Prioritized enforcement zones’ are on the ballot
The Safe Zones 4 Kids initiative received enough signatures through the city of Boulder’s direct democracy program to appear on November’s ballot.
Proposed in April, the initiative establishes a “prioritized enforcement zone” 500 feet from school property lines and 50 feet from multi-use paths and sidewalks. Safe Zone 4 Kids gathered more than 5,000 paper signatures, although not all of them were verified by the city. At least 3,437 verified signatures are required for an initiative to get on the ballot.
“We’re just a group of parents really concerned about the safety around our public spaces with our children and going to and from school,” says Jennifer Rhodes, a member of the group.
The ballot initiative was proposed after several tent fires near Boulder High School. Of 297 confirmed fires in Boulder in 2022, nearly 100 were in locations the fire department typically engages with the unhoused community (News, “Ease the harm,” April 6, 2023).
In a press release, Safe Zone 4 Kids writes “the removal of tents, propane tanks and other prohibited items” will be given higher priority in these areas than others outside prioritized zones.
“We can’t let our kids be exposed to dangerous and illegal adult behavior that is occurring in our public spaces,” Rhodes says. “And I would say we can do both — we can help those experiencing major mental health and addiction crises, and protect our children at the same time.”
Meanwhile, Boulder doesn’t provide adequate resources for the approximately 450 unhoused residents in the city, including not having enough shelter space or mental health and addiction support services.
Ride RTD for free
Boulder County is participating in RTD’s Zero Fare for Better Air summer initiative by expanding fare-free services on Ride Free Lafayette and the Lyons Flyer.
The free rides, starting July 5 and ending Aug. 31, aim to increase accessibility to public transportation, save costs, reduce traffic and improve air quality during the height of the summer when ozone levels in the Front Range are poor.
“[The program] is really important for us because transit is the key to achieving not only our air-quality goals, but also our equity goals in Boulder County,” says Angel Bond, program manager at Boulder County.
Ride Free Lafayette provides on-demand transit service within the city seven days per week, including holidays. The Lyons Flyer goes between the town of Lyons and Boulder during the week. Both are expanding ride services through August.
The Zero Fare for Better Air program also includes free rides across RTD’s system.
According to the county, 85% of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are due to daily commuting.
Colorado announces first full-time CO River Commissioner
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced Rebecca Mitchell as the state’s first full-time commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC) on June 22.
Mitchell served as the director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board for six years and as the governor-appointed Colorado River Commissioner since 2019.
The commissioner will help find solutions to challenges on the river with Tribal Nations, Upper and Lower Basin states and the federal government, and will be Colorado’s representative to the UCRC, which helps coordinate the four Upper Division States on Colorado River policy.
In an email to Boulder Weekly, Mitchell says her guiding principles for river management include defending against curtailment in the Upper Basin, giving both Upper and Lower Basins equal right to the river, preserving water rights for Tribal Nations and living within the means of what the river provides.
Mitchell’s appointment comes as experts across the Colorado River Basin discuss how to make more permanent cuts to the river while usage is projected to increase and flow to decrease. A deal was proposed at the end of May by the seven basin states to conserve at least 3 million acre feet by the end of 2026, but a much needed long-term solution remains elusive (News, “Flow state,” June 15, 2023).
“The next few years are going to be incredibly intense as we shift the way that the seven basin states cooperate and operate Lakes Powell and Mead,” Mitchell said in a press release. “This expanded role will allow me to fully focus on Colorado’s needs at such a critical time and actually work towards long-term sustainable solutions to managing the Colorado River.”
Forest Service funds wood-energy markets
Colorado is receiving more than $2 million from the Forest Service to “expand the use of wood products and strengthen wood-energy markets” and support forest management practices from the 2023 Wood Innovations Grant.
“Healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products economy, and these investments within the Rocky Mountain Region support local economies,” said Frank Beum, a regional forester, in a press release. “In addition, they will help improve forest health while lowering wildfire risks to communities.”
Recent studies and films challenge the notion that forest management practices will lower wildfire risks to communities (News, “Living with fire,” June 8, 2023). If protecting communities is the goal, more and more experts argue to focus on home hardening and creating defensible space rather than working in the forest.
