Prevention Over Punishment

We have focused long enough on locking people up to solve the public safety problem; we should start addressing root causes of crime like poverty and inequitable access to opportunity to uplift the whole community by focusing on prevention instead of punishment.

Ultimately, funding solutions to causes reduces crime and relieves the burden on law enforcement, allowing them to focus on protecting victims and other priorities which require their specific, specialized training.

In my first term, we have invested millions of dollars into funding these solutions.

But, to be clear, we need a police department

Our city’s core role is public health, safety, and welfare.  It is important to have a police force to maintain law and order and ensure public safety. But it is also critical that the police force reflects the diversity of the community it serves, holds the values of the community, and is held accountable for its actions.

Our Mile-High Income City Needs More Housing

The secret’s out: Denver is an amazing place to live. We must find space for all those moving here and protect affordability for those who’ve been here for generations. Let’s add density where it makes sense, including converting unused downtown office buildings into homes.

Benefits of Additional Housing

To lead the city out of this crisis, Chris Hinds will take a comprehensive approach that addresses both the immediate needs of those struggling to find housing, as well as the underlying causes of the crisis. This will include increasing the availability of affordable housing options, providing support and services to those experiencing homelessness, and working to address the root causes of the crisis, such as poverty and a lack of access to job training and education. By taking a compassionate and proactive approach to the housing crisis, Chris Hinds will work to ensure that all residents have access to safe and stable housing.

Where we go from here

There are several additional ways to address the housing crisis:

We all deserve the freedom to get from A to B safely, no matter how we choose to get there.

Transportation is the number one category of carbon emissions.  Getting people out of cars is great for community, physical health, and our continued habitability on our planet.

Chris is a leader in creating a more pedestrian-friendly city, with a focus on District 10. He successfully advocated for the closure of Cheesman Park circle and Bannock street, the first two shared streets in Denver, and the first permanent street closure since 1982. He also supports the 5280 Trail and sponsored legislation prioritizing the pedestrian experience in the Golden Triangle neighborhood.

What is a city but its people?

Our city is meant for people, but you wouldn’t be wrong if you thought most of our public realm was reserved for cars.  We must be intentional about making sure people can get around our city.  That means closing streets to cars – or, put in a better way, open our streets to the people.

• Chris implemented the closure of District 10’s Cheesman Park circle to cars.
• District 10 has the first street permanently closed to cars since the 16th Street Mall opened in 1982.  Bannock between 14th and Colfax will help better connect city hall, Civic Center Park, and the State Capitol, and it was closed in part thanks to Chris’s advocacy.
• Chris supports the 5280 Trail, including $7m in bond funding to realize the first section of the 5280 Trail located in the Golden Triangle neighborhood of District 10.
• The first two shared streets in Denver were 11th and 16th Avenues, both in District 10, thanks to Chris’s advocacy.  He advocated for closed streets, publicly called for the idea of shared streets before they even had a name, and spearheaded a unanimous letter from Council pushing for the extension of the program (it worked!).
• Chris sponsored the legislation in Golden Triangle that prioritizes the pedestrian experience.

Chris is a leader in creating a more pedestrian-friendly city, with a focus on District 10. He successfully advocated for the closure of Cheesman Park circle and Bannock street, the first two shared streets in Denver, and the first permanent street closure since 1982. He also supports the 5280 Trail and sponsored legislation prioritizing the pedestrian experience in the Golden Triangle neighborhood.

Our Planet Is On Fire

What’s really at stake now is human habitability on our planet.  We must take bold steps to preserve that habitability for ourselves and our children – and our children’s children, including …

• implementing an aggressive building code,
• limiting plastic bag use, acting faster than the state and federal government. After a year, the fee has resulted in a 75% reduction in bag use in Denver.
• requiring retailers to ask before automatically including single use items
• aligning wallets with behavior we want, including prioritizing recycling and
  composting, by passing pay as you throw.
• encouraging adaptive reuse of buildings, including through a zoning change prioritizing adaptive reuse in the neighborhood of Golden Triangle
• Pushing for closure of all 80+ oil and gas wells at Denver International Airport. DEN agreed to close those wells as of May 25, 2022.
• advocating for and voting for Energize Denver, a program that sets aggressive climate goals for existing and new buildings by 2030
• advocating for the ballot measure that provides $40m+ in funding each year for climate initiatives and goals in Denver.  That passed and is now law.  That funding provides us with the ability to give out e-bike rebates, install EV charging stations, install solar panels, and so much more in our city.
• I have been very vocal against fracking.

