Woman in a bright pink suit walking across a rainbow-colored crosswalk on a pedestrian street, smiling with trees and benches in the background.

My Vision and Work

I believe Boulder can be a model for what’s possible:

A place where policies reflect care, where infrastructure supports belonging, and where leadership is rooted in honesty and accountability.

That’s reflected in the work I’m most proud of, and my priorities for the future.

To be a model of possibility, our policies must directly address the inequities many people still live with.

That means recognizing where our systems have failed, whether through exclusion, underinvestment, or one-size-fits-all approaches, and choosing repair.

It means funding the gaps, redesigning processes that have left people out, and tracking outcomes that reflect real change.

We can't build trust or progress if we ignore the impacts of past harm or the barriers communities still face today.

With your vote on Nov. 4, I’ll keep working for a city where

People can afford to live

We’re building more housing in Boulder, but that’s just one part of meeting the affordability challenge. We also need to continue changing outdated rules, protecting renters, and making sure Boulder works for the people who power it.

    • We made ADUs legal across the city, so folks can add a rental or build space for aging parents and grown kids.

    • We updated old occupancy limits, so roommates and chosen families aren’t breaking the law just for sharing a home.

    • We allowed gentle density, like duplexes and triplexes, in places where it used to be banned, adding housing options without changing neighborhood feel.

    • We changed how affordability fees work, so big, expensive units pay more, and smaller homes get easier to build.

    • We simplified building requirements, so smart projects weren’t blocked by outdated formulas.

    • We built a modular housing factory with Boulder Valley School District and Habitat for Humanity, so we can train students and build affordable homes right here in Boulder.

    • We expanded renter support through the Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services program, offering legal aid and financial help to over 800 neighbors in crisis.

    • We launched Building Home, a peer support network to help residents exiting homelessness achieve stability and belonging.

    • We piloted a guaranteed income program, improving economic stability for 200 low-income residents.

    • We crossed 4,000 permanently affordable homes, now housing over 9,000 Boulder residents, more than halfway to our city’s goal.

    • We approved major projects like Weathervane, Diagonal Plaza, and Hilltop Senior Living with hundreds of affordable and workforce units.

    • We installed the first modular homes in the Ponderosa community, using local partnerships to expand affordability and climate resilience.

    • Updates to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan that reflect community priorities like multi-generational housing, local food systems, and economic inclusion.

    • Housing that’s connected to transit, parks and open space, and neighborhood centers, because housing costs are only one part of affordability.

    • Stronger tenant protections, like requiring longer notice before rent increases and offering relocation assistance when rent hikes or ownership changes force people out.

    • More basic needs assistance, especially as our economy transitions in response to state and national trends.

Homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring

Homelessness in Boulder affects families, youth, and single adults. We've expanded housing and services, but instability and chronic homelessness persist. We must keep working to prevent housing-related crises and create lasting stability for everyone.

    • We’ve helped over 2,100 people exit homelessness since 2017 through housing-focused programs.

    • We supported Building Home, a peer-led program for newly housed residents with a 95% retention rate.

    • We expanded locally issued housing vouchers for people excluded from federal programs.

    • We added a second, 40-unit housing site for people exiting homelessness who need permanent supportive care.

    • We opened a trauma-informed Day Services Center and supported safe sheltering for medically vulnerable individuals.

    • We provided additional funding for nonprofit partners providing basic needs assistance and preventative services to low-income community members.

    • We stabilized over 1,400 households through programs like Keep Families Housed, Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services, and Elevate Boulder.

    • We earmarked 16% of our in-progress affordable housing units for families with children.

    • We partnered with Tribe Recovery to establish sober living homes to support residents overcoming substance use and homelessness.

    • We expanded access to case managers and licensed behavioral health clinicians for people experiencing behavioral health crises through programs like CIRT and CARE.

    • We coordinated care for people cycling through jail because they don’t have access to stable housing and services.

    • Secure local and regional funding to fill known gaps in prevention, stabilization, and crisis intervention services for families and adults.

