Bob's Beliefs

Having served on city council since November 2015, I will be held accountable for the record of my 2,000 votes at more than 350 city council meetings. I welcome that.

Here are five things that are very important to me:

Our homelessness situation is unacceptable
Let’s provide mental health, substance abuse, and housing assistance, while respecting the rights of those of us who are housed. See my eight solutions to eight homelessness problems here.

Crime hurts us all
We need to support our police and give them the legal and financial tools they need, so they can protect us.

Housing affordability is achievable
We can strike a balance between creating housing opportunities for people who work in Boulder, while preserving the character and cohesion of our existing neighborhoods. These must be local decisions, not dictates from the state legislature in Denver.

Getting around must be safe and efficient
Let’s fix the potholes, plow the snow, and intelligently design our streets. Getting around should be safe and efficient, regardless of whether by car, bike, bus, or on foot.

Keep taxes low
The city budget is zero-sum. Rather than raising taxes to chase every clever idea, let’s stay within our means and prioritize our limited resources based on community values.

Since 2016, I have published a monthly newsletter on the first Monday of each month. Called the Boulder Bulletin, I state in the newsletter my positions openly and clearly. My record is there for all to see. My votes on the most significant issues are described in 85 monthly issues of the Bulletin. Those votes are categorized by topic below. While you may not agree with every one of my hundreds of votes, please consider whether they were made rationally and fairly, based on the information available at the time. You can subscribe to the Bulletin here.

If you’d like a short-cut to my positions on a number of issues facing Boulder today, consider reading the results of an August interview by journalist Richard Valenty, in which we discussed housing, homelessness, crime, climate action, and other topics. You can find it here.

Positions and votes by topic, with links to issues of the Boulder Bulletin

Public Safety & Health — Our #1 responsibility
July 2023, May 2023, February 2023, November 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022, May 2022, March 2022, September 2021, August 2021, July 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, December 2020, July 2020, April 2020, March 2020, November 2019, October 2019, September 2019, August 2019, July 2019, March 2019, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, March 2018, January 2018, December 2017, September 2017, August 2017, July 2017, June 2017, March 2017, February 2017, January 2017

Homelessness & Human Condition — Helping others
September 2023, August 2023, March 2023, January 2023, November 2022, September 2022, July 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, January 2022, May 2021, February 2021, January 2021, December 2020, August 2020, June 2020, February 2020, January 2020, November 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, February 2019, September 2018, August 2018, February 2018, December 2017, October 2017, August 2017, July 2017, February 2017, January 2017, October 2016

Housing & Land Use — Livability for all
September 2023, July 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, December 2022, October 2022, September 2022, December 2021, August 2021, July 2021, June 2021, April 2021, March 2021, February 2021, January 2021, March 2020, February 2020, November 2019, October 2019, September 2019, August 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, March 2019, January 2019, December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018, July 2018, May 2018, April 2018, March 2018, February 2018, January 2018, December 2017, November 2017, October 2017, July 2017, June 2017, May 2017, April 2017, March 2017, February 2017, January 2017, December 2016, November 2016, October 2016

Budget, Taxes & Economic Vitality — Prioritizing finite resources
February 2023, January 2023, November 2022, October 2022, September 2022, June 2022, May 2022,
April 2022, March 2022, November 2021, October 2021, August 2021, July 2021, June 2021, March 2021, November 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, January 2020, November 2019, October 2019, September 2019, August 2019, June 2019, May 2019, March 2019, December 2018,
November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, March 2018, December 2017, November 2017, June 2017,
February 2017, October 2016

Climate Action — Leading in a changing world
May 2023, December 2022, March 2022, January 2022, December 2020, September 2020, August 2020,
June 2020, January 2020, August 2019, July 2019, May 2019, January 2019, October 2018, March 2018,
January 2018, September 2017, August 2017, June 2017, May 2017, March 2017, December 2016, November 2016, October 2016

