Chris's Vision and Priorities
Chris is fighting for a city where opportunity, dignity, and stability are not just promises — they’re policies.
Table of Contents
Click on any policy area to explore Chris's detailed vision and achievements.
I know firsthand how hard it can be to navigate our city's challenges. Whether you use a wheelchair, have kids, or just want a safe, affordable place to live—Denver must work for all of us. That’s why I’m fighting for you.
Housing and Affordability
Chris Hinds is the leader Denver needs to tackle our city's housing crisis head-on. With a deep understanding of the challenges caused by rapid population growth, rising costs, and a shortage of affordable homes, Chris has a proven track record of securing funding for affordable housing, strengthening tenant protections, and supporting smart development.
Housing and Affordability
Affordable Housing Development
Focus: increasing the supply of affordable units for low- and middle-income Denverites
- Passed legislation in Golden Triangle that allows developers to build higher density projects if they include affordable housing [source]
- Chris championed and Council passed Expanding Housing Affordability which requires affordable housing be part of every new development citywide. [source]
- Funding for housing on 99-year leases or land trusts [source, source]
- Streamlining permitting processes [source, source, source]
Tenant Rights and Protections
Focus: protecting renters’ rights to safe, secure, and equitable living conditions.
Homelessness Prevention and Housing First
Focus: ending homelessness with compassionate, permanent solutions and prevention strategies.
Land Use and Zoning Reform
Focus: making it easier to build diverse, affordable housing types across the city.
- Legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide
- Removing city-mandated minimum parking requirements
- Promoting dense, pedestrian friendly housing near reliable public transit
Housing Equity and Anti-Displacement
Focus: keeping longtime residents in their homes and ensuring equitable access.
- Down payment assistance and support for first-time homebuyers
- Property tax relief for low-income homeowners and seniors
- Community land trusts and shared equity models
- Anti-displacement zones or overlay districts in gentrifying areas
Transportation and Mobility
Chris is committed to building a safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation system that puts people — not just cars — first.
Transportation and Mobility
Accessible and Inclusive Transit
Focus: Ensuring all residents—regardless of ability—can move freely and safely.
- ADA-compliant sidewalks, crosswalks, and transit infrastructure
- Elevators, ramps, and tactile guidance in transit stations
- Real-time accessibility alerts for transit riders
- Priority snow and debris removal from sidewalks and curb ramps
Pedestrian and Bike Infrastructure
Focus: Making Denver safer and more navigable without a car.
- Protected bike lanes and multi-use trails
- Expanded sidewalk network and pedestrian-first street design
- Vision Zero policies to eliminate traffic deaths
- Traffic calming in residential and high-foot-traffic areas
Reliable and Affordable Public Transit
Focus: Expanding options beyond car travel—especially for those who rely on transit.
- Funding for RTD route restoration and service improvements
- Fare subsidies or zero-fare programs for youth, seniors, and low-income riders
- Bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors and dedicated lanes
- Integration of micro-mobility options with transit systems
Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Transportation
Focus: Reducing emissions and car dependency through smart investments.
- EV charging infrastructure and clean fleet transitions
- Transit-oriented development and walkable neighborhoods
- Green alleys, permeable pavement, and climate-resilient streets
- Incentives for electric bikes and low-emission transport options
Mobility Justice and Transportation Equity
Focus: Centering communities historically underserved by transportation policy.
- Investments in transit and bike networks in underserved neighborhoods
- Community-led planning and feedback processes
- Safe routes to schools and essential services
- Mobility hubs in transit-poor or car-dependent areas
Be part of something bigger—help shape Denver’s future today.
Chris Hinds has the experience and compassion to deliver for all of us—but only with your help. He's committed to only accepting campaign funds from real people, not corporations or PACs. That means he needs your help more than ever.
Best place to live in Denver (and Colorado!), Denver's Perfect 10 Climate and Sustainability
Chris believes that climate action must start where we live. He's committed to bold, local solutions that improve health, equity, and resilience—especially for those hit first and worst by the climate crisis. For Chris, sustainability means more than going green—it means building a Denver that works for everyone, for the long haul.
Climate and Sustainability
Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction
Focus: Transitioning Denver to clean, renewable energy while cutting carbon emissions across city systems.
