New Democrat Update - April 1999
CURBING SPRAWL
In the face of repeated pleas from many of their suburban and rural constituents, state Republican legislators continue to treat sprawl as a “non-issue.” This inaction, combined with expected state population growth of 1.5 million over the next 20 years, will only result in more heavy traffic, vanishing open space, increased pollution and higher taxes for infrastructure.
Fighting sprawl is an economic, as well as a quality of life, issue. In today's global economy, businesses can invest anywhere in the world. The good jobs go to those regions that can attract and retain entrepreneurs and a world-class workforce - the very same people who demand a high quality of life and clean environment.
Nonetheless, the GOP is poised to kill even modest initiatives like fellow Republican Sen. Bryan Sullivant's Responsible Growth bill. The measure would require some cities and counties to develop enforceable comprehensive plans, permit local governments to assess impact fees on new developments to finance schools and roads and create a mechanism to resolve disputes between local governments. With real local plans in place, developers would face much less uncertainty.
The conservative argument that the state has no business in smart growth simply does not hold water. For years, state transportation, other public works projects and environmental laws have been important factors in attracting and guiding development. While smart growth must be implemented in a way that recognizes local conditions, state government simply cannot take a "pass" on fighting sprawl.
Unfortunately, most Colorado Republicans handle this issue with mere rhetoric and no concrete solutions, shying away from any government activism that shapes private development decisions. The right-wing will not acknowledge that market forces sometimes yield ineffective, inefficient and costly “leapfrogging” development. In addition to being unsightly, sprawled development costs taxpayers money, raising infrastructure costs by as much as 20 percent.
Sprawl is more than a suburban issue. Rural interests are often pressured by it at the urban edge while city residents are left behind, involuntarily subsidizing sprawl through their taxes. In an amazing upward redistribution of wealth, it has been estimated that the city of Phoenix and Maricopa County subsidize new suburban development at about $12,000 per dwelling unit.
While Republicans ignore the issue, Democrats should avoid draconian, one-size-fits-all solutions like a one percent statewide growth cap and telling suburbanites to get ready to experience the joys of cluster-housing and mass transit. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to live in affordable low-density, single-family homes.
Instead, Colorado Democrats might consider the experience of Maryland - using state infrastructure funds to discourage sprawl and encourage development in existing communities. That approach has raised the level of debate - formerly hidden issues are now surfaced and addressed.
To evaluate the effectiveness of various smart growth strategies, Democrats could also advocate publishing “Regional Indexes” which quantify quality of life indicators like average commute times, pollution levels, etc. Ongoing processes could be developed to gather citizen input and report progress. Finally, as part of the legislative process, “Growth Impact Statements” should be required on each bill along with creation of a standing joint Senate-House Smart Growth committee.
The legislature has been on the sidelines for too long. Rather than just complain, it is time we do something about it.
PUNISHING SEXUAL PREDATORS
Because of its obvious merits, sometimes a good idea sails through the legislature, attracting very little attention. However, its future impact on Colorado's quality of life can be very meaningful.
Such is the case with a bill by State Rep. Gloria Leyba (D-Denver) and Sen. Peggy Reeves (D-Fort Collins). Endorsed by the New Democrat Caucus, their initiative holds more older males responsible for the consequences of their actions, expanding Colorado's statutory rape laws to include 15-and 16-year-old girls when the involved males are at least 10 years older.
Too many men seek to control younger girls, father children as a measure of status and virility and use paternity for economic gain, often claiming portions of the mother's welfare check. Almost 70 percent of babies born to teen mothers are fathered by men 20 years of age or older. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, among teen mothers between 15 and 17 years of age, more than half had children with men who are beyond their teen years. Sixty-six percent of teen mothers have been subjected to rape or early sexual abuse, predisposing them to early sexual activity.
Of course, tougher, more vigorously enforced statutory rape laws will also help to reduce the teen pregnancy rate. While some progress has been achieved in the last few years, more much remains to be done.
The children of young, single parents are more likely to grow up in poverty, are at greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, dropping out of school and entering the criminal justice system. Nearly three-fourths of unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within five years of giving birth.
Should this bill become law, district attorneys across the state must take up the challenge. According to an American Bar Association study a few years ago, prosecution of these offenders is far below the norm than other sex crimes. Older uncles, family friends and acquaintances are incarcerated at a rate far less than sexual offenders who violate strangers. The cycle perpetuates itself because these young, victimized women often have difficulty protecting their own children from abuse.
Governor Bill Owens should sign this important legislation and local prosecutors should strictly enforce it. In addition to sending a strong message to today's sexual predators, we will be protecting the next generation of children as well.
GREATER SAFETY THROUGH SCIENCE
Public safety from violent crime is a fundamental responsibility of government, critical to a high quality of life and key to reviving our urban areas. The police need more and better tools to make our streets, neighborhoods and public spaces safe for law-abiding citizens.
State Rep. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver) and the New Democrat Caucus want to expand the taking of DNA samples from just sex offenders to criminals who have committed murder, assault, kidnapping, arson, burglary and aggravated robbery. A database of DNA information will make it possible to establish links between crime scenes across the state and nation and more quickly identify offenders. The Colorado District Attorneys Council, County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police have endorsed the legislation.
The bill, just featured as an “Idea of the Week” by the national DLC, is scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30 AM in the Legislative Services Building. It deserves bipartisan support in committee and the legislature.
In addition to Leyba and Veiga, the New Democrat Caucus members are State Reps. Bob Hagedorn of Aurora (Caucus Chair), Bob Bacon (Fort Collins), Fran Coleman (Denver), Albert Gagliardi (Alamosa), Ken Gordon (Denver), Dan Grossman (Denver), Carl Miller (Leadville), Abel Tapia (Pueblo), Lois Tochtrop (Northglenn), Val Vigil (Commerce City), Suzanne Williams (Aurora), Sue Windels (Arvada) and Paul Zimmerman (Thornton). Senate participants include Sens. Mike Feeley (Lakewood), Stan Matsunaka (Loveland) and Terry Phillips (Louisville).