Westword Celebrates Colorado's Biggest Company Leaving Town

Editorial board cheers Palantir's move to Miami, but may regret the loss of jobs and advertising revenue.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of neatly arranged office supplies and documents, including a pen, a calculator, and a folder, all set against a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the impact of a major company's departure on the local economy.The departure of a major employer leaves behind an empty workspace, symbolizing the broader economic impact on the local community.Denver Today

The editorial board of Westword, a Denver-based publication, recently declared 'good riddance' to Palantir Technologies, Colorado's largest company by market capitalization, after the data-processing giant announced it was moving its headquarters from Denver to Miami. The editorial cites Palantir's work for federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security as the reason for celebrating the company's departure, but fails to acknowledge the potential impact on jobs and advertising revenue in the local economy.

Why it matters

Westword's celebration of Palantir's exit from Colorado raises questions about the publication's priorities and its understanding of the complex relationship between businesses, jobs, and the local economy. The loss of a major employer like Palantir could have ripple effects on the Denver area, including job losses and reduced advertising revenue for local media outlets like Westword.

The details

Palantir, a data-processing company, moved its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Denver in 2020. The Westword editorial board recently declared 'good riddance' to the company after it announced it was relocating to Miami. The editorial cites Palantir's work for federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security as the reason for celebrating the company's departure, but fails to acknowledge the potential impact on jobs and advertising revenue in the local economy.

  • Palantir moved its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Denver in 2020.
  • Palantir announced it was relocating to Miami in 2026.

The players

Palantir Technologies

A data-processing company that was Colorado's largest company by market capitalization before announcing its move to Miami.

Westword

A Denver-based publication that recently published an editorial celebrating Palantir's departure from Colorado.

Patty Calhoun

The titular head of Westword who has occupied the post since 1978.

John Bowlen

The racist and abusive son of a former Broncos owner who reportedly offered to buy Westword, which the publication rejected.

Hanna Metzger

A Westword staff writer who authored an article detailing John Bowlen's faults and failures.

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What they’re saying

“We won't miss them.”

— Westword editorial board

“Racist, Abusive Son of Former Broncos Owner Offers to Buy Westword”

— Hanna Metzger, Westword staff writer

What’s next

It is unclear if Westword will be able to find a buyer who aligns with the publication's values and can maintain its operations and staffing levels.

The takeaway

Westword's celebration of Palantir's departure from Colorado highlights the publication's ideological priorities, but it fails to consider the broader economic implications of losing a major employer. The potential loss of jobs and advertising revenue could ultimately undermine Westword's own viability, underscoring the complex relationship between businesses, media, and local communities.