By Noah Festenstein | Colorado Politics
If Denver’s ballot measure to ban slaughterhouses is approved by voters in November, it could cost Colorado’s economy up to $861 million and impact nearly 3,000 jobs, according to a study by Colorado State University’s Regional Economic Development Institute.
Denver voters will be asked, “Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance prohibiting slaughterhouses, and, in connection, beginning January 1, 2026, prohibiting the construction, maintenance, or use of slaughterhouses within the City; and requiring the City to prioritize residents whose employment is affected by the ordinance in workforce training or employment assistance programs?”
Pro-Animal Future, a group that works to protect animal rights, introduced the ballot measure.
The group argues that slaughterhouses are “nuisances” to nearby neighborhoods due to the odors they produce and the controversial nature of slaughtering animals.