Growing Pueblo’s Future ramps up message ahead of November’s vote
Plans for a fundraising dinner and presence at the State Fair.
Growing Pueblo’s Future is increasing its efforts to educate voters about the upcoming Nov. 8 election initiative to ban commercial marijuana in Pueblo County, with plans to be a part of the Colorado State Fair parade, on Aug. 27.
“It’s visibility,” says group spokesperson Jim Parco. “This is not a campaign between elitists and politicians. This is about working people who could lose their jobs, and lost revenue here in Pueblo, if this passes. The state fair is an ideal place to get that message across.”
Parco says the parade float, which is still in the planning stages, will feature the group’s signage and message, but they will not be tossing out candy to kids, as is common with most parade entrants.
“This is not for the kids, we will not be tossing things out for children. This is about the message of voting no, and keeping cannabis prohibition away from Pueblo.”
The group also plans to set up a booth at the fair, to talk directly to anyone who has questions about the ballot measure.
“We are doing lots of events to educate people about the voting no,” Parco said. “That one-on-one interaction, we hope, will help people understand that we are the people who have jobs in this industry, and we are the ones who could lose these jobs.”
Growing Pueblo’s Future will also join forces with the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce to hold a fundraising cocktail and dinner party Friday night, at the Center for American Values. In an effort to pad its coffers, tickets range from $100 for a guest, to $1,000 for a host acknowledgement.
“A campaign like this is not cheap,” Parco says. “This is our first fundraising event, and the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce suggested the ticket price. They’ve done this before, and we feel confident we can get a good turnout.”
