Proponents of Denver Initiated Ordinances 308 and 309 held a press conference at Broken Shovels Sanctuary in Henderson, Colorado, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Pro-Animal Future, an animal-rights group, proposed the measures, which would ban the sale of most fur products as well as a slaughterhouse in Denver. Donors have dug into their pockets for a combined $1.
Outside the campaigning on the proposed bans, the heavy fundraising is an indication that backers of measures without much in the way of organized opposition — like the large sales tax increases being sought to stabilize Denver Health’s finances, throughIn fact, supporters of the two tax committees still had $1.8 million left in mid-October to get their messages across during the final three weeks of election season, as voting began.
The combined amount opponents still had left to spend was more than the proponents had even raised. The Pro-Animal Denver committee reported fundraising of $303,270 — for spending on both 308 and 309 — but as of Oct. 14, it had just $7,309 left.Aidan Cook, the campaign director for Pro-Animal Future, said money poured into the opposing campaigns is a clear demonstration that animal agriculture lobbying groups “realize it’s a real threat to the business model of hyperindustrialized factory farms.
“Turns out, when you pick a fight with people whose livelihoods are on the line, they fight back,” he said of his campaign’s significant fundraising advantage.a nonprofit meat and poultry industry trade group; $83,000 from the Colorado Livestock Association; and $80,000 from the American Sheep Industry Association, headquartered in the south Denver suburbs.
No one has donated money to defeat Ballot Issue 2Q, the 0.34% sales tax designed to bring in $70 million per year to financially stabilize Denver Health, the city’s struggling social safety net hospital. The Healing Denver committee that is backing 2Q has raised $1.9 million, and as of Oct. 14, it still had nearly $700,000 left on hand. Major contributors include, an organization launched to back the campaign and tout the hospital’s benefits to the city. It has given more than $257,000.