We can trust our city council to protect our values

The last ten months have been some of the most tumultuous I have experienced as an adult. I have seen polarization unlike anything I thought possible in the United States. It feels like two extreme poles pulling on a cable. The cable may not snap, but the fibers are beginning to fray.

We are a country with strong institutions, yet those institutions are being tested. When satirists are silenced, such as Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from late-night television, the fibers weaken. When friends and neighbors are taken off the street by masked men and women, our sense of safety, transparency and accountability erodes.

With this current federal administration, each day the stakes grow higher, and it feels like an experiment pushing everyone to the brink to see who will fall. In the midst of that uncertainty, Boulder stands as a steady place, a community that grounds us, with a City Council that works diligently to keep us safe, protect our values and ensure accountability.

This November, we face an important choice. We can gamble on something new, or we can keep the steady leadership we know and trust. I urge you to vote to re-elect Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts and Councilmember Dr. Nicole Speer. These two community leaders work tirelessly to protect our way of life here in Boulder by advocating for fair wages, housing affordability and climate resilience. In these uncertain times, consistency and accountability matter most.

Boulder, let us stay the course. While we can no longer rely on our federal government, we can trust our city council to protect our values. Vote to re-elect Dr. Nicole Speer and Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts.

Rep. Junie Joseph, HD 10, Boulder

A city’s first responsibility is to function well

I served four years on the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) starting in 2021 and now serve on the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). Any opinions here are my own.

When I served on the EAB, friends rarely asked about what we were working on. But since joining the TAB, the feedback has been nonstop. Everyone has thoughts about something — construction on Broadway or 30th, new bike lanes, “road diets,” speed limits. It’s fascinating how transportation brings out opinions in a way few other city issues do. Maybe it’s because we see and feel it directly — every commute, every crosswalk, every pothole.

Amid all that, one topic keeps resurfacing: paving. Nearly everyone I talk to feels their street could use attention. The City assesses about a third of Boulder’s roads each year and gives each a score based on condition. Repairs are then grouped geographically to save money and minimize disruption. It’s a logical system, though it can feel subjective. A friend’s “Fair” street, for instance, looked “Poor” to him.

For all the complexity of transportation policy, paving and snow removal are among the most fundamental city services. They may not make headlines, but they shape how we feel about where we live. Smooth roads, clear sidewalks, and reliable maintenance make a city safer and more pleasant for everyone — from drivers to cyclists to parents pushing strollers.

That’s why I’m supporting Mark Wallach for City Council. His consistent attention to the basics — especially road maintenance and snow removal — reflects respect for what residents actually experience every day. These may seem like small issues compared to larger debates, but they define our collective experience. Mark’s focus on maintaining essential infrastructure isn’t narrow; it’s practical, responsive and grounded in the simple idea that a city’s first responsibility is to function well.

Hernán Villanueva, Boulder

Lucky to have a candidate like Rob Kaplan

When I first saw Rob Kaplan’s candidate announcement, I wondered, who is this person? He represents so much of what Boulder stands for, even though he has only been here about 30 years, which is longer than other members of council. He has had a bike shop in Boulder. My son had heard of the Pro Peleton Bike Shop and had bought his “fancy pedals” there in the late ’90s. So Rob Kaplan is a businessman as well as a cyclist.

I have also been conscious of our foothills wildfires near Boulder since the Black Tiger fire of 1989 on Sugarloaf. Some I knew lost their homes, some were lonely survivors. I was on the edge just beyond the pre-evacuation zone during the Walker Ranch Fire in 2000 when they feared it would come down the side of Flagstaff, west of home. Since Boulder is in a high risk WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) zone, I planned. During that fire, I made a pile of things I would want to take. My son told me to use a scanner and work on saving copies of photos from my albums and 35mm slide days on my computer. Now I have it available on my phone. I still have a go bag, too.

Aren’t we lucky to have a candidate for Council who spent 18 years in fire protection, even working the Marshall Fire, who understands it all and will share both his business experience and fire experience by working on Council.

