About Us
Who We Are & What We're About
Who are you people?
Our founding members are mostly residents of Martin Acres but we are defined less by our address and more by our concern for the urban fabric of South Boulder.
What are you folks about?
We know that some in South Boulder lament the days when affordable starter homes were available in Martin Acres, on-street parking was ample, and homelessness was a thing of the inner cities only. But, like or not, change is coming. Neighbors United of South Boulder aims to help our community shape the coming change more to our liking, building a stronger community in the process. We use our assembled expertise in community building and urban planning, along with engagement from the community, to develop, promote, and guide a range of projects that affect our built environment, all with the goal of making our neighborhoods places where one can safely and comfortably walk or bike for most trips. Relatedly, we aim for changes to the built environment that vest children with the independence to safely get around on their own, whether traveling to school or visiting friends.
Are you people pro-growth?
Yes and no. We are not in favor of growth for its own sake. However, we accept increased density when it is a step on the path to a more walkable and bikeable community or when it optimizes the tax base by which critical City services and infrastructure are funded. Instead of simply opposing all or most growth, we generally prefer to accept growth on the condition that its adverse impacts are well mitigated and it occurs in tandem with the deployment of effective strategies to make our community more walkable and bikeable and less car dependent. Done right, growth can enrich our community by adding or improving local destinations that are accessible without a car, reduce housing scarcity, and foster a stronger sense of community.
Some (but not all) of the folks you might encounter at one of our meetings are shown below.
Silas D. Atkins (he/they)
As a resident of South Boulder since I moved here, I want to ensure that my friends, neighbors, and community can live and thrive here. We must make our community safe for driving/walking/biking/scootering/skateboarding, affordable to live, and most importantly welcoming.
I was a candidate for Boulder City Council. I grew up in Cape Breton (Unima'kik) which is part of present day Canada.
Philip Higgs (he/him)
I am interested in making Boulder a safer place to walk, bike, raise children, and grow old, with safe streets, slow traffic, strong neighborhoods, and inclusive communities.
I'm an avid cyclist, multiple dog-owner, novice beekeeper, cider maker and cocktail shaker.
Landon Hilliard (he/him)
As a professional transportation planner, I am thrilled to lend a hand making places where people can move about safely and freely and therefore feel happier and healthier.
Because Carmel, Indiana has the greatest number of roundabouts per person in the U.S., I visited in summer 2023 to see them as part of a cross-country bicycle trip.
Michael Le Desma (he/him)
Michael is an attorney with the U.S. EPA, an active member of the Community Cycles Advocacy Committee, a member of the South Boulder Road Study Steering Committee, and Chair of Boulder Valley ICO.
Michael also plays an end-blown Japanese flute called the shakuhach
Scott McCarey
Scott McCarey, PE, AICP has been a leader in multimodal transportation projects and programs in Boulder County for close to two decades. He has dual master’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Urban & Reginal Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. Scott has experience in transportation demand management (TDM), traffic engineering, regional transit planning, and bicycle & pedestrian infrastructure design. He is the Director of Transportation Services at CU – the department responsible for scheduling and operations of the Buff Bus. Scott holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Colorado and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Mike Mills (he/him/his)
I have studied global environmental issues including ozone loss, climate change, nuclear winter, and the global impacts of volcanic eruptions at NOAA, CU LASP, and NCAR before retiring in 2023.
Since retiring, I have become an active member of the Community Cycles Advocacy Committee, Boulder Progressives, and Neighbors United of South Boulder. In the spring of 2024, Boulder's city council appointed me to the city's Transportation Advisory Board.
I have been to all seven continents, including taking observations of the ozone hole at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. I have traveled north of the Arctic Circle on three different occasions, and have seen auroras in both hemispheres, as well as noctilucent clouds which shine from the edge of space over polar regions in mid-summer. I strive to avoid consuming animal products, and avoid driving.
Lucy O’Sullivan (she/her)
Lucy is in her final semester of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at CU Denver. She interns for the City of Boulder's Transportation Planning division, conducts research related to transportation equity and access at CU Denver, and serves as the Vice President of the WTS Colorado Student Chapter.
Lucy spent a summer leading kids on backpacking trips in the Rocky Mountains.
Monica Rotner (she/her)
Thirty plus year community member in South Boulder. Masters in Social Work with a focus on working with disempowered populations and building community integration through honest, respectful dialog and drive towards consensus built action.
Monica grew up mostly in Pakistan and Turkey, and this shaped her desire for community engagement, laughter and joy!
Eric S
Master of Urban and Regional Planning. Multimodal Transportation Researcher.
Eric lived car free in Russia for 2.5 years while serving in the Peace Corps.