- Championed funding for building electrification and phasing out gas heating in city-owned properties
- Supports incentives for solar, energy storage, and retrofits—especially for low-income households and nonprofits
- Advocated for emissions reductions in Denver’s municipal fleet and building stock
- Backs stronger green building standards to raise the bar on sustainability and livability
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Focus: Future-proofing Denver’s neighborhoods through smart, adaptive infrastructure.
- Supports investments in green stormwater systems and localized flood mitigation
- Advocated for expanding tree canopy and heat-resilient design in historically underserved neighborhoods
- Encouraged use of permeable pavement and bioswales in public projects
- Ensures climate risk is factored into Denver’s long-term capital planning and budgeting
Waste Reduction and Circular Economy
Focus: Building a zero-waste future through smart policies that reduce, reuse, and rethink waste.
- Voted to expand composting and recycling citywide—including in multi-family buildings
- Supports policies that reduce landfill waste and single-use plastics
- Promotes local repair economies, reuse centers, and zero-waste businesses
- Pushes for equitable access to waste diversion and education across all neighborhoods
Green Jobs and Economic Justice
Focus: Building a clean energy economy that delivers opportunity—not just offsets.
- Backs workforce training and apprenticeship pipelines in solar, efficiency, and green construction
- Ensures climate investments reach frontline communities first
- Supports city grants for neighborhood-led sustainability and resilience efforts
- Partners with small businesses to scale climate innovation that creates good local jobs
Community Climate Action
Focus: Giving residents the tools and resources to lead Denver’s climate future—block by block.
- Supports grassroots-led climate action hubs with funding, training, and city collaboration
- Championed transparent, inclusive processes for allocating climate-related tax revenue
- Engages youth, renters, and frontline voices in decision-making—not just traditional stakeholders
- Promotes public education on sustainability through libraries, rec centers, and schools
Community Safety
Chris believes that true public safety means investing in people, not just policing. As a policymaker and a wheelchair user, he brings a lived understanding of what safe, accessible, and accountable communities require—especially for those often left out of the conversation.
Community Safety
Violence Prevention and Community-Based Safety
Focus: Preventing harm by investing in trusted community organizations and youth opportunity.
- Championed funding for violence interruption programs that rely on local credibility and restorative justice
- Supports investments in youth mentorship, recreation, and job training as long-term violence prevention tools
- Backs community-led safety models over top-down enforcement approaches
- Advocates for trauma-informed care in both public and nonprofit settings
First Responder Alternatives and Crisis Response
Focus: Sending mental health professionals—not police—when someone is in crisis.
- One of the City Council’s earliest and strongest advocates for expanding the STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) program
- Led conversations around scaling co-responder teams to cover more neighborhoods and shifts
- Pushes for dispatch reform to ensure 911 calls receive the most appropriate response, not just default police involvement
- Ensures that post-crisis wraparound services are funded and accessible, especially for people with disabilities
Police Accountability and Reform
Focus: Promoting transparency, oversight, and trust between law enforcement and the public.
- Supports independent oversight of the Denver Police Department through the Office of the Independent Monitor
- Has pushed for disability-awareness, de-escalation, and anti-bias training across all city departments
- Consistently advocates against excessive force and calls for clearer use-of-force standards
- Backs reforms that prioritize community engagement and fair treatment over militarization
Safe Streets and Neighborhood Design
Focus: Making neighborhoods safer through better infrastructure—not just more enforcement.
- Led efforts to redesign high-injury corridors with better lighting, safer crosswalks, and lower speeds
- Supports Vision Zero strategies and infrastructure that reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities
- Advocates for traffic calming and urban design that fosters social connection and reduces crime
- Calls for universal design principles so safety improvements benefit all residents, including those with disabilities
Emergency Preparedness and Resilience
Focus: Ensuring no one is left behind in an emergency—especially people with disabilities and seniors.
- Pushes for inclusive emergency planning that incorporates mobility, communication, and access needs
- Backs neighborhood resilience hubs with resources for heatwaves, wildfires, and climate-related crises
- Supports community-led preparedness efforts and localized mutual aid networks
- Champions cross-agency coordination for pandemic response and future public health challenges
Representation and Democracy
Chris knows that democracy works best when everyone can participate. He’s spent his time on Council making sure that government reflects the people it serves. As the first elected official in Denver’s history who uses a wheelchair, Chris has broken barriers while championing equity, access, and transparency in local leadership.
Representation and Democracy
Disability Representation and Access
Focus: Ensuring people with disabilities are not just included—but heard and represented in decision-making.
