Find out where your Pueblo City Council candidates stand on issues that affect your health and encourage them to do more.
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Candidate
Responses Read Questions
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What will you do to help increase access to and consumption of healthy, affordable food in Pueblo?
moreA person’s ability to access healthy and affordable food has a direct impact on their nutrition and overall health. People who consume a balanced and nutritionally sound diet experience lower rates of obesity and related chronic disease. In 2011 15% of people in Pueblo reported being food insecure and nearly 70% of adults said they eat fast food at least once a week.
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Would you support the adoption of a “health in all”
resolution ensuring the ramifications of health are considered when thinking about all policies that come before you?moreIn April a group of citizens requested that City Council draft and consider a “health in all” policy, which would ask Council members to consider how all policies that come before them would impact the health of Pueblo residents before taking action on the policy. When most people think about health they think about access to a doctor or medication, but the latest research tells us that people’s health is impacted far beyond the doctor’s office. People’s ability to secure safe and affordable housing, to secure gainful employment, access to transportation and overall city design are just a few of the non-medical areas that impact someone’s health. Many of the decisions City Council makes have a direct effect on the health of Pueblo’s residents.
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Would you support funding the development of additional public recreational facilities?
moreDespite Colorado’s reputation as the nation’s leanest state, the obesity rate for Pueblo’s kids is 25.6%, which is above the state average of 15%. Adults do not fare much better. The adult obesity rate in Pueblo is 29%, which is also above the state average. Public recreation facilities – defined as engaging in providing fitness and recreational sports activities – are an important component for ensuring that both kids and adults are getting enough physical activity.
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Would you support funding for the construction of additional infrastructure – like bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails – to allow for easier and safer walking and biking?
moreBiking and walking for transportation has been shown to be as effective as a structured exercise program in improving physical activity and fitness. Providing infrastructure to encourage walking and bicycling in Pueblo can pay health and economic dividends to residents. Nationally, municipalities have seen a 90% decrease in cycling accidents involving cars when protected bike lanes are installed.
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Do you support the initiative that’s currently on the ballot to raise the marijuana excise tax?
moreThis ballot initiative will raise the excise tax on recreational marijuana sold within Pueblo County by 5%. Much of the funding will go to scholarship funds and infrastructure improvements. Healthier Colorado recognizes that marijuana is a health issue and that there are many opinions on it, and we do not take a position on whether recreational marijuana should be legal within the state or not.
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We know that a person’s health status has a direct link to their socioeconomic status. If elected, what would you do to help alleviate Pueblo’s high rates of unemployment and poverty?
moreThere is a growing body of research showing a direct link between a person’s socioeconomic status and their health outcomes. It impacts everything from access to care and adequate nutrition to exposure to prolonged and toxic stress. In Pueblo more than 20% of children are living at or below the poverty line and the unemployment rate is 7%.