LETTERS

Correction

Boulder Weekly’s recent article about fall films and festivals (‘Season’s screenings,’ Sept. 14, 2023) included a factual error related to programming at the upcoming Boulder Jewish Film Festival, Nov. 2-12. This year’s opening-night film is ‘Rock Camp: The Movie.’ We regret the mistake.

Vote For Yates

portive of the U.S. being a genuine democracy. Recently, sustained attacks on the right to vote (particularly for people of color) have destabilized America. The right to vote is essential for a vibrant and functioning democracy. Unions have been a crucial force in defending this right from the beginning. The report notes:

“Significantly fewer restrictive voting laws have been passed in the 17 highest-union-density states than in the middle 17 states (including D.C.) and the 17 lowest-union-density states. Over 70% of low-union-density states passed at least one voter suppression law between 2011 and 2019.”

In 2021, after the Trump years and the Jan. 6 insurrection, the respected Stockholm-based think-tank International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance added the U.S. to a list of “backsliding democracies” for the first time.

“Knocked down a significant number of steps on the democratic scale,” their report said.

Currently polling indicates that the 2024 election will be close. A united front against fascism needs to be built out of the center-left coalition that already exists. In the spring of 2020, the Biden and Sanders camps formed several issue task forces that influenced the legislation that Biden would introduce. The proposals were unfortunately chopped up due to obstruction by the GOP and two con- servative Democratic senators. Nevertheless, Biden has an impressive record of progressive accomplishment.

More needs to be done.

Progressive Democrats have introduced bills on a wide variety of issues that go beyond what Biden supports.

Meanwhile, Biden’s appointees are making a difference at the National Labor Relations Board.

In August, the board ruled in a party-line vote that when a majority of a company’s employees file union affiliation cards, the employer can either voluntarily recognize their union or, if not, run a union recognition election. If the company commits an illegal labor practice, the employer has to immediately recognize the union and begin bargaining. Since employers routinely break the law (like firing union activists) and drag things out, this is a game changer.

It’s a good beginning.

This opinion does not necessarily reflect the views of Boulder Weekly.

The upcoming election for mayor in the city of Boulder is a critical one as our city verges on entering a downward spiral similar to that of Portland, San Francisco and other iconic American metros. Our choice for mayor should be clear. Bob Yates is the only candidate to put public safety as the top priority on his agenda for the Council. Securing public safety is the first obligation of government at every level for without it everything else is impossible. If you live in Boulder, ask yourself: Is our city cleaner, safer, healthier than it was 10, five, or even two years ago? Most who visit downtown would say no. Those who try to enjoy our parks, or who find themselves walking home at night, too frequently report being threatened, harassed or even assaulted while doing so. Repeat offenders practically run through the revolving doors of our courts and jail and illegal campers line our most beautiful public spaces. Dirty needles and other bio hazards can be found along what used to be our most enjoyable footpaths.

As a City Council member, Bob has worked hard to support our police, ensure the enforcement of our camping bans, and retain local control over our land use decisions. His opponents have done just the opposite. Bob understands we should be compassionate and generous with services to help people get back on their feet and he understands there must be consequences for those to continue to break our laws. I urge you to vote for Bob Yates, for common sense, and for the rule of law and order in our community so that we can all feel safe in our homes and in our public spaces.

— Scott Schaefer / Boulder

No To Safe Zones

Failure to act on gun violence, failure to act on climate change. There are many ways we have failed the younger generation. Let’s not fail them again by telling them that unhoused people in their community are their greatest threat.

Data shows that today’s students are at a far higher risk of unaddressed mental health issues, sexual assault by peers, exposure to drugs and alcohol by peers, suicide, gun violence, becoming homeless themselves, and road injury or death due to unsafe roadways than they are from people experiencing homelessness in their vicinity.

I do not discount the safety concerns of the parents who brought forth “Safe Zones 4 Kids” — my son attends Boulder High School. But while voters may think they are approving a “stop gap” solution to the issue, in fact, nothing in the measure changes the City’s current approach to enforcement of existing ordinances, and the City said as much in their April 13, 2023 memo.

Those approaches haven’t resulted in the safety that petitioners seek. And neither will “Safe Zones.”

However, BVSD’s School Safety Advocates have been doing amazing work at Boulder High, and BVSD administration and school safety officials work closely with the Boulder Police Department to ensure that all BVSD schools and grounds are safe, welcoming and inclusive places for all students. It was clear in the BVSD Board’s Aug. 22 security update that student safety is a priority.

Furthermore, it must be noted that increased police presence around schools has been documented to lead to increased police interactions and policing of our students, unrelated to perceived external threats to their safety by unhoused people. Vote no on “Safe Zones.” Our students deserve better from their community.

— Izzie Clinton / Boulder

13th

This summer as part of the City of Boulder’s “Social Streets” initiative, the Downtown Boulder Partnership is hosting a series of FREE fun events / activities along 13th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard. (There is no cost to attend the events and all members of the community and visitors near and far are invited to attend to participate or just enjoy as spectators!) So grab your family/neighbors/friends and come meet on the street to celebrate community and enjoy our vibrant downtown district!

Part AUGUST 13 BOULDER STREET SOCCER CLASSIC

Boulder’s