Snowmass candidate Q&A: challenger Cecily DeAngelo

As Nov. 5 grows nearer, Snowmass Town Council candidates Art Burrows, Cecily DeAngelo, Debbie Alcorta, and incumbent Tom Fridstein compete for two open council seats. The Aspen Times asked each candidate about key issues in Snowmass.

Founder of Roaring Fork Safe Passages, a coalition addressing wildlife-vehicle collisions, DeAngelo runs for her first term on council. 

The Aspen Times: Why have you chosen to serve the Snowmass community in the past and why do you seek to serve the community in the future?

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Cecily DeAngelo: I was born in Aspen and grew up in Snowmass Village and am now raising my two young children here. I am committed to creating a Snowmass Village where everyone feels supported and valued, regardless of their circumstances. 

As a former brick-and-mortar, small-business owner and the current executive director of Roaring Fork Safe Passages, I have a broad spectrum of experience to bring to Town Council. I am willing to put in the hard work that comes with deeply understanding the issues that we face in our village, and I believe that my job is to listen to the concerns and collective wisdom of our community.   

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AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to Snowmass ballot question 2D which would determine funding for the proposed 79-unit, $86 million employee housing project at the Draw Site adjacent to Town Hall? Why?

CD: The Draw Site presents a challenging construction site, but the town of Snowmass Village should nevertheless consider developing it. The town already owns the property, and we urgently need more housing for a diverse group of essential workers. The primary questions involve the project’s budget and scale. I believe a smaller design, perhaps a single building without underground parking, coupled with a more affordable housing development behind the Snowmass Center, would better serve the community. Additionally, Snowmass Village should explore implementing official policies to encourage zero- or low-growth acquisition of housing units. While the town already acquires free market units, I hope this tactic can be pursued more aggressively.

AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to Pitkin County ballot questions 1A, which would raise county property taxes by 1.5 mills over 25 years, providing an estimated $8.5 million in additional funding per year for affordable housing, but creating an estimated property tax increase of $121 for private properties valued at $1 million and $435 for commercial properties valued at $1 million? Why?

CD: There is no question that we need more funding for affordable housing in Pitkin County. This will help maintain existing units and build or acquire new ones. Essential workers like sheriffs, firefighters, snowplow operators, and teachers are commuting over an hour each way, which is unsustainable for our community.

Property taxes in Pitkin County have risen dramatically in the last year. This puts homeowners at risk of being priced out of their homes, threatening the year-round community of families, retirees, and many longtime locals that form the backbone of our county. To prevent locals from being forced to sell and leave, we should consider increasing the threshold for tax refunds to full time residents, especially as we ask them to consider an additional tax burden.

AT: Are you in favor of moving the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport runway 80 feet to the west and widening it from 100 to 150 feet? Why? Are you in favor of Pitkin County ballot question 200, which would allow residents to vote on the expansion or movement of the runway, or Pitkin County ballot question 1C, which would reaffirm county officials’ ability to approve and implement changes to the physical layout of the airport on behalf of the community?

CD: If elected as a leader, I’m eager to see the results of the upcoming vote on the runway. While there are no perfect options given the FAA’s national standardization mandate, the consensus is that we need a newly-built runway that does not require month-length closures. 

If we decide to comply with the FAAs Airport Layout Plan mandate and accept federal funding, ASE would immediately attract larger private jets, including some converted private 737s. Additionally, the runway’s design would be built to FAA standards for the Airbus 220-300 series, this could eventually lead to commercial flights from larger markets like New York and Miami. These planes carry roughly twice as many passengers as the Embraer 175s that will start servicing ASE in December of this year. Adding new markets and convenience has a good chance of exacerbating my concern of higher real-estate prices and the added pressures on our community.  

AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to the construction of more available parking and RFTA transit options at the Snowmass Mall? If so, how should the project be designed?

CD: Our community has long desired a more unified transit space to reduce confusion, barriers, and inconvenience for residents and visitors using public transportation, especially those with mobility needs.

As we consider further construction such as the transit center, we must prioritize projects carefully to minimize disruption to our businesses and residents. When planning our next steps for the transit center, I hope we explore all possibilities and their potential impacts. A combined regional transit center that aligns with our small-town character and preserves our natural beauty is a worthy goal.