    • Eliminate and prevent long episodes of homelessness (>1 year).

    • Create more short-term affordable housing accommodations such as hostels, boarding houses, microunits, etc.

We’re adapted to a hotter, more volatile climate

I’ve helped expand trails and open space access, improve natural climate solutions, and advance flood and fire prevention. I’ll keep fighting for climate strategies that help us live better now and prepare for what’s ahead.

    • Adopted an equity-focused flood and stormwater plan that prioritizes projects based on social vulnerability rather than property values.

    • Advanced flood protection and riparian restoration projects in key areas, including Goose Creek and South Boulder Creek.

    • Upgraded trails and open space for both habitat health and accessible recreation opportunities.

    • Invested in wildfire mitigation and healthy forest management across city lands as open space becomes a buffer to natural disasters.

    • Expanded community-led emergency preparedness training program to help residents stay safe during climate disasters.

    • We’re expanding wildfire-resilient landscapes through waterwise vegetation programs and ecological restoration in open space areas.

    • We’re integrating green infrastructure into stormwater systems, like permeable surfaces and native plant buffers, to improve flood resilience and water quality.

    • We’re mobilizing residents to restore soils, plant trees, and create pollinator habitats through the Cool Boulder program.

    • We helped our region secured a $200M EPA climate grant to support energy savings and emissions reductions.

    • We extended funding for local climate resilience projects such as community solar, energy efficiency upgrades, building electrification, and wildfire risk prevention via the 2023 Climate Tax.

    • We required new residential and commercial buildings in Boulder to be gas-free, becoming the largest city in Colorado to take this step to cut climate pollution. 

    • We cut greenhouse gas emissions by 24% since 2018 and reached our goal of 100MW of local energy generation seven years ahead of schedule.

    • Generate long-term plans that align land use, housing, transportation, and ecological restoration, so climate resilience is a part of our city’s evolution.

    • Advance just policies and investment prioritization frameworks that ensure all residents and neighborhoods benefit from climate investments.

    • Ensure public utilities and infrastructure are safe, clean, reliable, and designed for many generations.

    • Expand engagement with frontline communities that already experience disproportionate impacts from air pollution, urban heat, and natural disasters.

    • Prioritize climate adaptation, disaster prevention, and recovery preparation work across the city.

Our spending reflects our values

Regional, state, and federal funding cuts make our revenue and spending more important than ever. I’ll continue to prioritize a sustainable, equitable, and resilient budget because we need financial strategies that defend our progress and secure our future.

    • We revived lessons from the Blue Ribbon Commission, which warned against over-reliance on sales tax and rigid funding silos.

    • We acknowledged the need for flexible dollars that can respond to changing community needs.

    • We used federal pandemic-relief funds to address inequities, from eviction prevention and food security to arts recovery, behavioral health, and neighborhood connection. 

    • We boosted emergency reserves to prepare for future crises.

    • We initiated an economic development strategy to help businesses, city departments, and partners share the work of creating a sustainable, equitable, and resilient local economy.

    • Helped launch Boulder’s Long-Term Financial Strategy Project, a citywide effort to align funding with community priorities.

    • Rebuilt the city’s budget process to ask: “What outcomes are we trying to achieve and how will we know if we’re getting there?” 

    • Used real-time data to reallocate $3 million in existing funds toward higher-impact uses, like expanding afterschool programming at Crest View Elementary.

    • Created Boulder’s first public dashboard of citywide outcomes and measures, so residents can see how their tax dollars are working and where we still need to improve.

    • We consulted with Community Connectors and supported more diverse input in the budgeting process.

    • We launched Fund our Future, a community budget education program, to help residents understand and engage in upcoming financial decisions.

    • We published guides, newsletters, and blog posts to explain how Boulder funds community priorities.

    • Keep moving toward a city budget that reflects Boulder’s values, not just in what we fund, but in how we decide.

    • Have honest conversations about trade-offs, so we can plan together for what matters most.

