Thoughtful, Thorough Work on Bond Package

Reprinted from Denver Post Letters to the Editor, August 12, 2025

Re: “Council OKs bond package for November ballot,” August 5 news story

This spring, I volunteered to serve on one of five subcommittees composed of community members and Denver City Council representatives evaluating potential projects for the Vibrant Denver bond. My subcommittee focused on recreation centers, libraries, and housing.

I am a high school student in Denver Public Schools. It was an honor to represent young people in important discussions about Denver’s funding priorities. We reviewed projects proposed by the city council and the public and sorted them into three tiers of importance. We considered existing infrastructure and areas of highest need. We reviewed how usable the current buildings were. We submitted our recommendations to an executive committee that determined the projects that would go in the final bond.

I have heard criticism that the process was rushed and did not sufficiently involve members of the community, but I disagree. The majority of projects in the final bond proposal were originally proposed by the public. Over six weeks, we saw what people across the city wanted. In many cases, we were able to rank their proposals highly. Projects rated in the top tier by our subcommittee were more likely to be selected by the executive committee, which suggests that our input was taken seriously. In my experience, the subcommittee meetings allowed community members a chance to share their thoughts on each project and provide their own perspectives.

This November, Denver voters should pass the Vibrant Denver bond. It will provide the city with much-needed improvements and no raise in taxes.

James Scott, Denver