LITA 18: How Eviction Defense Actually Works in Colorado with Zach Neumann
Ana and Deep sit down with Zach Neumann, co-founder and CEO of the Community Economic Defense Project, to break down Colorado’s housing crisis, eviction defense, and why renter protections keep failing at the Capitol. Zach shares how a single pandemic Facebook post grew into one of the state’s largest tenant-defense operations, helping tens of thousands of Coloradans access legal aid and emergency assistance. They discuss eviction as a debt collection tool, surveillance pricing, predatory car “kill switches,” and Colorado’s Portable Tenant Screening Report law. They end with sharing a new partnership with Rentell aimed at making housing applications easier and more affordable for renters.
Mentioned in this episode:
Rentell (Portable Tenant Screening Reports): https://www.rentell.com/
Community Economic Defense Project: https://cedproject.org
Email Zach directly: zach@cedproject.org
Javier Mabrey on LITA 2 (housing crisis, eviction defense): https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/MAzbZsEg62b
David Seligman on LITA 11 (towards Justice, surveillance pricing): https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/4IWAhGnFK2b
00:00 Cold Open Kill Switches
00:30 Podcast Sizzle Intro
00:48 Nuggets Game Six Heartbreak
03:00 Meet Zach Neumann
03:45 The Pandemic Post That Started It All
06:30 How CEDP Pays Off Eviction Debt Fast
09:30 Running For Office and Losing
12:30 His Grandmother's Story
15:30 How To Actually Get Help
16:30 Why Federal Money Disappeared
17:15 Stop Using Eviction As Debt Collection
20:30 The ROI On Stopping Homelessness
21:45 Seven Years On Your Credit Report
23:00 Two Big Policy Asks
24:30 The Colorado Supreme Court Jury Trial Saga
26:30 Worst Session For Progressives In Years
28:30 The Kill Switch Bill That Died
30:15 Cars Shutting Off On The Freeway
31:00 Subscription Capitalism Spiral
34:30 The Surveillance Pricing Bill
36:30 How Inequality Actually Compounds
37:30 Matthew Desmond's Eviction Books
38:00 Colorado's PTSR Law Explained
41:30 Why Rentell Exists
45:00 Sticking It To The Landlords
46:30 Wrap Up And Reviews
Meet Your Hosts
Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.
Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.
Links:
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Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com
Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
