JHB despatched a questionnaire to candidates within the Denver municipal election. Solutions are calmly edited.
Briefly describe the one most pressing situation going through the town of Denver and the way it ought to be addressed.
One of many largest dangers Denver faces is the chance of a doom loop that different cities have entered the place elevated homelessness and crime drive companies and people out of downtown. Decreased visits downtown shutter eating places and bars, decreasing industrial occupancy which in flip reduces tax income, decreases our tax base, and reduces the general public providers. This will result in a lower in security and disincentivizes residents to revitalize a metropolis that’s struggling. Nonetheless, the primary hurdle that Denver faces is the assumption that these issues can’t be solved. We not solely know these issues may be solved, however we must always anticipate that they are going to be solved, and because the subsequent mayor I’ll clear up them.
What ought to Denver leaders do to handle the town’s lack of reasonably priced housing?
I spent the final two years constructing a coalition of 260 organizations to assist passage of Proposition 123, which is able to present Denver with $50 million a yr to unravel this downside. Right here is how I’ll do it:
1) construct 25,000 completely reasonably priced models the place no Denverite can pay greater than 30% of their earnings to lease and lease can’t go up until your earnings goes up;
2) eradicate the crimson tape that slows housing growth by requiring that reasonably priced housing permits get accredited inside 90 days;
3) assist renters construct wealth and purchase properties by directing as much as $100 a month of their lease verify right into a financial savings account;
4) increase the Dearfield Down Cost Help Program.
Do you assist redevelopment on the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
Sure. I had an workplace in North Park Hill for 10 years, and noticed the 2 most pressing points in Park Hill are the gentrification driving out Black residents by the disappearance of reasonably priced housing, and the truth that the neighborhood is at present a meals desert that wants higher entry to groceries. Park Hill deserves open area, reasonably priced housing, and a grocery retailer, and this undertaking can present all three. This undertaking permits us the prospect to create a public park bigger than Central Park with greater than 500 models of reasonably priced housing, out of doors and indoor recreation area, native companies, and transit adjoining housing. Voting no supplies neither housing nor open area, it solely returns use to a golf course, which everybody agrees we don’t want.
What ought to Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
Because the CEO of a enterprise positioned at Union Station, I’ve seen this downside firsthand during the last three years. Denver must revitalize downtown by fixing our crises of homelessness and crime. As well as, the subsequent mayor wants to guide the cost to encourage companies to return to working in-person by first doing the identical with metropolis employees after which encouraging different companies to observe go well with. We are able to do that by encouraging employees to come back downtown by incentives for downtown childcare amenities and discounted and free public transit.
What’s Denver’s best public security concern and what ought to be carried out about it?
Denver’s best public security concern is the city-wide enhance in crime and the sensation that downtown is inhospitable. Fixing this situation requires 4 concrete steps:
1) specializing in prevention by early intervention with diversionary courts like psychological well being, drug, and gun courts;
2) placing 200 further first responders on the streets, together with psychological well being employees to assist these in disaster and beat cops strolling the streets;
3) changing two pods of the jail into psychological well being and dependancy models that may present providers folks badly want;
4) after offering everlasting supportive housing for individuals who are homeless, imposing the legislation on those that are committing crimes or harassing residents downtown.
Ought to neighborhoods assist soak up inhabitants development by permissive zoning, or do you like protections for single-family neighborhoods?
We all know we have to add extra housing provide to make Denver reasonably priced. To meaningfully obtain housing abundance in Denver, we should add density in choose areas of the town. This ought to be prioritized round transit oriented growth and different locations the place we are able to prioritize density and cut back parking necessities. We additionally know we wish to protect the distinctive id of every of our neighborhoods by not erecting skyscrapers in the course of residential neighborhoods. Nonetheless, in lots of neighborhoods, it’s efficient and in keeping with the structure and planning so as to add mild density within the midst of single household neighborhoods.
Ought to the town’s coverage of sweeping homeless encampments proceed unchanged? Why or why not?
