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Advocates behind Denver billboard campaign push for community safety funding in 2026 budget



DENVER (KDVR) — You may have noticed new bus shelter ads around Denver. They’re part of a growing campaign, “Get Real Denver,” urging city leaders to fund community-led solutions in the 2026 budget.

The campaign is led by the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and joined by more than 40 partners. 

“We are seeing a drop in violence and crimes, we cannot afford to lose ground with these budget cuts,” said Kym Ray, the Denver campaign coordinator.

She says CCJRC is asking the city to fund a $5 million community-led safety grant program in next year’s budget. Advocates say the money would go to organizations focused on prevention, intervention, victim support and reducing recidivism.

“What we would hope to see is, one, stabilization of the organizations that do the work, but also an expansion,” said Ray. “So, we want this money to go deep into the community.”

Over the past decade, organization leaders say CCJRC has implemented state level grant programs, but recent budget cuts totaling more than $2.5 billion from the Department of Justice have left gaps in local services.

“So, organizations like your struggle of love, your lifelines, those organizations that are already doing this work but just could use the funding to help expand,” said Ray. “For an example, let’s say there’s a shooting. Lifeline jumps in, offers support to the families, actually keeps things calm enough so then there’s not that retaliation aspect.”

The goal is simple: Stop harm before it happens.

“Traditional law enforcement usually intervenes after it has already happened, so it’s a very response sort of situation,” said Ray.

Advocates like Ray say community-led programs aim to prevent escalation from the start.

 “We are not trying to replace policing, but Denver currently, when folks are talking about public safety … we invest in our cops and our courts, and you know our jails but that we really need to take a more holistic approach to public safety,” said Ray. “That’s the prevention and the intervention and even what happens after the harm has happened.

FOX31 also reached out to the Denver Mayor’s Office for comment on the campaign and the proposed funding, but have not yet received a response.

Advocates encourage Denver residents to attend the city council’s public hearing on the 2026 budget Monday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

You can find out more about the initiative through the campaign’s website.

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