Denver Issues 1A & 1E
This November, Denver residents will be asked to ensure that our city’s neglected infrastructure needs are met and maintained through the passage of a series of bonds and a mill levy increase. The nine issues before voters include “Issue 1A” to create an ongoing maintenance fund for parks, streets, and city buildings, and “Issue 1E” to address long-standing capital liabilities in our parks and recreation system.
Our park infrastructure represents the often unseen elements that are critical to our park experience. Replacing outdated irrigation systems, rehabilitating playgrounds, enhancing public swimming pools, building more restrooms, and repairing historic structures are among the long list of benefits that 1E will bring to our prized parks and recreation system.
Issue 1A will then protect this investment by providing funds for ongoing maintenance.
Our parks are our community “back yards,” where we gather with family, chat with friends, reinvigorate our bodies, play with our children, seek tranquility, walk our dogs, and re-create ourselves. Our recreation centers are vital community resources, offering programs to stay healthy, take classes, and provide young people with a safe environment to have fun.
The wonderful amenities we enjoy today exist because of the foresight of residents who were willing to invest in these special shared spaces. Thanks to their investment years ago, Denver now boasts the largest public park system in the nation and a recreation center in nearly every part of the city.
Now it’s our turn to show our love of Denver’s beautiful parks and recreation facilities by voting YES on Issue 1A and 1E!
This letter has not been edited.
Vote No on everything.
Posted by No on October 9, 2007 02:38 PMSo, if I remember correctly last winter, while everyone was stuck in their neighborhoods because the streets weren't plowed following snow fall after weekly snow fall. The city made sure the sidewalks and pave pathways in the parks were plowed... NO ONE COULD GET TO THE PARKS TO "ENJOY" THEM!!!
I'm fed up with hearing the City doesn't have the funds to do even the most basic services. Where the heck is the money going? How about we account for every penny before we ask for more?
In the grand scheme of things there are far more "basic" services that require funds than any one of the alphabet sized ballot issues. We all know the money never goes where the initiative claims it will. And they'll be back for more in the next election cycle.
Vote NO on all of them...
Posted by on October 9, 2007 03:10 PMI was just commenting to my wife that I wished we lived in the city so that we could vote no on these ballot initiatives.
The issue appears to be deferred maintenance, and now a hand out, to "catch up" because of poor planning, poor budgeting, and poor management. I realize that sometimes, unplanned events happen (snow storm(s) of last year). However, population estimates should allow us to plan for growth and usage (as it did with RTD and FasTracks), and I would hope the city, just like any other home owner, would know what "likely" needs to be replaced, assuming (and maybe that is the problem), those hired and elected to do their jobs, are actually "doing their jobs."
Specifically in this letter, we are expected to believe that for 131 parks in the city of Denver, with a 2007 appropriated budget of aprox $25 MILLION, because of poor planning, budgeting and management, we should, over the next 30 years, fork over an additional $186.8 MILLION. For parks?
These are not "Free," as any of the facilities, picnic permits, and ball fields, require a fee payment to use. So, those that live in the city, will be asked to fork over additional tax dollars, ON TOP OF the tax dollars they already pay for the parks?!?!
Why would ANYONE agree to this?
But this is the lib mantra.... We don't have to budget... we have unlimited funds... from you!
How about Denver prioritize some things. Maybe they don't need to do X this year, and can be put onto next years budget.
Sheesh, I can't buy my new Ferrari this year, so, why should I expect my neighbor to buy it for me?
Posted by Dravur on October 9, 2007 04:07 PMIf you already have a " prized parks and recreation system" why do you want more money?
If Denver's parks are already" Beautiful",again why do you need more money?
That's like asking voter's to pay for Paris Hilton to get a facelift.
Posted by on October 9, 2007 04:19 PMDoes this mean that our ILLEGAL-loving mayor will see that they are the ones who will get the jobs repairing and maintaining our infrustructure?
