3/11/19 Update:
The $15 minimum wage bill for Denver City and airport employees passed on March 11, 2019!
3/5/19 Update:
The $15 minimum wage bill for Denver city and airport employees 1st vote was passed by unanimous consent by Denver City Council on March 4, 2019. The bill will be voted upon a second, and final time, on Monday, March 11 at 5:30pm.
2/21/19 Update:
On February 14, 2019, joined by representatives of SEIU, DALF, Together Colorado, CIRC and UNITE HERE, Mayor Hancock and Council member Kniech announced the introduction of a bill to raise the minimum wage for DIA workers and other Denver-contracted workers as well as direct employees of the city. Over the next few weeks, the bill will be heard and voted upon by Denver City Council. Please join us for any of the dates below. The dates in bold are the highest priority.
- Tues 2/26 9:30a Mayor Council Meeting, Parr-Widener Community Room, Room 389, 3rd floor
- *Tues 2/26 1:30p FINGOV Committee Meeting, Room 391 the committee is voting on the bill and there is public comment, please contact me for more info
- *Mon 3/4 5p Public Comment | 5:30p Council Meeting, 4th Floor Chambers – 1st reading/vote
- Mon 3/11 5:30p Council Meeting, 4th Floor Chambers – 2nd reading / final vote
Original article: On January 28, 2019, Together Colorado Faith Leaders delivered a letter to Mayor Hancock and Denver City Council in support of Mayor Hancock’s initiative to raise the minimum wage for Denver City Employees to $15/hr and in support of the $15 minimum wage initiative for DIA workers that will be on the Denver City ballot in May 2019.
We want to extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Michael B. Hancock for his November announcement and to all the Denver City Council members who met with us on January 7 and again on January 28.
Read the Faith Leader letter:
“Dear Mayor Hancock and Denver City Council,
We the undersigned metro Denver faith leaders are excited to express our support of your proposal to increase the minimum wage for all City of Denver workers (including contractor, vendor, and tenant employees) to $15 per hour. All workers deserve to earn enough to live a life of dignity – in which they can shelter, feed and care for themselves and their families.
Many airport workers are forced to rely on public assistance for their basic needs, even while they work full-time jobs. This means taxpayers — who have already invested billions in airport subsidies — are also asked to make up the difference when employers choose to pay wages and benefits that fall short. People working full time should never be forced to live in poverty because their wages are so low.
As leaders in our faith communities throughout metro Denver, our various faith traditions call us to care for our neighbors. As members of an organization committed to putting human dignity at the center of public life in our state, we know that increasing the minimum wage for Denver City employees, including DIA workers, to $15 per hour is a right step to take.
We encourage your compassionate action as mayor of Denver and a prominent leader in the metropolitan region.
Signed by 111 Metro Denver Clergy and Faith Leaders.
- Imam Husayn Abdullah-Aziz, Ahl al-Bayt Assembly of America, Castle Pines
- Rev. Jessica Abell, Green Faith, Denver
- Ms. Sarah Adam Kirberg, Urban Servant Corps, Denver
- Rev. Lee Anderson-Harris, Trinity UMC, Denver
- Rev. Eric Banner, Unitarian Universalist, Denver
- Rabbi Eliot Baskin, Temple Emanuel, Denver
- Rev. Lee Berg, United Church of Christ, Boulder
- Rev. Bonita Bock, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Denver
- Mrs. Susan Bolduc, ELCA Lutheran Advocacy, First Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs
- Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, KAVOD Senior Life, Denver
- Rev. Cristina Bordes, Interfaith, Boulder
- Rabbi Deborah Bronstein, Congregation Har HaShem, Reform Judaism, Boulder
- Rev. Lewis F Brown, Sr., New Beginnings Cathedral of Worship, Aurora
- Rev. Bill Calhoun, Presbyterian, Denver
- Rev. Paul Carlson, ELCA, Denver
- Rev. Cole Chandler, Mountain States Mennonite Conference, Denver
- Rev. Robin Collins, Interfaith, Boulder
- Pastor Reg Cox, Lakewood Faith Coalition, Lakewood
- Rev. Ian Cummins, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Denver
- Rev. Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, First Congregational Church, Loveland
- Elder Norm Davey, The Way Church, Centennial
- Rev. Becky David Hensley, United Methodist, Denver
- Rev. Tawana Davis, Denver
- Rev. Jyoti DeVernie, Center for Spiritual Living Boulder Valley, Broomfield
- Rev. Sheila Dierks, Community in Discernment, Boulder
- Rev. Kelly Dignan, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Boulder
- Rev. Mary Ann Dimand, United Methodist Church, Arvada
- Rev. Tom English, United Methodist, Denver
- Pastor Kathy Escobar, The Refuge, Broomfield
- Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry, Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Lafayette
- Rabbi Brian Field, Judaism Your Way, Denver
