Colorado Concern 

April 21, 2014

The Week in Review

Last month we shared with you the work Colorado Concern has been doing with the Metro Mayors Caucus, the affordable housing community, like-minded business groups and the development community to craft a solution focused on addressing a lack of multifamily, for-sale development (condominiums) in our state. 

 

You may recall that current state law is written in such a fashion that class-action litigation over construction defects is the norm, not the exception.  As a result, the costs of condominiums rise out of the reach of many entry-level buyers - including young families with children.  And that's if the condominiums are built at all.  This is a market that builders would like to serve, but they simply cannot afford to shoulder the risk.  And so, today, multifamily projects are being built as "for rent" properties, which serve an important segment of our population, but do not meet the needs of all.  Like you, we prefer that the market - not the legal environment - shapes Colorado's housing inventory. And we believe there are reasonable common sense remedies included in Sen. Jesse Ulibarri's Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2014.

 

Politics, not good policy, is now driving the debate on this issue.  With the legislative session ending on May 7, the clock is ticking.  Both Senate President Morgan Carroll and Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino have voiced concerns with the proposal, and to-date the President has not taken the necessary steps to read the legislation across the desk and assign it for committee hearing(s).  We believe that must occur - and now.

 

Add your voice to those of others in Colorado Concern, the broader business community, affordable housing advocates and municipal leaders by taking action through our ENGAGE System.  Click here

to begin the process.  A prepared message on the issue is available, and by typing in your home address the program will target the message to legislative leaders and your personal representative in the Colorado House and Senate.

 

 

Thank you for your action.  


Should you have questions about this proposal, or any other legislative measure, please do not hesitate to contact me at
[email protected].

 

 

Warmly,

Tamra  

Tamra

Colorado Concern Legislative Tracking

 

Click here to find out what legislation Colorado Concern is tracking. The report includes links to bill text, sponsors, Colorado Concern's positions, bill status, and additional notes.

 

Click here to download the Colorado Concern At a Glance Status Sheet for quick tracking of Colorado Concern's bills of interest.
 
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
May 22: Membership Networking Breakfast Hosted by John Ikard and Featuring Ken Lund
7:30 to 9:00 a.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400
 
June 18: Membership Networking Lunch Hosted by Steve Farber
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400

Colorado Concern News Clips

 

 

Development/Real Estate

Denver's industrial real estate market is on fire

Denver Business Journal: April 15

 

Denver's retail construction lags with available space dwindling

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Cherry Creek North comes to grips with cranes, drains and automobiles

Denver Business Journal: April 18

 

Economy/Economic Development

Metro Denver EDC gets all 'Ron Burgundy' about success

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Editorial: A proper check on Colorado tourism funding

Denver Post: April 14

 

Inflation picks up speed in the West

Denver Business Journal: April 15

 

Economic outlook for Colorado slips

Denver Business Journal: April 16

 

Education

Denver gives those with deferred action status the chance to teach

CPR: April 14

 

Crusade continues on Common Core

Denver Post: April 14

 

Editorial: Let public look at schools' spending

Denver Post: April 15

 

Senate approves Colorado college tuition cap

The Coloradoan: April 15

 

Q&A: Why Colorado schools want their $1 billion back

CPR: April 16

 

DPS lawsuit: Meet teachers who reject claim district is getting rid of good educators

Westword: April 18

 

Denver charter school to get $7 million from Colorado mogul

Denver Post: April 18

 

Elections/Politics

Rep. Cory Gardner wins big at assembly, will challenge Sen. Mark Udall

Denver Post: April 14

 

Colorado GOP primaries: Divisive or unifying?

