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August 19, 2025
Dear CO-CURE,
Big news: CCJRC just released new polling showing that Denver voters overwhelmingly support investing in community-led solutions for prevention, intervention, victim support, and recidivism reduction to improve public safety.
Here’s what Denver voters said loud and clear:
- Focus on root causes. Prevention, intervention, and support services are seen as smarter, more effective solutions than more criminal legal interventions.
- Prioritize community-led services. Residents want trusted organizations in their neighborhoods to lead this work.
- Invest in what works. Voters support public funding for community-led safety strategies that reduce harm and strengthen neighborhoods.
At the same time, we’re launching Get Real Denver: Real Community Safety, with a campaign to secure $10 million in the 2026 Denver budget for a Community-Led Public Safety Grant Program.
📩 Please sign on to the letter to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston — and share it with your networks. The mayor is drafting the 2026 budget right now — let’s make sure he hears Denverites loud and clear: it’s time to fund community-led safety.
No matter where you live in Denver or how much money you have, we all deserve to feel safe in our city. We know it’s a tough budget year, but that’s even more reason to invest public safety dollars wisely. Critical federal funds have already been cut, more cuts are on the horizon, and private philanthropy alone will never provide the level of funding needed to support community efforts to make Denver safer. By making meaningful public investments in community-led solutions, Denver can fill the missing piece in our public safety strategy — real community engagement — and show that the city is genuinely responsive to its residents.
In solidarity,
Kym Ray
Denver Campaign Coordinator
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC)
821 22nd St. Denver, CO 80205 • 
