Mayor Yemi Mobolade of Colorado Springs, along with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, has sent a joint letter to Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado General Assembly as the 2026 legislative session begins. The letter outlines several shared priorities, including reforms in competency and mental health treatment, artificial intelligence legislation, crime affecting local businesses, and the safeguarding of voter-approved funding for housing and public safety.
This marks the third time the mayors have collaborated on such a communication. In their letter dated January 8, 2026, they addressed key concerns facing their cities.
“As mayors with varying political affiliations representing the three largest cities in our state, we are writing to share several key priorities aimed at protecting and improving the quality of life for Coloradans. With the 2026 legislative session beginning, issues around competency and mental health, economic vitality, and protecting voter-allocated funding remain the most important concerns facing our cities,” they wrote.
The mayors highlighted ongoing challenges related to individuals involved in the justice system who have not received sustained care or treatment. They referenced changes enacted under HB24-1034 that require courts to dismiss charges when a defendant is found incompetent and unlikely to be restored. According to the letter: “Under current law, individuals who are clearly in need of treatment may be released back into the community without appropriate placement, supervision, or ongoing care…In practice, this can result in individuals who pose ongoing public-safety risks cycling back onto the streets. Earlier this year, two innocent people were stabbed to death on 16th Street in Denver by an individual who had previously been deemed incompetent and released—one tragic example highlighting gaps in the current system.”
The mayors expressed support for reforms that would expand alternative placement options for those found incompetent and provide more flexibility for judges and district attorneys. “We believe mental health care and rehabilitation are essential to addressing crime, but they must be paired with appropriate placement and accountability to protect public safety,” they stated.
Regarding artificial intelligence legislation passed as SB24-205 in 2024—which was delayed until June 30th, 2026—the mayors noted that it has created uncertainty for Colorado’s economy and local governments. They said: “Without reform, the law risks slowing innovation and investment, driving jobs out of Colorado, and imposing millions of dollars in implementation costs at a time of serious budget constraints.” They called for collaborative legislative solutions that balance consumer protection with innovation.
On retail theft and its impact on small businesses—a trend intensified by recent Supreme Court decisions—the mayors argued that current laws make it difficult for local law enforcement to address repeat offenders effectively. “As municipalities face further restrictions on their authority to detain, hold, or sentence shoplifters and repeat offenders…the burden of these policies falls squarely on small and locally owned businesses,” they wrote. The letter urges legislators to lower felony shoplifting thresholds.
The final priority addressed is ensuring communities retain access to voter-allocated funds from Proposition 123 (affordable housing) and Proposition 130 (public safety). The mayors requested that legislators refrain from redistributing these funds away from their intended purposes: “Cities must retain the ability to implement solutions that are responsive to individual community concerns with the allocations approved by voters for their intended use.”
The letter concludes: “We thank you on behalf of our more than 1.5 million residents for listening to the needs of our cities and constituencies.”
Mayor Mike Johnston (Denver), Mayor Yemi Mobolade (Colorado Springs), Mayor Mike Coffman (Aurora) signed the joint statement.
