Public Comments

Move the Arkansas Valley to CD4 keeping Loveland in CD2

I respectfully ask that you reconsider your placement of Loveland in CD4. Long considered as one of the Front Range cities along the I-25 corridor, Loveland offers rich cultural, recreational, historical and economic interests similar to those of Ft. Collins and Larimer County, as well as Boulder and Longmont. Our universities and health centers work cooperatively--and pull staff from the region. Our recognition as an arts center is widely known--with foundries that send sculptures around the world and art shows that draw visitors from around the nation and the world. Our growing tech industry [Lightning Hybrid just announced another huge contract], our shared airport with Ft.Collins, and the many multi governmental agreements with our neighboring communities speak to the ties we have in the region. Having lived on the Western Slope for over 10 years, I am keenly aware of its beauty and what it has to offer--as well as its interests and drivers. In my opinion there is little shared common geography, history or economics with Loveland. I believe public policy interests are very different as well--including virtually all mentioned in section B of the definition of "Community of Interest". Working with the state and county government for decades I know the resentments that the communities on the Western Slope can feel when the very real social and economic issues they face are not understood--when the "10 large" are in charge as they would say. ALL communities deserve to be represented by legislators who most understand and "feel" the concerns and issues they face; legislators who truly represent their constituents. I urge you to place Loveland in CD2. If that is not possible then CD8. Either much more closely would "Preserve whole communities of interest" than the current proposal. Thank you for your consideration.

Commissioners, I understand that another Congressional Map will be presented tomorrow September 23, 2021. I would hope that this latest product will not take East Greeley out of the proposed 8th Congressional District and put them back in the 4th Congressional District. The Hispanic population of East Greeley and Ft. Lupton has been subjected to benign neglect by the past multi decade Congressional Representatives. I ask that you follow the Constitutional Requirements you are bound to and not dilute the Hispanic population in east Greeley and Ft. Lupton by leaving them in the 4th Congressional District. Those areas do not have a voice in Congress to address the injustices they have endured. Those populations do not have adequate Medical, Health, Water and Housing services, which there is Federal assistance available but no one in Congress to fight for them. The Hispanic population in East Greeley and Ft. Lupton need to be linked with the Hispanic populations in Adams County so they will get equal representation as part of a larger Community of Interest. Please follow the Constitutional Requirements and do not dilute their community. Thank you for your time.

Please keep Loveland in CD2

I strongly support your Schuster map preference. Our Cortez community is more diverse than current mapping suggests. We’d like to have more of our voices counted.

Members and Staff of the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission - Via the attachments or link below, please find memorandum and attachments providing a response to the Second Staff Plan from the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO). CLLARO has provided a Congressional plan on August 28, 2021 and is submitting a second map for consideration in an effort to demonstrate that there are multiple ways to draw Colorado’s Congressional districts in compliance with Colorado’s constitutional mandates (including adherence to political subdivisions, communities of interest, and competitiveness) that would result in Latino voters succeeding in electing candidates of their choice and prevent racially polarized voting. The map also addresses comments brought up by the Commission regarding the Second Staff Plan and other proposals. In creating our original map and the revised map, CLLARO’s primary goals are to make adjustments to better reflect communities of interest and to prevent voter dilution. While CLLARO stands by the first map submitted on August 28, 2021, we add to it this second plan for consideration. The Commission is required to prevent the dilution of minority voters in a way that prevents them from electing the candidate of their choice. Therefore, CLLARO is offering this alternative to the Second Staff Plan that avoids these pitfalls while also better adhering to the constitutional criteria. Results The CLLARO revised map accomplishes the following: 1. Contains whole communities of interest within each district 2. Reduces the number of counties that are split 3. Prevents voter dilution in Congressional District 3 and Congressional District 8 4. Creates 4 competitive districts The full submission is available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CuZaiHGrT4TrscYMkgOG563BNv_0mzx?usp=sharing Interactive Map: https://davesredistricting.org/join/f4b1a8eb-a759-4e94-ab8d-f050505baac8 The teal boundary lines in the map reflect the Second Staff Plan to make changes easier to observe. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me with any questions. Sincerely, Alex Apodaca-Cobell

Do NOT put Loveland into CD-4. That is unfair to other Northern Colorado Front Range commllunities and their surrounding areas- they have strongly opposed being included in the Eastern Plains. If you put Loveland back into CD-2 the mountain communities would be in a single congressional district, in their best interest. Singling Loveland for CD4 is at the expense of rural voices and regional communities like the Mountain Resort communities.