Municipal Governance & Administration — Transparent and responsive
October 2023, August 2023, June 2023, October 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, January 2022, December 2021, November 2021, October 2021, September 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, March 2021, January 2021, November 2020, October 2020, September 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, November 2019, October 2019, April 2019, February 2019, November 2018, April 2018, January 2018, December 2017, November 2017, October 2017, September 2017, July 2017, April 2017, March 2017, February 2017, January 2017, November 2016

Transportation — Supporting all modes
June 2023, April 2023, November 2022, October 2022, December 2021, July 2021, October 2020, September 2020, June 2020, May 2020, March 2020, February 2020, October 2019, June 2019, February 2019, July 2018, March 2018, September 2017, May 2017, December 2016

Arts, Open Space & Historic Preservation — For the soul
August 2023, July 2023, May 2023, April 2023, December 2022, September 2022, August 2022, June 2022, October 2021, September 2021, November 2020, October 2020, September 2020, July 2020, June 2020, November 2019, October 2019, September 2019, April 2019, September 2018, August 2018, May 2018, December 2017, April 2017

Past issues of the Boulder Bulletin

2022-23

October 2023
Council candidate and ballot picks, library buildings

September 2023
Homelessness solutions, Area III Planning Reserve, occupancy, minimum wage

August 2023
Ranked-choice voting, homeless shelter, cannabis hospitality, arts funding

July 2023
Police oversight, occupancy, Chautauqua

June 2023
Street maintenance, e-bikes, council pay

May 2023
State control of land use, safe zones & arts ballot petitions, middle-income down payment assistance, leaf-blowers

April 2023
Streets as public spaces, Dushanbe Teahouse, occupancy

March 2023
Unsanctioned camping, Conference on World Affairs, local control of land use

February 2023
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), broadband, municipal airport, police oversight

January 2023
Homeless day center, downtown vision plan, mental health services

December 2022
Leaf-blowers, performing arts center, modular homes

November 2022
Budget & taxes, new sheriff, encampment clean-ups, parking

October 2022
Ballot measures, hospital site redevelopment, West Pearl, library budget

September 2022
Library district, Wild Bear Nature Center, encampment clean-ups, noise ordinance

August 2022
Flood mitigation, crime data, nonprofit grants, even-year elections

July 2022
Even-year elections, guaranteed income, gun violence prevention

June 2022
Gun violence prevention, BMoCA, even-year elections, guaranteed income

May 2022
Flood mitigation, Out Boulder, library district, outdoor dining

April 2022
Outdoor dining, Conference on World Affairs, library district

March 2022
Library district, press in Boulder, CU South, guaranteed income, climate tax

February 2022
Work plan, Feet Forward, boards & commissions

January 2022
Xcel partnership, Community Advisory Board, council email, oil & gas regulations

2020-21

December 2021
Snow removal, mayor, occupancy

November 2021
Comity, city attorney, facilities master plan, park restaurants

October 2021
Election, World Singing Day, outdoor dining, budget

September 2021
Fur ban, outdoor dining, CU South, nonprofit support

August 2021
Occupancy, Boulder Reservoir, Diagonal Plaza, tents & propane tanks

July 2021
Tax ballot measure, policing, building heights, vaping devices, parking

June 2021
Diagonal Plaza, downtown, propane tanks, Marpa House, library district

May 2021
Homelessness, city manager, state arrest standards, Ambassador program

April 2021
King Soopers shooting, building heights, Marpa House, boards & commissions

March 2021
Taxes, COVID, racial equity, mobile homes

February 2021
COVID, fire department, Macy’s, camping ban

January 2021
Camping ban, library, online ballot petitions, Comprehensive Plan

December 2020
Xcel settlement, Housing and Human Services, Police Oversight Panel

November 2020
City manager search, Open Space, 2021 Budget, Dushanbe Teahouse

October 2020
Ballot measures, arts, occupancy, e-scooters

September 2020
Ranked-choice voting, transportation department, Xcel settlement, prairie dogs, direct election of mayor

