Ruth Wright: Vote for 301 for a Livable Boulder

As a citizen activist for more years than I like to admit, here is my recommendation: vote for #301!

Affordable Housing and Diversity. The two go together. Everyone supports them. In my opinion #301 would raise more revenue for both low and moderate income housing for young people, teachers, new professors.

Representative Government. The argument is: if you don’t like what the City is doing, just elect different Council members. This would not have worked for these significant issues:

1. Stopping development on the mountain backdrop. A water pumping system was already being designed so that subdivisions could be built there! Citizens stopped this with the now-famous Blue Line (1959). The issue got on the ballot by petition (a basic democratic power authorized by the City Charter). Later, to buy the land, Boulder became the first community in the nation to tax itself for open space.

2. The 55-foot Height Limit. In 1971 Council allowed up to 50 new buildings 140 feet high ! But by petition citizens nipped them in the bud in the November election. This would have drastically changed Boulder forever: no pedestrian friendly mall in our historic downtown, and a sea of highrises creating a Denver-like environment.

#301. For 40 years the Comprehensive Plan has said “Growth to Pay Fair Share of New Facility Costs”, but largely ignored. #301 says, “we citizens really mean it”.

“Elitism, Gated Community?” Don’t be intimidated by these accusations. They have cropped up every time citizens have taken an issue into their own hands. We really just want sustainability, protection of our natural areas, not increasing traffic congestion, smart growth —- that is, a Livable Boulder!

Ruth Wright

Boulder