Housing · 2026
2026 · Housing. This issue in: 2026 2025 2023 2021
People on the 2026 ballot who answered this cycle’s question. Answers from earlier years stay on those years' pages.
Boulder Area Rental Housing Association question on rental housing (question wording not captured in the recording/transcript)
forum
2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
Lisa Ann Jacobs
Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026
the older housing has to be torn down, built new, and the broken housing needs to be fixed before new better housing would be built.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 37:02 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
Ryan Jamieson
Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026
we need to be able to strip out a lot of those regulations and make it faster and easier to build more rental properties.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 35:52 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
17 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
In your first two years on city council, what specific land use or housing policy would you champion? What types of housing would you prioritize? How would you accomplish this?
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2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
Jill Grano
Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026
But the most opportunity is in our low density zones. For incremental owner driven housing, this could look like lot splitting
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:43:39 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
Ryan Jamieson
Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026
there are opportunities for us to look at conversion of commercial spaces for being unused into residential spaces.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:44:31 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)
17 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
What specific policies, development strategies, funding approaches, or partnerships would you pursue to increase or preserve housing affordable to families at approximately 30 to 40 percent AMI? (submitted by co-sponsor EFAA)
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Lee Gilbert
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I'm not knowledgeable on this issue
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 45:45 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Sam Fuqua
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I support bringing San Lazaro into the city and helping the residents purchase that park
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 46:51 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Ryan Schuchard
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
One thing I'd like to see us do in 27 is for the council and BVST to partner on an evidence-based approach to understanding even more from families.
Transcript note: 'BVST' = BVSD.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 36:15 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jamillah Richmond
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
creating more collaborative partnerships between BVSC affordable housing initiatives
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 37:18 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Benita Duran
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
affordability also means having good paying jobs here in this community again
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 38:09 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Rachel Rose Isaacson
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I also want to say that we need to continue to support our partners with EFA.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 39:31 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Dave Martus
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
What are the opportunities there to repurpose them into the type of housing that's needed in the community because the infrastructure is there.
Transcript note: Refers to city properties vacated when offices move to the Western City Campus (Alpine-Balsam).
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 40:18 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Scott Rendleman
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
We need to look at those municipal properties that will be going offline and repurpose them for affordable housing.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 40:42 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jill Grano
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I want to preserve our inclusionary housing requirements.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 42:10 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Ryan Jamieson
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
if we want to be able to build affordable housing we have to just build it and not spend a ton of time in committee reviewing and double checking
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 43:05 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Lynn Segal
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
There need to be impact fees more inclusionary housing it's 25 percent it should be at least 50 percent.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 43:44 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Lynn Segal
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I do not support the downtown development authority
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 44:08 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Tina Marquis
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I support shifting to the below 30 percent housing type.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 44:42 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
7 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
Ballot issue 2J, the residential vacancy excise tax, would be a tax of approximately $4,000 on residential property vacant for more than half the year. Do you support this tax and will it generate enough income to pay for administering this complex program? (30 seconds)
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Yes
Sam Fuqua
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I'm a yes. I would consider raising it
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:28:19 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Ryan Schuchard
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I'm also a yes.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:28:56 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jamillah Richmond
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I say yes to this.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:29:29 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Scott Rendleman
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I do support that measure. We need to disincentivize people from having homes that they don't occupy.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:25:20 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jill Grano
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
Yeah, I absolutely support it.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:25:54 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Tina Marquis
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
Yeah, I support this tax and actually it was part of my campaign three years ago.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:27:34 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No
Benita Duran
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I am opposed to it and would be voting no.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:29:53 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Dave Martus
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
No, and it's for the exact second half of the question, the complexity of administrating it.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:24:55 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Ryan Jamieson
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
Yeah, I'm against this because I don't think that the juice is worth the squeeze.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:26:24 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Lee Gilbert
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No yes/no label: Says he leans toward yes; a lean is not labelled.