We all know the present coverage of sweeping is just not working as a result of people who find themselves experiencing homelessness don’t have any place to go. I might clear up this downside by constructing 10-20 micro-communities that would come with everlasting supportive housing for 1,400 people. Then we are able to transfer communities of encampments collectively to protected, satable, dignified housing the place they will get the dependancy, psychological well being, and workforce providers they want. As soon as we meet that obligation to ensure everybody has a spot to sleep, we should additionally guarantee all Denver residents can take pleasure in our public areas, companies, and sidewalks. As soon as dignified housing is offered folks mustn’t want or have the best to sleep outdoors somebody’s house or enterprise.
Ought to Denver change its snow plowing coverage? Why or why not?
As local weather change results in harsher winters and snow storms like those we’ve skilled this winter turn out to be extra frequent, successfully plowing roads and facet streets will turn out to be extra obligatory. However this can be a fixable downside and we can not tolerate one other winter like this one. As mayor, I’ll make sure that we increase our snow plowing attain and frequency, significantly on facet streets, to ensure streets are clear and we aren’t plowing snow into bike lanes and sidewalks that enhance hazards for Denverites.
What’s your imaginative and prescient for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to assist the town get there?
I imagine that one of many largest obstacles Denver faces is believing our present issues are unfixable. I deeply imagine that we are able to make Denver America’s greatest metropolis. In 20 years, my imaginative and prescient for Denver is to be the most effective metropolis to boost a baby, begin a enterprise, practice for a job, and expertise numerous artwork, tradition, and meals. Denver can be the primary massive metropolis in America the place nobody sleeps on the road at evening, the place academics and nurses can nonetheless afford to stay within the metropolis they serve, and the place you’ll be able to eat on a patio whereas your children run across the sixteenth Avenue Mall with out worrying for his or her security.
How higher can metropolis officers defend Denver’s atmosphere — air high quality, water provide, floor contamination? And will the town take a extra energetic position in transit?
Denver’s most urgent environmental situation is the town’s reliance on nonrenewable vitality. I’m dedicated to remodeling the town right into a nationwide chief in clear vitality and local weather sustainability by committing to have one hundred pc of Denver’s electrical energy sourced from renewable sources by 2040. This requires electrifying our fleet and electrifying our buildings whereas decreasing car emissions by offering incentives to extend the usage of public transit, enhance ridership, and enhance route frequency and journey high quality. We should additionally take a extra aggressive strategy to preserving water by incentivizing turf and xeriscaping wherever doable.
Briefly describe the one most pressing situation going through the town of Denver and the way it ought to be addressed.
Residing on the streets is neither protected nor humane – for folks experiencing homelessness or neighborhood. I’ll eradicate unsanctioned encampments in yr one. Moreover, I’ll:
• Take a regional, data-driven strategy: Work with regional governments to determine a coordinated technique and strengthen our knowledge system to make sure it’s full and complicated.
• Put money into prevention: Assist these susceptible to homelessness by making certain entry to job helps and stabilizing providers.
• Evolve sheltering and construct housing: Evolve our shelters to make sure now we have protected beds to serve the various unhoused inhabitants. Construct the housing wanted to greatest assist folks exiting homelessness.
What ought to Denver leaders do to handle the town’s lack of reasonably priced housing?
We want housing options that profit folks throughout the earnings spectrum, significantly the “lacking center” who earn an excessive amount of to qualify for many public help however battle to make ends meet. My plans to make sure extra housing – for lease and sale, market-rate and backed – embody:
• Constructing extra housing on underutilized, publicly owned land and rethinking and revitalizing downtown and surrounding neighborhoods by changing industrial area to residential.
• Growing density on main transportation corridors and at transit stations and dealing with neighborhood teams to seek out applicable approaches for his or her communities.
• Basically restructuring how growth is reviewed and controlled in Denver.
Do you assist redevelopment on the Park Hill golf course property? Why or why not?
State legislation states that solely a decide has the authority to raise a conservation easement. The rest of candidate’s reply was not conscious of the query.
What ought to Denver leaders do to revitalize downtown Denver?
