Denver's business community is anticipating potential shifts as policies favored by democratic socialists gain momentum in Colorado, with local owners and representatives expressing concerns about rising costs and the economic realities of implementing progressive platforms. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, a nonpartisan organization representing a broad spectrum of businesses, has noted a trend toward increased regulation and higher taxes in the state.
J.J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, stated that while the rhetoric of progressive policies may sound appealing, their practical application often clashes with economic necessities. "I want pro-business. I'll settle for not crazy," Ament said, reflecting a sentiment among some business leaders who worry about the impact of single-party control on the business climate.
Affordability has emerged as a key issue for Denver voters, contributing to the success of candidates like Melat Kiros, who won a Democratic primary against a long-serving incumbent. Kiros's platform includes proposals such as raising corporate taxes and the federal minimum wage. Ament suggested that some policies, like minimum wage increases, may inadvertently harm the workers and small businesses they are intended to benefit. He added that Denver's growth, coupled with a housing shortage, has exacerbated affordability challenges, increasing the cost of doing business.
Local business owners are also confronting increased crime, drug use, and public safety issues, which they correlate with the city's population growth. Brad Deen, service manager at Import Mechanics, noted a significant rise in visible homelessness and open-air drug use compared to previous years. In response, business owners in the South Broadway area formed a General Improvement District to fund private security and cleaning services through a self-imposed tax, aiming to improve the area's appeal to customers. Deen expressed reservations about further tax increases, particularly on corporations, fearing the eventual impact on small businesses' ability to offer raises and benefits.
Jamie Sanchez, owner of The Drip Café and founder of a homeless ministry, has experienced vandalism, graffiti, and threats, which he attributes to targeted protests related to his Christian outreach ministry's beliefs on sexuality. Sanchez stated that protesters, identifying as Denver Communists, aim to harm his business by discouraging customers. The Denver Communists group, while not affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), shares some broader anti-capitalist and socialist goals. They maintain their protest is against homophobia and transphobia, not Christianity itself, and view businesses with specific religious beliefs as part of a larger opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
Melat Kiros has previously addressed concerns about the presence of communists within the broader Democratic Party, stating there is room for diverse viewpoints. She has also characterized the appeal of democratic socialism among younger voters as a form of "economic populism." Business owners like Sanchez remain concerned about how aligning with socialist or communist viewpoints in local government could affect businesses with differing ideologies.
Sanchez emphasized a belief in divine guidance amidst these challenges, stating, "But overall, I trust God and what he's doing, so I don't have any fear about that either."