A couple things about Colorado's security breach, which leaked election machine BIOS passwords... based on me and @BenteBirkeland's interviews with election + tech experts. 🧵 Takeaways:
- BIOS passwords are serious business
- But it's hard to use them b/c of physical security
- There's no sign anyone tried to use them
- The breach raises questions about Sec State data management
- All machines have been updated, so hopefully vulnerability is closed

Land-use bill is getting gutted right now. They can try to re-add mandatory upzoning later, but the hour grows late.

Senate leadership says *a bill* will pass, but left open possibility that they come back in a future session to get what Polis et all really want. #copolitics The amendments under discussion would remove all preemption of local zoning. The state would do a housing assessment and cities would make housing plans. They could get incentives for densities, but no mandates. Still some debate at committee right now over the details.

Bill to allow local rent control will die in committee. Sen. @Dylan_RobertsCO says would stifle development and “we don’t have enough stock in Colorado.” They needed his vote.

Roberts also put his mark on land-use bill recently by exempting ski towns from density requirements. @SenadoraJulie is a yes. “Give local municipalities the tool,” she says.

New: The land-use bill may pass committee tomorrow, but with a huge change.

An amendment would remove the preemption of local authority. (i.e. no more mandatory upzoning.)

Sponsors can still re-revise it later. It's a messy process. #copolitics Under the amendment, state would still assess housing needs and cities would do housing plans. Cities could get incentives for density... but no mandate.

It may be a long night. Democrats are still trying to secure their committee votes on the land-use bill. Everybody has amendments. @nbminor has you covered. #copolitics @nbminor New: The land-use bill clears its Senate committee on a party-line vote after a substantial set of amendments. Onto the Senate. #copolitics

Breadth of opposition: The mayor of Sheridan is among the officials in this land use meeting at a Cherry Hills Village mansion. All are opposed to land use. As Sheridan mayor points out, you couldn’t find two more different municipalities. Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlacter quips that the governor has truly brought people together. As one official asks if anything can be done to win support, some in the crowd cry “no!”

This is pretty big. A proposal backed by Colorado’s most influential Democrats would eliminate single-family-only zoning in dozens of the largest cities. #copolitics cpr.org/2023/03/22/gov… Townhomes and multiplexes up to six units would be allowed by right in all residential zones of many urban cities and metro suburbs, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs to Grand Junction, plus places like Lakewood, Boulder, Arvada.

Thinking thru what happens if the Denver golf course redevelopment measure fails.

The developers could reformulate the plan and try again, but running another campaign when you’ve lost once already is risky and expensive. Maybe they give up and sell to another developer, or even the city. This land last sold for $24M in 2019.

The new owner would still have to win a public vote to use it for anything other than golf. Obviously, if the city proposed a park, that would have an easier time passing.

I called a crisis hotline last night (for someone else, with their consent) and, man, the person who picked up was amazing. A human connection at the right time can save lives. suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-e… I'm not sure how to talk about this, because I don't want kudos... but I do want other people to know they can help, and get help.

So, with the person's permission, I will share this story in generalities.

Defendant Matthew Dolloff appears in virtual court this morning. He is accused in the Denver shooting and reportedly was acting as a private security guard for 9News. He's held without bond. His public defender hasn't been able to have a confidential conversation with him yet.