Just wondering.....
Posted by c on October 9, 2007 04:20 PMIt's just another Hickenlooper slush fund like his "Pre-School" for 4 year olds. This slave wages that he paid his eateries employees(Illegal aliens and the one that killed detective Donnie Young) Mayor has been pulling this since he entered office and the sad fact is that it seems most of the residents in Denver will approve it.
They are so stupid. My property taxes keep going up every year. You'd think I added a "West WIng"! Were is he getting the money to pay for all his cutesy feel good ads on TV?
The city coffers?
Taxes, tax hikes, tax increases, tax jumps, tax on taxes , surtaxes, and more taxes.
So where are the spending cuts?
Posted by Hank on October 9, 2007 06:19 PMhey what about all the money they got from D and with the debrucing of tabor there should be lots of cash to spend on parks. oh wait all of that money is going to the illigals to support them. all the money they make sell crap out of their cars and vans to other illigals and not paying any taxes on is just to help them get by till their next city check comes in.
if you live in denver and vote for this then you deserve what you get
Posted by on October 9, 2007 06:55 PMI think JLoop should recoup the illegal state and federal funds (federal funds fraud, waste, and abuse), he is paying to his lackey's, Michael Bennet and Happy Haynes. Both had no BFOQ's for their DPS jobs and they are dixiecrat "BROWNIE'S" and dumpees. JLoop threw a black woman who had BFOQ's for the DPS sup job, under his Jena, LA bus. I pray Donnie Young's family will sue him.
Posted by draftdodgingisntafamilyvalue on October 9, 2007 08:01 PMI think the best solution is for all contards to hang on o their grubby tax dollars and move out of Denver. You'll avoid having to finance quality of life, and your absence will infinitely increase the same. Can't get any more win-win than that.
Posted by on October 9, 2007 11:18 PMTAXES...TAXES...AND MORE TAXES!
From Hillary to Obama to Ritter to Hick--these Dems all want massive tax hike after tax hike on everything that moves and breathes. They are all high-taxing economy, job, income and wealth killers.
In sharp contrast, last night during the Repub. debates, we heard everyone there call for low or lower taxes on everything! Rudy and Mitt are true believers in "if you want more of something, then cut the taxes on it." They saw tax cuts work when they cut and they are economy, jobs, income and wealth growers.
VOTE NO ON TAX HIKES!
Posted by Hank on October 10, 2007 07:46 AMHey, the gangs, illegal aliens, and geese deserve a nice place to go on a nice day.
Posted by T on October 10, 2007 08:01 AMOur politicians and their parties are in shambles.
Democrats = tax,tax,tax, and give your money to other people who don't want to work.
Republicans =lower taxes while they spend,spend,spend.
The lessor of two evils for me is, I'd like to keep the money I work for and stop the entitlement programs.
Posted by on October 10, 2007 08:12 AMMeanwhile Hick piddles away $millions of Denver taxpayer's hard-earned money on schools that are scheduled to close!
What a jerk, you can't trust the Taxocrats!
I love it how all of you seem to miss the point that you all seem to love the parks when you use them. I point specifically to the comment from Dan2 about not living in the city but wanting to vote no. The next time you visit one of Denver's many parks, like Red Rocks or Genesse, I want you to send a check to the City and County of Denver for your useage.
The city need the money to repair what has taken a century to use. These are Denver amenities, but are enjoyed by more than just Denver residents.
Futher, to everyone out there, last time I checked Denver parks are used by more than just gangs and illegal aliens.
I wish you all well in your attacks on these services, but I ask you if you don't support these needed improvements, please don't drive on the roads these fund will rebuild, don't enjoy the parks these funds will support, and please don't use the other infastructure these funds will support. If you don't want to spend money on them, please don't use them. Thanks.
Posted by Curt on October 10, 2007 10:18 AMCurt, I agree with your idea. Pay as you go. Close the city parks to all and require an admission fee.
