Ten former Denver city employees have filed appeals challenging their layoffs, according to documents obtained by The Denver Post through a public records request.

The appeals allege discrimination on the basis of a range of characteristics, including the employees’ ages, political affiliations, race, disabilities and sex.

Several said they thought they were retaliated against for speaking out against Mayor Mike Johnston.

“I believe that I was targeted for layoff as retaliation for my political affiliation, my vocalization of unethical operations … and (of) budget spending by the Mayor’s Office in relation to the state of emergency declared due to homelessness and newcomers,” wrote Amber Escobedo, a former technology services employee, in her appeal.

Escobedo was one of 169 workers th

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