Marijuana, 'Better Denver' ballot issues go under the microscope

KTVD - Denver voters beginning to get their ballots in the mail had the issues debated Sunday morning on YOUR SHOW.

Supporters and opponents of Initiatives 1A-1I and Question 100 answered questions from numerous viewers about the measures which will be decided Nov. 6 in an election entirely decided by mail-in or drop off ballots.

The Campaign for a Better Denver is recommending the passage of the nine initiatives (A-I) which comprise a $550 million bond package and $27.5 million property tax increase (2.5 mills). Issues 1-B through 1-I focus on the city's top infrastructure priorities and investments in streets, libraries, city buildings, police and fire stations. Issue 1-A raises the property tax levy to create a fund to pay for ongoing and future maintenance needs. The owner of a $255,000 Denver home would pay $63 more in property taxes per year if all the measures pass.

"There just has not been enough money to maintain the system," said Frances Koncijla, co-chair of the Better Denver campaign. "I would hope (Denver residents) would vote for all of them. It's a plan that looks at all the needs of the city, what it is we need to keep the infrastructure (and what we need) to take care of the infrastructure."

The ballot measures were created by a 115-member Infrastructure Priorities Task Force made up of Denver citizens. The group held dozens of meetings over the last year to prioritize projects in Denver.

Critics have targeted the fact the city has seen only a 2 percent population growth in the last five years, yet has seen its budget grow 13 percent in that same time period. They assert the property tax is the most regressive of taxes and hurts lower-income residents more than others.

"This is a forever tax increase," said Brad Jones, a Denver resident. "What's not mentioned in this debate is if you vote no, your taxes will go down."

Jones is referring to the bonds which would be renewed if Denver voters approve B-I. If they do not, the payments on the bonds would stop and Denver residents would see a decrease in their property taxes.

Question 100 asks voters whether Denver's police should make adult marijuana possession its lowest law enforcement priority, much like the city of Seattle has done. Supporters say marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to be prosecuting the most marijuana cases in city history. Even though this would not change state law, advocates believe it would still have a positive impact.

"Our city has prioritized certain crimes [such as] violent crimes, property damage and determined those are more important," said Mason Tvert, the campaign manager behind the initiative and SAFER (Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation). "We think our city should stop wasting its resources around marijuana, a drug that's far less harmful than alcohol and worry more about those violent crimes and this initiative will do just that."

Opponents however claim while there may not be definitive evidence showing marijuana use leads to other drug use (i.e. cocaine, heroin etc.), a National Institute of Justice study of the Denver Jail recently showed significant percentages of incarcerated offenders who described themselves as regular marijuana users. Further, Sgt. Ernie Martinez of the Denver Police Department, who is also President of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association, says regardless of what voters decide, his fellow officers are required to enforce state marijuana laws.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there," Martinez said. "Resources from the Denver Police Department usually involve just a citation or a ticket for marijuana possession under state statute. So, we're under state obligations and city to enforce those laws."