The Issues

On City Council, Steve Sundberg has been focused on the issues that matter, such as keeping residents safe, finding solutions to homelessness, and bringing more affordable housing to Aurora.

Councilman Steve Sundberg with a police officer.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

Keeping Aurora Safe

 Steve’s number one goal is keeping Aurora residents safe. Steve wants to see the Police Department fully staffed again with quality officers—enabled to fight crime, who build trust with the community and who are supported by leadership.

Now that Aurora has an excellent, permanent Chief and larger graduating cadet classes, full staffing should be attainable with the next two years.  The public will notice faster response times and patrol officers should no longer begin a shift with dozens of backlogged calls.

Since Steve was elected, Aurora has seen drops in homicides (down 14%), robbery (down 36%), motor vehicle thefts (down 45%), sexual assault (down 10%), and all other major crime categories. 

Steve’s actions on City Council:

 

  • Sponsored Panhandling Education Signage to discourage Panhandling
  • Supported Auto Theft Penalty

  • Supported Retail Theft Penalties
    “A majority of Aurora City Council members are supporting an ordinance that would require people convicted of retail theft that amounts to $100 or more to go to jail.” – 9News
  • Supported Retention Bonus for Police Officers to Keep Our Department Staffed
    “The Aurora City Council approved the retention bonuses in a 6-4 vote Tuesday night. Officers will get $4,000 in April, and the other $4,000 in October.” – 9News
  • Supported Improved Hiring Process of Police Officers & Increased Cadet Graduations
    “Training chief Lt. Justin Shipley said he has seen classes as small as five or six recruits over the past three years, but this year, the class expanded to the most recent 37 graduates.” – Aurora Sentinel
  • Supported Three Strikes for Illegal Vehicle Towing
Steve Sundberg holding a sign that says "Help Reduce Panhandling" at a City Council meeting.

HOMELESSNESS:

Finding Real Solutions

Aurora City Council has been putting in place a “Work First” approach to homelessness.

This means helping people make the best decisions for their lives and rewarding them for making these decisions. The ultimate goal is for people overcoming addiction, receiving mental health counseling and supporting themselves in independent living.  Coming soon (Fall of 2025), is the completion of the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus.

In this “tough love” approach, Steve has strengthened our camping ban and spearheaded a campaign to discourage panhandling.  Concerned residents are encouraged to give to the organizations who work with the homeless–to ensure that the donations are used wisely.

Steve’s actions on City Council:

  • Encouraged formation of Police Homeless Outreach Team
  • Co-Sponsored formation of Homeless Resource (H.E.A.R.T.) Court
  • Sponsored Strengthening of Camping Ban & Trespassing Ordinance
  • Supported development of Homeless Navigation Campus
  • Made visible progress in cleaning up our streets of illegal camping and put in motion the development of additional homeless services

AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

Attainable Solutions for Aurora

Steve has supported affordable housing projects such as Walden 35, CrossPurpose, Kings Crossing, etc., to promote housing units people can afford with rents scaled to their income. He has helped lobby the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for grant monies.  

Steve supports looking at creative ways to foster housing diversity, while maintaining high quality neighborhoods–even by changing rigid or outdated building codes.

Steve’s actions on City Council:

  • Voted to Approve Aurora’s Commitment to Prop 123, a statewide initiative that provides funding for affordable housing projects in cities and counties that opt in. To participate, local governments must commit to increasing their affordable housing stock by 3% annually to remain eligible for the funds.
  • Steve worked to ensure that Aurora partners with the Housing Authority and AURA to increase the supply of affordable housing, often voting for the approval of partnership funding.

Councilman Steve Sundberg speaking to a crowdn.

Working for You:

Steve’s Other Accomplishments

Supported New Animal Shelter: Aurora’s current shelter is over forty years old and has consistently been at capacity. Steve supported moving forward with building a larger, modernized facility that will last long into the future.

Supported “Build Up Aurora” Road Improvements: Steve supported efforts to address critical infrastructure projects such as roads, libraries, and parks to meet the needs of an ever-growing Aurora.

Advocated for 30 MW Solar Farm: Steve testified to the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners seeking support for a new solar farm that would bring $74 million in savings to low-income households and numerous jobs to Aurora.