What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Addressing violent crime as well as car theft by partnering with law enforcement and communities to find effective solutions. Lowering the cost of living and housing costs by working with energy producers and as well as builders to adequately supply affordable housing.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
I would work bipartisanly to compassionately address our growing homeless issue in this state, as well as any legislation to lower the cost of living on hard-working Colorado families
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
As a first-generation American whose parents did not speak English, I fully understand the difficulties many people in our immigrant communities are going through. I am a fluent Spanish speaker who can clearly communicate what is going on in our capitol to my Hispanic constituents that are now nearly 50 % of my district. Being a young father and having to enter the workforce at a young age, I also recognize the need to extend opportunities at the state level to disadvantaged youths and families while providing them with the tools they need for a secure and prosperous future.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
I believe rather than over-regulating new building measures, we should incentivize builders to build not only multiunit low-income housing but single-family affordable homes. As a son of immigrants, I can tell you that owning a home is the American dream for many people who come to this country in search of a better life. We should move more towards single-family home ownership and multiunit rentals that fluctuate with the market.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
No I do not support the current law on fentanyl. I believe it is a deadly drug and has no place in our state or in the hands of addicts in any quantity. I feel this law only encourages open use and does very little to get users the treatment they need. I would however support any bill to help people get clean and off the street an example that would be places like step 13 Denver as an alternative.
What are your top three priorities for the next legislative session?
Fighting for better protections for Colorado renters. Addressing crime and building safety by combating the underlying conditions that lead people to commit crimes rather than doubling down on the failed policies of mass incarceration. Champion the development of more affordable housing and fight to ensure that this housing is accessible for working families.
The chamber may see split Democrat-Republican control next year. On what issues do you see common ground with the opposite party?
Affordable housing, criminal justice reform and wildfire mitigation.
What perspective or background would you bring to the chamber that is currently missing?
My brother and I were raised in south Denver by a single mom whose only source of income was her social security disability check. We were poor; we relied on food banks, dealt with our power and water getting cut off, and even experienced eviction. I worked as a dishwasher, a cook and a janitor before finishing school and eventually going on to law school to become an eviction defense attorney. My lived experience drives me to fight for low-income families like mine and I am excited to bring this perspective to the State House.
What more can the state legislature do to ease housing costs across Colorado?
Ending the statewide ban on rent control so that Colorado communities can enact policies that will stabilize the skyrocketing price of rents. Fight for more funding and policies that will lead to the development of more affordable homes so that working families can realize the stability of owning a home in the communities where they work.
Do you support the current law on fentanyl possession and resources for treatment?
I do not support the current law on fentanyl possession. It was a mistake to increase penalties for possession of fentanyl. The war on drugs failed. Not only is it likely that these laws will be enforced more harshly in communities of color; the data are clear – criminalizing drug possession does not work to reduce the prevalence of drugs or overdose deaths. An approach to fentanyl that focuses on criminalization will exacerbate the crisis. We should listen to the public health experts who are advising us to focus on treatment and harm reduction over criminalization.
Kyle Furey has not returned the questionnaire.
