Denver Initiated Ordinance 309 - Ban Slaughterhouses / Ordenanza Iniciada 309 - Prohibición de Mataderos
Placed on the ballot by a citizen initiative.Major ProvisionsRequires the currently-operating slaughterhouse to cease operations in Denver by January 1, 2026.Prohibits the construction, maintenance, or use of a slaughterhouse within the City & County of Denver.Requires the City & County of Denver to “prioritize” residents whose employment is affected by the ordinance for workforce training or employment assistance programs.BackgroundSuperior Farms is presently the only slaughterhouse in Denver and is one of the five largest lamb slaughterhouses in the United States, serving ranchers and farmers in Colorado and the surrounding region as well as providing meat for area restaurants, grocers and butchers. It is halal certified and is overseen by the US Dept of Agriculture (USDA). It consults with experts, including Temple Grandin of Colorado State University (CSU), on the humane treatment of animals. It has been in its current Globeville location since 1964 and employs 160 people who have ownership in the company and receive good benefits.Pro-Animal Future, a group that works to promote animal rights and end the consumption of meat, spearheaded the ballot initiative. Although not specific to this slaughterhouse, the group argues that slaughterhouses are polluters, and “nuisances” to nearby neighborhoods due to the odors they produce, and that emissions are a cause of climate change. Pro-Animal Future also cites working conditions in slaughterhouses, which it says are associated with higher workplace injuries, mental illnesses and addiction “due to the unique psychological harms experienced by slaughterhouse workers.”A variety of associations and unions affiliated with the meat industry are opposing this measure.A “Yes” vote requires the one currently operating slaughterhouse to cease operations in Denver by January 1, 2026 and would prohibit future slaughterhouses.A “No” vote would allow the slaughterhouse to continue to operate in Denver. (A variety of associations and unions affiliated with the meat industry are opposing this measure.)Ordenanza Iniciada 309 - Prohibición de MataderosAntecedentes: Actualmente el único matadero en Denver es Superior Farms y es uno de los cinco mataderos de cordero más grandes de los EE.UU., que atiende a ganaderos y agricultores en Colorado y la región circundante, además de proporcionar carne para restaurantes, tiendas de comestibles y carnicerías de la zona. Tiene certificación halal y es supervisado por el USDA. Consulta con expertos, como Temple Grandin de CSU, sobre el trato humanitario de los animales. Ha estado en su ubicación actual de Globeville desde 1964 y emplea a 160 personas que son propietarias de la empresa y tienen buenos beneficios.Pro-Animal Future, un grupo que trabaja para promover los derechos de los animales y poner fin al consumo de carne, encabezó la iniciativa electoral. Aunque no referido a ese matadero, el grupo argumenta que los mataderos contaminan y a los vecindarios cercanos debido a los olores que producen, y que las emisiones son una causa del cambio climático. Pro-Animal Future también cita las condiciones de trabajo en los mataderos, que dice que están asociadas con mayores lesiones en el lugar de trabajo, enfermedades mentales y adicción debido a los daños psicológicos únicos que experimentan los trabajadores de los mataderos”.Una variedad de asociaciones y sindicatos afiliados a la industria cárnica se oponen a esta medida.Disposiciones Principales:Requiere que el matadero que opera actualmente cese sus operaciones en Denver para el 1 de enero de 2026.Prohíbe la construcción, el mantenimiento o el uso de un matadero dentro de la ciudad y el Condado de Denver.Requiere que la Ciudad y el Condado a los residentes cuyo empleo se vea afectado por la ordenanza para la capacitación de la fuerza laboral o los programas de asistencia para el empleo.Un voto SÍ requiere que el matadero que actualmente opera cese sus operaciones en Denver para el 1 de enero de 2026 y prohibiría futuros mataderos.Un voto NO permitiría que el matadero continúe operando en Denver. (Una variedad de asociaciones y sindicatos afiliados a la industria cárnica se oponen a esta medida.)
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Yes - For the Measure
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No - Against the Measure
A YES vote requires the one currently operating slaughterhouse to cease operations in Denver by January 1, 2026 and would prohibit future slaughterhouses.
A NO vote would allow the slaughterhouse to continue to operate in Denver. (A variety of associations and unions affiliated with the meat industry are opposing this measure.)
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