Q&A: Aspen City Council candidate Tyler Wilkinson-Ray

With the March municipal election just around the corner, The Aspen Times is gathering responses from Aspen City Council candidates on key issues facing the city.

Responses from candidate Tyler Wilkinson-Ray are below.

Editor’s note: the candidate did not answer all questions requested.

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Introduction

Wilkinson-Ray: I am a small business owner in Aspen, where I run a photo and film production studio. We make creative assets for many local businesses as well as for national brands. However, before I launched my studio, I worked in public policy and government affairs back in my home state of Vermont. I had the opportunity to learn under a group of very bright attorneys how to craft effective public policy and come up with creative solutions to policy problems. I worked on many issues facing our community, like affordable housing, energy efficiency, and solid waste, as well as on large public-private infrastructure projects.  

I decided to run because I have seen the ability of the locals to live, thrive, and form a sense of community in Aspen drastically erode over the last 5+ years. I am running because I think we need someone with a background in public policy, someone with fresh ideas and the willingness to confront the tough decisions facing our town. 

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Entrance to Aspen

The Aspen Times: The long-debated Entrance to Aspen remains a pressing issue, involving concerns over open space, traffic congestion for workers and school commutes, emergency access, and broader community division.

What do you believe are the biggest concerns among residents regarding this issue, and what solutions would you advocate?

Wilkinson-Ray: There are very valid reasons for people in our community to be on both sides of the Entrance debate, from the people who live near the proposed alternative route or cherish open space, to the people who have to sit in traffic for sometimes up to an hour to get in and out of town each day. There is the argument that building better car infrastructure only encourages more people to drive, while the recent fires in California are a stark reminder that the emergency evacuation concerns are not alarmist. 

I think letting the people of Aspen vote on such a divisive issue is the correct way forward for the community. Some people will inevitably be upset, but it will be a community decision. The approval of Referendum 2 would effectively green light the Preferred Alternative, but if Referendum 2 fails or Referendum 1 passes, I think we need to take that as a message that the town no longer supports the former Record of Decisions and a new EIS process needs to be pursued.

Demolition allotment and housing

AT: Following the passage of HB23-1255 in June 2023, Aspen was required to eliminate its residential growth cap. Meanwhile, demolition allotments remain a point of contention in discussions about housing and redevelopment.

How do you view the impact of demolition allotments on new construction? Do these restrictions create undue hardship for current residents seeking to improve or rebuild their homes?

Wilkinson-Ray: Working to address the housing crisis is my top priority. First, we need to update our housing fee-in-lieu offset, which is currently only generating $700,000 per unit, while the Lumberyard will cost around $1 million per unit, so our funding for housing is falling well behind. Next, we need to set aside more funding to maintain the aging housing stock we do have. Fixing empty units is simply the best ROI. 

I support the Lumberyard project, and while I don’t think it’s possible for us to house all of our workforce in Aspen and a valley-wide approach is needed, we need to recognize that a large cause of our Entrance to Aspen debacle is because of the massive construction boom city leadership has approved while our worker housing has effectively shrunk. We need to prioritize our in-town affordable housing options as much as possible, even if it means a series of smaller projects scattered around town. I would love to see the old Forest Service plot move forward and future 1A plans include affordable housing in them and not just fee-in-lieu offsets, which could take years to translate into units. 

Taxes and community investment

AT: Recent tax increases placed on the ballot have consistently received voter approval, reflecting community priorities in public funding.

Do you believe additional taxes are justified to support worker retention and small business sustainability?

Wilkinson-Ray: Aspen has a great history of being a national leader in areas such as affordable housing and environmental initiatives; however, the dual impact of short-term rentals and the Covid construction boom has meant that our old tools just aren’t keeping up, and we need to adapt. I think it is great that Aspen voters recognize this and are willing to approve necessary measures to ensure that our community will thrive moving forward. 

Housing should be our first, second, and third priority. I also think we need to set aside some of the new Apcha housing for small businesses, as larger entities like the school district, hospital, City, and large restaurant or real estate groups have the resources to develop their own worker housing that a small, locally-owned business simply cannot. The survival of these businesses is critical to our town’s character.  

Finally, holding on to properties that the City can control, like the Armory, is very important. I would like to see that space be more of a mixed-use space than the current plan, which feels more like a food court. I would like to see the city prioritize child care, whether that is at Armory or another space.