Louisville, Vote No on 2E!
In 2001 Louisville Citizens elected commissioners to write a home rule charter for the City which is basically the city constitution. It was written and approved by the commission and submitted to the voters and it passed by a large majority. The commission made a number of wise decisions including creating strong protections for our open spaces, creating a historic preservation program to preserve the character of our built environment and in giving Louisville citizens an intentionally easy path to propose initiatives and referendums. 2E proposes to make this path harder and less available to average citizens. Do we now want it to be harder for citizens to propose ethics ordinances and open government requirements? Do we want to make it harder for citizens to reject bad developments that would pave the way for open space land protections? We think this is a bad idea and urge you to vote no on 2E.
With what is happening at the national level to our voting rights, do you want to make it harder to vote on issues here in Louisville? If not, then vote no on 2E. It is just another bad issue on this year’s ballot you should vote no on. Protect your voice!
Louisville ballot issue 2E would significantly increase the required signatures on citizen driven initiatives and referendums making it much harder for you as a Louisville resident to exercise your right to petition the city government. For initiatives the number of required signatures would increase 50% from 5% to 7.5% of registered voters. For referendums required signatures would increase 100% from 2.5% to 5% of registered voters. Initiatives allow citizens to propose ordinances for voters to consider. Referendums give citizens the opportunity to challenge a city ordinance and ask voters whether it should stand. Signatures are difficult and time consuming to collect, especially with volunteers. Ballot issue 2E would make it much harder to place something on the ballot to check governmental power, bad decisions or abuses of power. This should concern all voters regardless of party affiliations or views on past initiatives.
Our current limits, set by our City Charter, are very democratic and not out of line with neighboring cities. Erie and Superior recently set their initiative limits at 5% of registered voters and Boulder requires 10% of the voter turnout in the last two city elections, which ends up being just over 5% of registered voters The Colorado Constitution and the Louisville City Charter both reserve the right to the people to petition their government.
The right to petition is not a bureaucratic inconvenience. It is a backstop for local democracy, ensuring residents are not limited to expressing disagreement at the ballot box every 2 years. Higher signature thresholds will not distinguish good ideas from bad ones. Higher signature requirements will strip power from the people of Louisville. Increasing signature requirements creates a burden on grassroots volunteer organizers that monied interest can easily overcome by paying signature gatherers. This shifts power away from residents who are more focused on preserving Louisville’s values and character.
Louisville voters have long used initiatives and referendums to enact positive policy change. In the past 50 years, roughly 10 initiatives and referendums have established an ethics code, open government requirements, and stopped bad developments that paved the way for Open Space protection. They paved the way for the ultimate acquisition of marquee open space lands including south of King Soopers across South Boulder Road all the way to the Aquarius Trailhead (Harney, Lostoka and Mayhoffer properties) and the large open space north of Cherry and Bella Vista (Warembourg property).
Others agree this is a bad ballot issue. After a careful review of the issues the Boulder County League of Women voters took an “oppose” position on ballot issue 2E.
After years of public service we believe in the ability of citizens to check their local government. It is a foundational principle of democracy. 2E proposes to reduce this citizen power and infringe on Louisville Citizens constitutional rights.
Preserve your voice in Louisville and vote NO on 2E.
Bob Muckle, former Louisville Mayor
Matt Jones, former County Commissioner and State Senator