    • Create more stable and diverse revenue sources that protect essential services and allow us to invest in our future.

    • Promote regional cooperation on shared priorities such as housing, behavioral health, childcare, and transportation to make our limited resources go further.

    • Advocate at the state level for repealing TABOR and expanding flexible, locally-controlled funding tools so we can respond to real-time community needs and invest in long-term solutions.

Everyone is safe and supported

We’ve expanded emergency response capacity, strengthened critical infrastructure, and begun long-overdue upgrades to critical facilities. I’ll continue promoting investments that keep all of us safe through any challenge.

    •  We updated the Police Oversight Panel’s governance and expanded its oversight authority.

    • We increased funding for the Office of the Police Monitor.

    • We adopted a strategic plan that will make policing more equitable, data-driven, and prevention focused.

    • We funded an alternative response program that sends medical and behavioral health professionals to non-violent emergency calls.

    • We opened Boulder’s new Fire Station #3, an all-electric facility designed for climate resilience and service expansion that will provide 100 years of emergency response services.

    • We secured land and began planning for replacing Fire Stations #2 and #4.

    • We completed a major update to our Community Wildfire Protection Plan so neighborhoods are safer before, during, and after fire events.

    • We upgraded public alert systems, expanded notification options, and launched a real-time safety webpage.

    • We funded and completed two major phases of the Main Sewer Improvements Project, making the city’s wastewater collection system more resilient.

    • We broke ground on a centralized, low-carbon city services hub at Alpine-Balsam that will consolidate nine scattered buildings into one accessible, climate-aligned campus.

    • We advanced design for East Boulder Community Center renovations to make it more energy-efficient, accessible, and able to serve residents of all ages and abilities.

    • We funded significant bridge replacement projects to improve safety and climate resilience, including upgrades at Central Avenue and Violet Avenue.

    • Ensure funding for future improvements by extending the Community, Culture, Resilience, and Safety Tax.

    • Expand electrification and energy efficiency across city facilities, replacing fossil-fuel systems with electric HVAC, solar integration, and battery backup.

    • Complete major capital projects already underway and ensure they meet climate, accessibility, and service delivery goals.

    • Continue investing in sewer upgrades, stormwater management, and water treatment facilities to modernize our water and wastewater systems.

    • Integrate ambulatory services into the Boulder Fire-Rescue to improve coordination, reduce delays, and provide faster care during medical emergencies.

Public spaces bring us together

I’ve supported public art projects, new parks, and revitalized gathering places in our downtown. I’ll continue promoting enhanced public spaces because they make our city more vibrant, economically vital, and socially connected.

    • Expanded funding and opportunities for public art, including murals, sculpture, and artist-led engagement.

    • Supported nature play and inclusive design in parks and playgrounds across the city.

    • Piloted community-driven design processes for plazas, trails, and civic spaces.

    • Advanced Phase 2 of the Civic Area revitalization, which is creating a community hub along the Boulder Creek downtown.

    • Expanded outdoor dining spaces to support small businesses, enhance public life, and reflect Boulder’s commitment to vibrant, people-centered design.

    • Lowered barriers for community groups to activate public space with easier permitting and city support.

    • We secured Boulder as the new home of the Sundance Film Festival, bringing global visibility, cultural vibrancy, and year-round economic impact.

    • We advanced our Economic Vitality Plan, to reduce vacant storefronts and strengthen our downtown.

    • We approved new, sustainably designed hotels and conference centers to support local tourism, business travel, and cultural events.

    • Continue reimagining public spaces to reflect Boulder’s diversity in design, programming, and accessibility.

    • Create more public parks and plazas that feel welcoming year-round, with shade, seating, and space to gather.

    • Prioritize community-building projects and expand access to recreational facilities, especially in neighborhoods that have been historically underrepresented (e.g., Primos Park).

Transportation is safe, accessible, & affordable

Our transportation system should make people of all ages and abilities feel safe and supported. Whether walking to school, biking to work, riding the bus across town, or driving to a doctor’s appointment, everyone deserves safety.