- Fr. Robert Gallagher, Catholic, Colorado Springs
- Rev. Tammy Garrett-Williams Arvada
- Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny, Congregation Nevei Kodesh, Boulder
- Rabbi Bernard Gerson, Congregation Rodef Shalom (ret.), Denver
- Rev. Erin Gilmore, Rocky Mountain Conference, United Church of Christ, Denver
- Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith, Retired, Boulder
- Rabbi Fred Greene, Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder
- Rev. Jann Halloran, Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church, Centennial
- Dr. Christie Hanzlik, CS Christian Science, Boulder
- Rev. Amanda Henderson, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Denver
- Rev. Mark Hill, Cleaves Memorial CME Church, GMDMA, Denver
- Rev. Jeffrey Hirota, United Methodist Church, Mountain Sky Conference, Boulder
- Rev. Paul Howard, United Methodist, Denver
- Rev. Karen Howe, United Church of Christ, Louisville
- Pastor Terrence Hughes, New Covenant Christian Church, Denver
- Rev. Dr. Tracy Hughes, Mountain View United Church, Aurora
- Elder Jason Janz, Providence Bible Church, Denver
- Susan Kenney, Catholic, Lakewood
- Rev. Gordon Kieft, Calvary Baptist Church of Denver
- Kathleen Kindblade, St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, Denver
- Rev. Bill Kirton, United Methodist clergy, retired Denver
- Rev. Daniel Klawitter, Order of Saint Luke, Lakewood
- Sister Anna Koop, Sisters of Loretto, Housing the Homeless, Denver
- Rev. Paul Kottke, United Methodist, Greenwood Village
- Mr. Christopher Lamb, Intern Minster Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Fort Collins
- Rev. Bradley Laurvick, Highlands United Methodist Church, Denver
- Rev. Wayne Laws, Mountain View United Church, Aurora
- Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath, Campbell Chapel AME Church, Aurora
- Rev. Dana Lightsey, Unitarian Universalist Association, Boulder
- Deacon Judy Lounsberry, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Centennial
- Rabbi Evette Lutman, B’nai Havurah, Denver Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Denver
- Sister Patricia McCormick, Loretto Community, Denver
- Rev. Sally Megeath, Episcopalian, Denver
- Rev. Mark Meeks, Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, Bailey
- Rev. Andrew Midgyett, Shorter Community AME, Denver
- Rev. Fidel Butch Montoya, Latino Faith Initiative, Denver
- Rev. Mike Morran, First Unitarian Church of Denver
- Rev. Brian Morrow, Assumption Catholic Church, Weld
- Rabbi Anat Moskowitz, Congregation B’nai Torah, Westminster
- Pastor Doug Nelson, The Refuge, Arvada
- Min. Dr. Eric Nelson, Heritage Christian Center, Aurora
- Fr. Thomas Nelson, Congregation of the Mission, Denver
- Minister Jeff Neuman-Lee, Church of the Brethren, Denver
- Dr. H. Malcolm Newton, Denver Urban Institute, Denver
- Rev. David Nii, Community of Christ, Denver
- Minister Robbin Otey, AME Zion, Denver
- Dick Peterson, Athena Community, Denver
- Rev. Amy Petre Hill, Mountain View United Church, Aurora
- Rev. Dr. John Petty, All Saints Lutheran Church, Aurora
- Brother Scott-Michael Pomerenk, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Littleton
- Dr. Sandra Powell, Soul Care Full Gospel Center, Aurora
- Rev. Dr. Terry Purvis-Smith, Presbyterian, Denver
- Rev. Harriott Quin, Boulder Community UCC, Boulder
- Rev. Elizabeth Reinking, Epiphany Lutheran Church, ELCA Denver
- Rev. Dr. Vernon Rempel, Beloved Community Mennonite Church, Littleton
- Ms. Lisa Reynolds, Loretto Community, Denver
- Reverend Dr. Anne Rice-Jones, Rose of Sharon Tabernacle, Lakewood
- Rev. Ruth Rinehart, JUUST Living, Golden
- Pastor Rick Roberts, Legacy Grace CDC, Wheat Ridge
- Deacon Cindy Robles, ELCA, Aurora
- Pastor Nancy Rosas, Washington Park UCC, Denver
- Rev. Laura Rossbert, United Methodist, Denver
- The Reverend R. Justice Schunior, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Denver
- Rev. Simon Shadowlight, Mile Hi Church, Lakewood
- Rev. Pedro Silva, First Congregational Church, Boulder
- Rev. Val Stepien, Eyes of Compassion Sangha, Denver
- Marilyn Stranske, Chair Saint John’s Cathedral Faith in Action Commission, Denver
- The Rev. Dr. Laura Sugg Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church, Wheat Ridge
- Rev. Nadine Swahnberg, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Lakewood
- Pastor Caitlin Trussell, Augustana Lutheran Church, ELCA Denver
- Rev. Dr. Timothy Tyler, Shorter Community AME Church, Denver
- Rev. Jeni Umble Mennonite, Arvada
- Mr. AJ van Tine, Intern Minister Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Louisville
- Mrs. Marie Venner, Interfaith Power & Light – CO, Catholic Network, Lakewood
- Rev. Brigette Weier, Bethany Lutheran Church, Englewood
- Rev. Dr. Dana Wilbanks, Presbyterian Church (USA), retired Denver
- Rev. Wendy Williams, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden
- Rev. Dr. Gretchen Wilson, Presbyterian, Lakewood
- Pastor Sara Wirth, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Boulder
- Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Episcopalian, Denver