THE ISSUES
Shontel Lewis is running for Mayor on a platform of collaborative leadership, social housing, restored city services, and taxing the rich to build a Denver that works for everyone.
COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP
We need a leader who listens every day, not just when people are shouting. Community control and citizen engagement allows Denverites to dictate their own city’s future. Since my days as an RTD Director, I have established multiple pathways toward easy participation. Together, we have created and continued success in my promises to co-govern with my constituents.
Through grassroots initiatives spearheaded by the District 8 Council office like our community cabinets, the Quebec Corridor Taskforce, and the Budget Book Club we’ve ensured your involvement in every step of city leadership. Regular town halls, bowling town halls, my engagement with RNOs, and dedicated constituent services keep my office informed.
Increase Participatory Budget Program
Make the Budget Process Transparent
Convene Citywide Civic Assembly, Establish Community Cabinets
Prioritize Proactive Outreach
Maintain and Publish Public Metrics
Enfranchise Forgotten Communities
Improving relationship with council and expanding council powers
Prioritize Proactive Outreach
Meetings in the neighborhood
Housing
A Denver where everyone can confidently be secure in keeping the roof above their head is within reach. In my time on City Council I’ve spearheaded pilot programs for universal basic income and social housing, uncomplicated ways to be sure everyone has that safety net which allows them to thrive, not just survive. While we cannot control the national economic reality, we can control its impact on our city. Simple things like sensible reforms, empowering accountability, increasing opportunity to own, easier zoning and less red tape.
Zoning and Land Use
Social Housing
Tenant Protections
Anti-displacement
Homeownership
Vacancy Tax
Regulating Short Term Rentals
Community Wealth Building
Right to counsel — lease review
Neighborhood Infrastructure
10-minute city
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Environmental justice and truly centering the changing climate are crucial. This includes everything from how we think about public health, to protecting air and water, to building and maintaining infrastructure, to how we move people and goods around, and to what economic practices are rewarded or restricted by public policy.
It means understanding how poverty is a barrier to climate action, as well as a risk magnifier for climate-related harms. It means Denver committing to the promise that nobody should be left behind in the transition to a sustainable future. No climate agency should be pinching pennies in this critical decade of action, those who are working to protect our planet deserve to be well-funded and well-resourced.
Empower the Climate Action Office
Electrify Everything
Make Polluters Pay
Better Regulated Denver Airport
Incentivize Accessible Transit
Better Manage the Transport of Goods
Green spaces, public parks, urban canopy, bus shelters, expansion of cooling/warming centers
Ban Hyperscale Data Centers
Healthy air, water, and soil
Safe communities
Restoring a common trust in our own public safety is important. Crime statistics and police response are under an appropriate magnifying glass. The need for more strict oversight and an increase in public liability becomes more clear.
Trust is earned through consistency and accountability and it’s no surprise that distrust is sewn into the fabric of public safety. Sentencing reform, dignity in incarceration, and decreasing interactions with armed officers is only the start. Reestablishing community partnerships and civilian administration will help our children, seniors, and most vulnerable communities confidently feel safe at home.
Increasing Civilian Oversight
Shifting enforcement to civilian oversight
Reforming Sentencing and Jails
Ending Mass Surveillance
Expanding STAR and Unarmed Patrols
Providing Aid for Vehicle & Bike Thefts
Bolster and expand meaningful mental and behavior health resources
Data protections with information sharing
An Affordable Denver
An affordable Denver is within reach. In my time on City Council I’ve spearheaded the pilot programs for Denver basic income and social housing, uncomplicated ways to be sure everyone has that safety net which allows them to thrive, not just survive. While we cannot control the national economic reality, we can control its impact on our city, we can leverage our RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE BUDGET.
Funded through sensible revenue generating models, like asking everyone (starting with the ultra rich) to pay their fair share. Denver will become a model for the public safety net uplifting and empowering its residents.
Invest in Social Housing
Publicly Managed Progressive Revenue
Expand the Universal Basic Income
Tax the Rich
Reform Land Use and Zoning
Increase Access to Healthy Meals
Protect Tenants and Homeowners
Small Business Protections and Development
Improve Supports for Businesses Impacted by Construction
Invest in local art and business districts
health & Wellness
The Health of our city is the Wealth of Our City. Too frequently, we measure the progress of our city in dollars when we should be prioritizing our social determinants of health — affordable housing, healthy and affordable food, quality health care, education and job training, community based resources, frequent and effective transit, and a flourishing culture.
As your next mayor, I am committed to helping Denver live up to its international reputation as one of the healthiest cities in our country by improving both individual and community health outcomes across the entire city. We will work together to bring real lasting improvements for this and the next generation as we face the impacts of human accelerated climate change.
Renewable Energy Resources
Clean Air and Drinking Water
Physical Fitness and Nutrition
Accessible Mental Health Services
Regulating Harmful Industries
Multimodal and Mass Transit
Rec centers <3
Public park updates
Trump Proofing Denver
Concern around federal overreach and the impact of President Trump’s administration on our city are front and center for many Denverites. We deserve a city leadership which continues to help its residents live free wih the liberty and autonomy to dictate their own health care decisions, to live comfortably and safely in their religious beliefs, to have a transparent and fair judicial system, and to know that their natural resources and beautiful backyard will be protected for generations.
Oppose any regulations on a ban on gender affirming care
Know your rights training for transgender protection, immigration, and tenant protections
ICE and federal officer accountability and transparency
Protect envrionmental policy and parks
Support public education resources and accessibility
Enforce disability protections
End AI assisted and unregulated surveillance
Transportation Bill
Immigration Protections
Labor
We are a working class city and our workers need to be the focus of decision-making. Whether its those who are trying to decide if they can start a family, those who are budgeting in hopes of retirement, or those who are looking apprehensively at a changing job market ready to start work everyone needs advocacy and safeguards. A longtime proponent and ally of our region’s labor and trade unions, I know the alignment that is necessary for progress to be made. Leaders need to know that proposed solutions and ideas came from labor and were not just selected by consultants to suggest plans without protections. Well-compensated employees with capacity for fun spend more in our local restuarants, shops, and attractions.
Voluntarily recognize bargaining units, and work in good faith to improve employee retention, performance, and satisfaction
Regulated rideshare equity and fairness
Tipped workers actually affording to live our city
Partner with auditor to implement
Protect Denver Health employees unionization efforts
Corporation Accountability
I believe that the relationship between business and government should be cooperative and that our elected leaders need to remember we work for the people first. As a City Councilwoman I have been steadfast in creating transparency in decisions about how our dollars are spent on contracts and how we hold those who our budget is allotted for accountable to promises made. As Mayor, I will bring those regular reports and work to further empower our city auditors to monitor how our money is moving, from our pocketbooks and our city budget.
Ban surveillance pricing
Wage setting
Real Estate Accountability Protections
Regulating sub contractors relationships with larger corporate
Updating city code of ethics — revolving door and lobbying reforms
Fair labor wages, enforce wage theft rules
Empowering the auditors
Review city contracts for public benefits vs corporate profit
Transparent conversations with corporations
