Initiated Ordinance 309 on Denver’s ballot would ban slaughterhouses in the city. There is only one such facility operating in Denver currently — and it accounts for up to 20% of the United States’ lamb processing capacity.
The initiative is spearheaded by a group called Pro-Animal Future, which also placed a fur ban on Denver’s ballot in the Nov. 5 election. If it passes, it would directly impact Superior Farms’ Lamb Slaughter and Processing Facility on North Clarkson Street, just west of the South Platte River in Globeville.
The facility is roughly 70 years old. It has 160 workers who are predominantly Latinos, according to Ian Silverii, a Democratic consultant who’s the spokesman for the campaign to defeat the initiative.
What would 309 do if passed?
The initiative would prohibit the construction, maintenance or use of any slaughterhouses in Denver. It would take affect on Jan. 1, 2026, requiring the Superior Farms facility to move or shut down.
The initiative would require the city to “prioritize residents whose employment is affected by the ordinance in workforce training or employment assistance programs.”
What would be the broader impact?
Researchers at Colorado State University explored three scenarios for potential economic fallout if the ban passes. The best-case scenario was that 80% of lost economic activity would shift elsewhere in Colorado. The state’s economy would shed just under 700 jobs and a little over $215 million of economic activity.
In a worst-case scenario, Colorado could lose 2,787 jobs and $861 million in economic activity, according to the report. When Pro-Animal Future asked an expert from the University of Colorado Denver to review the CSU report, he questioned some of the findings.
What do supporters say?
Supporters see the initiative as a necessary step to reduce Denver’s participation in the slaughterhouse industry, which they say mistreats animals, has a detrimental impact on the environment and contributes to climate change. They see the proposed ordinance, alongside the fur ban initiative, as an opportunity for Denver voters to decide how they view and treat animals.
What do opponents say?
Opponents say the ban would hurt businesses, workers and the Colorado economy. They say it would leave a lot of people without work and would take away a large source of taxable revenue from the city. They also express doubt that closing the slaughterhouse will have the positive environmental impact that supporters of the ballot measure claim it will, since the activity may be relocated elsewhere. Opponents also say shuttering the facility won’t change consumers’ meat-consumption habits.
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