While we're at it, stop giving tax breaks for "dependents", and slap an education tax on all parents who send their kids to public schools. I'm sick of them getting a free ride on my tax dollar.
Also, charge a toll for use of all city streets. Make it a requirement that every car registered in the city buy one of those "electronic cards" they put on windshields and include a gps device. Then construct monitors all over town measuring the distance and send a bill every month to every driver. If you get caught in the city without a card?, confiscate the car and sell it at auction. Then, with all of the extra money raised from these measures, build a wall around the city of Denver with check points at each road. Require 3 forms of photo ID to enter, including a US Passport. Can't prove you're a US Citizen? Get deported immediately. Denver will become a shining example of patriotic fairness.
Here's another idea. Put monitors at the end of every home's sewage line. Charge per flush. Crapping isn't free, you know.
How about this one?, stop trash service. Require every homeowner to bury their own trash on their own property. That'll reduce waste, or basement space, either one puts the burden on the person wasting.
I got a million ideas to ensure fairness.
stupid politicians.
Posted by Singlecouchpotato on October 10, 2007 11:04 AMHey Curt,
NEWSFLASH...
Red Rocks is not in the CITY OF DENVER!!! Neither is Genesee (I am forced to assume you just misspelled this park and meant Genesee). Nor is any of this requested funding going to the COUNTY of Denver. These are for the 131 CITY Parks, and city Parks alone, as this is a ballot initiative for the CITY OF DENVER.
I live less than 200ft from the City of Denver. It is the waste in Government that I am opposed to, not the beauty of the parks. $180 million for 131 parks ON TOP OF the already allocated funding of the park and rec department in the CITY of Denver is what I am opposed to. Institute a user fee for the parks, but don't raise taxes because the City Government can't properly budget. I don't get to go to my client and ask for more money because I didn't properly budget my lifestyle, why should the government feel it is ok to ask us? That is the real question, don't you think?
Posted by Dan2 on October 10, 2007 12:28 PMI live in the city of Denver. I appreciate the parks and can easily see how things have not been maintained. Same with our roads and other infrastructure.
Even though I lean to the right, I am willing to give the city one last chance to show that it will use the funds through this tax increase for what they say it will be used for. However, I am going to pick and choose which of these items I will vote for. There are some "feel good" measures out there in these proposals that I will certainly NOT vote for.
What I would really like to see, well before the election, is a breakdown of each proposal, what it would target (what will get done) and the cost. What I won't do is give them a blank check. If there is insufficient specific info given to me ahead of time - my vote will be NO on all of them. I expect accountability.
I totally agree about the lack of planning and foresight in this city government. It seems that the mayor is trying to address it. I'm willing to give it a chance IF they give me specifics - not generic mailings and TV commercials telling me how good it would be for all of us.
If they fail to break it down for me and other voters, the failure of these ballot measures will be due to Hick and his administration.
Posted by RU Serious on October 10, 2007 02:10 PMDan2-
Hate to tell you but Red Rocks is in Morrison but is a controlled by the city of Denver, thus it is a Denver city park.
Posted by c on October 10, 2007 07:28 PMI'm glad I don't live in Denver,but I still want to vote on those measures.Heck,they let non-smokers vote on the tobacco tax!
Posted by Jimminy on October 10, 2007 10:48 PMDan2,
Although I don’t agree with Curt, Red Rocks is near Morrison in Jefferson County and it is a park owned and operated by the City of Denver. I went to http://www.denvergov.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.denvergov.org/parks but for some reason Red Rocks is not listed, so there must be some other category in which it fits.
I don’t know about Genessee.
Red Rocks is owned and operated by both the City and County of Denver, and as such would not be applicable in receiving funds under this ballot issue, as per the Colorado Constitutions single issue rules.
It's amazing what a little research will do.
Posted by Dan2 on October 11, 2007 04:53 PM