August 2020
Xcel settlement, parks & rec, homelessness strategy, ballot measures

July 2020
Policing, Bands Above the Bricks, flood mitigation

June 2020
LGBTQ support, new police chief, Marpa House, Xcel settlement, neighborhood speed management, outdoor dining

May 2020
COVID budget adjustments, Downtown Boulder, neighborhood speed management, ballot measures

April 2020
COVID impacts, Community Foundation, board appointments

March 2020
Library district, municipal airport, transportation funding, flood mitigation

February 2020
Work plan, growth & development, hospital site, homeless sheltering, e-bikes, Hill hotel

January 2020
Municipalization, Boulder Food Rescue, financial strategy, racial equity

2018-19

December 2019
Work plan, KGNU, mayoral selection

November 2019
City manager, Trends report, Long’s Gardens, Ponderosa, 2020 budget, police oversight

October 2019
Ballot measures, Open Space, transportation, Alpine-Balsam

September 2019
Budget, Open Space, Alpine-Balsam, vaping

August 2019
Retail & tourism, Municipalization, flood mitigation, middle-income housing

July 2019
Flood mitigation, Municipalization, Alpine-Balsam

June 2019
Taxes, large houses, Alpine-Balsam, e-scooters, prairie dogs

May 2019
Municipalization, LGBTQ support, Hill re-vitalization, taxes

April 2019
Harbeck House, campaign finance, homelessness

March 2019
Property taxes, flood mitigation, middle income housing, hate crimes

February 2019
Community survey, homeless shelter, Hill revitalization, walking

January 2019
Hill re-vitalization, Municipalization, opportunity zone

December 2018
Alpine-Balsam, library funding, towing

November 2018
Inquire Boulder, budget, flood mitigation, large houses

October 2018
Sugary drink tax, budget, Municipalization, flood mitigation, large houses

September 2018
Budget, accessory dwelling units, sugary drink tax, flood mitigation, Section 8 discrimination, sister cities

August 2018
Homelessness, retail strategy, zoning, 311 Mapleton, library

July 2018
Accessory dwelling units, height limits, broadband, dockless bike sharing, 311 Mapleton

June 2018
Broadband, fracking, assault weapons

May 2018
Assault weapons, commercial linkage fees, Jaipur Literature Festival

April 2018
Commercial linkage fees, flood mitigation, East Pearl zoning, boards & commissions

March 2018
Budget, Municipalization, Chautauqua shuttle, commercial linkage fees, assault weapons, accessory dwelling units

February 2018
30th & Pearl, Alpine-Balsam, broadband, Hogan-Pancost, homelessness

January 2018
Downpayment assistance, Municipalization, sexually-violent predators, campaign finance

2016-17

December 2017
Council priorities, sexually-violent predators, beverage taxes, mobile home regulations, library district

November 2017
Mid-term check-in, budget, Hogan-Pancost, affordable housing

October 2017
Ballot measures, middle income housing, homeless shelter, 30th & Pearl

September 2017
Ballot measures, Municipalization, neighborhood speed management, sexually-violent predators

August 2017
Municipalization, flood mitigation, human services strategy

July 2017
Boulder Measures, sexually-violent predators, Attention Homes, 90/96 Arapahoe, Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

June 2017
CU South, downtown banks, Municipalization, sugary-drink tax

May 2017
Municipalization, 3303 Broadway, Chautauqua parking, broadband

April 2017
Broadband, Museum of Boulder, height limits, boards & commissions

March 2017
Government regulation, bank ban, commercial linkage fee, flood mitigation, Municipalization, energy conservation, Tantra Lake Apartments

February 2017
Boards & commissions, sanctuary city, co-ops, 3303 Broadway, bear mitigation, council practices, CU South, head tax

January 2017
Council priorities, climate goals, marijuana regulation, sister city, co-ops

December 2016
Municipalization annexation, commercial linkage fees, open space acquisition, HOP Bus

November 2016
Civil discourse, budget, 30th & Pearl, Boulder Community Health expansion, Municipalization annexation

October 2016
Co-ops, camping ban, CU conference center, budget, Municipalization