Governor Polis Discusses Affordable Housing, Drug Policies, Gun Control, and More in Recent Interview

Governor Jared Polis sat down for an interview last Friday to discuss a wide range of topics, from affordable housing to passenger rail in Colorado. The governor shared his plans for the future and addressed several controversial issues currently facing the state.

One of the main topics discussed was the governor's plans for affordable housing. Polis expressed his disappointment in the failure of Senate Bill 213, which aimed to make housing more affordable but ultimately died due to disagreements within the Democratic majority at the Capitol.

The governor also promised to double down on this issue in 2024 and think bigger and bolder when it comes to housing policy. He also expressed support for a forthcoming bill aimed at reducing the number of construction defect lawsuits and increasing the availability of affordable condos in the state.

Polis addressed the controversial issue of government sponsored injection sites, where people can openly use illegal drugs under the supervision of trained workers. While he did not directly answer if he would support or sign a bill authorizing these centers, he did express the need for diversion and getting people into treatment to address drug addiction and homelessness.

In regard to gun control, Polis avoided directly answering a question about a potential ban on the sale of so-called assault weapons but did express opposition towards pursuing this policy.

On the other hand, he did express support for Proposition HH, a measure on the November ballot that, while it might provide limited property tax relief in the short term, will raise taxes to historic levels and steal TABOR refunds from Coloradans.

The governor told the Colorado Sun that Coloradans should vote for Prop HH because it’s a step in the right direction but, “It doesn’t mean you can’t do anything else about property taxes in the future,” he said. “I’m happy to talk about other options whether this passes or fails.”

From the Democrat’s perspective, Proposition HH is meant to stop the annual property tax battles at the Capitol that have been happening since the Gallagher Amendment was repealed by voters in 2020 and which have made it difficult for local governments to plan their budgets.

The governor also weighed in on the controversial issue of short-term rentals and property taxes, stating that the current tax treatment for these rentals is a "loophole" that should be closed. He also discussed the state's water crisis and the potential role for limiting water usage in agriculture, stating that while residential water use is increasing, it is still a fraction compared to other industries.

When asked if there is a role in dealing with the water crisis for the state to limit what kinds of crops farmers grow, Polis plainly said “no.”

Polis said, “If we can figure out housing, that also helps fix water.”

In terms of transportation, Polis expressed interest in exploring the possibility of a passenger train between Denver and Winter Park and Steamboat Springs to alleviate ski traffic on Interstate 70.