I lean towards the yes.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:28:03 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Rachel Rose Isaacson
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No yes/no label: No explicit yes or no in the transcript.
I'm really happy that we finally get to make a decision about this. I think homes are for people
Speaker identified from speaking order; the moderator did not name them.
Transcript note: Supports implicitly; no explicit yes/no in the transcript.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:30:34 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jill Grano
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
35% are verifiably second homes.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:25:54 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Lynn Segal
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No yes/no label: Supports a vacancy tax in principle but says it should be much higher; not labelled.
We should have a vacancy tax, but it should be much, much higher.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:26:56 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
7 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
(EFA) What specific policies, development strategies, funding approaches, or partnerships would you pursue to increase or preserve housing affordable to families at approximately 30 to 40 percent AMI?
forum
Lisa Ann Jacobs
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I intend to put the money into fixing the older affordable housing and not putting the money into new affordable housing.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:25:57 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Taishya Adams
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
The first is the need to expand permanently affordable housing and make sure that it's inclusive of child care on site.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:26:58 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Taishya Adams
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
restore our elevate Boulder program which was our universal basic income program.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:27:16 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
the Keeping Families Housed program, where we provide money that EFA spends on rental assistance and financial counseling
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:21:42 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
When people actually pay cash in lieu for affordable housing in a new project, it allows us to reach those deeper level of affordability goals
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:22:10 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jameson Goldstein
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
reduce legal red tape in order to set up accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:22:39 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Fred Smith
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
This is extra money which could be pumped into affordable housing, which I'm all for.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:23:51 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aquiles La Grave
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
They've been trying for five years to come into the city and be annexed to no avail because we insist on charging inclusionary fees as part of that.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:25:18 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aquiles La Grave
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
We need to be more flexible with our programs to get the outcomes we deserve.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:25:29 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
13 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
What types of housing would you prioritize? How are you as mayor going to promote housing for middle-income families?
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Lisa Ann Jacobs
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I'm not for middle-class housing.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:42:22 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Taishya Adams
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I am a strong advocate for diversifying the housing portfolio and types within the existing footprint of Area 1.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:43:02 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Taishya Adams
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
And I'm against moving into Area 3, which is north of Boulder.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:43:24 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
So we should focus density along transit corridors and where there are services.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:44:24 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
So I would look at the planning reserve north of town
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:44:53 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jameson Goldstein
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
is to implement this vacancy tax.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:45:30 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Fred Smith
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I think we could do all this if we had more money.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:46:11 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aquiles La Grave
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I absolutely believe we need more missing middle-income housing that's attracting young families to Boulder.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:41:06 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aquiles La Grave
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
We also need to consider whether developments that are providing that type of housing should be paying an inclusionary housing fee.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:41:35 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
13 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.
Ballot issue 2J, the residential vacancy excise tax (~$4,000 on residential property vacant more than half the year). Do you support this tax and will it generate enough income to pay for administering it?
forum
Yes
Taishya Adams
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I am a supporter of a residential vacancy tax.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:48:29 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
Yes, I'm absolutely a supporter of this tax.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:49:30 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Jameson Goldstein
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Yes on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
I'm 100% in support of this vacancy tax.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:50:37 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No
Lisa Ann Jacobs
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.
so absolutely not.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:47:30 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aaron Brockett
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
the $4,000 per house should be more than sufficient to cover the administrative costs
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:49:42 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Fred Smith
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No yes/no label: Calls it 'a great idea' and then doubts $4,000 would make a difference; no explicit yes/no.
Well, I think it's a great idea.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:51:19 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Fred Smith
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
I don't know, truly, if $4,000 would make a difference
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:51:39 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Aquiles La Grave
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
No yes/no label: Says he has been supportive and raises a fairness question; not labelled because caveated.
I have been supportive of it. The question is fairness depends on why a home is empty
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 2:52:10 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
13 on this ballot are not in the source for this question. Silence is not a no.