Elections 2022: The Mile High Seven
Denver voters will weigh in on seven questions, including three initiated by citizens groups. The following are short descriptions, along with major contributors supporting and opposing the initiated campaigns. (Note: Campaign finance information for three of the referred measures — 2J, 2K and 2L — were not detailed at the Denver Clerk & Recorder’s dashboard as of press time. Check denver.maplight.com/public/issue for updated and searchable information for updated campaign finance information.)
No Eviction Without Representation — 305
Would establish a fund for legal representation for people who face loss of housing due to being evicted.
Top contributors:
American Civil Liberties Union, Inc.: $23,438
Democratic Socialists of America: $6,000
Communications Workers of America: $5,000
Denver DSA: $4,400
9to5 National Association of Working Women: $3,250
Nick Chambers: $3,100
Justin Morgan: $2,100
Ryan Rasmussen: $2,002
Mitchell Weldon: $1,537
Justin Morgan: $1,350
Total reported contributions as of Sept. 23: $79,088
No opposing group registered
Waste No More — 306
Would require multifamily residential, nonresidential premises and food waster producers to offer recycling and/or organic material diversion. Would apply to grocery stores, hotels, hospitals, airport, event centers, food wholesalers, restaurants, shopping centers, farmers markets, food banks, etc. These entities are not currently required to participate in recycling or composting.
Top contributors in support of 306:
Conservation Colorado: $40,000
Peoples Climate Campaign: $5,546
The Junk Trunk: $1,060
Thomas Riggle: $1,000
EcoCycle: $1,000
Anna Perks: $1,000
Eco-cycle: $780
Elizabeth Anderman: $250
Eco – Cycle INC: $200
Ean Tafoya for Mayor: $143
Total reported contributions as of Sept. 23: $53,361
The group opposing 306 is called Common Sense Solutions for Denver
Top contributors opposed to 306:
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce: $1,750
Downtown Denver Partnership: $1,750
Denver Metro Commercial Association of REALTORS: $1,750
Colorado Concern: $1,750
Apartment Association of Metro Denver: $1,750
AGC of Colorado: $1,750
Denver Metro Building Owners & Managers Association: $1,750
NAIOP Colorado: $1,750
Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association: $1,750
Home Builders Association of Metro Denver: $1,750
Total reported contributions as of Sept. 23: $17,500
Denver Deserves Sidewalks — 307
Would establish a dedicated fund to create a master sidewalk plan for Denver and establish a new fee to pay for sidewalks.
Top contributors:
Bicycle Colorado: $232,776
Jill Locantore: $24,000
Bicycle Colorado: $8,259
Healthier Colorado: $5,404
Craig Hospital: $5,000
Conservation Colorado: $5,000
Tom Carden: $2,000
Komran Rashidov: $2,000
YIMBY Denver: $1,000
Carol Friesen: $1,000
Total reported contributions as of Sept. 23: $234,903
No opposing group registered
Strong Library Strong Denver — 2I
Property tax increase to fund library services.
Top contributors:
Denver Public Library Friends Foundation: $150,000
Robert Sarlo: $2,500
D.A. Yale: $2,500
Michelle Jeske: $1,000
Jeff Riley: $1,000
Hansen Communications: $1,000
Cody Belzley: $1,000
Amy Brimah: $1,000
Lawson Parker: $500
Cathy Lucas: $400
Total reported contributions as of Sept. 23: $162,692
No opposing group registered
Lifting TABOR limits on the climate tax — 2J
Would allow the city to keep collecting a 0.25% sales tax for climate action initiatives in the manner voters approved two years ago.
Lifting TABOR limits on tax for homeless programs — 2K
Would allow the city to continue to collect a 0.25% sales tax increase for homelessness programs.
Denver ballot modernization — 2L
This measure would make a handful of changes to the city charter to update the way the city handles elections, including a “single subject” requirement for new ballot initiatives.