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Our Downtown Cores are losing: Here's a Tool to Help Turn it Around
This is about the proposed Downtown Development Authority measure. Pros/Cons

Matt Benjamin
Jul 2914 min read


Boulder’s Wildfire Wake-Up Call: Words Aren’t Enough
TL;DR · According to the USDA Forest Service, Boulder is in the top 3% of cities nationwide for wildfire risk, and the Colorado State Forest Service identifies Boulder as the highest-risk community in the state · The Colorado State Forest Service estimates Boulder faces a 7% annual risk of catastrophic wildfire, which compounds to roughly 50-50 odds over the next decade · Our Community Wildfire Protection Plan is a good document, but it has no prioritization, n

Matt Benjamin
Jul 1414 min read


Boulder’s Airport Debate: Balancing Values, Facing Realities
Dear Friend and Neighbors, TL;DR A 5-4 majority of City Council supports long-term airport operations, but a procedural dispute over grant “perpetuity” covenants is delaying action and costing taxpayers real money Boulder has already lost nearly $830,000 in federal grants, with another $765,000 at risk, over $1.5 million gone or in jeopardy Independent legal research confirms: every airport that has considered declining federal grants was on a path to close the airport entire

Matt Benjamin
Jun 1119 min read


When the Plan and the Code Collide
Dear Friends and Neighbors, I wanted to share some updates on the work happening around Boulder's land use code and the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). I know land use policy can feel dense and technical, but it's one of the most important things we're working on right now. It shapes how our city grows, where housing can be built, and how we balance competing values like affordability, sustainability, and neighborhood personality. I'm committed to making this proces

Matt Benjamin
May 516 min read


Boulder's Vacancy Crisis Deserves Real Solutions
Dear Friends and Neighbors, In my last newsletter, I promised a deep dive on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and Title 9, how our land use code works, where it's broken, and what we're doing to fix it. That's still coming, and it'll be the focus of my May newsletter. But something time-sensitive has come up that I think you need to know about before you're asked to sign a petition. A petition called "Vacancy to Vitality" is circulating in Boulder, seeking signatures to

Matt Benjamin
Apr 113 min read


Investing in What Matters
Friends and neighbors, This week's City Council study session includes a preliminary discussion on potential 2026 ballot measures, and it's got me thinking about how we prioritize as a city. I want to share some honest reflections with you. South Boulder Rec Center: A Wake-Up Call Let me be direct: the South Boulder Recreation Center is failing. And this isn't new information; the city has known for over a decade that SBRC was on a path to failure and past its end of lifecyc

Matt Benjamin
Mar 105 min read


2025(The year that felt like a decade)
2025 was a year of real contrasts for Boulder. On the positive side, the city made meaningful progress on long-term, structural work that will shape our future: advancing the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, adopting a new Wildfire Protection Plan informed by hard lessons from recent years, launching Boulder’s first-ever Economic Development Strategy, and preparing to welcome the Sundance Film Festival, an opportunity that will bring cultural energy and economic activity to

Matt Benjamin
Jan 75 min read
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