This year there are 14 state ballot issues and 11 Denver ballot issues. This post addresses the Denver ballot issues with brief summaries and my recommendations. A previous separate post will addressed the 14 Colorado ballot issues.
While I am a Democratic Party precinct organizer, these opinions are purely my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Democratic Party of Colorado or of Denver.
* Referred Denver ballot issue 2Q - increases sales taxes by 0.34 percentage points to raise $70 million a year for Denver Health.
Yes. Denver health is a critical cornerstone of our health care system and a Level One trauma center that needs more funding to function.
* Referred Denver ballot issue 2R - increases sales taxes by 0.5 percentage points to raise $100 million a year for affordable housing for low and middle class families with rental assistance and first time home buyer assistance.
Weak yes. Unaffordable housing is a huge problem in Denver. Subsidies are probably not the optimal solution (relaxing land use regulation is the most important step that can be taken), but it would still make a big difference to many people who are struggling right now.
* Referred Denver Ballot Issue 2S - creates a Mayoral cabinet agency of Human Rights and Community Partnerships.
Yes. This shouldn't require a vote of the people, and the Mayor and City Council want it. This housekeeping measure should be approved.
* Referred Denver Ballot Issue 2T - allows lawful permanent residents who aren't U.S. citizens to be police officers and firefighters.
Yes. There is no legitimate reason to exclude people from these positions simply because they are immigrants. The U.S. has a long and storied history of immigrant law enforcement officers and firefighters.
* Referred Denver Ballot Issue 2U - Allows most non-managerial Denver employees to unionize, bargain collectively, and strike (but prohibits strikes by police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters who already have collective bargaining rights and are prohibited from striking, and prohibits strikes by certain county court and Denver Water employees).
Yes. These employees should not be prohibited from having unions because they work for a local government instead of a private sector firm.
* Referred Denver Ballot Issue 2V - Allows for binding arbitration in lieu of an advisory fact-finding process when an impasse occurs between the City and Firefighters during collective bargaining.
No. Arbitration is a horribly bad way to resolve disputes, and is even worse in a situation like this one where it is entirely unprincipled.
* Referred Denver Ballot Issue 2W - Replaces salary setting for elected officials in the City and County by the city council for the post-election set of elected officials with a one time set of salaries adjusted for inflation over time.
No. Salaries for elected officials should not run on autopilot. The existing system works fine.
* Initiated Denver Ordinance 308 - prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, display, sale, or trade of certain animal fur products in the City beginning July 1, 2025.
No. Animal fur products are no worse than eating meat. They should not be banned.
* Initiated Denver Ordinance 309 - Prohibiting slaughter houses in the City.
No. There is nothing wrong with eating meat and slaughter houses are a necessary part of a society that eats meat.
* Referred Denver School Board Issue 4A - Allows the school board to borrow up to $975 million financed with existing property taxes for capital improvements to school buildings.
Yes. Denver's K-12 students deserve to go to buildings that are modern and don't need major deferred maintenance, particularly to the extent that this can be achieved without raising taxes.
* Referred Regional Transportation District Ballot Issue 7A - Debruces RTD sales tax reveues.
Yes. This measure simply allows RTD to keep all of its existing sales tax revenues, even if they increase.
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