City government should clear the path, not stand in it. I'm running to make Boulder easier to build in, safer to move through, and affordable for the people who make it run.
Hi there! I'm Ryan Jamieson and I am running for Boulder City Council because I believe it's time for us to take action and start making Boulder an easier place to build a home, open a business, and address the big issues our city is facing.
Today we have a city that doesn't say yes, we have a city that asks us to submit a form so they can conduct a study so they can get back to us, and that's not a city that's responsive to its citizenry. While many are frustrated with city staff, it's not their fault: our 900+ page municipal code is designed to make it hard to do things, so I want to join Council so we can make it easier for our town to say yes to the people with big ideas.
Beyond our code, we are a city that wants to do the right thing but often forgets the fundamentals while we do it. The $400 million hole of unfunded capital improvements and deferred maintenance speaks to this problem, as does the proceeds of a climate tax that only fractionally funds mitigations for our biggest collective climate risk: wildfires. I want to hire a full-time city auditor that's a peer to our City Manager and independent of the finance department to run through our books and projects to help us understand where our laudable goals are eclipsing the core functions of city government like maintenance, and where city projects have shifted to feel-good initiatives instead of giving us tangible wins.
We have lots to do here in Boulder and we shouldn't be afraid of making some changes to address our challenges. Let's give it a shot!
Our municipal code was written to prevent change. I'll work to modernize the code so Boulder can create the housing and small-business spaces we actually need, faster and with less red tape.
Read the full plan →Every dollar accountable. I'll push to hire a city auditor that's a peer to the city manager and fully independent to bring greater discipline to our budgets so your taxes buy results.
Read the full plan →Streets, paths, and parks that everyone, whether on foot or on a bike, can use without fear. Real safety and real access, designed to work together.
Read the full plan →The teachers, firefighters, and public servants who keep Boulder running can't afford to live here. I'll focus our affordable housing efforts squarely on them, so the people we depend on can call Boulder home.
Read the full plan →
I'm tired of watching good ideas like a new playground, another bedroom, or even a simple speedbump die in a maze of bureaucracy while big issues fester because we let perfect be the enemy of good.
Boulder doesn't lack for talent, ideas, or goodwill. It lacks a city hall that says yes: quickly, transparently, and within budget. I'll bring the patience to reform our municipal code, the courage to make hard decisions rather than create a new study, and the discipline to spend your money only on projects that have a real impact.
A five-year Boulder resident and U.S. Army veteran, Ryan has spent 20+ years understanding and fixing big, complex systems. He lives in North Boulder with his wife and their son, a BVSD student. Read more →
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