    • Improved intersections with new crosswalks, curb ramps, and signal timing to increase accessibility and reduce crashes.

    • Calmed traffic in neighborhoods using curb extensions, raised crossings, and lane reductions.

    • Installed lighting and high-visibility signage in key areas with heavy foot traffic and limited visibility.

    • Worked with community partners to add bus lanes and improve bus stop access.

    • Fought for RTD service improvements and regional coordination to increase transit reliability after COVID.

    • We implemented the Core Arterial Network, which redesigns Boulder’s most dangerous streets with protected bike lanes, safer intersections, and better transit access.

    • We approved and built protected bike lanes and multi-use paths in key corridors across Boulder, and improved connections to schools, trails, and transit hubs.

    • We expanded access to e-bikes through discount vouchers, especially for low-income households.

    • We invested in safe bike parking infrastructure, such as replacing 350 out-of-date bike racks in commercial areas.

    • Continue improving transportation connections between neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and nature so everyone can move safely and sustainably.

    • Ensure the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan reflects the way transportation impacts climate, affordability, and public health.

    • Create transportation infrastructure that works across seasons, ages, and abilities, including snow removal and shade along popular routes.

    • Expand public transit to be more reliable, equitable, and affordable.

Everyone has a voice in shaping our future

Through work on resident engagement, City Council processes, and voter participation, I’ve helped make local government more transparent, predictable, and representative of the people we serve.

    • I publish a weekly newsletter and blog to share updates, explain decisions, and highlight recent and upcoming opportunities for engagement.

    • I hold weekly office hours to listen, share context, and help residents understand how government works behind the scenes, so they’re equipped to advocate for themselves.

    • I’ve created guides and resources to help residents sign up for public comment, report issues, and contact their representatives.

    • We started a Council Process Working Group to make City Council meetings more focused, accessible, and goal-oriented.

    • We supported moving Council elections to even-years (starting in 2026), when voter turnout is higher and more representative of our whole community.

    • We advocated for increased Council pay to make public service viable for a broader range of people.

    • We supported inclusive engagement to bridge the gap between city government and underrepresented communities.

    • Continue improving city policies so they are clear, transparent, and predictable.

    • Continue increasing budget literacy, so everyone in our city understands our constraints and priorities.

    • Expanding tools and systems that help residents feel informed, empowered, and connected to the decisions that shape their lives.

    • Identify additional ways to limit the impact of access to wealth and the influence of special interests on our local elections.

We are prepared for shifting federal priorities

Thanks to our focus on equity, resilience, and outcome-based spending, Boulder is in a stronger position than most cities. Keeping our edge will require courage, collaboration, and a clear commitment to our values.

    • Prepare for federal threats tied to immigration enforcement, protest activity, and other local decisions related to Boulder’s sanctuary, equity, and climate policies.

    • Adopt a citywide data minimization standard across departments, including plain-language privacy notices for all public-facing tools and platforms.

    • Limit local participation in federal surveillance programs (e.g. facial recognition, predictive policing) and expand opt-out options for data sharing.

    • Create a rapid response protocol for federal data requests, with legal review and multilingual community notification.

    • Prioritize preservation of existing affordable units, especially those funded through LIHTC, HOME, or Section 8 programs.

    • Explore temporary tax abatements or subsidies for mission-aligned landlords who are losing federal funding.

    • Support nonprofits and housing authorities in navigating sudden federal gaps whether through bridge funding, local bonding, or policy flexibilities.

    • Partner with other municipalities and Boulder County to pool limited resources and staff capacity in support of eviction prevention, legal defense, and emergency housing assistance.

    • Support nonprofits and community groups that help residents, workers, and students who are most affected by federal cuts and enforcement actions

    • Work with neighboring governments and trusted regional partners, like the Denver Regional Council of Governments, to share resources and align priorities.

    • Keep building public connection and trust, with strong community engagement around city budgeting, emergency preparedness, and economic security.

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