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Reposted by Dr. Lisa Calderón

Colorado Working Families Party @workingfamiliesco.bsky.social · 1d

Our State Director, @wjhowell.bsky.social's, full statement on the legislative retreat that took place in Vail this past weekend:
#copolitics #coleg

Colorado Working Families Party Statement on "Opportunity Caucus" Legislative Retreat
This is what corporate corruption in our state legislature looks like: bringing legislators to an all-expenses-paid retreat at an upscale hotel in Vail, for ‘trainings’ with corporate lobbyists. These are exactly the kind of behind-closed-doors big money special interest politics that alienate voters and erode trust in our democracy.

At a time when everyday Coloradans are struggling to afford housing, healthcare, utilities and other basic necessities, it’s galling to see some out-of-touch legislators choosing to spend their time mingling with corporate lobbyists at luxury retreats instead of working to solve real problems. Working Families Party members across the state are organizing for a government that puts the needs of everyday people above the wants of the greedy corporations that are jacking up prices on all of us. It’s time for our elected officials to decide whose side they’re really on.
-Wynn Howell, Colorado Families Party State Director

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 20h

Disillusioned with the Democratic Party? You’re not alone.

Meet Melat Kiros — daughter of Ethiopian immigrants, attorney, barista, scholar, & unapologetic progressive.

She’s taking on a 30-year incumbent to fight for working people in CD1

🗓️ Oct 16 — join us #MelatForCongress

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 10d

- Quantify how crime prevention programs cost less than expanding the policing budget

- Predict that his billionaire tech friends can’t buy him the next election 😎 5/5

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 10d

- Expand voting access instead of undermining the Clerk & Recorder

-Collaborate with City Council and the Auditor instead of bullying them

- Calculate that he can't "solve homelessness" by cutting eviction defense funds 4/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 10d

- Identify qualified leaders instead of political cronies

- State facts instead of lying about his “successes”

- Advise against retaliating against City workers and costly lawsuits 3/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 10d

- Manage Denver’s budget without scapegoating workers

- Forecast an economic downturn and stop overspending

- Save 170+ jobs instead of destroying their careers and livelihoods 2/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 10d

If Mayor Mike Johnston loves AI so much to replace Denver City workers, he should start with himself. 🤖

Here’s a list of things AI would handle better than Johnston:

Denver embraces AI as mayor tries to shrink government

The city is already using AI to cut its call center budget.

denverite.com

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 19d

Join us this Wed 9/24 for my house party for our friend Amie Baca Oehlert, former head of Colorado Education Association & candidate in CD8—one of the most competitive seats in the country!

Let's send a teacher & labor leader to Congress to represent working people. RSVP bit.ly/924hp

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 20d

Mayor Johnston is nominating an unqualified ally to run Denver’s most powerful safety agency with the largest budget.

Political cronyism erodes public trust when we need accountability most.

We need experienced, accountable leadership that protects our communities, civil liberties & tax dollars.

Denver Westword @westword.com · 20d

Why City Council should reject the nomination of Al Gardner as Executive Director of Public Safety.

Denver Needs Experienced Public Safety Leadership, Not Political Appointments

Why City Council should reject the nomination of Al Gardner as Executive Director of Public Safety.

www.westword.com

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · 20d

As the new Co-Chair of the Colorado Working Families Party, I'm excited for our progressive endorsements!

These powerhouse candidates made it through our competitive process & represent our values of advancing racial, social, and economic justice through grassroots organizing & electoral action.

Colorado Working Families Party @workingfamiliesco.bsky.social · 23d

We’re proud to announce our endorsements for the November 2025 election! Here are the candidates and campaigns ready to fight for working families. Now, let’s get them elected.

#copolitics

Colorado Working Families Party 2025 Endorsements
MUNICIPAL:
Aurora City Council At-Large: Alli Jackson
Aurora City Council Ward 1: Gianina Horton
Aurora City Council Ward 2: Amy Wiles
Boulder City Council: Lauren Folkerts
Boulder City Council: Nicole Speer
Centennial City Council Dist. 2: Ashish Vaidya
Fort Collins Mayor: Emily Francis
Fort Collins City Council Dist. 5: Zoelle Lane
Greeley Mayor: Tiffany Simmons
Littleton City Council Dist. 3: Amanda Henderson
Longmont City Council At-Large: Jake Marsing
Longmont City Council At-Large: Crystal Prieto
Pueblo City Council At-Large: Selena Ruiz-Gomez
Salida City Council Ward 3: Salty Riggs
Thornton City Council Ward 2: John Alge
SCHOOL BOARD:
Adams-Arapahoe 28J: Kristin Mallory
Denver Dist. 2: Xóchitl 'Sochi' Gaytán
Denver Dist. 3: Dr. DJ Torres
Denver Dist. 4: Monica Hunter
Poudre Dist. C: Karla Baise
Poudre Dist. D: Coronda Ziegler
Pueblo D60: Rae Carnevale
Pueblo D60: Tommy Farrell
BALLOT MEASURES:
Vote YES: Proposition LL (Statewide)
Vote YES: Proposition MM (STATEWIDE)
Vote YES: ADAMS 12 BALLOT ISSUE 5B
Vote NO: DENVER BALLOT ISSUE 2D
Vote YES: DENVER REFERRED QUESTION 2F
Vote NO: DENVER REFERRED QUESTION 2G
Vote YES: LARIMER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE 1A
Vote YES: LARIMER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE 1B
Vote NO: CITY OF PUEBLO BALLOT QUESTION 2C
Vote YES: CITY OF PUEBLO BALLOT QUESTION 2D

