Update: Results from my Westminster Affordability Survey
Agenda
Westminster Resident Spotlight
Update: Results (so far) from my Westminster Affordability Survey
Westminster Resident Spotlight
Westminster has the most talented residents in the country. OK, I’m biased. But I’m going to believe that to be true. I’d like to introduce you Westminster resident Lindsay M. She has a very special talent. See below and enjoy!
And here she is playing at her own wedding!
Update: Westminster Affordability Survey
During my re-election, I pledged to lower costs in childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and I am doing the uncommon thing in government by testing and building those solutions in-public, sharing updates, naming tradeoffs even when the answer is no, hopefully inspiring other municipal leaders across the state through the transparency.
I launched a “Westminster Affordability Survey” a couple months ago to ground this work in real lived data from our community before advancing policy solutions.
So far, we have received almost 300 responses. ~80% from Westminster residents.
I want to share a few of the ideas residents offered, because the best solutions often start with the people living the problem every day.
Several residents are requesting universal childcare, like this mom:
“We pay 2K a month for full-time childcare for my 2 year old. The cost of childcare is the biggest discussion as my husband and I are deciding if we want to have more kids. While a lot of education lies in the hands of the state, perhaps some sort of city sponsored credit for child care? thinking similar to what the state of Colorado is doing for prek. There their opportunity to have city-run childcare?”
Many residents love my idea of finding out the levels of corporate ownership of housing in Westminster; such as this commuter:
“I am only a part time resident and I work in Westminster. I have no solutions to suggest but I wanted to applaud you for tackling these very pressing issues. Although the high cost of housing does not directly impact me, I can see what direction it is taking with corporations buying up most of the residential property. This has very negative implications and I beleive that if nothing is done to combat this, it will greatly hurt the middle and lower income buyers and possibly keep them from owning their own homes, ever. To my mind, this would work much like monopolies and should not be tolerated in a free country.”
The need for affordable senior housing was also a common theme:
“The cooperation between the city and private investors that allowed Vistas at Panorama Point to be built and allowed affordable housing for Seniors is a life saver for my husband and me. Can more of that become available for seniors and for families? I don't know where we could afford to live if this wasn't available.”
Westminster residents are so smart they even explored supply-side economics and loved my ideas of cutting red tape:
“I think there are a lot of interesting ideas you mention in your email. I would also humbly suggest exploring some potential ways to responsibly cut some red tape, especially around housing creation and business redevelopment. In my opinion, most of the ideas you suggested would work more on the demand side to increase affordability, which is an important part of affordability. I also think it is important to look at the supply side of goods and items too, similar to how you worked to open zoning to childcare. There are likely to be similar things that could be done for housing and business development (in a responsible way that doesn't compromise other important considerations like environment and such) that could increase the supply of houses (lowering costs) and businesses (increasing competition to lower prices). Thanks for all the work you do.”
And hundreds more ideas. Keep submitting. I will provide a more detailed update soon on all the ideas in progress. Our Westminster Strategic Planning meeting is February 28.
Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey
About Obi Ezeadi
Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:
Expanded open space and parks
Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)
Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations
Increased Mental health support
First-ever gun violence proclamation
First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police
Enhanced Collective Bargaining Agreement for Fire
Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents
Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%
Cut car thefts by 50%
Invested to solve unhoused crisis
Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents