Boulder council hears broad public comment on divestment, declines immediate overhaul of investment policy

Councilmember Taisha Adams on Thursday asked the Boulder City Council to reopen a review of the city’s investment policy to consider tighter restrictions, including further limits on weapons-related investments and additional values-based screens.

The request followed more than an hour of public comment in which dozens of residents urged the council to divest from companies they said profit from war and human-rights abuses. Speakers named firms such as Caterpillar, Toyota, Microsoft and Cisco as examples; others framed the request in terms of climate and ethical investing.

Adams said the update would build on prior council work and recent state and international events. “Given the current state of our climate, our commitment to the climate, and…concerns about weapons investment, I’m asking we revisit our protocols and deepen our commitment,” Adams said during the agenda item introducing the request.

Council discussion was wide-ranging. Several members flagged practical limits: Interim Chief Financial…