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Colorado Concern
UPCOMING EVENTS

Below is a list of upcoming Colorado Concern events.  Click here for more information or to register to attend events.

Monday, November 23: Meet and Greet Reception with Candidates for State House Chris Hansen and Steve Sherick, Hosted by Pat Hamill, Barry Hirschfeld and Blair Richardson
5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Pat Hamill's home - 400 St. Paul Street, Denver

Wednesday, December 2: Colorado Concern Holiday Reception
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Governor's Mansion, Denver

SAVE THE DATE: Monday, January 18, Colorado Concern Membership Luncheon with US Senator Cory Gardner
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., location TBD

___________________________

Colorado Concern Board of Directors

Blair Richardson

(Chairman)

John Ikard

(Treasurer)

Mike Kopp

(Executive Director)

Steve Farber

Tim Gill

Pat Hamill

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

Bill Hybl

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Chip Rimer

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin

Sylvia Young 

DENVER JOINS GROWING CADRE OF CITIES IMPROVING OWNERSHIP OPTIONS FOR HOMEBUYERS
This week another Colorado city took a step toward opening the door to homeownership by advancing construction defects reform policy through its council.

On Monday, Denver's City Council voted unanimously in favor of a local construction defects ordinance that had been proposed by the Hancock administration; council members will cast a final vote on the measure next week. If Denver passes the measure at that time it will join eight other cities that have advanced this reform. Councils have been seeking to reverse the status quo in which for-sale condominium starts are at a virtual standstill; the vast majority of all new multifamily housing units under construction are for-rent apartments.  Prices for both rentals and single family homes are at record highs.

Many have noted that Colorado is becoming a magnet for workers from across the nation, and is particularly attractive for young millennials who are in the early stages of their careers - and often in the early stages of starting a family.  Many are finding it difficult to find affordable homes they can buy as the supply is limited and demand is high.  It was noted during the Denver City Council hearing that only 59 of the more than 1100 units under construction downtown are for-sale properties.  If the problem persists it could become more difficult for employers in the area to keep their businesses fully staffed.

We applaud the many city councils that have taken this step to improve the marketplace for home buyers in Colorado.  Still, the issue needs to be resolved on a statewide basis in the legislature; we hope the General Assembly will take note of these developments and pass a reform bill in the coming session that improves the situation for homebuyers across the state.

Sincerely yours,
Mike Kopp
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

John Ikard
ABA Banking Journal: November 9
Features John Ikard with FirstBank
 
Kim Day
New York Times: November 13
Features Kim Day 
 
Why Some Airports Are Getting Posh Hotels
Bloomberg: November 13
Features Kim Day 

What DIA's CEO Says About A Massive New Hotel Blocking An Iconic View
CPR: November 16
Features Kim Day 
Colorado Concern News Clips
Budget/TABOR 
Colorado's Governor Is Not Thrilled With His Own Budget Proposal
CPR: November 10
 
Democrats Hope To Make Hospital Fee A TABOR Loophole
CPR: November 13
 
Development/Real Estate/Housing 
Denver Post: November 8
 
Denver awards $2.9 million in loans to three affordable housing projects
Denver Post: November 10
 
Tight supply, high demand make resort-town workers scramble for homes
Denver Post: November 10
 
41-year wait: Boulder County agencies struggle to address shortages in affordable rentals
Denver Post: November 10
 
Colorado Springs Gazette: November 10
 
Purchasing a home in metro Denver will stretch young adults
Denver Post: November 11
 
Denver Post: November 12
 
Economy/Economic Development
Denver Business Journal: November 11
 
Denver Business Journal: November          12
 
Weakness in retailers and energy companies pull stocks lower
Denver Post: November 12
 
National Western team focuses on details after state RTA funding OK
Denver Post: November 13
 
Up to 1,371 new jobs coming to Colorado Front Range
Denver Business Journal: November 13
 
Education
Denver Post: November 12
 
Colorado Board of Education signs off on bid for flexibility from federal law
Denver Post: November 12
 
Colorado's alarming rate of PARCC test no-shows
Denver Post: November 13
 
Colorado's new standardized math, English tests set benchmark
Denver Post: November 13
 
How Colorado is proposing to deal with low participation rates
Denver Post: November 13
 
Elections/Politics/Government
Colorado Public Radio: November 10
 
Denver Business Journal: November 10
 
Denver council approves 2016 budget, rolls back panhandling rules
Denver Post: November 10
 
Colorado gets grade of F for its open-records laws
Denver Post: November 12
 
Colorado lieutenant governor role needs bulking up
Denver Post: November 12
 
Aurora Sentinel: November 13
 
Hickenlooper hires Illinois veteran to lead Colorado Tourism Office
Denver Business Journal: November 13
 
The Colorado Statesman: November 16
 
University of Denver Magazine: November 17
 
Energy
Denver Business Journal: November 4
 
Oil prices forecast to stay low until 2020
Denver Post: November 10
 
Regulators Pressure Public Companies To Address Climate Change Impacts
CPR: November 11

 
KUNC: November 17
 
General Business
Denver Post: November 8
 
Denver Business Journal: November 10
 
Denver Business Journal: November 11
 
Bank economist: Interest rate hike next month "a foregone conclusion"
Denver Post: November 13

Health Care
Washington Times: November 9
 
Colorado to vote on single-payer state health-care system
Denver Post: November 10
 
Denver Business Journal: November 10
 
After Health Co-Op's Demise, Customers Are Forced Back Onto The Market
CPR: November 10
 
Denver Business Journal: November 11
 
Colorado's top 2 budget leaders are worlds apart in their views on health care spending
Denver Business Journal: November 13
 
Colorado employers' 2016 health plan costs climb average of 8 percent
Denver Post: November 13
 
Colorado Springs Gazette: November 14
 
The Denver Post: November 16
 
Denver Business Journal: November 17
 
Labor/Employment
Denver Business Journal: November 10
 
Marchers rally in downtown Denver for $15-an-hour movement
Denver Post: November 11
 
Denver Business Journal: November 12
 
Denver Business Journal: November 12
 
Marijuana
Denver pot plan would go too far
Denver Post: November 16

Transportation
Denver Post: November 8
 
Denver Post: November 6
 
Water
Boulder County 2013 flood price tag could hit $76 million in 2016
Denver Post: November 9
 
How to quench a growing state's thirst: Colorado to unveil first-ever water plan
Denver Business Journal: November 16