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PRESS RELEASE: Senate Passage Sends Local Wage Option to the Governor’s Desk

MEDIA STATEMENTS

May 3, 2019

Contact:      Jenny Davies: 720-296-9545, jenny@progressive-promotions.com

Lizeth Chacon: (720) 938-6588, lizeth@coloradopeoplesalliance.org

 

Senate Passage Sends Local Wage Option to the Governor’s Desk

Will put power back into the hands of local officials who know their communities best

 

DENVER – Today local officials, business owners and workers celebrated the passage of the Local Wage Option bill (HB 1210) and that the final bill is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature. The bill would restore local control for city and county officials in adjusting their own minimum wage.

 

The following statements may be attributed each advocate as noted:

 

Lizeth Chacon, Executive Director of Colorado People’s Alliance

“Hardworking Coloradans should be able to live and thrive in the communities where they work. Voters across the political spectrum support local control and this bill will allow cities and counties to decide a local minimum wage that makes sense for them. Working families are grateful it has passed in the Colorado legislature and are looking forward to the Governor signing the bill.”

 

Deven Shaff, Broomfield City Council Ward 3

“Over the years Broomfield has seen the cost of living raise while the wages, especially minimum wage, has not increased at the same pace. Local elected officials want to ensure that our residents and economy can prosper and this local wage option bill will offer Broomfield another tool to ensure our economy works for the entire community. As local elected officials continue to work with local employers, employees and community members on this issue, we can determine a minimum wage that will let our residents cover housing, food and other costs in Broomfield. A local minimum wage option enables us to further this conversation.”

 

Paolo Solorzano, Worker

“Everyone knows that the cost of rent has gone up much faster than wages have risen, especially in Aurora, where I live. I’m having a really hard time making my paycheck stretch far enough to afford rent and all of my basic bills like groceries and utilities. As someone who works hard every day as a server, I’m hopeful the Aurora city government will take up what the most appropriate minimum wage should be given how expensive it is to live here.”

 

Whitney Painter, owner of Buglet Solar Electric and Good Business Colorado member

“Our small local business pays competitive wages so that our workers can afford basic expenses and also have some money in their pockets to spend in our local economy. A stable workforce and consumer dollars support small businesses like ours,and help our community to proper. Local elected officials are best positioned to set a minimum wage that will ensure residents not just survive but thrive.”

 

The Colorado People’s Alliance is a racial-justice member-led organization that works for climate, economic and immigrant justice to improve the lives of all Coloradans.

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A Transit System for All: part 1

After years of working with community and allies to make transit for Coloradans accessible and affordable, RTD has not implemented an income based pass or pushed any other measure to address the concern of affordability. Its important for our community to be heard on this issue which is why COPA is launching a series of informational videos, the first of which was released today!

Sign our petition here calling on RTD to provide affordable transportation for the community!

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RTD Opens Inaccessible R Line, Ignores the Working Class

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2017

Contact: Lupita Carrasquillo, (773) 956-9596

lupita@coloradopeopleslliance.org

RTD Opens Inaccessible R Line, Ignores the Working Class

AURORA, CO-  Despite the struggle for low income communities to afford transportation to and from work, RTD chooses to spend Colorado tax dollars on beautification projects like the 30 million dollar beautification project in central Denver and ignore those communities. When presented the solution of creating an Income Based Pass that would reduce the cost of transit for people with low incomes, RTD instead suggested the community and nonprofit organizations fundraise the money.  The Income Based Pass Project would have been a fraction of the cost of the beautification project coming in at 11 million dollars. RTD is a public service and it is their responsibility to ensure that their service is available to all residents.

We believe RTD has ignored the needs of our community and prioritized projects that attract tourists instead of serving the very people whose tax dollars make any RTD project a possibility.

Today Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) disrupted the Opening Ceremony for the R Line at the Iliff Station. As the program began, COPA leaders and allies interrupted with a song calling for accessible transportation. Shortly after the group began to sing, they were escorted out from the ceremony and the program continued with RTD praising themselves for the new addition to the existing train system, an addition that regardless of location remains inaccessible to our community because of its high cost.

COPA has been engaged in the fight for more accessible and affordable public transportation for our communities that depend on our transit system for their everyday lives. We call on RTD to wisely utilize our resources to create transportation that is accessible to all, especially those who need it most. We call on RTD to ensure that working class people are served, represented, and prioritized instead of corporate interests which currently shape our communities.

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Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) is a racial justice, member-driven organization dedicated to advancing and winning progressive social change locally, statewide and nationally. COPA builds power to improve the lives of all Coloradans through leadership development, organizing and alliance building.