Public Comments

Commission members: When the First Staff maps for legislative districts in Fort Collins were released on September 13 I was pleased to see that HD 53 and 52 were configured much as they are now--similarly-sized districts divided by College Avenue (Hwy. 287) into east and west sides of town. I had submitted a comment on August 13 that expressed concern about a map that was proposed and discussed during the Fort Collins public comment hearing in July in which HD 53 was chopped off at Horsetooth Rd. with the area to the south of that being added to HD 52. I admit that I was satisfied and hoped that my ideas were listened to. Now we have the Second Staff maps which were released on Sept. 23 and I was shocked at their shape. Instead of being as blocky as the original proposal they were made to look more "natural" by stairstepping the line between the two districts. But no matter how it is dressed up, it is creating a northern district and a southern district. What problem is this solving? What was wrong with our current districts, except that Democrats have been winning elections in Fort Collins of late? Currently, people of Hispanic origin have the opportunity to influence representatives in two House districts but under the new map they would be "packed" much more tightly into HD 53 as it extends over into NE Fort Collins. Additionally, this new configuration divides Fort Collins' foothills residents between two districts. Certainly in the recent year's experience and ongoing expectations for fires, smoke and floods in this area, they should not be "cracked" into two districts where they may not have the numbers in either one to have much of a voice. This is an example of the idea that terms like "mountain-side" and "plains-side" are real in their relation to the environment and how people experience it in their everyday lives. In summary, I believe that the First Staff maps for HD 52 and 53 were much superior. I hope that you will eliminate the Second Staff map attempts and restore your first effort. Thank you again for your work on the Commission.

Colorado is the past has been largely agricultural and farming communities. As communities are changing and becoming more tourist based it is important to take into consideration the needs of all people. Public policy should be structured to encompass the changing environment, which should involve all factors of the communities needs. Populations are shifting and more are migrating to the state of Colorado. Water needs are an important factor and not only do farming and ranching depend on water but public needs should be considered as well. Agricultural farming is an important facet of many of the communities in the western slope area. Water rights have been up to now a given to ranchers regardless of their status presently. Owning many acres should not guarantee you to rights over the public need. The beauty of the state of Colorado brings many year round. As we see climate change ski industries and other outdoor activities are struggling to find the right solution to survive. I think it is important for our congressional and legislative departments work as a whole and not as isolated districts.

I am concerned that this redistricting will result in silencing the citizens of rural Colorado on the Westernslope and enlarge government for its own sake. Rather than providing a forum for mutual respect, communication and community, it stifles traditional values and fuels the divide between conservative and liberal goals. As a native of Colorado, it saddens me to see this disparity and destruction of our state.

I am very disappointed in your latest Congressional District map, in regards to CD 3. The fact is, Routt County is divided between agriculture/ extraction communities, many of whom have spent generations in the area and the ski town/tourism city of Steamboat Springs. Many of the people that wish to be connected to Boulder county and other front range communities have not spent generations in Routt county. As is typical they are new to the area and know better. I’m resentful that their voice has been listened to, but the people who wish to remain in CD3 and part of the western slope are ignored. Please reconsider putting Routt and Jackson counties in the same congressional district as Boulder. Thank you.