I contacted his website and asked to discuss what many of us want to see balanced on our Council. Rob had a notebook of questions and took notes. Certainly the right attention to citizen concerns.

I hope many of you across Boulder will join me in electing Rob Kaplan to Council in November.

Sara Mitton, Boulder

Vote ‘no’ on initiatives 300 and 301

Why is every member of Louisville’s City Council opposing ballot initiatives 300 and 301, the measures proposing more affordable housing and higher development fees for infrastructure? And why are affordable housing advocates like Habitat for Humanity and Thistle Community Housing joining the Council in opposition to the initiatives?

It’s because these misleading measures won’t do what proponents say they will. Measure 300 would effectively ban new homes in redeveloping areas of Louisville ideal for additional housing, leaving us with fewer and increasingly expensive homes. 301 would make Louisville’s building approval processes more bureaucratic and expensive, driving away new, and even some existing, restaurants and retailers to business-friendlier cities.

If you want more real options for local affordable housing, dining, shopping, recreation and more, vote “no” on measures 300 and 301. Or, as City Councilmembers Hoefner and Hamlington wrote in their August 29 Camera guest opinion, risk seeing the measures “backfire badly.”

Clif Harald, Louisville

Please vote for Broomfield Amendments 1A-1F

I get it, Broomfield ballot questions probably seem really boring. However, a commission a few years back did a lot of great work to come up with them to help all of us. They have a plan to make our government more efficient so it works better for Broomfield. Streamlining government bureaucracy and structure is not exciting, but it will also help your tax dollars be spent more efficiently and the services you receive from Broomfield be more effective.

The charter is basically the constitution of Broomfield, so these are very high level changes. The proposals, such as clarifying that Broomfield is indeed a city and county (because it is), streamlining the process if a council member is vacant, requiring our city council to have a code of ethics, or speeding up the process to introduce emergency legislation, are really basic, common-sense things. 

I’m not sure how these changes are controversial. With that said, I felt the need to write this letter because there is a small, loud minority here in Broomfield that will complain about absolutely anything.

When you get your ballot, please use your own good judgment, do your own homework, and take any noise with a grain of salt. There are people who make a lot of noise about “responsible efficient government,” and then there’s actually doing it. The plan on your ballot isn’t just soundbites; it’s designed to actually work in the real world (which is why it looks so boring). Please vote for these responsible government reforms and help Broomfield clean up its charter.

If you want to learn more about these proposed changes, Google “Broomfield Charter Ballot Questions.” There’s a website on the official city and county website that explains the rationale for these changes. The information on this website is likely more reliable than whatever people are yelling about on the internet. 

Let’s get this boring ballot stuff done Broomfield! Vote for Proposed Charter Amendments 1A-1F.

Spencer Vore, Broomfield

Wallach can help Boulder ensure a brighter future

Having served on the Boulder City Council for eight years, two as mayor, I’ve witnessed Boulder respond to many challenging events, spanning the 2013 flood to the 2021 King Soopers mass shooting. Boulder has endured these horrific events and emerged stronger, in no small part because of wise, informed decision-making among City residents and leaders alike. Boulder is facing another tumultuous period right now, given our tightening financial situation and the uncertainty associated with funding from our state and federal partners. With a diminished budget, we must still confront the same growing challenges we have for several years: unacceptable levels of crime and disturbance in public spaces, increased wildfire risks and social service requests that far exceed Boulder’s current budget capacity. The need for pragmatic voices on City Council in this time of difficult resource prioritization is essential. 

I served alongside Mark Wallach on Council, and I’ve witnessed his leadership and diligence on policy and budget details. Those qualities are critical as Boulder navigates precarious financial terrain that has already necessitated a hiring freeze across City government. Wallach serves on the Financial Strategies Committee, and one of his stated goals in another Council term is ensuring that Boulder regains its fiscal footing. Mark brings a wise, thoughtful approach to his work addressing community needs, and he does so with humor and lightness that facilitates problem-solving among Council members who don’t necessarily agree, at least at the outset, on the right approach to any given issue. I have seen the challenges of municipal government first-hand, and I believe Mark Wallach can help Boulder ensure a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. I’ll be voting for Mark on November 4, and I hope you will too. To see the rest of the candidates I support for City Council, visit www.openboulder.org.

