Legalized Extortion? Fighting Denver’s So-Called “Affordable Housing” Mandate

What happens when cities start charging tens of thousands just to build a few homes? In this explosive interview, David Dearson of the Pacific Legal Foundation takes on Denver’s controversial “linkage fee“—a mandatory payment developers must make simply to get a permit. Is it inclusionary zoning… or legalized extortion? With fees that increase every year and hit even the smallest projects, the stakes are high not only for homebuilders but for property rights across the country. Could this case be headed to the Supreme Court—and what could it mean for your city next?

Can making housing more affordable really start by making it more expensive to build? John Rush and Andy dig into the deeper motive behind Denver’s policy—arguing it’s less about affordability and more about political control. With $70,000 demanded from one small builder, are these fees actually a tool to buy votes with taxpayer-funded housing projects? As Pacific Legal Foundation fights back, listeners are urged to support the cause and challenge the logic behind so-called “affordable housing” mandates. What if the real solution is as simple as just building more homes?
Interview