Letters to the editor: Mark Wallach, Michael Christy, Steve Rosenblum, and Tara Winer; pro-Bedrooms; 2I and 2J; Michael Christy; CU South; Tara Winer
Oct. 28—Joelle Rossback: Wallach, Christy, Rosenblum, Winer: Ensuring our safety
Government's primary goal is to protect the public health and safety of its citizens. At a time of rising crime rates, we need leaders who will ensure our safety by restoring funding to our depleted police force — down more than 40 officers over the past year — while proceeding with needed reform of police practices to ensure public safety for all our community's residents.
That's why I am supporting four City Council candidates who support these goals and propose policies to attain them: Mark Wallach, Michael Christy, Steve Rosenblum, and Tara Winer.
These four candidates agree that our large population of unhoused individuals is by no means the sole source of criminality in Boulder. However, according to Boulder Police Department data, this minority population commits a significant portion of crimes in our community — notably thefts of bicycles, autos and catalytic converters — as well as abusive behavior and even assault against rec path users as they pass by numerous encampments of transients. Regardless, these candidates also agree on the need to improve services tailored to Boulder's homeless population.
While supporting the camping ban as a way of improving public health and safety, all four candidates recognize the complexity of causes leading individuals into homelessness and propose a compassionate approach to addressing the problem, including improved access to mental-health and drug-treatment facilities.
Joelle Rossback
Boulder
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Katie Farnan: Bedrooms: Limits equals discrimination
Occupancy limits place caps on roommates, not families. And these limits do so regardless of the size of the home or number of bedrooms. It is tacitly understood that occupancy limits are designed to restrict certain kinds of people, not just crowds of people. Certain crowds of people are living perfectly legally within the occupancy limits, because they are deemed to be "family" under the watchful eyes of the city. This is government overreach and discrimination. This makes occupancy laws discriminatory. If five people want to share a five-bedroom house, and I demand to know just how those people are related to each other in the eyes of the law, then someone ought to tell me to mind my own business.
A large, multigenerational family living together under Boulder's occupancy law, nor are they often even considered bothersome in the same way as unrelated living is, irrespective of the fact that both scenarios might be done for affordability. Because of the way occupancy restricts only certain kinds of living arrangements, it is discriminatory. That is why Measure 300 (Bedrooms Are for People) needs to pass.
There is already code enforcement for building standards to control crowds. There is already code enforcement for parking. Those can and should be enforced.
If the issue that opponents have were truly about crowding, the answer is that we already have the tools to deal with that in our city code. But enforcing living arrangements based on familial status is exactly the kind of social engineering that conservatives typically rail against. Stop allowing city government to tell you who you can live with. Vote YES on 300.
Katie Farnan
Boulder
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Richard Polk: 2I and 2J: This is a must
Ballot question 2I is an extension of an existing sales tax costing most households less than $100 a year — it was first approved by Boulder voters in 2014 and was extended by the voters in 2017. In 2014 I worked in support of its use for the Dairy Arts Center and the Museum of Boulder projects.
This small sales tax allows Boulder to enjoy its defining treasures, like open space and environmental leadership, while growing its arts community and providing excellent essential services.
Tourists and visitors will continue to pay the tax — it is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of Boulder's sales tax is paid by people who do not live in Boulder.
Both ballot items — 2I and 2J — must pass if we want the projects to start in the near term. 2I asks voters to extend the existing sales tax; companion ballot question 2J requests that voters approve issuance of bonds so the tax dollars can be used immediately. Bonding is the municipal version of taking on a mortgage. The City's bond rating is very good — AAA — so interest rates are low.
It's important to know that if 2J doesn't pass, the city must wait 15 years for taxes to be collected before some projects can start.
The ballot items include a variety of essential community and deferred maintenance projects: fire stations, purchase of emergency vehicles to provide for advanced life support, renovation of East Boulder Recreation Center, Pearl Street Mall refresh, improvements to Central Park, as well as up to 10%, or $20 million for nonprofit infrastructure projects serving the Boulder community.
