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WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2025
VOLUME 98 | ISSUE 10
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Colorado Democrats introduce bills to crack down on rent algorithms, ‘junk fees’ BY ERIC HEINZ ERIC@COTLN.ORG
“So it’s like the quest takes you to newer parts of the exhibit, but not everybody finds the quest, and that makes sense,” Johnson said. “It really connects to the deeper divers in that way.” Along with the quests, Meow Wolf Denver General Manager Hans Vollrath said there will be new bar services, a summer-long celebration among the converged worlds and the yearly Cosmic Howl during Halloween.
Two bills were recently introduced by Democratic state legislators intended to protect renters from increasing or excessive costs. The first bill would prohibit rental building owners from using algorithms to set leasing prices, which critics say leads to illegal collaboration. The bill prohibiting the use of algorithms to set prices followsa move by Colorado and other states to file an antitrust lawsuit against the company RealPage, claiming that six of the nation’s largest landlords are “participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters,” according to a statement by Attorney General Phil Weiser. Bill sponsor state Sen. Julie Gonzales, who represents the north and west portions of Denver, said many changes are happening in the information technology world, but Colorado needs to prevent landlords from potentially colluding to set leasing prices. “The White House released a report last month that demonstrated that Colorado renters in the Denver market, particularly, were being charged an additional $70 per month,” Gonzales said during a press conference at the Capitol. “As a result of these algorithms, renters took on the second-highest extra cost each month of RealPage’s algorithm, an average of $136. That is not OK, and that’s why we’re bringing this forward.” The second bill, introduced by state Rep. Emily Sirota, who represents a corner of southeast Denver, would require the disclosure of certain fees for products as well as rent prices and prohibit landlords from assessing certain fees, often called “junk fees.” “Too many Coloradans are blindsided by these junk fees and only find out about these mandatory fees when they’re checking out online or paying their first rental payment,” Sirota said. The bill would prohibit pricing information for a good or service of a property being offered, displayed or advertised unless the total price is disclosed, with the exception of a government or shipping charge. It would also prohibit “misrepresentation” of pricing information and would prohibit a landlord for requiring a tenant to pay certain fees, charges or amounts.
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SEE JUNK FEES, P2
The cathedral in one of the four worlds that make up Meow Wolf Denver’s Convergence Station. There are many new quests people may embark PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY on this year while exploring the vast immersive exhibits of Meow Wolf.
Meow Wolf Denver offers a 2025 refresher for ‘travelers’ with new quests BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Meow Wolf Denver, the immersive art experience known for its blend of interactive installations and storytelling, is introducing new features in 2025. The Denver location at 1338 1st St. offers visitors a chance to engage with new creative concepts and technologies. “One thing I always tell people about Meow Wolf is that Meow Wolf itself is almost like a sentient being that lives off
in the hillside, and it comes down from the hillside and attaches itself to parts of your soul and then follows you around wherever you go,” said Ru Johnson, Meow Wolf Denver’s public relations manager. Johnson explained that when people visit Meow Wolf Denver, there is always something new to see as it’s a vast immersive experience exploring four different worlds. “You can never really see the whole thing,” Johnson said. “I get lost here … But feature-wise, what we have
CALENDAR: 9 | VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12
done is we have created multiple opportunities for visitors, we call them travelers, to immerse themselves deeper into the narrative.” Johnson explained those opportunities include quests which can be accessed by QR codes placed throughout the exhibits and allow people to go down different rabbit holes within the exhibit. The most recent quest offered is Plotzo’s Heist, which takes place in a secret Pizza Vault in the alley on C Street and Plotzo.
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