Denver liberals are fighting among themselves over tax increase questions that will be considered by voters in the November election.
Don’t be silly, of course they are not fighting to give taxpayers a break.
Their only selfish concern is that too many tax increase questions will simply turn off voters from their pet tax increase question.
The straw that broke their greedy backs is the ballot question approved by the Denver City Council this week to increase sales taxes 0.25 cents to wrestle an extra $46 million every year from taxpayers to buy more land for parks.
Those millions would also be used mow lawns and plant trees.
Most of the criticism is coming from advocates for public housing and mental health, who have their own tax increase questions on the ballot. Voters will also be asked to raise taxes to make colleges “affordable,” and promote healthy food for kids.
They complain that more parks will lead to more gentrification wherever new parks are purchased, and the homeless can’t even camp there.
Jesse Parris, a candidate for council, said it was hypocritical to improve parks while the city’s camping ban prevents people from using blankets and other shelter in public spaces.
“How is this going to benefit us if we can’t even occupy these parks?” he said.
Councilman Albus Brooks was the line vote against the park tax, because he wants billions of taxpayer dollars to be used for sidewalks and bike paths.
Denverites are either richer than we ever imagined and have money to burn for every project real and imagined by the council.
Or, those public officials are about to face a mammoth backlash from voters in November who are tired of being treated like trend de jour piggy banks.