Two of the bad actors that we're taking on this year are the payday lending industry and the Chipotle Restaurant empire.
Did you know that the average Coloradan who takes out a payday loan for $300 pays over $500 in fees and charges during the life of the loan?! And did you know that there are more payday lenders in Colorado than there are McDonalds franchises?!
The payday lending industry is unregulated and they specifically target low-income people and communities of color. The annual percentage rate (APR) for a payday loan is over 350%, which makes them modern-day loan sharks.
CPC is working with payday lending victims, grassroots organizations, faith communities, legislators, and credit unions and banks to stop payday lending exploitation, while ensuring that low-income folks can have access to necessary and responsible forms of credit.
If you've ever been the victim of this type of predatory lending get in contact with us!
The other bad business that CPC is targeting this year is Chiptole Restaurant. As a Denver-based corporation, Chipotle has declared that it provides "food with integrity." But they lost their integrity when they refused to work with CPC's long-time partner, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to provide acceptable working conditions for tomato farm workers in southern Florida.
CPC is working with the Denver Fair Food Committee and CIW to ensure that Chipotle is held to the same labor standards as other fast food restaurants, from field to fork. CPC was a lead organization during the Colorado Taco Bell boycott that was organized by CIW, and we'll be actively following any developments with Chipotle.
To learn more about the CIW and this issue, join us for Freedom in the Fields, an evening of film and discussion about the struggle for human rights in the Florida agricultural industry. The event is free, and will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 6:00pm at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo Street, Denver, CO 80211.
If you have any questions about our corporate accountability work, contact Jessie at Jessie.Ulibarri@gmail.com or by phone at (303) 866-0908. |
