Minority Leader-Elect Hugh McKean joins us on the podcast this week to discuss Republican priorities for the 2021 legislative session including COVID, business regulation, and transportation. 

Homelessness is on the rise in Colorado and across the country.  We are fortunate to be joined by Kristin Toombs, Director of the Office of Homeless Initiatives within the  Colorado Department of Local Affairs, to discuss this important issue.  Together we unpack the types of homelessness and what is needed politically to help our neighbors facing housing insecurity. 

Director Toombs frequently references DOLAs new playbook, Making Homelessness History in Colorado, the playbook can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dQ-FbbNyCW9ecpqBJcCkxrOad_5X7IsH/view

This week we look back on an interview we did this spring with Shoshana Lew,  Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. Her team recently completed a 64 county listening tour and devised a 10-year plan for traffic alleviation and pothole repair across the state. It represents the biggest road investment in modern history.  As we look toward the 2021 legislative session our team, along with the Governor and leaders in the legislature, will be seeking long term funding for this innovative plan. 

We are joined by David Flaherty, Founder and CEO of Magellan Strategies, to discuss how the rise of unaffiliated voters in Colorado changes the politics of our great state. 

This week we are joined by two giants of Denver city politics, Elbra Wedgeworth and Jeanne Faatz, to discuss two critical ballot initiatives facing Denver voters 2E and 2G. These issues are tantamount to a power grab by City Council and Colorado Concern has taken an oppose position. 

On Monday, October 12th, Colorado Concern hosted a live forum with Senator Cory Gardner and Colorado Politics Opinion Editor Dan Njegomir. This podcast is a recording of the in-person event. Please note that Governor John Hickenlooper declined participation and that Colorado Concern does not endorse U.S. Senate candidates. 

Today we are joined by Kent Thiry, former Chairman and CEO of DaVita, as well as Dick Wadhams, the former Chair of the Colorado Republican Party, to discuss the Gallagher Amendment repeal effort. Colorado Concern has endorsed Amendment B and we are here to unpack this notoriously arcane issue to help leaders understand its impact on business and the state. 

We are joined today by Kristen Blessman, President & CEO of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Dave Davia, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association to discuss Proposition 118, the Paid Medical and Family Leave Initiative. Colorado Concern has taken an oppose position on this measure and this podcast serves to provide context for business owners on this important issue. 

Today we are joined by Dr Raj Sisodia, the co-founder and co-chairman of Conscious Capitalism. He has authored four books on business ethics, The Healing Organization, Conscious Capitalism, Firms of Endearment, and the Rule of Three. Our discussion roughly followed his book Conscious Capitalism, in which he and his co-author, John Mackey - the founder of Whole Foods, defend the imperative of free market capitalism, but also argue that making profit as a sole pursuit is off-base.

We discuss the difficult political environment business leaders must navigate and what he believes businesses must do in order to defend and expand free market capitalism in the face of political forces that seek to shut it down.