April 20, 2023

Ep. 5 - Polis Says, No White Picket Fence for You (Mayor of Centennial Stephanie Piko on SB 23-213)

39 minutes

A new bill introduced by Governor Jared Polis is attempting to destroy the dream of a white picket fence here in Colorado. Even with new amendments, SB 23-213 jeopardizes citizen-led local government by displacing local zoning rules in favor of a statewide mandate to incorporate "affordable" housing everywhere. Heidi discusses the implications this “one-size-fits-all” approach would have on property value and quality of life, and also interviews the Mayor of Centennial Stephanie Piko who is actively fighting against this bill.

*Please note that this bill is RAPIDLY changing so some of the specific information discussed may not be accurate. Heidi includes a segment at the end that discusses the amendments approved as of Tuesday evening (4/18/23) and who you should contact to share your concerns. That being said, it’s important that we recognize what Polis and the Dems are *trying* to accomplish here in Colorado. Know that they were WILLING to go this far.

Follow @heidiganahl on social media for updates (links below) or sign up for our newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠heidiganahl.com⁠⁠⁠!

Full Episode Breakdown:

Part 1 (0:00-13:44): Heidi breaks down important pieces of SB 23-213 and shares the disturbing end goal of Polis and the Democrats when it comes to housing issues. She talks about:

The veil of “affordable” housing Polis is hiding behind in order to push density and public transit.

Why this bill is a slap in the face to local government officials and takes the voice away from Coloradans.

How the state ITSELF is the main culprit when it comes to the increasing cost of homeownership in Colorado with its long list of inflationary housing regulations, and why this bill would only make regulatory costs worst for the consumer.

The authoritarian idea of 15-minute cities and how Polis is using this "green utopia" as a golden ticket to his presidential run.

Part 2 (13:44-33:45): Mayor Stephanie Piko talks about why she’s fighting SB 23-213 as the leader of a major Denver Metro city and the implications it would have on Colorado municipalities. She discusses:

Real-life examples of how SB 23-213 would change our communities and concerns she has about her own city’s capacity to follow suit.

How this model has made things worse for homeowners in places like Oregon and how we can reduce housing costs without SB 23-213.

The disregard this bill has for infrastructure and water supply, and the impact this would have on local governments.

The importance of keeping the issue of housing to local municipalities to find solutions that answer to constituents, and are supported by the community.

What people can do to fight against SB 23-213. *As of 4/20/23, please contact senators on the Appropriations Committee listed here.

Stephanie Piko: City of Centennial Website⁠ | ⁠ Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Part 3 (33:45-39:12): Heidi closes out the episode by sharing the updated amendments approved by the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee on April 18th. The updated amendments are available on her Substack under Episode 5. Again, please reach out to senators on the Appropriations Committee to express your concerns about SB 23-213!

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By Heidi Ganahl