Inclusion

Let’s create a Boulder that works for everyone.

Boulder is considered one of the best places to live in the country. And yet it is inaccessible to many groups. Here, nearly every non-white demographic is underrepresented. For example, the population of Boulder county is only 1.3% Black (compared to 13.6% nationwide) and 14.1% Latino (compared to 19.1% nationwide). We continue to systematically exclude Native Americans, whose land we occupy, at essentially every level in our daily life and in public processes.

Boulder can be difficult for families and people with lower incomes. As a result, enrollment in the Boulder Valley School District is declining, and parents with kids often have a difficult time feeling secure in their future in Boulder. The community can also be inhospitable for people with mobility challenges. Our transit system is unforgiving in the winter, with bus stops going unshoveled unless neighborhood volunteers step up–and this is by design.

Let’s preserve Boulder’s legendary quality of life while making room for more.

As a member of City Council, I will work to:

• Center public processes that aim for more representation. Start by investing more in programs that seek to center the LGBTQ+ community and Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities and other groups that have been historically excluded, including the Community Connectors program and our use of racial equity instruments. Look also for ways to make participation in public processes more realistic for working professionals and busy families.

• Expand the public square and our public amenities. Build and fully operate more toilets, make sure we have enough garbage cans and secure bike facilities, and look for more ways to increase accessibility and availability of amenities that work for everyone.

• Create more options for different kinds of lifestyles overall. Increase the choices people have for housing and transportation mobility. Revise outdated zoning policies and occupancy rules that stem from exclusionary practices to make Boulder more attainable and livable for all.

• Move towards more outcome-oriented approaches to budgeting consistent with Boulder’s framework for Sustainability, Equity, and Resilience. Proactively consider the opportunity costs of subsidies and continuing with business-as-usual.