- Made history as the first elected official in Denver who uses a wheelchair, paving the way for broader disability inclusion in public service
- Called national attention to accessibility failures when he was forced to leave his wheelchair to be sworn into office, sparking policy reviews and infrastructure reforms
- Advocates for ADA compliance in all public buildings, council chambers, and polling locations
- Supports closed captioning, remote participation, and other accessibility upgrades to democratize public meetings
Protecting and Expanding Voting Rights
Focus: Safeguarding the right to vote and ensuring every ballot is counted equally.
- Supports automatic voter registration, ballot access expansions, and same-day registration
- Championed the expansion of vote centers and drop-box access across Denver
- Opposed voter suppression efforts at the state and local level, including inaccessible ballots and procedures
- Advocates for multilingual voter information and accessible voting tools for seniors and people with disabilities
Campaign Finance Reform and Transparency
Focus: Reducing the influence of big money in politics and increasing public trust in government.
- Supports Denver’s Fair Elections Fund and public financing of campaigns to level the playing field
- Calls for real-time transparency in political contributions and independent expenditures
- Backs stronger conflict-of-interest rules and ethics oversight for elected officials
- Prioritizes accountability and open data in all areas of city governance
Community Engagement and Responsive Government
Focus: Bringing government closer to the people through dialogue, transparency, and trust.
- Regularly holds town halls, neighborhood meetings, and open office hours across District 10
- Launched online feedback portals and surveys to make policy input easier and more equitable
- Ensures public comment is protected and expanded in council and committee meetings
- Uses lived experience to advocate for policies that reflect real lives—not just political agendas
Defending Democratic Norms and Institutions
Focus: Standing firm against attacks on democracy and modeling inclusive, ethical leadership.
- Condemned political extremism and efforts to undermine election outcomes at every level
- Upholds democratic norms, open government, and respect for the rule of law in all city processes
- Advocates for civic education and nonpartisan voter engagement in schools and community centers
- Demonstrates that public service is possible—and powerful—for underrepresented communities
Public Health
Chris believes public health is about more than clinics and hospitals. It's about the conditions in which people live, work, and move. From housing stability to mental health care, he’s committed to building a healthier Denver by addressing root causes and ensuring care is accessible to everyone, especially those too often overlooked.
Public Health
Accessible and Inclusive Healthcare
Focus: Making sure all Denverites—including people with disabilities—can access timely, quality care.
- Advocates for universal design in public health facilities, mobile units, and communication materials
- Supports language access, ASL interpretation, and plain-language resources in all health services
- Pushes for better data collection on disability and health disparities to inform equitable planning
- Works to reduce access gaps for seniors, people with chronic illness, and residents without stable housing
Mental and Behavioral Health
Focus: Treating mental health and substance use with care, compassion, and community support—not criminalization.
- Championed expanded funding for STAR (Support Team Assisted Response), sending mental health professionals—not police—to nonviolent crises
- Supports 24/7 co-responder teams and follow-up care that connects people to housing, treatment, and stability
- Advocates for trauma-informed practices in schools, shelters, and the criminal legal system
- Prioritizes investments in culturally competent and community-based behavioral health providers
Environmental Health and Clean Air
Focus: Reducing exposure to pollution and making neighborhoods healthier and more livable.
- Supports stronger air quality standards and monitoring near schools, highways, and industrial sites
- Backs green infrastructure, urban forestry, and active transit as public health tools
- Advocates for cooling infrastructure and tree canopy in heat-vulnerable communities
- Recognizes that climate resilience and public health are deeply interconnected
Housing and Health Security
Focus: Addressing housing as a health issue—and preventing health emergencies caused by displacement or instability.
- Supports eviction prevention programs, rental assistance, and wraparound services to keep people housed and healthy
- Advocates for habitability standards and responsive code enforcement in rental units
- Backs transitional and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness with physical or mental health needs
- Champions tenant rights as a way to reduce stress, chronic illness, and preventable hospitalization
Emergency Preparedness and Health Equity
Focus: Making sure Denver is ready for future public health emergencies—and that no one is left behind.
- Pushes for inclusive emergency plans that center people with disabilities, language needs, and limited mobility
- Supports expanded access to vaccines, testing, and health resources across all zip codes
- Championed the use of equity data in pandemic recovery and ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funding
- Backs localized resilience hubs and public health education rooted in trust and community partnerships