In this interview, tech entrepreneur and investor Dan Caruso sits down with Jann Scott to discuss Colorado’s economic future, local housing, and political shifts ahead of the 2026 election (0:27).
Having moved to Boulder County in 1998 (0:47), Caruso was a founding executive of Level 3 Communications (now Lumen) (1:00) and the founder of Zayo Group on Pearl Street (1:20). Throughout the discussion, he focuses heavily on why he has stepped into the political arena to campaign against policies he believes are harming the state’s innovation ecosystem (0:27).

https://youtu.be/DT5q8uHgDk0?si=JvEySbKtU-eUevDy

📉 Pushback on Tax Initiatives & The “AI Act”

• Amendment 87 Opposition: Caruso speaks passionately against Amendment 87, a proposed graduated income tax measure (6:13). He argues that taxing high earners will backfire, driving wealth, investments, and jobs to lower-tax states like Texas and Florida (6:23).
• The AI Legislation Fallout: He highlights a past Colorado “AI Act” which he claims initially “outlawed AI” and stifled immense business momentum (5:50). He notes that while parts were eventually walked back, it sent a message to tech companies to take their capital elsewhere (6:03).

🏙️ Vacancies and the Shifting Vibe of Boulder

• Empty Business Parks: Caruso notes that office spaces on the east side of Boulder and along Pearl Street are facing severe vacancy issues compared to just a few years prior (17:33).
• The “Daily Camera” Building Purchase: To spark a revival, Caruso mentions that he recently purchased the 200,000-square-foot former Boulder Daily Camera building (which houses the Galvanized tech space) at a fraction of its replacement value (16:35). His explicit goal is to bring the “vibe” and active economic life back to downtown (17:15).
• Declining Local Demographics: He correlates the empty corporate parks with a shrinking population of young, non-student families (17:45), which in turn has forced local school closures (17:45).

🏠 Housing & Local Government Spending

• Critique of Affordable Housing Tactics: Caruso expresses frustration with current municipal affordable housing initiatives (24:38). He argues that building expensive single-family units on premier land next to the foothills limits resource efficiency (35:20). Instead, he suggests building higher-density units in slightly less expensive areas to help more families in need (35:36).
• City Capital Projects: He criticizes the city council’s spending priorities, taking aim at the multi-million dollar campus built for city employees (22:48), pointing out that many city workers do not live in Boulder or come into the office daily (25:42).

🤝 Call for Broad Community Collaboration

• Bridging Ideological Divides: Despite his sharp critique of local policies, Caruso emphasizes his deep respect for local scientists, university staff, and progressives (13:09). He rejects the host’s attempt to label government lab workers as “socialists” in conflict with business owners (12:06).
• The Shared Vision: Caruso insists that everyone—regardless of political beliefs—ultimately wants a thriving economy, safe public parks (33:01), strong education systems (13:51), and a rich local arts and culture scene (39:29). He urges leaders to have open, stubbornness-free conversations to keep Boulder unique rather than letting it turn into an exclusive second-home enclave like Aspen (29:25).