Lurker > The_Popo

I don't really know about baseball. What is so significant about this homerun?

Colorados governor vetoes landmark ban on rent-setting algorithms


Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has vetoed a bill that would have made Colorado the first state to ban landlords from using rent-setting algorithms, which many advocates have blamed for driving up housing costs across the country.


RealPage is the target of a federal lawsuit filed last year that accuses the real estate software company of facilitating an illegal scheme to help landlords coordinate to hike rental prices. Eight other states, including Colorado, have joined the Department of Justices lawsuit, though RealPage has vehemently denied any claims of collusion and has fought to have the lawsuit dismissed.


Critics say RealPage software combines confidential information from each real estate management company in ways that enable landlords to align prices and avoid competition that would otherwise push down rents. RealPages clients include huge landlords who collectively oversee millions of units across the U.S.


The Colorado bill, which recently passed the Democratic-led Legislature along party lines, would have prevented the use of such algorithms.


In a veto letter Thursday, Polis said he understands the intent of the bill but that any collusion among landlords would already violate existing law.


Reducing market friction through legitimate means that do not entail collusion is good for both renters and landlords, Polis wrote. We should not inadvertently take a tool off the table that could identify vacancies and provide consumers with meaningful data to help efficiently manage residential real estate to ensure people can access housing.


In a statement, RealPage applauded Polis veto, calling it an example of courageous leadership.


This is the right outcome for all of us who desire a healthy housing ecosystem that benefits Colorado renters and housing providers alike, said Jennifer Bowcock, a spokesperson for the Texas-based firm.


But Polis decision outraged local housing advocates and the American Economic Liberties Project, a consumer rights advocacy group that has helped lead the fight against RealPage and other companies that use rent-setting algorithms.


This veto sends the devastating message that corporate landlords can keep using secret price-fixing algorithms to take extra rent from people who have the least, said Sam Gilman, co-founder and president of the Community Economic Defense Project, a Colorado-based nonprofit.


RealPage software provides daily recommendations to help landlords and their employees price their available apartments. The landlords do not have to follow the suggestions, but critics argue that because the software has access to a vast trove of confidential data, it helps RealPages clients charge the highest possible rent.


Although Colorado was the first state to pass a bill targeting rental algorithms, at least six cities have passed similar ordinances over the past year. They include Philadelphia; Minneapolis; San Francisco; Berkeley, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Providence, Rhode Island.


RealPage has decried those measures and sued over Berkeleys ordinance, saying it violates the companys free speech rights and is the result of an intentional campaign of misinformation and often-repeated false claims about its products.


RealPage argues that the real driver of high rents is a lack of housing supply. It also says that its pricing recommendations often encourage landlords to drop rents since landlords are incentivized to maximize revenue and maintain high occupancy.


A clause recently added to Republicans signature big, beautiful tax bill would ban states and localities from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade. On Tuesday, five Democratic senators sent a letter to RealPage asking if the company was involved in getting that clause inserted.


In an email, Bowcock said RealPage was not involved in the AI moratorium language, but she said the company supports a thoughtful, well-grounded, and consistent regulatory approach to AI, rather than a patchwork of state and local legislation.

I think they didn't need the governor's signature because it had well over 2/3s support in the house and unanimous support in the senate.

89R3815 DRS-D
By: Cortez, Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 431


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the regulation by a property owners' association of the installation of solar roof tiles.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:


SECTION 1. Section 202.010(a)(2), Property Code, is amended to read as follows:


(2) "Solar energy device" has the meaning assigned by Section 171.107, Tax Code. The term includes a solar roof tile.


SECTION 2. The amendment by this Act of Section 202.010(a)(2), Property Code, is intended to clarify rather than change existing law.


SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Thunderbolts

Why did people vote for someone this stupid?

Mario Kart 64

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Warmech_(Final_Fantasy)

I guess it's not technically a superboss because it's easiser than the final boss of the game.

But it's a stupidly hard extremely rare encounter hardly anyone will ever fight.

They are so petty that another company is successful.

BB1: the body falling out of the ceiling . that was the exact moment I knew Id be hooked for the rest of the show

Not constitutional.

They did it with Dino Crisis too, but eventually you were able to buy the game. I wonder if youre able to play these two games if youve purchased it on the PS3 store.

Remember PlayStation 9 commercials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyPQVsdCuRk