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.
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
VOTE FOR YATES
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
