Want to know more?
Sound bites and bullet-pointed lists are great, but sometimes you want to understand the deeper details. Why are we voting NO recall? Has Councilmember Cohen done the things he set out to do?
Is accessible and affordable housing possible?
Yes, it just takes dedication! But first let's clear something up:
The city has not raised property tax rates in 20 years.
The assessments that spiked this year are governed by state law and reflect market values that peaked a year ago. There are a couple of statewide ideas for relieving the property tax pain, but Broomfield City Council does not have the authority to do that. Councilmember Cohen's own assessment jumped 48%.
Now let's talk about affordable housing.
Broomfield leads the region with its inclusive housing ordinance requiring developers to build lower-cost housing units with new builds. This generating millions of dollars for the Broomfield Housing Alliance to develop even more affordable housing options. We are also focused on concentrating density in areas with multi-modal transportation services.
Okay, but what about "business recovery, retention, and growth?"
Have you ever been looking for a great restaurant to try out, only to realize you've been to all the unique local spots? Wishing there were boutique businesses to shop at for the perfect gift? Wondered how small businesses stay afloat when rent and property costs are so extraordinary?
Council is building the infrastructure to support sustaining and growing Broomfield businesses, and Councilmember Cohen is a part of that work.
Broomfield needs initiatives such as the Town Square project aimed at bolstering existing businesses, attracting more developers to our region, and preserving our established business districts, especially in light of the recent challenges posed by the pandemic.
The Town Square project - which was approved this year and includes affordable house options - is envisioned to transform Broomfield into a regional hub for locally owned enterprises and restaurants like old Lafayette and downtown Louisville do.
Don't we already have a lot of open space and trails?
We do, but open space is a finite resource, with less than 20% of Broomfield remaining undeveloped, most of it located in Ward 5. It's imperative that we wholeheartedly commit to achieving our city's ambitious goal of dedicating 40% of our land to open spaces.
In the past two years, Broomfield has added 16 acres of open space and 131 acres of public open lands as well as 14 miles of concrete and crusher fines trails.
Did you know Broomfield has an awesome trail system?
Ensuring the safety and accessibility of Broomfield's trails and creating more of the secure pathways that connect recreational destinations and grant easy access to all corners of our vibrant community remains a vital project.
What's Public Health & Safety?
Public health and safety addresses a wide variety of issues that affect a community. Some of the items that have come up in this recall effort are:
Caring for the unhoused
Councilmember Cohen DID: Vote to provide hotel vouchers during extreme weather and work with local nonprofits that support the unhoused with services designed to help individuals find long term, safe housing.
Councilmember Cohen DID NOT: “Push” for taxpayer-funded homeless camps in Broomfield. In researching possible solutions before Councilmember Cohen joined the council in 2021, City Staff proposed this as one possible option.
Staff withdrew the idea at Councilmember Cohen’s first meeting after the Council said it was more appropriate in areas with a much larger homeless population than Broomfield.
Water needs and fire safety
In 2014 a plan was developed to add water tanks at the city’s highest elevation (Lowell and Sheridan boulevards).
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North Metro Fire said the new tanks are important for maintaining water pressure for fire protection even if the pumps fail due to power outages or other causes.
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The tanks are needed to provide water to Northeast Broomfield residents.
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Choosing to protect Broomfield’s safety and finances, Council decided against spending $8,000,000 to fully bury the tanks.
Whew! That was a lot of information.
Your commitment to knowing what's happening in Broomfield is impressive - and important! Are you ready to help fight for Ward 5?
Here's what you can do:
Share this information! Socials, email, chat - talking with your friends and neighbors helps fight misinformation.
Volunteer! You can help get out the vote in a variety of ways, sign up here.
Visit Vote Broomfield! Everything you need to know about voting in Colorado. Ballots hit the post office on October 16th, keep your eyes on your mailbox!
TURN IN YOUR BALLOT! This is the vital last step to defeat this baseless recall effort. Your vote can only be counted if you submit your ballot.