We don't have a billionaire on our side fighting for safe streets, so we are asking for your help.
As has been widely reported in the media, Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure scrapped a long-planned safety project on Alameda Avenue after the state's richest billionaire family intervened with a paid lobbyist on their behalf. The last-minute changes will water down safety and cost upwards of $100,000 while the city is struggling with a budget crisis and layoffs.
It is time we hold our city's leaders accountable. A Colorado Open Records request has been filed to obtain emails from June 4, 2025, the date DOTI leadership met with Jill Anschutz and her lobbyist, and August 14, 2025, when DOTI informed its private contractor that the construction project had been canceled due to "high-level community concerns."
Rather than be transparent with the communication that led to this decision, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is charging $1613.43 to release these emails. The Anschutz family can afford to hire lobbyists to meet with city leadership behind closed doors. We are asking the community to support our effort to shed light on this corrupt and broken process.
More background:
9News: Documents show pressure from Colorado's richest family may be behind pause on street safety project - https://youtu.be/_kEK6-rpG_A?si=7WCoruMA__1Tblut
9News: City of Denver defends changes made to road safety project after request from billionaire's family - https://youtu.be/5lWIqxtkwQ4?si=JnhjasRB4HwxN9qa
Denverite: City changes Alameda road diet plans after backlash (including from an Anschutz) - https://denverite.com/2025/11/10/alameda-road-diet-backlash/
Denverite: City met with a lobbyist before scaling back Alameda road narrowing project, public records show - https://denverite.com/2025/12/04/alameda-revised-road-plan-lobbyist/
Denverite: Safety ‘threatened’ by controversial Alameda Avenue plan, Denver council members warn - https://denverite.com/2026/01/02/alameda-avenue-road-diet-city-council-controversy/
Westword: Wash Park West Residents Call for City to Reverse Course on Road Diet - https://www.westword.com/news/wash-park-residents-slam-denver-officials-alameda-avenue-40816640/
Denver Post: Mayor Johnston, bowing to business interests and wealthy families, is moving Denver’s road safety backwards- https://www.denverpost.com/2025/12/17/denver-road-safety-mayor-mike-johnston/?share=moro1nn17efsaoeehkna