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Briefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.
Denver has a housing crisis. The secret’s out: Denver is an amazing place to live. With all those moving to our city, and with the implosion of our housing construction in 2008, we are far behind in building new homes. Fortunately, we’re working on missing middle density citywide and larger buildings in the city center where it makes sense.
Denver has a housing crisis. The secret’s out: Denver is an amazing place to live. With all those moving to our city, and with the implosion of our housing construction in 2008, we are far behind in building new homes. Fortunately, we’re working on missing middle density citywide and larger buildings in the city center where it makes sense.
What should Denver leaders do to address the city’s lack of affordable housing?
America tried building housing projects, and it was a failure. Instead of building additional housing projects, we strive to create an economically diverse community. As of 2022, we now require new developments to install affordable housing in every new apartment and condominium building. We are also changing zoning to allow for missing middle housing. In some neighborhoods, that means allowing accessory dwelling units. In others, that means duplexes or triplexes. And it means larger apartment and condominium buildings downtown.
America tried building housing projects, and it was a failure. Instead of building additional housing projects, we strive to create an economically diverse community. As of 2022, we now require new developments to install affordable housing in every new apartment and condominium building. We are also changing zoning to allow for missing middle housing. In some neighborhoods, that means allowing accessory dwelling units. In others, that means duplexes or triplexes. And it means larger apartment and condominium buildings downtown.
Do you support redevelopment at the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
Yes. We have a housing crisis, and the plan allows for lots of new homes. In my first term in office, our housing affordability crisis has only exacerbated, making the need for affordable housing even more important. The good news about the development is that it requires at least 25% of homes built be affordable. Furthermore, there will still be ample park space on the scale of Cheesman Park, one of our city’s most amazing parks.
Yes. We have a housing crisis, and the plan allows for lots of new homes. In my first term in office, our housing affordability crisis has only exacerbated, making the need for affordable housing even more important. The good news about the development is that it requires at least 25% of homes built be affordable. Furthermore, there will still be ample park space on the scale of Cheesman Park, one of our city’s most amazing parks.
What should Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
District 10 is the center of the Rocky Mountain region’s cultural, civic, commercial, and tourism sectors. It is critical that we revitalize downtown for each of these industries. We are already working on significant infrastructure investments downtown, including $160m for the 16th Street Mall renovation. We have also invested in a pilot that provides free rent for locally owned minority and women-owned businesses to open storefronts downtown. Infrastructure upgrades, small business investment, and public safety investment are all needed to ensure the success of our center city.
District 10 is the center of the Rocky Mountain region’s cultural, civic, commercial, and tourism sectors. It is critical that we revitalize downtown for each of these industries. We are already working on significant infrastructure investments downtown, including $160m for the 16th Street Mall renovation. We have also invested in a pilot that provides free rent for locally owned minority and women-owned businesses to open storefronts downtown. Infrastructure upgrades, small business investment, and public safety investment are all needed to ensure the success of our center city.
What is Denver’s greatest public safety concern and what should be done about it?
Police are a necessary and important component of the city’s ability to maintain public health, safety, and welfare. That said, we have focused long enough on locking people up to solve the public safety problem; we should support our police by re-focusing on prevention instead of punishment. Put another way, let’s get the police out of the business of responding to things that don’t need police. This includes raising Denver’s minimum wage, creating and expanding Support Team Assisted Response (STAR), moving thousands from the street into homes using housing surges, and more. This will allow police to focus on protecting victims and other priorities which require their specialized training.
Police are a necessary and important component of the city’s ability to maintain public health, safety, and welfare. That said, we have focused long enough on locking people up to solve the public safety problem; we should support our police by re-focusing on prevention instead of punishment. Put another way, let’s get the police out of the business of responding to things that don’t need police. This includes raising Denver’s minimum wage, creating and expanding Support Team Assisted Response (STAR), moving thousands from the street into homes using housing surges, and more. This will allow police to focus on protecting victims and other priorities which require their specialized training.
Should neighborhoods help absorb population growth through permissive zoning, or do you favor protections for single-family neighborhoods?
