In January of this year, the Denver Climate Action Task Force was launched, bringing together 26 Denver residents from a variety of communities: youth, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), environmental conservation, labor, small business, and the energy, real estate, waste, transportation, and hospitality industries. The Task Force included two representatives of the Denver Streets Partnership coalition, Piep van Heuven from Bicycle Colorado and Naomi Amaha from the American Heart Association. The group’s goal was to develop a comprehensive set of policy recommendations for Denver to tackle the climate crisis over the next 10 years.
In June, the Task Force published its Recommendations Report along with a recommendation to increase the sales tax 0.25% to fund the recommended strategies, meaning a 25 cent tax on every $100 purchase. This would raise between $36 -$40 million each year. City Council sent this recommendation to the November ballot with a near-unanimous vote. Denverites will now vote on Proposition 2A as soon as October 10th.
Why is the Denver Streets Partnership endorsing 2A?
Programs that this funding will help support include a more frequent and accessible bus system, citywide micromobility or “last mile” options, car-free and “car-lite” streets, and fully completed bike and pedestrian networks. 2A targets half of the revenue raised, over the life of the fund, to communities that have historically been polluted and left behind. Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately hurt by climate change, with higher rates of asthma, more pollution, and infrastructure that is less prepared for the impacts of climate change.
If passed, Proposition 2A will position Denver as a statewide and nationwide leader on climate action and citywide multimodal transportation. We’re all about it.
To learn more about Proposition 2A and what you can do to ensure Denver votes YES, attend one of Climate Action Denver’s free, informational Town Halls.
Want to get more involved? Sign up here to call voters about how important this ballot initiative is for Denver.
Paid for by Yes on 2A Climate Action Now