Boulder Chamber Responses
About a month ago, candidates were asked to complete a questionnaire for Boulder Chamber of Commerce. They have released their scorecard, and I am sharing my responses to help provide the context the scorecard does not include. Please see my full responses alongside the scorecard below.
Downtown Development Authority
Downtown Development Authorities are a proven tool across the state to reinvigorate and support local downtown businesses. Did you vote, or would you have voted, to put the creation of a Downtown Development Authority on this November's ballot at the August 6 Boulder City Council meeting?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
The feedback from the DDA taught us that we need more engagement on what is posed to be a very creative way to address the needs of Downtown Boulder.
Public Safety and Security
Crime continues to be a concern for our businesses, residents, and tourists and is negatively impacting the commercial environment. Do you support full implementation of the Reimagine Policing Plan, including fully staffing the Boulder Police Department?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
Tipped Minimum Wage
Our businesses are struggling to absorb higher costs across the board, and that includes the imposition of mandated wage increases for tipped workers (who often earn well over the hourly minimum wage). Hypothetically, if you were the tie-breaking vote in a split City Council decision, would you have voted against increasing the tipped minimum wage for 2027?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
I think we can be more creative than pitting business owners against their staff. That is not the reality for many small, locally owned businesses and I KNOW we can be more creative than that. We can start with bringing staff and employers together and look at the policies the City of Boulder has to assess opportunities for mutual benefit. A thriving business cannot thrive without staff willing to work for it.
Boulder Municipal Airport
The Boulder Municipal Airport is an important generator of economic activity, while also supporting many businesses, scientific research, and emergency response. FAA grant dollars are a critical source of funding for the airport’s maintenance activities. Did you, or would you have, supported a motion at the July 23rd City Council meeting to both keep the airport operating into the indefinite future and to accept FAA funding?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate: I support keeping the airport open and think we can revisit the conversation in the future. While the airport may be a good idea for Boulder today, we need to ensure that we are not locking ourselves into something that could provide an opportunity to revisit and negotiate later. I disagree with the FAA that this is a settled matter.
Expediting Development Review & Permitting Processes
Our current and prospective businesses continue to cite the time it takes to receive development and permit approvals as undermining their ability to provide affordable housing and serving as a disincentive for locating or investing in Boulder. Would you make expediting development review and permitting processes a top-three City Council priority, including significant revision or wholesale rewriting of Title IX?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
It should NEVER take 6 months to a year to get permits - that is absurd and is anti-small/locally owned business and favors large corporations that have the means and ability to wait it out.
Infrastructure Tax
The City of Boulder is pursuing a significant property tax increase to finance up to $400M in debt that will fund a backlog a deferred maintenance on municipal buildings and facilities. Do you support this proposed property tax increase?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate: This is one area in which I have changed my mind - we owe it to the community to have more conversation about this. That is not to say that I don't think we need to do something right now; because we do. The costs of building won't improve with time. But I am saying that we can have a more thoughtful discussion about what the city needs and work together to accomplish those goals.
Homelessness
Homelessness continues to be a major impediment to a positive business environment, which is why the Boulder Chamber supported the city's recent analysis and recommendations for addressing our homelessness circumstances, including:
Policy 1 - Strict enforcement of the ban on rough sleeping.
Policy 2 - Eliminate the delivery of services for the homeless population in public parks.
Policy 3 - Prioritization of services for unhoused individuals with ties to the local community.
Which of these policies do you support?
P1/P2/P3/Support All
Expand On Your Response (Optional)
I support NONE of these policies. We cannot simultaneously pay less than a livable wage then wonder why people are unhoused or make villains of them trying to survive.
Middle Income Housing
Access to middle-income housing continues to be a barrier for workforce recruitment and retention in Boulder. The City of Boulder will need an additional 10,700 housing units over the next ten years to prevent rent and home prices from dramatically increasing. If elected, would you commit to pursuing that housing development goal?
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
During my experience in the 15 minute neighborhoods, it was clear that the community wants mixed density, mixed use communities and I would also add that we need to ensure that we are meeting the needs of more than our middle income neighbors. We cannot lose sight of those making minimum wage and their need to have access to housing in the communities they work in a time of increased gas prices that are taxing every household.
Economic Vitality
To repeat a question that we've asked since 2019: "Do you believe it's important to continue to sustain a strong economy, including the potential for increasing job growth in Boulder?"
Yes/No/Decline to Answer
Elaborate:
Boulder needs thriving businesses for economic vitality; and thriving businesses need access to capital, commercial spaces that don't create rent-burdens, committed and reliable staff and partnership from local government, and patrons alike. Its necessary that we invest in the things we care about, and that isn't just the City's job, it's also the role of those of us that support local businesses. That means housing that all staff has meaningful and economically accessible access to, being intentional about supporting businesses that pay their staff wages that allow them to continue to live in or move back to the City of Boulder, competitive job markets that promote growth and resilience, and incentives to bring Boulder businesses and workforce back into this city - spending their money with the businesses that invest in our community. We need each and every one of us to grow.
What are your top three proposals for strengthening Boulder's economy?
Work to address systemic barriers to commercial and residential affordability.
Increase housing options that allow for mixed-use so a building or community that houses residents also has a shop they can patronize on their way in & out of their homes.
Set timelines that are clear for permitting.
