Daisy Montgomery is vice chair of the City’s Disability Advisory Board (speaking only for herself). She spent 13 years as a Department of Defense program manager, is a small-business owner, a disability advocate, and identifies as autistic. She’s running for City Council, District 1.
Episode Summary
Nick Armstrong talks with Daisy about District 1 priorities and how her federal program management background shapes her approach. Topics include northeast Fort Collins infrastructure gaps (bike lanes, sidewalks, ADA crossings, school routes, cell coverage), the balance between climate goals and affordability, and small-business support. Daisy supports water security via the Halligan Reservoir project, proposes exploring a low-interest city loan fund for small businesses, and discusses housing affordability ideas such as employer wage accountability, land banking, and first-time buyer support. She also weighs in on government accessibility (fewer websites, clearer dashboards, plain language, short-form updates), ranked-choice voting (run an issues-first, candid campaign), and inclusion/safety for LGBTQIA+ and disabled residents.
Key Takeaways
- District 1 infrastructure: Calls out missing bike lanes/sidewalks/ADA crossings and limited amenities; wants connectivity and basic services prioritized.
- Small business: Critiques “death by a thousand cuts” from layered regulations; floats a low-interest loan fund to handle shocks (e.g., burst pipes, inventory loss).
- Climate & costs: Supports climate action but warns against over-burdening residents and local shops; backs Halligan for long-term water supply.
- Communication & transparency: uses Old Town paid parking and Republic trash service as examples of meeting residents where they are and explaining trade-offs.
- Housing affordability: Frames it as a long-running, multi-level problem; suggests large employers examine wages/land banking; explores aid for first-time buyers.
- Government access: Fewer, clearer portals; public dashboards; communicate in plain language and short formats.
- Civic process: On Hughes and competing ballot language—let the process play out; on RCV—seek broad alignment without posturing.
Notable Quotes
- “How can I serve my district and Fort Collins… more holistically? That’s why I’m running.”
- “We’re hurting our local economy when small businesses can’t absorb added fees to meet climate goals.”
- “It’s not the president… or the council person that’s the most important role in America. It’s the citizen.”
- “Affordable housing is a slow-moving train that’s been crushing us for decades.”
Resources
- Candidate website: https://www.daisyforfoco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisyforfoco/
- Email: daisyforfoco@gmail.com
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