdoor recreation system in the country.” Apply for a Utah Search and Rescue Assistance Card. Consider becoming a founding member of Cit...
Feb 26, 2024•25 min
A Salt Lake County lawmaker wants more transit in the south valley — so do we! — but what’s the tradeoff in her current proposal? Plus, the Larry H. Miller Company and legislators’ plans for an MLB stadium in Fairpark are starting to feel Inland Port-esque. Will Westside electeds regret calling it a home run? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means discuss two very wonky proposals and share picks of the week from two local beacons. Bills mentioned: HB 430 Local Government Transporta...
Feb 23, 2024•30 min
From Holladay to downtown Salt Lake City, we’re getting used to seeing our favorite haunts toppled by a wrecking ball, listed for sale, or mysteriously shuttered. Which is why the entire City Cast Salt Lake team — newsletter editor Terina Ria, host Ali Vallarta, producer Ivana Martinez, and executive producer Emily Means — have gathered in a conference room to eulogize the iconic institutions left behind in the construction dust. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! ...
Feb 22, 2024•25 min
The $3.5 billion vision for reinventing Salt Lake City’s Westside neighborhoods into a mixed-use Major League Baseball district is eye-popping. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means take a look at the details and how much public financing Utah leaders could be willing to invest in the project. Plus, a story about coincidental (read: suspicious) donations has us cocking our eyebrows, and “Gwyneth Paltrow” is back in Park City. Listen to our conversation with City Cast Las Vegas abo...
Feb 21, 2024•30 min
Utah leaders often tout us as a family-friendly state. But with declining fertility and marriage rates, it seems Utahns are more hesitant than ever to start their own families. Salt Lake City-based birthworker Ashley Finley joins host Ali Vallarta for a candid conversation about what goes into deciding for ourselves whether to have kids in Salt Lake. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years t...
Feb 20, 2024•29 min
From potty training to liquor laws, what’s the Utah Legislature been up to? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the bills that caught their attention. Plus, we’ve got an update on the response to Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline’s bullying of a high school athlete, and Ali and Emily share their picks of the week. Bills discussed: HCR 18 House Concurrent Resolution Condemning and Censuring State School Board Member Natalie Cline SB 211 Generational Wa...
Feb 16, 2024•39 min
So, you’re thinking about signing up for the Salt Lake City Marathon. Or maybe just the half marathon. OK, maybe the 5K is all you’ve got in you. No problem! Seasoned runners Shireen Ghorbani and Bryant Heath join host and newbie runner Ali Vallarta to share great local routes, plus some tips and tricks for hitting the pavement. Sign up for the SLC marathon, half marathon, 5K, or 10K. Deseret News columnist Meg Walter on running the St. George Marathon. Consider becoming a founding member of Cit...
Feb 15, 2024•23 min
Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline bullied a student on social media, and the backlash has been swift. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means explore what could happen to Cline and who is to blame for this mess. Plus, a Salt Lake coffee shop eliminated tipping, and Ali and Emily share shoutouts. Consider becoming a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sig...
Feb 14, 2024•32 min
If local billionaires get their way, Utah could soon become home to even more professional sports teams. Ryan Smith is bidding for a National Hockey League team, and Gail Miller is trying to recruit Major League Baseball — including the Oakland Athletics, while they wait for their Las Vegas stadium to open. Host Ali Vallarta asks City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler how becoming a sports city has and hasn’t penciled out for the community. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen on public financ...
Feb 13, 2024•24 min
Who funds SLC International Airport? How will the new central tunnel work? And what would it take to make it a world-class airport? We’ve got questions, and Bill Wyatt, executive director of Salt Lake City’s Department of Airports, joins host Ali Vallarta to answer them. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to o...
Feb 12, 2024•30 min