Vote for 2I and 2J to make Boulder's future even greater.
Richard Polk
former City Council member
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Richard Berger: Michael Christy: He has the experience
Please vote for Michael Christy for Boulder City Council. Living near Michael, I have long known he is kind, fun, and smart. During his campaign, I have learned that he has the experience and values to serve our community. Through his law practice, Michael is an experienced mediator. He served in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate General. He has volunteered at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and is a member of the Boulder Cannabis Licensing and Advisory Board. Michael will work collaboratively as a council member. Please vote for Michael.
Richard Berger
Boulder
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Meg Tilton: CU South (302): Let Council's vote stand
A popular vote usually sounds like a good way to make an important decision. In the case of 302, please consider that it may not be:
— A vote on annexation is not as fair as it seems. Many of the primary beneficiaries are the people who would live in the affordable housing units. If they can't currently afford to live in Boulder, they can't vote.
— The U.S. has a representative government because it's difficult for the public to fully understand all legislation. The CU South Annexation is extremely complex. The average voter probably does not know its history or legal provisions, and there will be no test. In contrast, City Council has devoted hundreds of hours to studying these issues and has more expertise.
Meg Tilton
Boulder
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Sara Mayer: CU South (302): Let the people vote
Why is the City Council so afraid of letting the people vote on any annexation agreement for CU South? Could it be that they know most people are appalled by what they have given to CU in the agreement adopted in their "emergency meeting" on Sept. 21.?
A vote of YES for 302 will ensure that the citizens get to vote on ANY current or future annexation agreement for CU South. Furthermore, any such agreement must include the following: a site plan, a transportation plan, a clear explanation of all costs and who will pay for them, necessary permits, environmental impacts, impacts on adjacent properties, and terms that will bind any future owners if CU decides to sell the land.
Voting YES on 302 allows flood mitigation to proceed UNIMPEDED. CU can demonstrate some "good faith" by granting the city an easement for the flood mitigation.
I am aware of the damage done to the Frasier Meadows area by the 2013 flood. However, South Boulder Creek made up only 15% of the damage from the 2013 flood. The Two Mile/Goose Creek drainage incurred more damage and also had loss of life. The annexation agreement the Council adopted will mean spending all the money for flood mitigation on South Boulder Creek and none for the other drainages.
Finally, the density allowed by the annexation agreement is terrible: 750,000 square feet of non-residential space and 1,100 residential units. There is NO ENROLLMENT CAP for CU in the agreement and no requirement for housing any and all students added to the current enrollment of 35,000 to 38,000 students. Do we really want the equivalent of downtown Boulder from 9th to 15th, Pine to Arapahoe built on that land?
What is the rush for annexation? CU has repeatedly said it has no immediate plans for the site. Therefore, they should let the flood mitigation proceed and ask for annexation once they have a clear plan to present to us. Or do they want it annexed now with no site plan determined so they can sell it to a developer?
I urge a YES vote on 302.
Sara Mayer
Boulder
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Daphna Rubin: Tara Winer: A positive problem solver
Tara Winer is a great choice for Boulder City Council. And here's why. I have come to know Tara through the Jewish community. When confronted with a challenge that affects all of us, Tara's response isn't to complain, whine or rant. Rather, she is much more likely to respond with: "Let's do something about it. Let's make a change."
That's why she's running for office. To her, as a small business owner, mother, grandmother and lover of all things Boulder, making Boulder better for everyone is a driving force. Tara has demonstrated this ideal through action with her participation in various community initiatives including the Boulder Parks and Rec advisory board, and the Chautauqua Access Management Plan which resulted in the Park-to-Park shuttle cutting down on traffic and its environmental impact. She believes that Boulder is capable of ensuring public safety in our shared spaces while also acting compassionately to help vulnerable populations. For more about Tara, please visit taraforboulder.com.
Please join me in voting for her on Nov. 2.
Daphna Rubin
Boulder
