2 weeks Ago
As commissioners from Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties, we don’t always agree on political issues. Yet, all three county commissions oppose the proposal on the ballot in Denver this November, Initiated Ordinance 309, which would ban slaughterhouses within city limits. This measure is not in line with the Front Range need for continued agricultural support.
It unfairly focuses on a Colorado business that is employee-owned, threatens hundreds of jobs, and does nothing to improve animal welfare. Initiated Ordinance 309 is a misguided attempt to address concerns about animal welfare and environmental sustainability, but it fails on both counts. Superior Farms, the sole slaughterhouse in Denver, has operated for 70 years, employing 160 people — over 90% of whom are people of color.
This ban would not only put these workers out of a job but also jeopardize thousands of other jobs throughout the region, from ranchers to truck drivers and indirectly impact restaurant owners and workers. In total, over 2,700 jobs could be at risk, along with $861 million in economic impact, according to an independent study conducted by researchers at Colorado State University. The anti-agriculture sentiment behind this ban sends a dangerous message to Colorado’s broader agricultural community.
Agriculture plays a crucial role in our regional economy, and a measure like this could have a chilling effect across our communities. We rely on local meat processors like Superior Farms to support our ranchers and our local food supply. If this ban passes, livestock will need to be transported out of state for processing, which increases costs and emissions, hurting both consumers and the environment.
Denver is a city that eats meat. Banning local meat production won’t stop people from consuming it; it will just drive up costs as we’ll need to import more meat from other states. This will hurt working families already struggling with rising costs the most.
Additionally, with less than 2% of our food produced locally, Colorado should be focused on bolstering local food security, not undermining it. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has made significant investments to support local meat processors, recognizing their importance for national food security. Instead of expanding local processing capacity, Denver’s Initiated Ordinance 309 sends the wrong message: that we don’t want these essential businesses here.
This is particularly shortsighted given the challenges our ranchers face, from supply chain disruptions to the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Local meat processing plays a critical role in addressing climate issues. Regenerative agriculture, which integrates livestock into farming systems to sequester carbon, is an essential tool in the fight against climate change.
But for ranchers to adopt these practices, they need nearby processing facilities. Forcing them to transport livestock to Oklahoma or Texas would undermine these efforts by increasing carbon emissions from additional distance in transportation. Proponents of the ban argue it’s necessary to improve animal welfare.
Yet, Superior Farms is a leader in humane animal treatment. The facility was designed with input from world-renowned animal welfare expert Temple Grandin and produces Halal-certified meat, which ensures humane treatment throughout the entire lifecycle of the animal. Initiative Ordinance 309 is the wrong approach for Denver and the region.
It will harm local workers, weaken our food security, and hurt efforts to combat climate change. It unfairly targets a single business while failing to address the broader issues of animal welfare and environmental sustainability. We urge Denver voters to say “no” to Initiated Ordinance 309.
Let’s protect these jobs and our local food supply chain. Kevin Ross, one of Weld County’s two at-large county commissioners, is currently the chairman of the board. Ashley Stolzmann, District 3 Boulder County commissioner, is currently chairman of the board.
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