Briefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.
The most urgent issue facing our city is the massive disparity of wealth that separates wage earners from property owners. This disparity accounts for all social issues such as gentrification, low-income housing, unhoused population, etc. Solving this means using the mayor’s office to direct resources to those at the bottom of the economic ladder.
What should Denver leaders do to address the city’s lack of affordable housing?
Solving affordable housing means helping those directly who survive on low wage work. I would push for a minimum wage that is a living wage, for an expanded Universal Basic Income program, for publicly supported worker centers that serve immigrant workers, and policies that make it easier for public employees to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
I would also advocate for the use of city-owned property to be used for social housing development, doing whatever is necessary to get unhoused people into decent, permanent housing and to ensure that they can stay there.
Do you support redevelopment at the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
No. I support preserving this as open space or a new park. Recent unchecked development and growing density has created a need for more open space within the city. This is a great opportunity to increase green areas in the city, particularly in NE Denver, where there is a great need for this.
What should Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
Again, addressing the plight of wage-earners and the unhoused in our city is the most direct path toward “revitalizing” downtown or any other area of the city. “Revitalize Downtown” has often been used as code for sweeping away the unhoused population from tourist areas. I would instead focus efforts on a streamlined effort to get them housed as quickly as possible. The city of Houston has had success, and we can look to many nations across the world who have largely solved the issue of homelessness.
The place to begin is with confronting the idea that people are unhoused through their own shortcomings, that they are to blame for their situation.
What is Denver’s greatest public safety concern and what should be done about it?
Denver’s greatest public safety concern is the prevalence and use of guns, particularly weapons of war on our streets. I would enact policies to make Denver the safest city in the nation when it comes to gun violence. This means a massive gun buyback program, banning of assault weapons, universal background checks, and beefed up red flag laws. As mayor, I would feel a moral obligation to address the epidemic of mass shootings and gun violence.
Should neighborhoods help absorb population growth through permissive zoning, or do you favor protections for single-family neighborhoods?
Yes, I believe that every neighborhood carries some responsibility to absorb the continued growth, but would also support protections for Denver’s many historic homes and neighborhoods. I believe that it’s possible to do both. For example, changing zoning so that ADUs are legal in all neighborhoods. This increases diversity while maintaining a single-family home culture.
Should the city’s policy of sweeping homeless encampments continue unchanged? Why or why not?
I would end sweeps and end the urban camping ban. All of my energies as mayor would go toward moving people into permanent, dignified housing. All public health and safety issues should be channeled through the practices and philosophy of harm reduction.
Should Denver change its snow plowing policy? Why or why not.
No. Using solar power to clear streets works in 95% of winters. This year’s situation is rare. I would be in favor of changing the policy on an as-needed basis, ordering the plowing of backstreets in particularly harsh winters.
What’s your vision for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to help the city get there?
My vision for Denver in 20 years is the most worker-friendly city in the country, a space where those who clean, build, serve, and care for others can afford to live in–and purchase a home in–the city. Denver in 20 years will be a space where all workers enjoy support for forming unions and engaging in collective bargaining, and where no one is forced to work two or three jobs to survive. Harm reduction practices would guide all issues related to public health, including substance use, police tactics, incarceration, and the unhoused.
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?
Denver should be replacing all old lead pipes and enforcing more stringent air quality penalties to improve air quality. Fracking should not be allowed within 50 miles of downtown Denver or within a mile of any residential area. Public transit should be free to all, ensuring that everyone can get around the city without problem. Finally, a massive expansion of green spaces, green roofs, and incentivizing the move to EVs will contribute to this.
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