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Denver, Colorado, Initiated Ordinance 303, Require Enforcement of Unauthorized Camping and Authorize the City of Denver to Create Four Camping Locations on Public Property Initiative (November 2021)
| Denver Initiated Ordinance 303 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 2, 2021 | |
| Topic Local zoning, land use, and development | |
Status Defeated | |
| Type Initiative | Origin Citizens |
Denver Initiated Ordinance 303 was on the ballot as an initiative in Denver on November 2, 2021. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported requiring the city to enforce unauthorized camping, and allowing the city to establish up to four authorized camping locations on public property with lighting, running water, and restroom facilities to support the homeless population of the city. |
A "no" vote opposed requiring the city to enforce unauthorized camping, and allowing the city to establish up to four authorized camping locations on public property with lighting, running water, and restroom facilities to support the homeless population of the city. |
Initiated Ordinance 303 was also referred to as the Let’s Do Better initiative.[1] On November 1, 2021, a Denver district court judge invalidated subsection C of the measure. The section was written to allow any Denver resident to file a complaint with the city of Denver to enforce the measure and require that the City must act within 72 hours. To read more about the lawsuit, click here.
A simple majority was required for the approval of Initiated Ordinance 303.
Election results
|
Denver Initiated Ordinance 303 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 68,290 | 42.20% | ||
|
|
93,552 | 57.80% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Initiated Ordinance 303 was as follows:
| “ | Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance requiring the City and County of Denver to enforce unauthorized camping, providing a process for private enforcement if the City fails to enforce unauthorized camping; allowing the City to establish up to four authorized camping locations on public property where the City must provide running water, restroom facilities and lighting; and funding such camping locations with city revenues to support the city’s homeless population? | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
If you know of endorsements or arguments that should be posted here, email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Supporters
Arguments
- Denver Republican Party chair Garrett Flicker said, "I love Denver and think it can be a great city again, but we must compassionately and fairly address the serious, and virtually out of control, homeless problem in our city."[2]
Opposition
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Opponents
- Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock[2]
- Denver City Council[2]
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless[1]
Arguments
- Denver City Councilmember Chris Hinds said, "On its face, Initiative 303 looks promising for Denverites. However, the devil is in the details, and these devilish details will create a legal quagmire, an unfunded mandate, and ultimately will hinder, not help, the City’s approach to housing and homelessness."[4]
- The Denver City Council passed a resolution opposing the measure, which stated, "The voters of Denver and City agencies have recently, dramatically expanded shelter hours and services, hotel and other transitional housing innovations, and funding for permanent housing with services, but permanent housing solutions take time to implement and the people of Denver are frustrated and want the city to do more, better and faster, but managing street homelessness and associated public health and safety risks is far more complicated than a sledgehammer approach can deliver."[3]
- The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless said, "The Let’s Do Better initiative is misleading and will not solve street homelessness in Denver. Denver needs compassionate, proven solutions to address homelessness."[1]
Media editorials
- See also: 2021 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia lists the positions of media editorial boards that support or oppose ballot measures. This does not include opinion pieces from individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on circulation and readership, political coverage within a state, and length of publication. You can share media editorial board endorsements with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
- Denver Gazette Editorial Board: "It is illegal in Denver to “camp” in the city’s parks, on its sidewalks, along highway exit ramps and on other public property — but you’d hardly know it in some places around town. Tents, boxes, lean-tos and other “shelters” are routinely set up in violation of the law by panhandlers, drug addicts, alcoholics and assorted other chronic street dwellers. The ban needs some teeth. This proposal would let any Denverite file a complaint with City Hall, giving the city 72 hours to enforce the camping ban. If the city fails to act in the allotted time, the complainant could sue in county court and, if victorious, would be awarded court costs, attorney fees and injunctive relief. That would put some bite in the camping ban. Vote YES."[5]
Opposition
If you know of media editorial board endorsements that should be posted here, email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a citizen initiative petition proposed by Garrett Flicker, chair of the Denver Republican Party. Signatures for initiated ordinance petitions are due 180 days after they are approved for circulation. To qualify for the ballot, 8,265 valid signatures were required. The measure qualified for the ballot on July 6, 2021.[6][7]
Lawsuit
City Attorney Kristin Bronson filed a lawsuit alleging that the initiative “exceeds the legislative authority of voter initiatives” and “infringes on Denver’s basic administrative functions. ... The executive branch has inherent discretion to enforce criminal laws.” The lawsuit seeks to remove the provision of the initiative containing the 72-hour deadline and the provision giving citizens the ability to sue the city over failure to comply. Bronson also filed a motion requesting an expedited hearing in order to resolve the complaint before the election.[8]
On November 1, 2021, a Denver district court judge invalidated subsection C of the measure. The section was written to allow any Denver resident to file a complaint with the city of Denver to enforce the measure and require that the City must act within 72 hours.[9]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, "Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Strongly Opposes Measure 303 on Denver's 2021 Ballot," accessed October 19, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Denver Post, "Denver election 2021: Voters asked to double down on city’s camping ban," accessed October 19, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Denver Voice, "November Ballot Measures Impacting Homelessness in Denver," accessed October 19, 2021
- ↑ DenverGov.org "Denver City Council opposes Initiated Ordinances 303 and 304," accessed October 19, 2021
- ↑ Denver Gazette, "EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENTS: Our view on ballot issues, Denver and DPS, Aurora — a recap," accessed October 25, 2021
- ↑ Denver Post, "Here are the 13 measures set for Denver’s unusually crowded November ballot," accessed September 23, 2021
- ↑ DenverGov.org, "2021 Initiative Tracking," accessed September 23, 2021
- ↑ Denver Gazette, "Denver city attorney sues to remove 72-hour enforcement of camping ban from ballot initiative," accessed October 20, 2021
- ↑ KDVR, "Denver judge deems part of ballot Initiative 303 ‘unlawful’," accessed November 1, 2021
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