🆇 ANC opposes Rob Kaplan 🆇

Rob K stated on our questionnaire that he would choose to keep the airport, and he has publicly supported resuming taking FAA funds which would bind the city to continue operating the airport. He is endorsed by our opposition and has also repeated some of their false claims about the airport, though we can cut him some slack here since we don’t expect him to be as informed as incumbents. Adding it all up, this is enough for us to recommend a NO, though we appreciate his nod to a public vote and his promise to “listen and represent the collective voice of the residents of Boulder” if the city establishes local control over the site, as well as his comments in favor of cleaner and quieter tech at the airport. 

Here are Rob K.'s full responses 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 - I would choose keep the airport, but the phrase "no matter what" is too absolute for me. 

Elaboration: During my professional firefighter career, the airport was a critical logistic component for the 2013 flood and for wildfire events. Beyond its role in natural disasters, I see potential for aviation innovation, education, and research. Unfortunately the ground contamination from the WW2 era is most likely cost prohibitive for any residential development.  

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: What I 'personally' think is that I would listen and represent the collective voice of the residents of Boulder, if I am fortunate enough to be elected to city council.  

 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: The airport should earn its place as a research and education campus for cleaner, quieter aviation that delivers measurable community benefit. Partner with CU Boulder, local schools, and Colorado clean-tech to pilot electric trainers, future air taxis, and low-noise delivery aircraft under strict caps, quiet hours, and no runway growth. 

 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 just want to share the way my mind works and my style of forming the way I see things. I am always willing to be wrong and I've never been afraid to recognize when new information may change my perspective. I don't pretend to be an expert in every topic and I always have and will value input from thoughtful and intelligent sources that differ in view.