# Colorado AG Phil Weiser Drops The Hammer On Landlords, And The Internet Is Living For It
So, Phil Weiser, Colorado’s Attorney General—who, let’s be real, sounds like the guy who’d remind your professor about the homework due date—just decided to make himself the main character of the rental market. And honestly? I’m not even mad. I’m impressed. The man is out here suing landlords like they’re the final boss of a video game, and the rest of us are just standing up in our leaky apartments, holding a broken radiator, and screaming “GET HIM!”
Weiser’s office just dropped a lawsuit against a massive property management group for what boils down to: being absolute garbage humans. Specifically, they’re accused of price-fixing rents using some shady algorithm called RealPage. Yes, you read that right. Landlords in 2023 are using *software* to screw you over. It’s not enough that they already charge you $2,000 for a studio that smells like stale cigarettes and regret—they have to use *tech bro code* to make sure you’re paying peak misery rates.
Let’s break this down, because my blood pressure is already spiking just thinking about it.
**The TL;DR for the TikTok generation:** Landlords got together, used a secret computer program to collude on rent prices, and basically turned the Denver rental market into a Hunger Games arena where the tribute is your paycheck. Phil Weiser saw this, said “absolutely not,” and is now serving them a lawsuit that’s spicier than a ghost pepper burrito.
**The full story, because I know you’re procrastinating at work:**
Weiser’s lawsuit targets a property management company that allegedly used RealPage’s “YieldStar” software. This isn’t some cute little app that helps you find the best Thai takeout—it’s a tool that lets landlords share sensitive data (like how much they’re charging, vacancy rates, and who’s desperate enough to pay a pet deposit for a hamster) to basically fix prices. It’s like if every gas station in a city secretly agreed to charge $6 a gallon, but they pretended it was just “market forces.”
This is the kind of dystopian nonsense that makes you wonder if we’re living in a Black Mirror episode directed by Jeff Bezos. The allegation is that these property managers were using RealPage to artificially inflate rents, squeezing tenants like they’re trying to juice a lemon that’s already been run over by a truck. And let’s be honest, Denver renters didn’t need help being squeezed—they’re already paying 30% of their income on a closet with a hot plate.
**Why this matters (beyond the obvious “landlords bad” take):**
Look, I get it. Landlords have to make money. Nobody’s out here expecting them to run a charity where you pay in exposure and good vibes. But using a secret algorithm to rig the system? That’s not capitalism—that’s a rigged game. It’s like playing Monopoly with someone who hides the “Get Out of Jail Free” cards and then charges you rent for landing on their property that’s actually a cardboard box.
And this isn’t just a Colorado problem. This RealPage software is being used across the country, from Seattle to Atlanta. The feds are already poking around. The DOJ has been sniffing at this like a dog at a fire hydrant. But Colorado’s AG? He’s the first one to actually file a lawsuit. Weiser is out here acting like the hall monitor who finally caught the popular kids cheating on the test, and he’s not afraid to send them to the principal’s office.
**The internet’s reaction: chaos, memes, and a little bit of hope**
Naturally, Reddit is having a field day. The r/Denver subreddit is currently a warzone of “I told you so” posts, angry rants about property managers, and people posting photos of their $1,800 “luxury” apartments that have mold in the bathroom and a view of a dumpster. One user commented, “Phil Weiser is the only person in Colorado government who remembers that constituents aren’t just corporations with a pulse.” Another said, “Finally, someone with a law degree is using it for good instead of just writing HOA bylaws.”
Twitter is also losing its collective mind. The phrase “algorithmic collusion” is trending, and people are making jokes about landlords having to get real jobs now. (“What’s next? They’ll have to actually manage properties instead of just running a Python script?”) It’s beautiful chaos.
But let’s not get too carried away. This lawsuit is just the opening salvo. RealPage is a massive company, and these property management groups have deep pockets. They’re going to fight this like a cat in a bathtub. Weiser is going to need all the legal firepower he can muster, plus maybe a few good memes for morale.
**Why this could be the turning point:**
Here’s the thing: rent is out of control everywhere. It’s not just Denver—it’s Austin, Nashville, Boise, and every other city where young people are trying to start a life without a trust fund. The housing crisis isn’t a mystery. It’s not about “supply and demand” in some abstract economic sense. It’s about real people—landlords, property managers, and software companies—actively making it worse because they can.
Weiser’s move is a signal. It says, “Hey, we know you’re getting screwed, and we’re not just going to shrug and blame the market.” It’s a rare moment of government actually doing its job, which is so surprising I almost choked on my overpriced avocado toast.
Of course, the cynic in me (and let’s be honest, the cynic is the one writing this) knows that one lawsuit won’t fix the housing crisis. We need more zoning reform, more
Final Thoughts
After reading through the coverage of Phil Weiser, it’s clear that his tenure as Colorado’s Attorney General has been defined by a pragmatic, almost academic rigor that sets him apart from the usual political firebrands in the role. While his focus on antitrust action against Big Tech and protecting democratic institutions is laudable, one gets the sense that his legacy will ultimately hinge on whether this careful, legalistic approach can translate into tangible outcomes for ordinary Coloradans, or if it remains a well-intentioned footnote in a national debate. In an era of performative politics, Weiser’s quiet competence is refreshing, but it also begs the question: in a world that rewards noise over nuance, is being the smartest person in the room enough to effect real change?