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

Laid-off City workers are showing courage. They are not walking away quietly.

They are demanding justice—not just for themselves, but for all City workers living in fear. They are not alone.

We see you.
We believe you.
We support you.

The resistance movement has begun. ✊🏾💜 8/8

Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

Mayor Johnston promised transparency. Instead, Councilmembers were left in the dark, and dedicated city workers were blindsided and traumatized.

Career protections were stripped. Processes changed overnight. Workers were evaluated under new, secretive criteria. Just like DOGE. 7/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

The appeals represent the tip of the iceberg.

Workers are organizing—challenging retaliation, discrimination & political targeting.

It's about more than budget cuts. It's about holding a millionaire mayor accountable for replacing dedicated workers with inexperienced cronies. 6/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

These workers aren’t “disgruntled”. They are dedicated public servants. They were silenced—until now.

The City forced workers to choose: accept a severance agreement & stay quiet, or appeal & fight back.

These 10 chose the harder path. Their voices are just the beginning. 5/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

9 of the 10 appellants allege age discrimination. Senior staff with institutional knowledge were targeted. That’s not cost-saving. That’s ageism.

These layoffs were not neutral or necessary.

They disproportionately impacted senior staff, women, people of color, and caregivers. 4/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

The appeals list serious issues:

- Age discrimination (9 of the 10)
- Sex and race discrimination
- Disability discrimination
- Political retaliation for criticizing Mayor Johnston. This is whistleblower punishment.

These are not isolated grievances. This is a pattern. 3/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

10 laid-off Denver workers have filed appeals alleging discrimination, retaliation, and political targeting for criticizing the Mayor.

They gave up severance pay to fight for justice.

That’s courage—and it’s just the beginning. 2/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 9

Denver City workers are rising up & fighting back!

They're filing appeals, speaking out, and organizing after being unjustly targeted in mass layoffs under Mayor Mike Johnston.

This is just the beginning—and they’re not alone. We're meeting this week with even more of them. 1/

The Denver Post @denverpost.com · Sep 9

Ten former Denver city employees have filed appeals challenging their layoffs, according to documents obtained by The Denver Post.

Several said they thought they were retaliated against for speaking out against Mayor Mike Johnston.

Laid-off Denver city employees file appeals alleging discrimination

Several of the former city workers said they thought they were retaliated against for speaking out against Mayor Mike Johnston.

trib.al

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

We need fighters rooted in working-class struggles, not corporate boardrooms.

We need movement builders, not political career seekers.

The best thing establishment Dems can do is pass the torch to a new generation of leaders who will fight for our future. 8/8

Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

Bottom line: this poll isn’t just about billionaire-backed uninspiring politicians. It’s about the crisis of representation in Colorado.

People want leaders who fight for them—not status quo bureaucrats chasing careers and wealthy donors.

Colorado voters deserve better. 7/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

Progressive candidates show what’s possible: leaders who will fight for affordable housing, fair wages, quality education, and justice at home & abroad.

They know that the people who are closest to the pain should be closest to the power. 6/

Billionaires aren't going to save us.

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

But now, Colorado has real alternatives for Congress:

-Amie Baca Oehlert, a lifelong educator & union leader running for CD8 to fight for schools, workers & families

-Melat Kiros, an attorney running for CD1 to root out corruption in politics, restore voting rights, & return power to the people 5/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

Their refusal to stand up against the genocide in Gaza—and even voting to fund it is the height of hypocrisy: preaching democracy at home while ignoring justice abroad.

They should be ashamed of doing nothing while every day children are being bombed and starved to death. 4/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

These “moderates” have built careers aligned with corporate interests, supported Trump nominees, while acting like they've been fighting for us.

They continue to fail up while working-class Coloradans fall further behind. 3/

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Dr. Lisa Calderón @lisafordenver.bsky.social · Sep 8

Colorado voters don’t want Polis, Bennet, Hickenlooper [or Johnston]—and disdain both parties—68% negative versus 30% positive.

The Democrat Party’s strategy of propping up “safe” incumbents backed by wealthy donors who profit from the status quo isn't working. 2/

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