HERE ARE THE TOP ISSUES PEOPLE TELL ME ARE IMPORTANT AND HOW I’LL ADDRESS THEM
I haven’t stopped talking to people about issues since the election in 2023. They are interesting and important to me. But priorities shift to meet the times. These are the larger issues and my broad thoughts on them. The impact on people is very specific and really needs a conversation about individual situations to identify suitable options weighed against the pros and cons of each. This website and public forum will give you an idea of how I view an issue, but I doubt if it will come close to helping you resolve an issue.
ISSUE: SURVEILLANCE
The government should not track citizens.
MY THOUGHTS:
I agree. A person’s movements around the city or country should not be tracked unless their part of an active criminal investigation. I wish there were cameras around to track the driver who hit me. The providers of the software and hardware shouldn’t sell data based on a person’s movement without that person’s consent. Our lives should not be treated as commodities.
ISSUE: AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
Prices are too high for average households to buy a house.
MY THOUGHTS:
No argument from me.
I was talking to a friend a few weeks ago and we decided that the way to address housing affordability is to not charge as much as possible. We also agreed that if the country had a stronger social safety net, maybe we wouldn’t feel the need to get as much as we can. But that’s another discussion.
I will support faster review of site plans that fit a pre-approved model. I’m glad minimum parking requirements are gone. I’m glad residential property owners have more flexibility in how to use their land.
I support Unlocking Housing Choices in principle. There are certainly financial risks for homeowners who divide their lots or create a dwelling unit inside an existing structure. But the benefit to the individual and the community are too great to not explore this path.
These actions should help produce thousands of sale and rental units within reach of households with average incomes.
I used to be a big supporter of government subsidies for housing. I think it’s still necessary, but I’d rather see the private sector fill the missing middle gap. I’ve seen first hand the amount of effort it takes for the jurisdiction to monitor projects and for the agencies and residents to keep track of monthly income, outcomes, and all the conditions that justify spending public dollars. It’s a heavy burden on everyone involved.
ISSUE: HOMELESSNESS:
Business owners have told me that customers stay away when even one person suffering a mental health crisis is between the customers and their businesses. I’ve also been told that police don’t quickly respond – if at all – unless someone is seriously injured.
MY THOUGHTS:
I currently work in a homeless shelter. I don’t directly work with the clients, but I see all the reasons that bring people to the agency’s doorstep. I will support appropriate funding to Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) and the Department of Housing Stability’s (HOST) outreach programs so that mental health professionals and outreach specialists who know how to approach persons who are in crisis provide services at the level they’re needed. This service should be available 24-hours a day! Approximately half of all calls go unanswered because of funding shortages. It all comes down to money. This will be a priority.
ISSUE: TRAFFIC SAFETY:
I’ve been told countless times that drivers in Denver are too dangerous. The safest way to get somewhere is to drive.
MY THOUGHTS:
There are approximately 40 crashes in Denver every day. Despite the studies, the plans, signal improvements, etc. over 50 people have died on Denver’s road every year for over a decade.
Most drivers follow the posted speed limit and don’t cause drama. The reckless drivers – the kind that weave between lanes; the kind that run the red light – will only change their behavior when forced. Taking the human toll out of the discussion, what’s the cost of the disruption that comes with 40 crashes each day? Fix the system!
I was hit in a crosswalk in February. I had the walk signal. I was on the ground before I knew what happened. The driver tapped the brakes then kept going. I wasn’t hurt, but I might not be here if I had been walking a little slower or if the driver had been moving a little faster. There are quick infrastructure improvements that can slow traffic: Diverters, speed bumps, trim branches that cover stop signs, enforce site triangles at intersections, and improve intersection alignments. So many of us have lost friends in crashes. We can and must make the streets safe for everyone all the time.