Candidate: Jacques Decalo
Office: Boulder City Council
Website: https://www.jacquesforcouncil.org/
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:
Yes/No Questions – Please answer only with yes/no.
Are you a homeowner? No
Do you think your City should add more beds to the homeless shelter? Yes
If the City police force was fully staffed, would you advocate for adding more officers? No
Do you believe there’s a need for more housing? Yes
Do you believe the City should spend more money on homelessness services? Yes
Longform Questions – Please limit responses to 300 words or less.
Why do you want to be a council member?
“Being born and raised in Boulder I have seen how we have changed into a tech “Silicon Valley” type of city. This has lead to an increase in price of housing and a loss in percentage of family residents. While Boulder has always been a type of tech hub city with IBM and the Federal Labs, we have also been a family oriented town. Now with schools closing down and families moving out we need to refocus the values of Boulder. Instead of creating the a tech bro high development city we need to focus on bringing back the family value mentality to Boulder. The other reasons I am running is to create more climate change action in Boulder. Our city has been seen as the green standard for so long and I am in full support of bringing this back.”
When was the last time you paid rent, and where was that?
“I currently pay rent in Boulder”
Boulder County has experienced extreme natural disasters over the last decade, including flooding and wildfire. How do you plan to address these challenges?
“Climate change is one of the largest threats to our Boulder. We must continue to accelerate OSMP’s use of thinning and prescribed burns – to sustain healthy forests able to continue to evolve with periodic wildfire. As the Mesa fire showed, the control of invasive grass and forest thinning allowed a relatively cool fire to burn and be contained without threatening Table Mesa neighborhoods. We need to accelerate flood mitigation systems around our city and insure that our city is prepared for a climate disaster. Staffing to pursue this strategy has been doubled in the past year by OSMP, and the strategy is being used throughout the system. Its further expansion is only constrained by the lack of additional staff and funding.”
How do you think you stand out from other candidates?
“As a young born and raised Boulderite and life long environmentalist I feel that I can bridge the political gap between younger generations and the older generation to insure that every decision made is set to reduce Boulder carbon footprint.”
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
“How could Boulder reduce our carbon emissions in non traditional ways? I.e. carbon absorption building materials and increased sustainable building requirements.”
What are your solutions for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness?
“I support a combined approach of public safety guardrails, and compassionate, effective programs that address homelessness and the needs of those people with better mental health resources and opportunities. Providing housing needs to be combined with coordinated entry and access to mental health and substance use rehabilitation programs. I fully support the Bridge House and other ready-to-work programs that transition people out of homelessness with housing, job training, and needed health resources. We must work to increase access to programs that rehabilitate people experiencing homelessness and encourage them to get back on their feet. I would like to see the shelter expanded to a 24 shelter with increased provisions to mental health resources and drug addiction therapy. We should also encourage work programs through the shelter and government departments.
The Unsanctioned Public Camping is infringing on residents, tourists, businesses, others’ freedom, safety, and peaceful access to our public spaces. The Police Department needs our support in enforcing the law.”
What’s your plan for creating more affordable housing in Boulder?
“To meet our permanently affordable middle income housing goals, we must raise and allocate more money for this work. For example, raising the affordable housing linkage fees that the city charges of commercial real estate developers. Also, increases to the Cash-in-lieu inclusionary housing program need to be considered. After all, housing costs have risen, and we need to assess whether Cash-in-lieu increases and linkage fees have kept up with those cost. We need to shift service expansion costs in all departments from taxes to impact fees, so that existing citizens aren’t forced to subsidize developers’ profits. We also should look at a vacancy tax for houses that are left vacant for more than half the year. We need to limit development to what our existing water resources can reasonably serve, so we are not forced to purchase expensive new water rights.”
How will you address climate change? How do you plan to meet some of the City’s climate goals, like reducing emissions by 70% by 2030, becoming a net-zero City by 2035, and becoming a carbon-positive City by 2040?
“Transportation in and out of the city is a large source of GHGs. For the last 20 years, 80% of non-residents have driven single-occupancy vehicles to work here. With only 1% of commuters riding the bus (down from 6% in 2017). We need to find ways to make public transit options fast, efficient, and attractive to reduce this large source of emissions. To understand what measures will move the needle, we need to do a detailed needs assessment/marketing survey to learn what programs, routes, and investments (e.g., via regional bus rapid transportation (BRT) with last-mile options such as B-cycle and e-scooters), and then invest in/subsidize the options to which the data points.
In addition, Boulder has a multitude of programs that need acceleration through increases in public awareness and funding. As we continue to increase the number of community solar gardens, we must also encourage steps to move away from fossil fuels. Heat pumps and convection stove tops need to be incentivized for residents and businesses to make the switch from fossil fuels. We must work with the Public Utilities Commission and Xcel to raise the net metering exchange rate, incentivizing more people to get solar and rewarding those who have it. We must start to offer more grants for battery storage technology for all residents and businesses. We must mandate all new commercial builds and developments have solar and battery storage. We need to utilize “vacant public roofs” and implement solar gardens on any available roof top. We must increase solar powered EV chargers and add solar E-bike chargers around the city. We must look into increasing the E-bike grant to give more access to residents, especially low-income residents. With increase in E-bikes and scooters we need to address the safety and responsibility that comes with access to roadways and paths.
And finally, to enhance carbon-free movement within Boulder, we should look into increasing the Hop Bus program by giving neighborhoods/residential areas access to free alternative electric mini/micro-buses, giving priority to low-income neighborhoods (usage must first be researched with a needs assessment to ensure investments will be taken advantage of). With Bike theft on the rise, we should look into tracking tags for residents with registered bikes. We must work more aggressively on all fronts to remove fossil fuels from our transportation.”
What are your goals for transportation and how will you achieve them?
“Increasing alternative transportation from, for example the Table Mesa RTD parking garage and encourage tourists/commuters to park there and take public transportation to their destination around town. If Boulder increased this circulator bus route I would look to subside them to encourage use of public transportation. And finally, to enhance carbon-free movement within Boulder, we should look into increasing the Hop Bus program by giving neighborhoods/residential areas access to free alternative electric mini/micro-buses, giving priority to low-income neighborhoods (usage must first be researched with a needs assessment to ensure investments will be taken advantage of). With Bike theft on the rise, we should look into tracking tags for residents with registered bikes. We must work more aggressively on all fronts to remove fossil fuels from our transportation.”
How do you plan to engage with non-English speaking constituents?
“Currently the city website offers translation in almost any language. I would promote this resource and seek an option to connect constituents with translators in our city. We should expand programs that bring in people who can assist in language barriers. We need signage that is translated in Spanish at city festivals and events. QR codes that lead to the translated city website need to posted around the city so that all can learn about what is happening in the community.”
How does diversity factor into your policy making?
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical to a healthy community. All parts of my policy are set for equity regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. We must continue to remove barriers that limit diversity in our city. To address the inequity we need everything from livable wages, permanently affordable housing, and robust community supported non profits like EFFA and Community Food share. If elected as a council member I would becommitted to addressing these inequities throughout the city, and also addressing them through the community foundation, philanthropists and non profits, as well as bringing in state resources.”
How will you reach residents who have different lived experiences than you?
“I have been walking different neighborhoods that vary in rental and owners. I have been talking to a wide rang of people in Boulder asking what their main concerns are for our city. I have made myself accessible via my website jacquesforcouncil.org and continue to do so if elected to council.”
Rank your top 5 issues in priority.
“Affordable Housing, Public Safety, sustainable energy and development, good governance, our local environment and Wildland-Urban-Interface”
