Joyce on the Issues
Denver and Colorado face significant challenges in health care, education, transportation and economic development. Denver needs a strong, experienced voice to ensure its interests are an important part of the solutions.
My strength has always been that I bring people together to find common sense, effective answers to tough problems. I served Southeast Denver for 10 years on Denver City Council and I served the entire City and County of Denver as President of City Council.
Over the years, we rebuilt University Hills Mall, developed the Southeast light rail and specialized bus services such as the Bee Line between U-Hills and Cherry Creek. I resolved challenges with the tow-truck industry and cleaned up the paramedic support services. I have been working for a long time on these issues. I bring a willingness to listen to all sides and relentless determination to bring all sides to common sense answers and action.
It is this long record of good work, experience, knowledge and judgment that I offer to the voters of Senate District 35. Together we will move Colorado forward.
Health Care | Education | Transportation | Economic Development
In the late 90’s, Joyce helped the Denver Paramedics to negotiate for better facilities and ambulance services so they could better serve the Denver public.
Health Care
Colorado has about 800,000 uninsured residents, many of them children. Their vulnerability threatens all of us through risk of infectious diseases, lost worker and student productivity, and cost shifting of very high cost treatment in hospital emergency rooms. For the rest of us, the rising cost of health care, health insurance and medication hurts every family. Small businesses cannot buy affordable health insurance. Working poor families, many holding more than one part-time job, cannot find a way to buy health insurance, but because of their strong work ethic, make too much money to get help with health care costs. Gov. Bill Ritter has convened a working group to propose solutions to this national problem for Coloradans to consider. As your Senator, I will evaluate those proposals for their cost effectiveness, ensuring health services for everyone, a choice of doctors and other medical providers, support for research, and long-term sustainability.
Joyce has three grown children and six grandchildren.
Education
The Colorado contradiction is that we are a very educated state. But we do not grow all these advanced degree holders — we import them. And the flip side of this, we tend to export many of our talented children to other states for college. This must change!
Education in Colorado must be retooled so that we are raising a talented, well-educated generation of young people to enter industries that support Colorado’s economy, build the friendly western communities that we love, and be the strong citizens and leaders. We want intelligent workers, good neighbors, strong citizens. In this modern world, where many service jobs moved outside this country, every young person must be educated to be a knowledge worker, ready for the innovation and creativity of a changing world of work. This is a new job for education and schooling must change to meet the challenge.
For me, early child care and education must provide a learning environment that supports healthy brain development, emotional growth and physical well-being. Parents are key. All-day kindergarten is a must, starting right now. We must commit to comprehensively considering all education services from preschool, kindergarten through 12th grade, community college to advanced college degrees, and life-long learning.
Gov. Bill Ritter has convened the P-20 Council (preschool through college), the Council has made its report and he has proposed a first round of implementation. As your State Senator, I support the recommendations for additional slots for preschool, all day kindergarten and the creation of counselor corps too, as a good start. But we are not done. These changes are essential but not enough to change the effectiveness of education in Colorado.
I am aware that more reform will carry costs. My commitment to you is to support effective reform, to scrutinize costs, and to rationalize the relationship between improved results and public investment. Colorado will succeed or fail in the modern economy based on the effectiveness of its schools. I support effective reform and am willing to support a smart investment strategy for an excellent reform plan.
Ribbon cutting of the Light Rail opening at Hampden Station. Pictured from left to right: City Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Former City Councilwoman Joyce Foster, City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann, Former RTD Boardmember and Former CDOT Commissioner Albert Melcher, and City Councilperson Doug Linkhart.
Transportation
Trucks and cars, buses and all kinds of trains, bikes, walking shoes and planes — that’s what “multi-modal” transportation is about, many ways to get from here to there. And that is what I have been working on for more than a decade. My commitment is to cut down on traffic jams and to support clean air in the Denver basin, economic development, healthy lives for people of all ages, safety for kids, and independence for seniors.
Coloradans need walkable communities, more light rail, integrated land use and transportation planning, strong air and road systems, and sensitivity between the state and local communities on transportation planning. Transportation must be central to clean air planning.
In my role on Denver City Council, I was an effective voice at the national, state and local level for smart transportation planning. I urged the City to deepen its commitment to bicyclists and walkers in new and existing neighborhoods. I was a leading voice for light rail to ease congestion and air pollution. CDOT has new leadership in Russ George and a new willingness to work cooperatively with local governments on these issues. I pledge to use my transportation experience and knowledge to push the needs that are so important to Senate District 35.
Joyce at the Revamping of University Hills Mall, where construction commenced August 4, 1996.
Economic Development
Colorado sits in the middle of the U.S.A., at the intersection of I-70 and I-25. We are equal distance from Asia and Europe, mid-way between Canada and Mexico. We possess the largest, most modern mid-continent airport. We are in a unique position to do business regionally, nationally and globally. We must pursue our opportunities in a very aggressive way.
My commitment is to grow local businesses; improve the conditions for small business, from health insurance to marketing; reach out nationally to recruit business, especially corporate headquarters, to Colorado; attract more international flights to Denver International Airport; resolve barriers for local industry, such as the I-70 congestion for the resort industry; and to promote good relations between strong industries and the communities in which they operate. I support education reform for an intelligent, skilled and creative modern workforce for the high tech businesses that will be the foundation of Colorado’s 21st Century economy.
When you look at the challenges I already outlined — health care, education and transportation — they come together under the theme of “economic development.” A thriving, vital economy requires we address these issues in a smart way. Good answers are needed to make Colorado a great place to do business.
As your Senator, I pledge to be sure that Colorado is “open for business” in the very best way.