We must all do our part to ensure Denver is prepared for future generations like previous generations have made Denver welcoming for us. Most of District 10 is already multifamily. The center city is a great place to add density, including in our city center by converting empty office space into residential space. 1600 Glenarm is an example of how we can successfully convert space from office to residential. Additional density must be in context with the neighborhood. This means 30+ story buildings make sense downtown and ADUs (and other gentle density options like duplexes) make sense in other neighborhoods.
We must all do our part to ensure Denver is prepared for future generations like previous generations have made Denver welcoming for us. Most of District 10 is already multifamily. The center city is a great place to add density, including in our city center by converting empty office space into residential space. 1600 Glenarm is an example of how we can successfully convert space from office to residential. Additional density must be in context with the neighborhood. This means 30+ story buildings make sense downtown and ADUs (and other gentle density options like duplexes) make sense in other neighborhoods.
Should the city’s policy of sweeping homeless encampments continue unchanged? Why or why not?
A city’s core role is public health, safety, and welfare. It isn’t in the public’s best interest for anyone to camp in urine, feces, trash, needles, rats, and other issues on our street. It’s also not OK for this to be around schools like Morey in District 10. After all, we should set up our future leaders for success. Which is why we’re re-tooling our housing options; since I took office, we’re now allowing pets and partners in shelters and are purchasing motels to address all reasons people camp on our streets.
A city’s core role is public health, safety, and welfare. It isn’t in the public’s best interest for anyone to camp in urine, feces, trash, needles, rats, and other issues on our street. It’s also not OK for this to be around schools like Morey in District 10. After all, we should set up our future leaders for success. Which is why we’re re-tooling our housing options; since I took office, we’re now allowing pets and partners in shelters and are purchasing motels to address all reasons people camp on our streets.
Should Denver change its snow plowing policy? Why or why not.
Believe me, it’s been hard getting around in my wheelchair this winter in Denver, so yes. The snow plowing policy hasn’t changed for decades. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people have moved to our city, and they deserve access to get around. Also, taller buildings in our city center mean there’s less sun shining on streets and melting the snow/ice. We should also revisit our policy on sidewalk/alley abatement as more than a third of households in certain neighborhoods in District 10 don’t own cars at all. We all deserve the ability to get from A to B safely no matter how we choose to get there.
Believe me, it’s been hard getting around in my wheelchair this winter in Denver, so yes. The snow plowing policy hasn’t changed for decades. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people have moved to our city, and they deserve access to get around. Also, taller buildings in our city center mean there’s less sun shining on streets and melting the snow/ice. We should also revisit our policy on sidewalk/alley abatement as more than a third of households in certain neighborhoods in District 10 don’t own cars at all. We all deserve the ability to get from A to B safely no matter how we choose to get there.
What’s your vision for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to help the city get there?
We must all do our part to save our habitability on our planet, promote physical health, and preserve community. This means transitioning our city from a car-only city to a pedestrian and cyclist friendly one. Shakespeare writes, “what is a city but the people?” Getting people out of their cars allows us to reconnect with our neighbors and restore the social fabric that makes Denver unique. This means fixing our busted and broken sidewalks and championing transformative projects like the 5280 Trail.
We must all do our part to save our habitability on our planet, promote physical health, and preserve community. This means transitioning our city from a car-only city to a pedestrian and cyclist friendly one. Shakespeare writes, “what is a city but the people?” Getting people out of their cars allows us to reconnect with our neighbors and restore the social fabric that makes Denver unique. This means fixing our busted and broken sidewalks and championing transformative projects like the 5280 Trail.
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?
Transportation is the single largest contributor to carbon emissions, and we must do our part to ensure people feel safe getting around our city in alternatives to cars. This means fixing our busted and broken sidewalks. It means ensuring cyclists feel protected, too. Denver voters approved the change from Public Works to the Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DOTI), and I believe that means the people want us to take a more active role in transit and transportation infrastructure.
Transportation is the single largest contributor to carbon emissions, and we must do our part to ensure people feel safe getting around our city in alternatives to cars. This means fixing our busted and broken sidewalks. It means ensuring cyclists feel protected, too. Denver voters approved the change from Public Works to the Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DOTI), and I believe that means the people want us to take a more active role in transit and transportation infrastructure.
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