Closing some of the gap families face in the affordable housing crisis—one of Colorado & CO Governor’s top priorities—is on the side of workers. 5/

Democracy is on the side of 50%+1 elections for everyone else, why not workers? 4/

The Democratic Party platform is on the side of workers. 3/ www.hpae.org/wp-content/u...

Resistance to billionaires, fascism and Trump is on the side of workers. 2/ inthesetimes.com/article/unit...

TLDR: This bill isn’t a close call: 1) Public opinion nationally and in Colorado is on the side of workers. copollinginstitute.org/wp-content/u... 1/

Never underestimate the housers.

So exciting, go Gabi! What an important time for your voice to be elevated. Never been a more important time to advance @localprogress.bsky.social

And if you are in Jeffco, join my colleagues for an the Engagement and Advocacy in State and Local Government Town Hall starting at 9:30am at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood.

Equitable ownership in a 2-6 plex is tougher, more innovation needed. That’s what Denver will be researching. Too small for inclusionary, but is there a blend where impact fees + subsidy can ensure 1 unit below 100% AMI? Or?? I def don’t have all answers. But want us to want more so we can move ➡️

We don’t use lotteries here, only fed vouchers do. But regardless that’s a delivery method, separate from the issue of whether a lower rent helps a lower income family. Evidence is pretty settled on that.

Though it isn’t consistent the term “filtering” typical refers to lowering of prices on older units. Research is fairly consistent on decades. Move chain research I discuss is different. It’s about opening more vacancies that ⬇️ competition, not lowering actual prices. Yes faster, not guaranteed.

Please know, I agree minor decreases are good news. But $16/mo doesn’t come close to reducing rent to levels for 60% of Den workers needing <60% AMI pricing. Invite us to see housing through eyes of those struggling. For them this is a failed promise, not a realized one. Better/new framing needed2/2

Let’s get more precise. This article reports a minuscule drop in *average* rents. Excellent news to extent data reliable. Other sources like Apt Assoc show a *slowing in increase* not a “decrease.” In either case renters don’t pay “averages” they pay actual. “Concessions” only help movers. 1/2

We have job centers throughout our region and as much out commuting as in based on travel pattern data by my CU colleague Carrie Makarewicz. Suburbs as capable of more diverse & dense housing as city with planning, political will. Agree sprawl not answer, but that’s not the state leg req or suggest

Definitely first. Maybe second in some cases, w/other policy layers. But more so ⬇️ immediate shortage at 50-80% AMI. Even “lower market rents” when supply works, won’t get <80%, public subsidy limited & needed most <50%. + not just rents. SF rezone to 2/4/6 begs short term eqtble 4sale strtgy too

Again if you read the whole chain: Denver’s pause in 1 set of n’hoods is temporary & amidst many upzonings. Statewide zoning reforms= chance 4 other cities catch up & carry more regional housing share in future. My invitation-think bigger, acknowledge nuance, don’t overstate what can be delivrd 4/4

We have to be much more honest about the long game these strategies represent. We can’t ignore the present lived reality, which is record growth w/record⬆️ prices. Not ⬇️. Thus the case in all my papers/columns for short term strategies (affordability req) WITH long term. 3/4

Many reasons those apts≠lower rent: lack of similar dense growth in suburbs, induced demand (added supply attracted more in-migration), wasn’t enough growth for whole region etc. Filtering takes *decades* & Denver’s rate among slowest in US per even pro-growth economists. 2/4