I am in favor of the Schuster Map. I believe that it more accurately represents the diverse communities of interest in Colorado than anything that has previously been proposed. It takes into account historic Southern Colorado and the North west extractive communities. It also has the benefit I believe of moderating our politics by creating competitive districts.

No gerrymandering. Districts should be determined by common threads. That is, do NOT split cities (not always possible with Denver. Do not have a district contain urban and rural interests. For example, cities like Denver and Colorado Springs don't have an interest in Agriculture, while cities like Rifle and Pagosa Springs will not be part of rapid transit districts within an urban area. Boulder has no interests in common with the Northwest Slope. The maps should not be determined by politics. They should be defined by common interest segments. For once, put away political agendas and serve the people.

Fair maps strengthen communities, not disenfranchise them. The current congressional map for District 2 combines the Hispanic, Latino and other rural citizens from the Western slop with the predominantly white people living in Boulder county and the I-25 corridor. This map does not strengthen the western slope communities; it disenfranchises them. The disparity of interests could not be greater between the white latte drinking, fossil fuel hating, Prius driving, Boulderites*, when compared to the pickup truck driving, gun touting, Walmart loving, ranchers, farmers and oil field workers of the Western Slope. Combining these two polar opposite communities into one congressional district is clearly a partisan attack on Hispanic, Latino and other rural citizens from the western slope. According to Floyd Trujillo’s article published in Colorado Politics, Colorado is the 7th largest energy producer in the United States. Colorado’s energy sector includes many workers of Hispanic heritage. And the number of Hispanic and Latino workers in oil and gas industry jobs is growing. Mr. Trujillo referred to one report that estimates Hispanic and Latinos will fill a third of American oil and gas jobs in the years to come. Plus, Western slope Hispanic communities have much to gain from a strong Colorado oil and gas sector. These Western slop counties depend heavily on the billions of tax and royalty dollars collected from oil and gas production to finance their operations. Everyone knows that the majority of those living in Boulder county and the I-25 corridor DO NOT support oil and gas operations. According to Amanda Gonzales’ article published in Colorado Politics the importance of protecting the right to a meaningful vote is the pillar of our democracy. A person’s vote should matter. This principle is enshrined in our Constitution and Voters Rights Act, which also serves to protect voting rights for people of color. Hispanic and Latino voters should have the right to elect a candidate who will fight for their farming, ranching and oil and gas jobs. Stronger state law protections of communities of color is an important aspect of the Fair Maps campaign. In Colorado, voters decided to strengthen voting rights beyond federal law by adding a clause to the Colorado Constitution that says our map drawers cannot “dilute the impact of [a] racial or language minority group’s electoral influence”. Compliance with the Colorado’s constitution and Voting Rights Act is the most important part of your redistricting process. You can’t legally or morally accept anything less than fair maps that strengthen Hispanic, Latino and other rural citizens living in Western Slope communities. It is deplorable to disenfranchise minority and rural Western Slope voters. * How to spot a Boulderite by Sarah Elsea April 17, 2013. The “People’s Republic of Boulder” is home to a unique array of Homo sapiens that includes: go green movement granola hippies, health nuts, and fair trade, vegan, cage-free, organic food activists. Love them or hate them, Boulder contains a distinct breed commonly called the “Boulderite.” Patrick Hegarty – 195 Locke’s Mountain Road Durango, Colorado 81301 – 9.21.2021