Michael Bloomberg gives more big money for Denver flavored tobacco ban

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has written extra checks totaling $2.2 million to assist buttress the marketing campaign to save lots of Denver’s flavored tobacco ban, in line with a brand new finance report.

Bloomberg donated that quantity on to the pro-Referendum 310 marketing campaign over the past two weeks of October, as Tuesday’s election approaches. The report filed late Friday for the supporters’ marketing campaign, “Denver Children vs Massive Tobacco,” additionally included a $49,500 in-kind donation from Bloomberg cited for analysis.

The previous New York Metropolis mayor, a staunch opponent of the tobacco business, is now answerable for simply shy of $5 million of the $5.8 million in fundraising by the Denver marketing campaign, which has these days aired TV advertisements. A lot of the remainder of its help has come from the Tobacco-Free Children Motion Fund, in line with Denver’s campaign finance dashboard.

The Bloomberg cash has dwarfed fundraising by the primary opposition marketing campaign almost 9-to-1. That group, known as “Citizen Energy!”, has raised 646,311, together with 91,181 in the course of the Oct. 15-29 interval lined by the reviews due Friday.

A pacesetter of that marketing campaign beforehand characterised the combat as a “David vs. Goliath story.”

The opponents filed the petition to place Referendum 310 on the poll, in hopes of overturning an ordinance handed by the Metropolis Council late final 12 months. The poll measure asks Denver voters whether or not to retain the ordinance, which bans gross sales inside metropolis limits of most flavored tobacco and nicotine merchandise, from flavored vapes to menthol cigarettes.

Due to the way in which it’s worded, a “sure” vote would maintain the ordinance and a “no” vote — which is urged by the petitioners — would repeal it.

Colorado voter information: Tales and explainers for the 2025 election

The Citizen Energy! marketing campaign’s main supporters have been tobacco firms and vape retailer advocates, together with an area business affiliation.

They argue the town’s prohibition will harm many unbiased retailers, scale back tax income to the town and forestall adults from making their very own selections. Supporters of the ban say it is about protecting underage youth from shopping for flavored merchandise that would lure them into a lifetime of dependancy.

Donors to bond package deal committee

Elsewhere on Denver’s poll, the Vibrant Denver Bond committee on Friday reported elevating $376,900 in the course of the late-October reporting interval, bringing its total to more than $1.9 million. The marketing campaign was marshalled in help of Poll Points 2A by way of 2E, which might authorize $950 million in borrowing to pay for a slate of street tasks, constructing upgrades and different capital tasks throughout the town.