On the Issues

KC and Leo

INCLUSIVENESS AND HUMAN SERVICES

The hallmark of an evolved society is how well it takes care of those most in need. We must prioritize basic human services. I strongly support city partnerships with the private sector and non profit organizations to provide a social safety net.

Being inclusive means providing a community where all feel welcome, despite any physical, mental, or philosophical differences with any majority of citizens. Boulder must make a stronger effort to include and listen to all parts of our community. We must build bridges and seek collaboration on contentious issues.

THE GENERATION GAP

Our growing families need representation on the Council. Becoming a mom changed the way I view the world and all our interactions. I strongly believe that the priorities of mothers should be the priorities of city council and local governments everywhere. As parents of growing children, we focus on what’s most important in life: a healthy environment, fairness, friendliness, a safe and welcoming community. Our city council can be a more complete reflection of our community. A City Council that closes the gap will be best able to build a generationally sustainable Boulder

PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR SCHOOLS

The City of Boulder needs to prioritize efforts to build stronger relationships with Boulder Valley School District and CU Boulder. BVSD school closures and budget cuts decrease Boulder’s high quality education standards that we expect and deserve. A solid working relationship with BVSD ensures the opportunity to participate in major decisions.

The same holds true for CU. The growth of the Boulder Campus of CU will have major impacts on our City’s infrastructure, community, and economy. Being part of the University’s growth discussion in a constructive way joins the two communities, instead of reducing Boulder to serve merely as a host city for the institution. Let’s be pro-active with CU and work to establish a better relationship so that when the time comes, we can benefit from the way that CU grows.

ECONOMIC VITALITY

Our economy provides for many amenities. It fuels our sales dollars, which are used to buy and maintain our beloved parks, recreation facilities, libraries, and open space. It employs our residents and gives Boulder national recognition as an incubator for entrepreneurial businesses and innovative products. We need a city council which supports a strong economy.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

It’s hard for many of us to understand how hundreds of thousands of dollars get spent on pet projects while our libraries go unfunded (or unbuilt!) and our recreation centers are threatened with closure. Let’s put our priorities in order and make sure that budget cuts are the ones that affect the fewest number of people.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Boulder’s environmental leadership fosters a high quality of life, better amenities, and a citizenry with a strong connection to and sense of responsibility for the environment. We need to continue raising the bar by:

• moving forward with the Climate Action Plan
• increasing efforts to rely on renewable sources for our energy use
• educating users- both commercial and residential- about the amount of energy they use, how efficiencies positively impact them, and what efforts promote energy conservation.

COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT

I understand the impact that some residents feel from large, looming sidewalls that shade their yards and change the streetscape. Rushing to pass an emergency ordinance to limit house size was not an effective solution. The action created an atmosphere of fear and distrust. I commend staff for the hard work they have put in as they try to achieve a more sensible result. I support an ordinance that is tailored to fit the identified impacts of looming walls on adjacent neighbors. But I do not support an ordinance that is written broadly, with the intent to “socially engineer” choices for people. We all have such different life circumstances, never mind variable property sizes and unique living preferences. We should have the freedom to choose how we live, in so far as it does not cause significant impacts to neighbors or the environment.