Election Primer, Part 3: RTD write-ins, Propositions 124 – 126, Denver Questions

RTD Board of Directors: Page 1 of the ballot. Seems no one wants to run right now. My RTD District is C, as listed on the ballot. We have an unopposed candidate who qualified as a write-in: Michael Guzman. If we don’t write him in, the position remains vacant? Curious situation! Google “RTD Board elections” and your District for info on the board and write-in candidates.

Today we finish the ballot, starting on Side 4, Propositions and Referred Questions

Proposition 124 – 126 are the liquor propositions. Numbered propositions are citizen initiatives.

124 would let liquor stores increase the number of locations from the current 3 to 8 over time to 2026 and more over time after that.

125 allows licensed grocery and convenience stores that currently sell beer to also sell wine and increases the number of locations that can do so over time.

126 allows third-party companies to deliver alcohol from all vendors and makes the delivery of alcohol from bars and restaurants permanent. (We started delivering alcohol from restaurants on a temporary basis during Covid.)

The main concerns of the pros and cons on these liquor license propositions seem to be whether or not the rules are fair, level playing field and all that. See what you think.

City & County of Denver Questions. We’re in the Denver info booklet now. This also came in the mail and libraries usually have copies. Note that, except for 2I, no Against comments were filed for Referred Questions.

Referred Question 2I: Shall taxes be increased for the libraries? They say it would run $4.19 per month for the typical household. A list of what a yes vote would get, better wages, longer hours, etc. on p. 11 of the Denver Local Ballot Issue Notice book. In caps. Yelling at us because it’s a tax increase?

Referred Question 2J: The info on 2J starts on p. 22. We approved a tax increase in 2020 to mitigate climate change in the city, especially in low-income communities. This is not a new tax, but a request to continue the one previously approved. What they’ve done with the funds so far listed on p. 22.

Referred Question 2K: Homelessness funding, same situation as above. We approved a sales tax increase in 2020 and they’re seeking approval for that program to continue. List of what they’ve used it for also p. 22.

Referred Question 2L: I think of this as the clarification question. Should initiatives contain only one subject? Should candidate nomination deadlines match mail-in procedures? Should we remove excess detail in the wording of ballot questions? Maybe I wouldn’t have to write this simplification next time?

Initiated Ordinance 305: This is about charging landlords $75 a year per unit to fund legal representation for tenants facing eviction. I’m told this program already exists in Boulder and has been successful. More info, pp. 14-15, Denver book.

Initiated Ordinance 306: The recycling proposal. Requires apartment complexes with more than 8 units, businesses, and construction sites to recycle and compost. This one has For and Against, pp. 27 – 28.

Initiated Ordinance 307: The sidewalk proposal. As it stands now, you must replace the sidewalk in front of your house if the city tells you to do so, usually only if there’s a complaint. This proposal would tax homeowners annually, depending on how much sidewalk is adjacent to your property, to fund a long-term city-wide sidewalk replacement project. For and Against on pp. 34 – 35 of the Denver book.

We’re done!!! Vote!

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4 Responses to Election Primer, Part 3: RTD write-ins, Propositions 124 – 126, Denver Questions

  1. Thanks for Parts I, II, and III of How to Decipher the Ballot and WHY ARE THEY YELLING AT ME?! I voted. You’re never too old to try mushrooms, Pat.

    • dubrava says:

      Thanks, Gregg, for your mushroom advice. I did babysit someone having a disturbing LSD experience once. That was enough for me. As for the all caps yelling, I think now that they do that when it involves a tax increase.

  2. Jean Charney says:

    Pat, thanks for these – most helpful!

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