Polis wants to make Colorado schools the best in the nation

DEMÓCRATA| Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado.(Picture/El Comercio de Colorado)

CURRENT GOVERNOR SEEKS RE-ELECTION

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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Governor Jared Polis is seeking re-election. Polis is proud to have fulfilled his 2018 campaign promise. “When I came into office, parents had to pay for full day kindergarten. We got free full day kindergarten done, and we got universal preschool starts next year. I also want to continue my work to make Colorado schools the best in the nation,” the Democratic governor said.

Polis also considers the cut in property taxes and its boost to the economy as a great achievement. The governor points out that “for 2023 and 2024, people will pay a much lower property tax than they otherwise would because the rate will go down. I’m also proud that Colorado is one of the strongest economies in the nation.We have record low unemployment, companies are moving to Colorado every day.”

The governor says he is aware of the challenges Colorado faces due to its economic success.

Home prices up. One of the biggest challenges that I will tackle as your next governor will be making sure, that housing becomes more affordable rather than less affordable over the next four years. And that includes both more rental units close to where jobs are as well as more homes that people can afford to buy,” he claimed.

Crime fighting

Polis says he wants Colorado to be one of the ten safest states in the US. The governor detailed, “this job means using state resources to support law enforcement. We got through $160,000,000 investment package to support better pay and incentives for local law enforcement. Support programs that can reduce recidivism, make it less likely when somebody gets let out of prison after they serve their term, they’ll commit another crime.”

The fight against crime also implies investing in prevention work, explains Polis. “Preventing crime before it happens makes people safer. We are implementing a preventive strategy based on data and statistics. And of course, we’re making it harder for dangerous criminals to get access to weapons.”

Concern in The West

The Governor discussed the work on the Glenwood Canyon Pass. “We are working with the communities of Garfield County and Eagle County to find alternatives to transit on I-70. But the truth is, with the effects of climate change, anticipate more closures in the future; especially during the next few years as the vegetation grows back”, concludes Polis about the impact of the fires and the rains in the area.

Interview transcription

A campaign means talking about the future. But in this case, what do you plan to be your main achievement for your second term?

JP: I believe that Colorado’s brightest days are still ahead. We’re an amazing place to live. That’s the good news. Bad news is the secrets out and people are moving here. Having home prices up. One of the biggest challenges that I will tackle as your next governor will be making

sure, that housing becomes more affordable rather than less affordable over the next four years. And that includes both more rental units close to where jobs are, as well as more homes that people can afford to buy, meaning 300,000 400,000 rather than 600 700,000. Again in a thoughtful way along transit corridors and close to where homes are.

I also want to continue my work to make Colorado schools the best in the nation. We’re ranked fifth best in the country. Fifth is good, but it’s not good enough for Colorado. I’m going to work hard, including implementing free preschool and kindergarten, which we got done in my first term, and working to improve our public school so every kid has the access to success and making higher education, community, and college more affordable.

According with your view, what has been your main achievement in your first term?

JP: When I came into office, Colorado only had half day kindergarten. Parents had to pay for full day kindergarten. We got free full day kindergarten done, and we got universal preschool starts next year. I’m also very proud of our 700-million-dollar property tax cuts. So, for 2023 and 2024, people will pay a much lower property tax than they otherwise would because the rate will go down. I’m also proud that Colorado is one of the strongest economies in the nation.

We have record low unemployment, companies are moving to Colorado every day. A lot of the challenges we face, housing cost and traffic, are because of our economic success. And we need to make sure that we don’t let our economic success detract from our quality of life. And that’s why we have an infrastructure plan, including transit, to reduce traffic and more affordable housing opportunities close to where jobs are.

What do you answer to those who say that Polis administration has been soft on crime?

JP: Well, I support being tough on crime and supporting law enforcement. So traditionally, law enforcement is and continues to be local in our state, local police chiefs, local sheriffs. But about a year ago, we stepped up and said that’s not enough. We need to make sure that Colorado is one of the ten safest states, and that means using state resources to support local law enforcement.

So, we not only proposed, but I signed. We got through $160,000,000 investment package to support better pay and incentives for local law enforcement. Support programs that can reduce recidivism, make it less likely when somebody gets let out of prison after they serve their term, they’ll commit another crime. Youth diversion, better mental and behavioral health support services because preventing a crime before it occurs makes people safer.

And we need a solid database crime prevention strategy. We have one. We’re in the first phase of implementing it and, of course, making it harder for dangerous criminals to have access to guns. So, these are steps we have taken, are taking and will take to make Colorado one of the ten safest states over the next five years.

You have a clear stance on the abortion case. Even you said that you will prohibit extradition from Colorado. But some of your critics are criticizing your tweet of the Amy Schumer video promoting Colorado as an abortion touristic state. What do you answer to the people who criticize this action by you?

JP: Said very simply, the government shouldnot be part of the very personal reproductivehealth decisions a woman makes.It’s between a woman, herdoctor, every case is different.And the government should simply not be involvedwith that most personal decision that people make.

If you have Heidi Ganahl in front of you right now, what will you ask to her?

 JP: Let’s see. I don’t know. She knows where to get ribs in town. I think her husband has a barbecue. So, I’d say, where are the best ribs in town?

Name one Republican politician that you will invite to play baseball with him or with her.

JP: Well, I played baseball on the Congressional baseball team, so we played with a lot of Republicans and Democrats. I miss a lot of my Republican friends from the United States Congress.Oh, let’s see.

Jeff Flake of Arizona, former senator. He was always fun to play baseball with. If I were calling about a left-handed good guy, I think he played third base. I got to know Jeff well, former senator from Arizona.

The Rockies are out of playoff, do you have a favorite team for this season?

JP: Well, the Rockies are out of the playoffs with several exclamation points.” So, yeah, I would say in this postseason, before the Rockies existed, I was a Padres fan. So, Padres, I think of a wild card slot. So, with the Rockies out, I’m watching the Padres.

Now let’s move to talking about the Western Slope. This material, as I told you, will be watched there. Some people are really concerned with the work on the Gleendwood Canyon Pass. What do you want to explain to them or comment about the work in this big important issue?

JP: Everybody in Western Colorado knows the fundamental issue. So, Glenwood Canyon has had more closures, especially since the fires, because of the erosion that occurred. Obviously, we had the very dramatic landslide to close it for a few weeks. We worked hard to get that open as quickly as possible. But the truth is that with climate change, there are more anticipated closure times in the future, especially for the next few years as vegetation grows back in the aftermath of the fire. So what’s important is we work with local communities Garfield County, Eagle County to find alternatives, both for people who want to get from one place to another, as well as for all of the important logistical and truck traffic that uses highway 70.

There is another concern in the Western Slope about this school district, 51, which is Mesa County area. Do you have any news about the idea of the possibility of increasing funds for this school district?

JP: Well, Mesa 51 is one of our biggest school districts in Western Colorado. I work closely with their former superintendent, Diane Circo, their current superintendent, Brian Hill. I’ve visited a number of schools in Mesa 51 and they were recently able to get a bond passed by the people at Mesa County.

They’re building new schools, and the state plans to continue under my leadership to support investment in public schools across our state, to reduce class size and be able to pay teachers better.

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