Here are media quotes:

• “I don’t believe that the people of District 10 want fracking in Denver,” said Hinds. “Frankly, they don’t want it at all, but I don’t have any control beyond our city limits.” [source https://www.westword.com/news/why-denver-has-to-spend-millions-on-oil-wells-that-dont-produce-a-drop-11515051 ]
• “The first thing is that we should encourage non-car transit,” says Denver City Councilman Chris Hinds, who represents District 10, home to some of the city’s most dense and least car-dependent neighborhoods. “The second — and I think the order is important — is that we should discourage car transit.” [source https://www.westword.com/news/can-denver-finally-end-its-love-affair-with-the-car-11649013 ]
• “We can ban fracking in the City of Denver, but if we don’t do this at a national and international scale, we will continue to destroy our habitability on our planet. We’re trying to do our part here in Denver, but we need members of Congress and President Biden to do their part too.” [source https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2021/04/13/hundreds-of-elected-officials-call-for-fracking-ban-halt-to-fossil-fuel-projects/ ]

Homelessness: the most important topic facing Denver today

What can we do to address homelessness?

The issue of homelessness is complex and multifaceted, and there is no single solution that can address it entirely. However, here are some strategies that can be effective in addressing homelessness:

Housing First approach: This strategy prioritizes providing permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness as quickly as possible, without requiring them to meet certain conditions or complete specific programs first. Once they have stable housing, they can more effectively address other challenges in their lives, such as substance abuse, mental health issues, or employment.

• • • • “Early results show 92 percent of the people offered housing [in Denver] accepted it and 71 percent moved in, busting the myth that people choose to experience homelessness. Almost 80 percent remained in housing two years later.” Urban Institute
      • “It’s obvious [housing first] works.  It’s time to invest more.”  CEO of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless I voted to fund $253 million in the 2023 budget for housing and homless services centered around a housing-first approach.
      • A housing-first approach “saved [Denver] approximately $600,000 in emergency department costs, or an average of $31,545 per person.” Colorado Trust

Supportive services: For those experiencing homelessness, access to supportive services such as case management, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment can be crucial in helping them overcome challenges and maintain stable housing.

• • • • “Housing first tenants have a team of professionals to help them address the causes of homelessness and adapt to life in an apartment.Clients need diverse support, including mental health and substance abuse treatment; applying for social security benefits; learning how to get a landlord’s help when the plumbing breaks; and how to shop for groceries and stock a pantry.”  Colorado Trust
      • “A 5-Year Denver-based Supportive Housing Project Achieves ‘Remarkable Success’ for People Entrenched in Homelessness and Jail Stays” CSH

Prevention: Preventing homelessness before it happens can be a more effective strategy than waiting until people are already on the streets. Strategies such as providing financial assistance for rent or other bills, and creating affordable housing options, can help prevent people from losing their homes in the first place. It is also cheaper to pay for a person’s utility bills for a month or two than it is to rehouse someone on the street.

Collaboration: Addressing homelessness requires a coordinated effort across multiple sectors, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Collaboration can help ensure that resources are being used effectively and efficiently, and that people experiencing homelessness are receiving the support they need.

Increase Income and Employment Opportunities: Many people who are homeless are unable to secure a job or have low-paying jobs that do not provide enough income to cover basic living expenses. Therefore, increasing employment opportunities and providing job training programs can help people find and maintain stable employment.

Community involvement: Encouraging community involvement and engagement can help reduce the stigma associated with homelessness and create a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members to help address the issue.

Data and Evaluation: Collecting and analyzing data on homelessness is crucial for understanding the scope of the problem and developing effective solutions. Regular evaluation of programs and services is also essential to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the community.

Enforcement: Finally, at the end of the day, we need to ensure people get the housing and services they need.  We also must ensure our streets are safe and clean.  Our city’s core role is public health, safety, and welfare, and we cannot let people live on our streets among urine, feces, needles, trash, and propane tanks.  That includes cleaning our streets and encampments.

Overall, a comprehensive approach that includes a combination of these strategies can be effective in addressing homelessness.

Equity is the largest single lens we use on Council, and we must be intentional in in equity.

We All Need Access

While I don’t know the struggle of every group, I certainly know my struggle.  I regularly get denied access to events because they are in places that don’t allow wheelchairs.  While “separate but equal” was a discriminatory practice that America wrestled with in the 1950s and 1960s, it is 2023, and I am regularly told to use a different entrance than the entrance everyone else takes because of my disability.

My experiences have helped me empathize with others facing similar struggles. I have actively worked towards improving the lives of under-represented and targeted communities by advocating for fair wages, language justice, and supporting events like Marades and Indigenous People’s Day. I have also pushed for funding for grants in underserved areas and businesses, and worked to eliminate proof of residency requirements for the undocumented.