Denver voters await stress proposal

DENVER, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Denver voters feeling stressed out these days will get a chance this fall to do something about it.

The local November ballot will contain a proposal to order city government to "ensure public safety" by adopting and promoting "stress-reducing techniques or programs," USA Today reports.

The anti-stress election proposal, believed to be a first in the nation, doesn't tell Denver's local government how to do it, merely to work for it.

The measure's author, Denver activist Jeff Peckman, suggests soothing music in public places, improved nutrition in school lunches and other calming steps.

On the surface, Denver, population 560,000, would hardly seem a city of stress. It's perennially near the top of various quality-of-life surveys and rankings, crime rates are relatively low and the weather averages 300 sunny days a year. And some would say most Denverites already know where best to relieve stress: more than 60 percent have public library cards.