Oppose the state takeover of RTD.
Without any community input, and with little public attention, some members of the Colorado State Legislature are attempting a hostile takeover of RTD. SB 24-1447 would take away your right to vote for your own RTD board representative. This naked power grab will result in less service, less accountability and less value for our tax dollar.
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"Welcome to Hands Off RTD! Our transit system is vital to the health of the entire Denver region. We need your help in stopping the state takeover of RTD to make sure our transit and taxes are protected. No RTD taxation without LOCAL representation.
-- Kate Williams, former RTD Board Member
Why It Matters.
Its our money. It's our vote. Elected officials sometimes forget who's money it is they are fighting over. Its ours. Voters in the Denver Metro pay taxes to RTD for the transportation services they provide. We taxed ourselves in 2004 to build the FasTracks system. As future decisions are made about service levels, routes and budgets we demand to be represented by local representatives who know our communities and who are accountable to us. We don't need politicians choosing representatives who are accountable to them.
This proposal undoes decades of advocacy by Latino and Disability communities, who fought to create the current system with RTD’s directly elected 15 director districts in the 1980’s, through the collective efforts of Citizens for Accountable RTD. That work led to the creation of the current elected positions through a statewide vote. The ballot initiative was supported and advocated by Chicano and Disability activists who wanted representation and accountability from RTD for their communities. This proposal is a step backward for disadvantaged and minority communities.
Click the link above to read the legislation and learn more about how the RTD takeover plan will take away your voice and your vote:
What People Are Saying:
Mike Johnston, Denver Mayor
“We are significantly impacted by any proposed changes to the RTD governance structure, and we are concerned that the introduced version of the legislation diminishes Denver’s representation,”
- Colorado Public Radio
Paul Rosenthal, RTD Board Director
"This is a hostile takeover by the Colordado Department of Transportation and the State of Colorado. They're doing this so they can control our agency, our assets, our busses and trains, and our revenue sources."
- Denver Post 4/13/24
Please Act Now.
With your help, we can stop the RTD takeover in its tracks!
Please sign our petition.
Join Us.
Join our email list and stay informed. Or reach us with questions or ideas at: info@handsoffrtd.com