Candidate: Steve Altschuler
Office: Longmont City Council, At Large
Website: steve4longmont.com
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:
Yes/No Questions – Please answer only with yes/no.
Are you a homeowner? Yes
Do you think your City should have a 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? No
General Questions – Please limit responses to 300 words or less.
Why do you want to be a council member?
I have been a businessman for 35 years, the current City Council does nothing to help sustain or create new businesses. Businesses are the backbone of any community. They hire employees and train people to increase their value, the employees and owners pay income taxes, they create a high level of sales tax and they pay rent, insurance, utilities and more on whatever property they inhabit. The current Council wants to increase taxes on those who work and provide free or Low-income housing (for life) to others.
When was the last time you paid rent, and where was that?
I paid rent when I moved to Colorado until I could decide where I wanted to buy. I live in Longmont.
When considering new developments, which is more important: density and affordability or preserving neighborhood character?
They are all important, but it is also important to remember that for the past 20 years people have been moving to Longmont because it was a quieter bedroom community with more open space, and they wanted to get out of a crowded, very dense and increasingly cold Boulder. So why is our current City Council so determined to make Longmont into a carbon copy of Boulder? When I moved to Colorado in 1995 I moved to Gunbarrel while I learned the lay of the surrounding area. I knew that I absolutely did NOT want to live in Denver, but it was close enough if I wanted to see a show or a ballgame. Longmont was a great, quiet, homey neighborhood to call home. I don’t want it to become Denver or Boulder.
Boulder County has experienced extreme natural disasters over the last decade, including flooding and wildfire. How do you plan to address these challenges?
Maintaining more open space with less structural density will help reduce wildfire risk and flooding risk, too. Denser housing helps fires jump from roof to roof, and more concrete and asphalt prevents rain from being absorbed into the land. Also, Natural disasters (by definition) cannot be completely mitigated.
How do you think you stand out from other candidates?
As I said above, I am the only person with a business background. Also, I have proudly announced that I believe in the Constitution and I am a free market Capitalist. Most of the Candidates are either Socialists or flat out Communists, they believe the government should control EVERYTHING, housing, schools, food supplies, what car we drive, how much we drive, where we shop, what we eat, what shots we get, if we’re allowed to fly, etc, and it is getting worse every year.
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
Do they feel they support the Constitution and what are their views on the 1st and 2nd amendments.
What are you views on Illegal immigration?
What are your solutions for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness?
#1, quit giving homeless people free drugs and needles. You are only enabling them to stay miserable. Get them mental help for those who want help. Allow Veterans and recent Longmont citizens to have temporary shelter and food while they are getting help. Let the homeless community know that we are only helping those who have lived in Longmont. We are getting lot’s of homeless from other states, once they hear how giving we are. “If you build it, they will come”.
What’s your plan for creating more affordable housing in Longmont?
We don’t need any more affordable housing, we already have 2700 units. What we need is a time restriction of 2-3 years of help, and a requirement that they take classes or sign up for a mentoring program and start helping themselves. Most people who receive a low income advantage will be encourage to keep their income low and keep that rent reduction for life. Again, the difference between helping and enabling.
How will you address climate change? How do you plan to meet some of the City’s climate goals?
Even if everyone in Longmont walked and rode their bikes (we’d all be much healthier and have more money), but it wouldn’t effect climate change one bit. We are increasing our need for electricity, electricity comes from (mainly) burning coal. We have stopped burning “clean” coal in America, and we are reducing our nuclear energy output. But we are buying more energy from China and other places that are burning dirtier coal. So the air actually hasn’t ( and won’t) get any better, we are reducing our own workforce and we are sending BILLIONS to other countries that hate us. Very dumb policies. Look for more “brown” outs and “black” outs as electric cars increase the drain on our electric capabilities.
What are your goals for transportation and how will you achieve them?
In a free-market society, it is not the responsibility of government to solve every single situation. In China there are a Billion bicycles, and people can walk, there are car-sharing and car-pooling options and people should consider living closer to their work and shopping. There are buses to DIA and Denver.
How do you plan to engage non-English speaking constituents?
The city has many employees that speak many languages that can help.
How does diversity factor into your policy making?
I don’t care what race, color, gender or country someone is from. If I am helping to run Longmont, I will do things that help every citizen of Longmont. The free market has lifted more people out of poverty than every other type of government combined. My policies will help everyone that is willing and able to work, to succeed. Based on their own desire to raise themselves up.
How will you reach residents who have different lived experiences than you?
Everyone will be welcome and invited to reach out to me on city websites, to show up and speak at City Council meetings and to send e-mails. Plus I plan to continue the “coffee with council” events.
Rank your top 5 issues in priority.
These are somewhat interchangeable. Crime, everyone wants to be safe. Lower taxes. Safer Schools. Homelessness. And a healthy, vibrant, successful business community.
