Letter to the Editor: Boulder Needs to Wake Up Before It’s Too Late

This letter was sent to Yellow Scene Magazine. As with all Letters to the Editor, the views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. We value providing space for community voices.

The recent Boulder election results should be a wake-up call. Across Colorado, and even in places like Aurora, long considered conservative, we saw bold progressive wins and strong voter turnout around affordability, workers’ rights, and housing. Yet here in Boulder, turnout dropped, and more moderate candidates prevailed.

One of our strongest labor advocates, Lauren Folkerts, was pushed out—not because voters rejected her vision, but through political maneuvering that echoed national “return to basics” rhetoric we’ve heard from the right. It’s a troubling sign when the same talking points used to undermine progressive movements nationally start showing up in Boulder politics.

When I spoke at the first No Kings rally, I reminded everyone to “think global, act local.” Seeing how few Boulderites voted makes me fear we’ve forgotten that. Because while we’re looking elsewhere, decisions here at home, like the Boulder County Commissioners’ rushed move to cut planned minimum wage increases, are sliding through with little resistance.

If Boulderites truly fear creeping authoritarianism, we need to pay closer attention to what’s happening right under our noses. When our local government sides with Boulder’s own oligarchs and landlords over the workers who keep this community running, we edge closer to the same profit-over-people mindset we claim to oppose.

It’s time to act like the progressive community we say we are. Join us November 20th to show the County Commissioners that cutting wages is the wrong direction for Boulder County, sign up with us at tinyurl.com/SaveTheWageSignUp. Then visit your Boulder City Council members and ask them a simple question: why would cutting tipped workers’ wages ever make sense?!

If we don’t start putting people before profits, truly living our values, Boulder will lose the very inclusivity it prides itself on.