Briefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.
Crime is out of control in our city. As mayor, I will fight for Denver’s future by adding 400 police officers to Denver’s police force, increasing funding for police training, and lowering 911 response times to make our city safer.
What should Denver leaders do to address the city’s lack of affordable housing?
Blue collar workers, first-time homebuyers, and young families can’t afford to live in our city. To make housing more affordable, I will fix a broken permitting department, eliminate regulations that are blocking affordable housing, and get corruption and money out of the zoning process.
Do you support redevelopment at the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
I support converting the abandoned Park Hill golf course into both housing and a new park as proposed in the Westside plan. It is critical that Denver’s teachers, police officers, and firefighters be able to afford to live in our city, and to make Denver affordable for first time home buyers and young families we need to build more housing.
What should Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
I will fight for the future of downtown Denver by aggressively enforcing the camping ban to get the homeless into the mental health and drug addiction services they need and by adding 400 police officers to the Denver police department. A safe downtown is a revitalized downtown.
What is Denver’s greatest public safety concern and what should be done about it?
The failure of the mayor and the City Council have led to a near tripling of murders over the past 10 years. We are one of the car theft capitals of the country. Denver deserves a mayor who will crack down on crime by adding 400 police officers, by increasing funding for police training, and by lowering 911 response times.
Should neighborhoods help absorb population growth through permissive zoning, or do you favor protections for single-family neighborhoods?
If we do not solve the underlying issues causing our affordable housing crisis, specifically a broken permitting department, regulations that are making it uneconomical to build affordable housing, zoning changes will not create enough housing for first-time home buyers, blue collar workers, and young families.
Should the city’s policy of sweeping homeless encampments continue unchanged? Why or why not?
I will aggressively enforce the camping ban to get the homeless into the mental health and drug addiction services they need. Mayor Hancock has failed to enforce our camping ban, which has led to a doubling of unsheltered homeless over the past four years.
Should Denver change its snow plowing policy? Why or why not.
Our streets are not getting cleaned after snow storm. Denver deserves a mayor who will take charge and fight for Denver future by reducing crime, homelessness, and by plowing all our streets.
What’s your vision for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to help the city get there?
I love Denver, it is a vibrant, entrepreneurial city that still has its pioneer spirit. As my two daughters grow up, I want them to be safe, and to eventually be able to afford to buy a home and raise a family in Denver. I will use my experience as an Army veteran and small business owner to fight for Denver’s future by reducing crime, homelessness, and the cost of housing in our city.
How better can city officials protect Denver’s environment — air quality, water supply, ground contamination? And should the city take a more active role in transit?
As mayor, I will invest in the infrastructure that powers our economy and protects our environment. Ignoring the maintenance needs of our roads and bridges has made traffic in Denver unbearable, costing Denver drivers an extra 36 hours a year in additional commute time and worsening our air.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
