It’s Friday, Boulder.
Sally Bell reports on the end of two federal pandemic-era programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, has reverted back to its pre-pandemic amounts. For many in Boulder County — like Bill Falvey, a senior living on social security benefits — this means painful cuts to food budgets. In Falvey’s case, his monthly benefit dropped from $258 to $23.
Concurrently, the federal government is requiring recertification for Medicaid, a requirement paused during the pandemic. Of the 84,000 residents of Boulder County who were on Medicaid in 2022, it’s possible a portion will now be above the income eligibility requirements while still making too little to afford private insurance. Most important and urgent, officials told us, is for recipients to update their information on the Colorado PEAK website and find their renewal dates.
Lastly, John Herrick crunches some housing and population data amid a growing conversation about density and growth, only in BRL Today.
Until Monday,
— Tim, reporter
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What to know today
- Red Flag Warning: Active until 7 p.m., the risk of fire is high today, thanks to a whipping wind that may reach 50 mph and fan any spark into flames. So at least for today, though a good practice every day, mind your grills and fire pits and fireworks.
- New legislation would regulate Boulder’s growth limits on housing: Colorado lawmakers last week introduced a bill that would preempt local governments from imposing growth limits on residential housing, the latest attempt this legislative session to increase the supply of housing.
- In 1977, Boulder implemented a residential housing growth cap. Around that time, the city also implemented land-use and zoning measures aimed at slowing growth in certain areas. The latest iteration of the growth ordinance caps new home building permits at 1% per year.
- The cap has not yet been exceeded, said Charles Ferro, a development review manager with the City of Boulder.
- According to U.S. Census data, since 2010, the total number of housing units in the city has increased at a rate of about .5% per year. Some years, annual growth has exceeded 1%. But the ordinance exempts from annual calculations housing units in mixed-use areas and deed-restricted affordable housing.
- The data indicate the City of Boulder’s annual housing growth rate is about half that of Boulder County’s as a whole.
- The City of Boulder is yet to take a formal position on the bill. — John Herrick
- Boulder County’s total population has dropped: Separately, on Thursday, the U.S. Census released new population figures for counties across the country. After more than a decade of steady growth, Boulder County’s total population dropped by about 1% — to about 327,468 people — from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022. (The latest numbers are not broken down by city or town.) The Colorado population increased by about 1% over that same time period.
- Wednesday fire in Boulder: Mid-day on March 29, Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to a house fire on the 2800 block of Dartmouth Avenue. In their preliminary search of the home, firefighters found a man dead in the basement.
- The fire was contained to the one house and there were no other injuries. But the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office will release information about the victim’s cause of death, yet authorities would still like anyone with information about the fire to contact Fire Marshal David Lowrey at 303-441-4356.
Go Deeper…
SNAP cuts and Medicaid eligibility renewals add to ‘new normal’ of uncertainty for many in Boulder County
By Sally Bell
March 31, 2023
Bill Falvey would laugh at the paltry amount of his new monthly SNAP food benefit, if it didn’t hurt so much. Or maybe cry if he thought it would help.
But it wouldn’t make a difference in the $23 he now receives following February’s end to the Covid-era aid boost from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“It might as well be nothing,” said Falvey, who lives in the City of Boulder. “To put it in real terms, I can go shopping twice a year,” if he lets the benefit accumulate long enough.
Falvey, 74, has received federal food assistance for about three years, since a “botched” cataract surgery left him legally blind in one eye, while he has macular degeneration in the other eye. His only other regular income is $1,890 per month in Social Security benefits.
He — and the more than 25,000 other Boulder County residents enrolled in SNAP — received the maximum amount for which they were eligible during the pandemic. In Falvey’s case, that was $258 a month.
Benefits, though, reverted to the pre-pandemic amount as part of a deal Congress struck in last year’s federal omnibus spending bill. Cuts average about $90 monthly per person, officials say, but as Falvey has seen, it can be much more.
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BRL picks
👩🌾 Farmers market: This Saturday marks the first market of a season that will run through November. Whether you’re there for produce, drinks or treats, there’s sure to be something you’ll like. Check out BRL’s coverage of some new vendors that will be available for your perusing pleasure.
🎭 Be SEEN at Ozo: Earlier this year, Boulder High students started SEEN, a youth-led initiative to showcase visual art, writing and live performances on mental health struggles. SEEN’s first gallery opening is on April 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at OZO Coffee on East Pearl. “We’re hoping [the Boulder community] can get a new perspective,” one of the students said, “because the teen perspective isn’t heard a lot.” Mark your calendars, and read our coverage of SEEN.
📚 Library groundbreaking: A groundbreaking ceremony on April 5 will represent a culmination of years of work for library enthusiasts. The new North Boulder Branch Library, which will sit at 4500 13th Street, has been in the works for more than 30 years. The plot was chosen back in 1999 and the library was slated as a priority in the 2018 library master plan.
- The project’s overall budget is $12.5 million, with funding coming from several taxes, fees and other sources. Even so, some plans for the library will at least temporarily go unrealized as rising costs of construction cut into the project’s possibilities. The new library is expected to become part of Boulder County’s new library district, which was approved by voters last fall.
For more ideas on what to do this week, check out BRL’s Local Events page.
ICYMI
- City of Boulder responds to camping ban lawsuit, denying allegations of civil rights violations. In its March 23 filing, the city admitted that on some nights there are not enough shelter beds for all homeless residents. Sometimes, the city enforces the ban without knowing whether the person is eligible to stay at a shelter. Plaintiffs plan to request the case goes to trial.
- Rowing clubs are drowning in rising fees at Boulder Reservoir. City moves to bring costs down. Access to recreational water in Boulder is scant, and the cost to rent out the only suitable place in town for rowing practice is quickly becoming untenable, the city’s rowing clubs say.
- What Gov. Jared Polis’ housing plan could mean for Boulder, his hometown. The City of Boulder is yet to take a position on proposed state legislation that would outlaw its single-family zoning to increase housing supply.
- Read previous editions of BRL Today. Get up-to-date with the latest news from Boulder.