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Activists call out Denver Airport contracting: Latino firms get less than 5% of construction dollars, speaker says
Summary
Dr. Lisa Calderon told council she represents a committee highlighting underrepresentation of Latino‑owned construction firms at Denver International Airport and asked the council to hold a transportation committee hearing and require better data and equity in contracting.
Dr. Lisa Calderon told the Denver City Council on March 2 that Latino‑owned contractors are substantially underrepresented in construction contracts at Denver International Airport and that the city needs better data and accountability.
"Latino owned firms represent less than 5% of the total construction dollars at Den, while Latinos make up almost 30% of Denver's population," Calderon said, speaking for a committee on city contracting and fairness around airport contracts. She said the committee has met with airport leadership (Phil Washington's team) and that the equity center rollout lacked visible Latino contractor participation.
Calderon criticized the airport for poor ethnicity‑specific reporting and for slow, burdensome procurement processes that favor incumbents with bonding, insurance and prior airport experience. The committee is asking the council for a meeting and a transportation committee hearing to examine systemic discriminatory patterns and to discuss remedies to expand prime contracting opportunities.
Calderon said the committee had to compile its own statistics because officials "admit that they do not have good statistics." She urged council members to use oversight tools to increase participation by Latino contractors and reduce structural barriers.
Why it matters: Procurement practices shape economic opportunity and generational wealth. Activists asked for formal review to ensure city and airport contracting fairly reflects Denver’s demographics.
