Rob Kaplan is running for Boulder City Council
Oct 7th
Rob Kaplan founded Pro Peloton bike shop in 1999, creating a welcoming space for cyclists of all levels. Rob went on to serve 18 years with Boulder Rural Fire Rescue, retiring as a Captain, and currently serves on the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. As the father of a CU Boulder student, he’s deeply invested in the future of our community.
We’ve seen the devastation of the Marshall Fire and tragedies across the West. We don’t need more warnings, we need action. I’m running for City Council to bring practical, experienced leadership to protect Boulder from wildfire and help build a safer, more resilient future for everyone.
Public Safety – A Core Responsibility, A Community Commitment
As a former fire captain with 18 years of frontline experience, I understand the essential role that safety plays in building a thriving community. I’ve worked side by side with law enforcement on emergency scenes, wildfires, mental health calls, and large-scale incidents. I know what effective public safety looks like and I know the importance of trust, coordination, and compassion.
Federal Funding Cuts Hit CU Boulder’s DEI Programs: Why Prioritize Diversity Over American Workers
Oct 5th
By Boulder Channel 1 News October 5, 2025 In a stark blow to educational equity at the University of Colorado Boulder, federal funding for decades-old diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has been slashed, raising tough questions: Why were these initiatives favored over programs directly benefiting everyday American citizens? And why weren’t all communities truly included from the start?
The Bilinguals United for Education and New Opportunities (BUENO) Center learned in September it would forfeit over $3 million in Department of Education grants. This includes $1.76 million for the 35-year-old College Assistance Migrant Program, aiding Colorado’s seasonal farm workers—many U.S. citizens from marginalized Latino families—in pursuing higher education. Another $1.32 million vanished for a 49-year master’s program training bilingual teachers in rural Colorado, addressing shortages in underserved areas. Notices cited misalignment with the Trump administration’s priorities, halting five-year cycles midway.
Executive Director Tania Hogan called it “frustrating,” noting the cuts threaten nine staff jobs and two consultants without CU Boulder’s emergency bridge funding. “These programs give access to historically marginalized communities,” Hogan said, emphasizing culturally responsive support for students and rural educators. Yet, as the center pivots to donors and foundations, one 
wonders: If DEI was meant to uplift all Americans, why fund migrant scholarships and rural bilingual training while broader citizen workforce programs—like vocational training for native-born blue-collar families—languish?The ripple effects extend campus-wide. CU Boulder reports 57 grant terminations totaling $30 million as of Sept. 24, amid 1,821 active awards. The Center for Asian Studies lost $537,000 for student fellowships, teacher salaries, and K-12 Asia programming, deemed not advancing “American interests.” Director Danielle Rocheleau Salaz warns of reduced global workforce prep, vital for national security and economy. “We’re not in a world where the U.S. can pull back,” she said, as positions and outreach wind down.
wonders: If DEI was meant to uplift all Americans, why fund migrant scholarships and rural bilingual training while broader citizen workforce programs—like vocational training for native-born blue-collar families—languish?The ripple effects extend campus-wide. CU Boulder reports 57 grant terminations totaling $30 million as of Sept. 24, amid 1,821 active awards. The Center for Asian Studies lost $537,000 for student fellowships, teacher salaries, and K-12 Asia programming, deemed not advancing “American interests.” Director Danielle Rocheleau Salaz warns of reduced global workforce prep, vital for national security and economy. “We’re not in a world where the U.S. can pull back,” she said, as positions and outreach wind down.Similarly, the Latin American and Latinx Studies Center saw a $250,000 grant shuttered and a $150,000 NEH award rescinded, crippling undergrad courses and indigenous language expansion. Faculty Director Joe Bryan lamented the hit to “small but essential” funding.These cuts expose a DEI paradox: Billions poured into targeted ethnic and international programs, yet American citizens in heartland communities—veterans, rust-belt families, rural whites—often sidelined. Why the selective inclusion? If equity means all, why not balance with citizen-first initiatives like trade apprenticeships or domestic STEM for underrepresented regions? As CU scrambles for private funds, the debate intensifies: Was DEI ever about every American, or just some?
Dan Caruso drops hammer on Boulders housing policies, Cities failure to address crime.
Oct 4th
Dan Caruso drops hammer on Boulders housing policies, Cities failure to address crime. In Boulder Caruso said today: ” Since 2020, serious crimes—“crimes against society” and “crimes against persons”—have risen significantly. Safety is not a side issue; it is the foundation on which everything else depends. ”
Caruso also said in his newsletter: “The City’s strained budget is directly tied to its failure to keep Boulder safe, secure, and clean. Half-empty business parks east of 28th Street and vacant storefronts on Pearl Street are lost opportunities. When good businesses stay away and working families can’t afford to live here, Boulder forfeits not only tax revenue but also the vitality that comes from a strong cluster of local employers.
Boulder’s culture and economy both suffer. Council’s housing policies make matters worse. Instead of enabling new housing for working families, bureaucracy delays projects, adds costs, and drives up prices. The result is a vicious cycle: fewer businesses and residents, more vacancies, declining revenues, and an even weaker ability to maintain safety and services. ” Caruso went on to tell this story cited in local news: “An owner of a 32 year downtown local restaurant echoed this frustration in an email to City Council: Yesterday at 5 PM, I biked through Central Park, past the Farmers Market, and by Penfield Tate/City Council Chambers.
What I encountered was deeply concerning. In addition to the presence of drug add
icts sprawled throughout the park, the area was covered in dirty laundry, feces, vomit, and urine. This is not just a matter of homelessness; it is a matter of neglect and public safety. This is unacceptable, especially considering the recent opening of a $150 million hotel downtown.
Visitors walking past this filth will be deterred from returning. Boulder has the resources and the responsibility to do better. Our parks and public spaces deserve consistent, professional maintenance to ensure safety and dignity for all residents and visitors. “