Sam Weaver, Boulder

Boulder deserves debate grounded in facts

Steve Pomerance’s Oct. 3 commentary opposing the current direction of city government is full of fabrications and exaggerations.

First, Pomerance suggests the Iris Avenue improvements project would hinder evacuation. In fact, the opposite is true. The project does not remove travel lanes at either Broadway or 28th, where volumes are highest. The safety upgrades focus on the central stretch of Iris. In an evacuation, the center left-turn motor-vehicle lane in the recommended design would join the eastbound lane in moving evacuees to the east, while the two-way protected bike lane on the north side would be used as contraflow for emergency vehicles. That strengthens evacuation; it does not weaken it. Pomerance is trotting out arguments that were long ago rejected by professionals in Boulder’s Office of Disaster Management.

Pomerance also opposes various city funding measures. If we want safer streets, resilient infrastructure and climate-progress transportation, we need reliable, voter-approved funding. Tools like the Transportation Maintenance Fee and targeted capital financing can free up constrained revenues for the safety and mobility improvements residents are asking for. They also leverage outside funding, so Boulder gets major upgrades at a fraction of the local cost.

Finally, his reference to a “Single Family Housing Expansion Fee” omits a key fact: it applies only to expansions larger than 750 square feet, and even then, the fee is modest unless you are undertaking a very large, high-cost rebuild. Framing it as a penalty for families adding a bedroom misleads readers.

Boulder deserves debate grounded in facts. The fact is that our current City Council is creating a Boulder with safer corridors and responsible, voter-guided investment that works better in everyday life and in emergencies. Together, we can re-elect our incumbents Lauren Folkerts, Nicole Speer, and Matt Benjamin on November 4.

Michael Mills, Boulder

Bucher for BVSD Board District E

The first time I heard one of Deann Bucher’s former students speak about her, I understood immediately the kind of educator she is — one who changes lives. The student described how Ms. Bucher made them feel seen, capable and valued — the essence of what great teaching is all about.

After 27 years of service in the Boulder Valley School District, Deann could have chosen a well-earned rest in retirement. Instead, she chose to keep teaching. Today, she serves as an instructor at Fusion Academy Boulder County in Louisville, where our mission is to help every student flourish academically, socially and emotionally through one-to-one education. In that environment, Deann’s gift for connection shines. She brings the same compassion, curiosity and equity-driven mindset that defined her BVSD career into every 1:1 classroom relationship.

Her legacy in BVSD — from helping design more inclusive curriculum to founding the Gender and Sexuality Alliance and the “Gay Prom” at Monarch High School — reflects a deep commitment to belonging and student safety. Deann doesn’t just talk about inclusion; she builds it into daily practice.

At Fusion, our core values of respect, integrity, courage and compassion come to life in teachers like Deann. She models what it means to believe in the potential of every learner — a perspective that is urgently needed on the BVSD Board.

As an educator who witnesses Deann’s continued impact firsthand, I believe she is qualified and deeply grounded in empathy, advocacy and excellence to serve our community’s students and families.

I support Deann Bucher for BVSD Board District E.

Lori A. Preston, Louisville

Healthy minds mean stronger communities

Who could be against compassion? Against helping people struggling with mental illness or a substance use disorder? These are our neighbors, friends and family — and they need help now.

Ballot 1B provides direct, life-saving services: navigation to find care, crisis centers open 24/7, psychiatric beds for those in urgent need and aftercare to support recovery. These are not luxuries — they are basic, humane essentials for a healthy community.

Mental illness and addiction are health conditions, often with biological roots. By funding treatment, we strengthen Boulder County and care for those most at risk. Whatever your faith or values, we are all connected, and compassion must guide us.

The Interfaith Network on Mental Illness endorses 1B because healthy minds mean stronger communities. Read the measure, picture those who will be helped, and vote “yes” on 1B.

Rev. Alan Johnson, Interfaith Network on Mental Illness, Boulder

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