Elected Leaders, Community Advocates Gather at Denver City Council to Demand Real Safety
Morning rally urges City Council to back community-led safety funding ahead of tonight’s budget hearing
DENVER, CO — Elected leaders and community advocates joined the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC) and its Get Real Denver campaign this morning on the steps of the Denver City & County Building, calling on the city to “get real” about public safety by investing in community-led crime prevention, violence intervention, and victim support programs.The news conference was assembled just hours before this evening’s City Council public budget hearing, where Denver residents are expected to fill the chamber at 5:30 p.m. to testify in support of the proposed Community-Led Safety Grant Program. The proposal would dedicate $5 million in funding to community-led programs that intervene upstream of the criminal legal system to stop harm before it starts.
“When communities are trusted and resourced, safety grows, crime decreases, violence is prevented, and those at risk of both committing violence and experiencing it are supported,” CCJRC’s Denver Campaign Coordinator Kym Ray said. “That’s why CCJRC — alongside 50 community organizations across Denver — are calling for a Community-Led Safety Grant Program in the 2026 budget, an investment that recognizes what our neighborhoods are already building and gives them the support to scale it up.”Speakers at the morning event included city and state elected officials, local service providers, and coalition members who have led this work for years—often without consistent financial support. Banners and signs displayed outside the City and County Building carried the campaign’s message: Real community safety means stopping harm before it starts.
Councilwoman Jamie Torres“When we talk about real community solutions, it’s like bookends,” said Councilwoman Jamie Torres. “It’s never just one side that gets support, and that’s our police response. It is also the proactive side where we’re making sure that our nonprofits and our community-based organizations not only are working with young people but are actually delivering results in their futures and in our communities’ safety. And I think we have a huge opportunity to do this.”
State Senator Julie Gonzales“Community safety is at the front of all Coloradans' minds. Right now, we send over $1 billion to the Department of Corrections,” said State Senator Julie Gonzales. “Our budgets are moral documents, and I truly believe we can make different decisions.”
Adrien Williams, Life-Line Colorado“Before I stood here, I was that young man growing up in the streets. Programs like Life-Line Colorado changed my life,” said Adrien Williams, Life-Line’s Director of Violence Interruption. “I went from being a part of the problem to a part of the solution, stopping violence where it happens and connecting families to resources and hope.
“This work isn't about punishment,” Williams added, “it's about prevention. But to keep doing this work and grow we need continued support.”
Rebecca Tiell-Krekeler, TheBlueBench.org“At The Blue Bench, we stand with survivors of sexual assault every single day — people who have experienced unimaginable harm and who are working to heal, to reclaim safety, and to rebuild their lives. We see their courage and resilience. But we also see the gaps,” said Rebecca Tiell-Krekeler. “Every dollar we invest in prevention saves countless lives, reduces long-term costs, and builds a safer Denver for everyone. When survivors are supported, when youth are educated, when communities are equipped to intervene early—that is what public safety looks like.”
Tonight’s public hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 450. Residents can testify in person, virtually, or submit written comments before 3 p.m.