Redistricting Colorado 9-23-21 Thank you for the work you are doing toward accomplishing necessary and fair allocation of voting representation for our state. Please reconsider separating Routt County from its western slope heritage and future. I speak for the need to acknowledge a unique underlying togetherness in a population of some 25,000 in an area of 2300 square miles. The diversity of that population imitates that of the larger United States as a whole. Steamboat Springs claims 18,000 of those people in its increasing attraction to urban oriented visitors, but Routt County represents a successful representation of all its people, an unusual accomplishment in the light of today’s divisiveness. We are ranchers and miners, young and old, workers and retirees, democrats and republicans and everything in between. Recognition and respect for diversity are indeed the key to the maturation of our nation during the last 245 years. The continuance of that development is the hot topic of today’s politics. If you break off those 18,000 from the rest of the “family”, you will be destroying the very balance that our country as a whole is trying to achieve. In an unusual combination of interests, we work together, proud of those who grew up here, welcoming of newcomers, but very protective of the heritage that has sustained REAL community. We care about each other and children are brought up to remember the words of Hazie Werner, “ They opened the gate for us, now it’s up to us to keep the gate open for others.” The future is up to all of us. Me? A resident since 1982, when Steamboat Springs was at one of our state’s somewhat regular downturns. So many people were leaving, the builder of our home twenty miles outside of the town required a performance bond to guarantee completion of the house that was underway. I am a college graduate with an undergraduate degree and post-graduate work in finance. I am also an author of two books about our county’s heritage. I understand the state’s desire to bring in the seemingly “eastern slope” majority of the population. But the real solution to today’s divisions across the country is an understanding of differences. But I am a Coloradan who sees that Routt County has the opportunity to demonstrate a successful partnership between urban and rural. If you divide our population and leave parts of us on opposite sides of the physical divide, you will be destroying something very special, people who truly care about each other. Our county is the size of the state of Maine, and the Rocky Mountains create a separation that demands respect from those on either side . It is truly what our country needs. Respectfully, Redistricting Colorado 9-23-21 Thank you for the work you are doing toward accomplishing necessary and fair allocation of voting representation for our state. Please reconsider separating Routt County from its western slope heritage and future. I speak for the need to acknowledge a unique underlying togetherness in a population of some 25,000 in an area of 2300 square miles. The diversity of that population imitates that of the larger United States as a whole. Steamboat Springs claims 18,000 of those people in its increasing attraction to urban oriented visitors, but Routt County represents a successful representation of all its people, an unusual accomplishment in the light of today’s divisiveness. We are ranchers and miners, young and old, workers and retirees, democrats and republicans and everything in between. Recognition and respect for diversity are indeed the key to the maturation of our nation during the last 245 years. The continuance of that development is the hot topic of today’s politics. If you break off those 18,000 from the rest of the “family”, you will be destroying the very balance that our country as a whole is trying to achieve. In an unusual combination of interests, we work together, proud of those who grew up here, welcoming of newcomers, but very protective of the heritage that has sustained REAL community. We care about each other and children are brought up to remember the words of Hazie Werner, “ They opened the gate for us, now it’s up to us to keep the gate open for others.” The future is up to all of us. Me? A resident since 1982, when Steamboat Springs was at one of our state’s somewhat regular downturns. So many people were leaving, the builder of our home twenty miles outside of the town required a performance bond to guarantee completion of the house that was underway. I am a college graduate with an undergraduate degree and post-graduate work in finance. I am also an author of two books about our county’s heritage. I understand the state’s desire to bring in the seemingly “eastern slope” majority of the population. But the real solution to today’s divisions across the country is an understanding of differences. But I am a Coloradan who sees that Routt County has the opportunity to demonstrate a successful partnership between urban and rural. If you divide our population and leave parts of us on opposite sides of the physical divide, you will be destroying something very special, people who truly care about each other. Our county is the size of the state of Maine, and the Rocky Mountains create a separation that demands respect from those on either side . It is truly what our country needs. Respectfully, Harriet Freiberger Routt County, Colorado

Bravo on the 9/23 staff map plan! It represents rural Coloradans as it should. Good work ;-)

KEEP BROOMFIELD TOGETHER! DO NOT SPLIT US UP! BROOMFIELD STRONG TOGETHER!

House District 8 - Recommend keeping the existing southern boundary at Colfax Avenue. The district as a whole has a substantial number of low income public housing units, the area between Colfax to 23rd and west of York has at least 9 units. Housing is at a premium throughout Denver and even more so for those needing low income housing; currently Denver Housing is using a lottery to fill available housing stock. Separating this part of the district fractures their vote.; and their ability to affect change regarding a variety of issues which include health care, housing, policing and criminal justice. Thank you for reconsideration of the this boundary.

I am against redistricting here in western Colorado . Most of our communities are rule area's that should not be lumped in with higher population districts. We are agriculturally driven for the most part and need representation that reflects and supports our way of life . Adding denser populations into our voting rolls will not reflect the true voice of western Colorado . Please vote no on any redistricting especially in Garfield County , Mesa County , Delta County , and Montrose County . Thank You ! Mark McCallister

Staff Plan 3 elevates competitiveness/gerrymandering above the requirements of the Colorado Constitution. It does not meet the criteria of recognizing communities of interest, and unnecessarily creates splits of counties and municipalities intended to promote partisan competitiveness in the new CD8, while protecting the interests of incumbent representatives. In particular, Northern Colorado is fractured among three Districts. In Larimer County, the Republican-leaning municipalities of Wellington and Loveland are grouped with CD4 and the Eastern Plains, while Democratic-leaning Fort Collins is retained in CD2, allowing Fort Collins and Boulder County to dominate the seven rural counties, two of which have been split from CD3. CD4 avoids Greeley and Southwest Weld County, the population centers of Weld County, Colorado's number 1 county for agricultural production, and one of the top ten ag counties in the county. These population centers are grouped with Denver suburbs including Commerce City, a heavily industrialized area next to Denver in CD8. Rural Colorado communities of interest are also fractured to reduce the influence of rural voters. Republican-leaning Douglas County remains the population center for CD4, despite not having a significant agricultural economy and being more oriented toward Denver's Tech Center. The Western Slope is also divided with more Western Slope counties removed from CD3 to allow Pueblo and added portions of the Eastern Plains to be grouped with CD 3. The Commission has received many comments that suggest Communities of Interest are defined first by partisanship or ideology. That does not follow Colorado's Constitutional requirements. In fact, the video played at your public hearings stressed the hierarchy of criteria that govern the Commission's decision. If adopted, the Third Staff map will still allow the seven Denver Metro counties to determine the outcomes in 75 percent of (6 of the 8) the Congressional Districts, despite holding only 58 percent of the population. This was not the intention of the Constitutional Amendments adopted by the voters. I encourage the Commission to review and determine the final map based first and foremost on the Constitutional criteria, without giving weight to bare assertions that the current map meets those criteria.