Boulder Progressive Candidate Forum

A Boulder city council candidate forum was organized by the Boulder Coalition and Alliance on Race, Boulder Community Housing Association, Boulder Rights Watch, the Family Learning Center, and Showing Up for Racial Justice. Topics of a social justice nature including racial and economic segregation in Boulder, fostering a culture of inclusion, affordable housing, Boulder’s camping ban, the creation of a citizen’s oversight board over police, and the importance of including the voices of underrepresented groups in city policy were part of the forum. Questions from the audience were invited.

Attending the October 13th event were candidates Aaron Brockett, Jan Burton, Don Cote, Ed Jabari, Jared Kaszuba, Michael Kruteck, Julie McCabe, Comrade Keith Percy, Jyotsna Raj, Cha Cha Spinrad and Bob Yates. Candidates Bill Rigler and Cindy Carlisle initially confirmed but due to illness on Riger’s part and an unexpected conflict on Carlisle’s neither attended nor did they submit answers to submitted questions. Leonard May did not accept the initial invitation to participate although he sent a response but did not directly answer the questions according to organizers.

Questions for the candidates centered on:

Housing the Unhoused
Camping Ban
Welcoming Minorities and Immigrants into our Community
Racial Discrimination in Policing
Regulating Occupancy vs. Quality of Life Impacts
Renter vs. Owner Interests in Shared Housing
Proactive Engagement With Underrepresented Populations
Following Through on Public Processes
Leadership in the Face of Conflict
Responses to the forum questions from three candidates, all incumbents who attended the city council meeting which conflicted with the forum are posted in written form here.

One question from the audience addressed Propositions 300-Neighborhoods’ Right to Vote and 301-Development Pay its Own Way.

Voting against: Michael Kruteck, Aaron Brockett, Comrade Keith Percy, Bob Yates, Julianne McCabe, Jan Burton, and Don Cote.

Yes: Ed Jabari, Jyotsna Raj

No on 300, yes on 301: Jared Kazsuba

The last Progressive Forum was held two years ago and hosted by the Rad-ish Collective and organized by many of the same individuals. Organizers plan for the forum to be a regular event in odd election years.