If you are researching candidates for your fourth vote, Rob Smoke is one to consider based solely on his position regarding airport repurposing. We recommend also looking into his other campaign planks, experience, and campaign activity.
Here are Rob S.'s full answers to our questionnaire.
1. What do you think the city should do about its lawsuit against the FAA to clarify how long the city is legally obligated to run the airport?
▢ Drop the lawsuit indefinitely. Keep this site an airport no matter what.
✔ Keep our legal options open. Appeal or pursue legal clarification about who controls this land when the time is ripe. Don't accept any more grants that would extend our contractual obligations to the FAA past 2040. Find other ways to fund airport needs, which amount to a fraction of a percent of the city's annual budget.
▢ I’m not prepared to answer at this time.
▢ I can’t comment for legal reasons.
▢ Other
Elaboration: I'm in favor of the city co-authoring a use for the airport that honors and respects the needs of people living nearby. I don't think I support private interests developing the land, but collaboration between interested parties deserves investigation.
2. Assuming that the City of Boulder establishes local control over the future of the airport site, what do you personally think is the highest and best use of these 174 city-owned acres?
▢ Airport
▢ Primarily housing / mixed use neighborhoods
✔ Primarily open space / public park
▢ The people of Boulder should decide through a public process or vote
▢ I’m not prepared to answer at this time.
▢ I can’t comment for legal reasons.
▢ Other
Elaboration: I grew up in a co-op housing project that used state legislative action to facilitate housing without the profit scenario demanded by a private development company, which also served to make the process workable for the overall community.
3. In the event that Boulder keeps the airport (either because of judicial decision or city decision), what kind of airport should we have?
▢ About the same as we have now
▢ Smaller! There are already too many flights out of Boulder airport. Keep it safe but minimal.
▢ Bigger! We should expand the airport with more tenants and better facilities and attract more aviation activity to Boulder.
✔ I’m not prepared to answer at this time.
▢ I can’t comment for legal reasons.
▢ Other
Elaboration: I don't know every detail about airport mechanics or responsibilities; however, I support operations that respect the rights of neighbors living in close proximity -- such as close regulations and monitoring regarding times of use (etc)
4. Is there anything else you would like the ANC and the public to know about your policy positions regarding the airport and the future of the site?
I support progressive advocacy for the saving of public resources. I'm not convinced that the airport actually qualifies for that kind of protection based on its current use. I also see problems with other high density housing and mixed use projects. For instance, the park space available with recent projects frequently seems less than what is needed. I don't support the creation of housing without a better approximation of the needs of future user/inhabitants for things like play space.