Ensuring our residents and guests really feel protected is step one towards revitalizing Downtown and it’ll be amongst my highest priorities. If staff and guests don’t really feel protected, shops don’t keep open and accommodations shut. Our complete area depends upon a thriving downtown and my plan to finish unsanctioned tenting inside my first yr in workplace has been endorsed by 4 sitting metro space mayors. We are going to start instantly working with property homeowners to transform some present downtown workplace area to residential, and deal with retaining companies and attracting new jobs and investments to revive the vibrancy of downtown.
What’s Denver’s best public security concern and what ought to be carried out about it?
I’ll take a complete strategy to neighborhood security. My security priorities embody:
• Strengthening the Denver Police Division, so we are able to appeal to and retain extra officers to the power, significantly ladies and other people of coloration.
• Working with our public security officers – leaders, officers, and workers – to create a stronger tradition constructed round nationwide greatest practices, transparency, and accountability.
• Growing funding in civilian response models to make sure we offer applicable assets (e.g. – psychological well being assist) and release officers to deal with true crime.
• Tackle crime prevention by investing in housing, well being care, schooling, and financial growth.
Ought to neighborhoods assist soak up inhabitants development by permissive zoning, or do you like protections for single-family neighborhoods?
From a planning and zoning perspective, a “one size-fits-all” strategy doesn’t work. If we’re going to deliver down the price of housing, we have to promote good density. Good density has advantages: it reduces value of residing, improves water effectivity and air high quality, promotes environment friendly transportation, creates financial alternative, furthers social integration. And, there are lots of methods to attain good density – ADUs, duplexes, townhouses, condos. I’ll work with Metropolis Council and neighborhood teams to advertise good density in ways in which make sense for every neighborhood so those that work in Denver can afford to make their house right here.
Ought to the town’s coverage of sweeping homeless encampments proceed unchanged? Why or why not?
No. It’s a great waste of assets to maneuver folks down the block or across the nook. We want actual options to ending homeless encampments. I’ll increase and evolve our shelter capability and construct extra housing. Whereas doing that, I’ll quickly increase the usage of sanctioned, supported tenting. We should present extra humane and safer options. If folks refuse providers and helps, I’ll use the authorized authority to intervene to guard the well being, security, and welfare of the person and the broader neighborhood. Unsheltered residing in public areas is just not a suitable possibility.
Ought to Denver change its snow plowing coverage? Why or why not?
No. The present metropolis coverage is to clear facet streets when the forecast calls for six” or extra of snow accumulation. That’s cheap and doable to implement. Sadly, earlier this winter, the town’s determination to not clear facet streets was made primarily based on an inaccurate forecast after which the temperatures remained beneath freezing for a lot of January, stopping melt-off. It was a irritating state of affairs – and for many individuals a pricey one too – however plowing facet streets each time it snows wouldn’t be financially accountable to not point out the problem of getting sufficient drivers.
What’s your imaginative and prescient for Denver in 20 years, and what would you do to assist the town get there?
I see a metropolis of promise: a spot the place all folks have entry to shelter and housing. The place all of us really feel protected and take delight in our neighborhoods. The place dad and mom can age within the homes they raised their children – and people children can afford to purchase properties and plant roots, too. A metropolis with a world class schooling system and a set of sturdy civic and humanities establishments that nurture neighborhood. A area working collectively to handle transportation and local weather change. I’ll work collaboratively – throughout sectors and with regional companions – with urgency and objective to revive the promise of Denver.
How higher can metropolis officers defend Denver’s atmosphere — air high quality, water provide, floor contamination? And will the town take a extra energetic position in transit?
I’ll make Denver a nationwide and international chief on local weather by capitalizing on latest federal funding and selling insurance policies that guarantee communities most impacted by air and water air pollution profit from new funding. Priorities will embody:
• Selling housing density, significantly alongside transportation corridors and at transit websites, and supporting the conversion of vacant workplace area to housing.
• Supporting the schooling and coaching obligatory to arrange Denver residents, significantly folks of coloration, for inexperienced financial system sector jobs.
• Fostering partnerships with RTD, DPS and DRCOG to cut back emissions from our publicly-owned fleets and selling regional motion on air high quality and water conservation.