The Colorado Independent: April 14

 

Kopp, Gessler face off in primary race for governor

Journal-Advocate: April 14

 

Stapleton is focused on treasurer's job - for now

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Rural issues take center stage

Fort Morgan Times: April 14

 

Outgoing GOP lawmakers share memories

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Markey pledges more visibility than current treasurer

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Ethics commission dismissed complaint filed against Gov. Hickenlooper

Denver Post: April 15

 

Colorado GOP a step closer to challenging Hickenlooper

Daily Caller: April 15

 

Sen. Roberts stands alone on ballot

The Durango Herald: April 15

 

Bob Beauprez makes Colorado gubernatorial primary ballot

Colorado Springs Gazette: April 16

 

Competition heats up as RNC 2016 convention scouts visit Denver

Denver Post: April 16

 

Aurora council nixes pay raises, "strong mayor"

Denver Post: April 17

 

After last year's recalls, Colorado House Democrats pass change in law

Denver Post: April 18

 

No GOP candidates step forward to run for two Boulder County-based statehouse seats

Longmont Daily Times-Call: April 18

 

 

The Colorado Statesman: April 20

 

Energy

Colorado breaks record for annual oil production

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Oil and gas companies playing, but pay to Colorado counties is uneven

Denver Post: April 14

 

Colorado oil drilling boom intensifies as voter initiatives multiply

Denver Post: April 15

 

Colorado oil drilling boom intensifies as voter initiatives multiply

The Denver Post: April 15

 

How Fracking Could Break Colorado Democrats

Politico: April 16

 

Noble Energy's CEO to step down

Denver Business Journal: April 16

 

Oil and gas recruiter Air Energi opens Denver office to serve oil boom

Denver Post: April 16

 

State AGs take up fossil-fuels boom as IPCC and feds lean green

Denver Post: April 17

 

Anadarko, Noble launch ad blitz to pre-empt Colorado limits on fracking

Denver Post: April 17

 

How much water are oil and gas operators recycling? The answer isn't clear

CPR: April 17

 

Wind powers Xcel Energy to top of the charts - again

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Costly ads to fuel ballot battles over fracking

Northern Colorado Business Report: April 18

 

General Business

Colorado a Mecca for jobs in science - and bike repair

Denver Post: April 14

 

House OKs renovation funds for Colorado State Fair

Pueblo Chieftain: April 17

 

 

The Denver Post: April 18

 

Health Care

Connect for Heath enrolls 124,000 Coloradans

Boulder County Business Report: April 15

 

Colorado health exchange proposes insurer fee to raise $13 million

Denver Post: April 18

 

Housing

2 bills passed to help homeowners avoid foreclosure

9NEWS: April 16

 

Labor/Employment

Paid family leave hot topic at labor forum in Denver

Denver Post: April 14

 

Sick-leave bill opens floodgates for complex late measures at Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: April 16

 

Fewer 'underutilized' workers in Colorado, but rate still high

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

How much more does a Colorado CEO make than an average worker?

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Colorado adds 3,300 jobs in March; unemployment rate ticks up

Denver Business Journal: April 18

 

Workers' comp reform bill arrives in Legislature - in much-compromised form

Denver Business Journal: April 18

 

Marijuana

Spend or save? Colorado's marijuana tax debate far from settled

The Tribune: April 15

 

Legal marijuana creates Denver warehouse shortage

Marketplace: April 15

 

Pot concentrate bill passes Colorado committee

Denver Post: April 16

 

Legislative committee passes new restrictions on marijuana edibles

Denver Post: April 18

 

Tax

Armstrong: Confession of a Colorado use tax chump

Greeley Tribune: April 17

 

Telecommunications

Telecom reform package could raise high-cost fund surcharge

Denver Post: April 17

 

 

Transportation

Bill to add $100 million to Colorado new road funding crashes

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Project to lower I-70 in northeast Denver moving ahead

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

UberX ride-sharing in Colorado not going away if Uber has anything to do with it

Denver Business Journal: April 17

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Upcoming Events

News Clips

Ken Lund
Join Colorado Concern for a Membership Networking Breakfast May 22 hosted by John Ikard and  featuring Ken Lund, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Click here for details and to register.
___________
Colorado Concern Board of Directors

 

Pat Hamill

(Chairman)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Ted Brown

Steve Farber

Tim Gill

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

John Ikard

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Blair Richardson

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin
Sylvia Young