In 2025, Boulder must stand with immigrant community

With a second Trump administration waiting in the wings, it is my hope that Boulder councilmembers, City leaders, County officials, and anyone in a position of authority in our community are actively walking through the scenarios that may lie ahead, and how they can use the tools they are empowered with to push back on any federal overreach.

This is especially true when it comes to defending our immigrant populations. Every public entity should be thinking about its plans for protecting the rights of undocumented residents and other vulnerable groups. Why? Because our community is better with immigrant folks in it. I always find it odd to make an economic case for immigrants, but there is a huge one, as immigrants provide Boulder with so many critical services. But beyond economics — immigrants are good neighbors. Undocumented immigrants commit less crime than U.S.-born citizens, and therefore the anti-immigrant crime rhetoric is xenophobia — pure and simple. There is also no single database of “immigrant criminals” that will magically remove all the “bad people” from our midst. What we’ll get instead is a growing culture of fear and uncertainty, and a community that is less safe overall.

Electeds and leaders can help address this by being outspoken in their support for our entire community. If ICE and other agencies know the local jurisdictions will protect immigrants, they might go elsewhere. Boulder should also work closely with the Colorado Attorney General’s office, which has continually stood as a bulwark against overreach. There are a lot of unknowns in 2025, but let’s focus on what we DO know: the signs in the yards I’ve seen around Boulder for years say that immigrants are welcome here, and that is going to really be tested very soon.

— Katie Farnan, Boulder

It’s time for a Pena toll road

I moved to Colorado 22 years ago and the distance/time to the airport was a consideration for not only my choice of where to live but also whether I would even move to Colorado to take the job I am now retired from.

As a relatively frequent user of the airport, meaning at least once a month even in retirement, I am sensitive to the time and expense involved in making the trips to and from the airport. I can proudly brag that I have taken the RTD airport bus for most of my trips, with occasional trips via car, either via the 470 toll road or toll-free routes via 36-270-70-Pena Blvd. I moved here from the Washington, D.C., area, where I used all three airports, including my least favorite, Dulles International Airport. Dulles also suffered from a lack of reasonable public transportation options, until recently. The route from downtown to the airport underwent massive growth over the decades and Dulles is now surrounded by commercial and residential development, much like we are seeing with DIA.

The Dulles Toll Road (About Dulles Toll Road: dullestollroad.com) is an excellent example of one way to solve the Pena Blvd. problem. That is, the added lanes serve the local exits and are tolled, whereas cars heading to or from Dulles Airport use dedicated lanes that are free of charge. Much like the toll lanes that have been added to many area roads, maybe it is time for a Pena Toll Road for those that use it for non-airport purposes.

— Douglas Biesecker, Boulder