Public Comments

I am a public school teacher in Jefferson County CO. As my salary and job are funded through property taxes, I have seen how simple changes in law can have real consequences. Just this year because of the low per pupil dollar amount CO gives towards schools and the declining enrollment at our school to online students they cut the entire Choir programs and the teacher who has been teaching for 13 years. First programs to get cut are usually music and arts. I think population should be the biggest determining factor in where the new district goes NOT land area. Thank you for all the work you are doing for this!

https://davesredistricting.org/join/3f55706d-b32d-4811-9caa-5848567b892b

Voces Unidas endorsed CLLARO’s proposed state house and senate maps for redistricting. Our team worked directly with CLLARO’s map architects to ensure that the valley’s Latino communities were kept whole as much as possible. The first round of maps released by the redistricting commissions are unacceptable to Voces Unidas as they divide and dilute the Latino voices in the tri-county region in four house districts and two senate districts. The new CLLARO, Voces Unidas-endorsed maps would keep our Latino communities whole in two house districts and in one senate district. The percentage of Latinos in these house and senate districts would be between 23 to 25 percent, making our Latino voices more politically relevant in the electoral process. Proposed House District 61 would include the entire Aspen to Parachute corridor, keeping the greater Roaring Fork Valley whole in one district. About 25% of this district would be Latino. Proposed House District 56 would keep the entire Gypsum to Silverthorne/Leadville mountain Latino communities whole. About 23% of this district would be Latino. Proposed Senate District 5 would go from Rifle to Aspen and include the I-70 corridor from Eagle County to Summit/Lake counties. About 25% of this district would be Latino.

Friends, I have looked at the map drawn for Denver and it appears you just drew straight lines with no regard to neighborhoods or communities of interest, which was your express charge. I have lived in the Whittier neighborhood for over 40 years and treasure the diversity of this area. We are between 5 points and Park Hill and this is our "Community". Though many of the black families on our block are no longer here, some are. They are my friends. We've worked here, shop here, recreate here and are involved with this community. Our children were raised here and our (white) grandsons go to Whittier Elementary with their friends, black, brown and white. The relationships they have will benefit them the rest of their lives. It is not acceptable to break up neighborhoods that have a strong representation of talented black and brown individuals. I couldn't be happier with the representation we have in City Council, the Colorado House (currently a black woman), and the Co Senate. These people know what the real issues are for working people, as they live with them and have grown up dealing with many of the major issues of our day. Again, these maps for Denver are not representative of communities of interest and must be re-drawn.

Dear Commissioners, My name is Cory.  I have lived in Summit County for nearly 5 years.  I write today to support including Summit County in the same district as I-70 and Front Range communities.     Summit County is deeply linked with the Front Range.  We are only ninety minutes away by car, making it very easy for day and weekend visitors to drive up.  These visitors come from the Denver area, whether they live there full time or fly into Denver International.  This tourism is the basis of our economy, we have no mining or farming to speak of.  And since we have no airport, driving is the only way for tourists to get to us.  I cannot overstate how dependent we are on I-70 and the Tunnel. Beyond the physical link, we are more like these Front Range communities than we are like the Western Slope. We are focused on green and sustainable development which is so important for the beauty of our home and for our future, just like the Front Range which is also navigating a similar problem balancing growth and sustainability.     We need to have someone in Congress who understands the vital link and common vision we share with the Front Range communities.  Please keep this in mind when redistricting. Thank you very much. Best Regards, Cory S

I urge you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to protect minority voices and other communities of interest. For example, Weld County has a chance to create a majority minority district, which is required if possible. Another majority minority district can be created in Denver/Aurora, which again, is legally required to be done if possible. Likewise, Johnstown and Milliken are split up for many statewide seats. Our communities are inextricably linked and should share common representation. We share one school district, but have separate representation. We should also have a Northern Colorado Front Range I-25 corridor district, as this area is linked by commerce and culture. The current model does not make sense. Thank you for your time.

Commissioner’s: My name is Terra Lee and I have been a resident of Summit County for 15 years. I am extremely concerned about proposed redistricting from CD2 to CD3. Personally, I want Summit County to remain in CD2 or CD7 due to the issues that align with this being a skiing destination. Many people from the front range own 2nd homes here in Summit County, regularly traveling from the front range here. Transportation issues along the I-70 corridor from Denver to the mountains is a shared concern. Many people here are high income earners, non agricultural affiliated and do not share the concerns that those in western Colorado share. Summit county should remain in the same CD2 or CD7 due to shared concerns that impact where we live. We are much more aligned regarding community interest with those in CD2 and CD7. The ski industry, tourism, environmental friendly and access to recreation is where many in summit county communities focus. Thank you, Terra Lee

I wish that you leave House District 17 as is. If you split southeast Colorado Springs and combine them into other districts it will dilute the voice of this very distinct part of Colorado. Right now we have a voice we can call our own with fair representation. By combining us with Fountain, the Broadmoor and Downtown you are taking our voice away.

What shared interests unite your community? The national parks and monuments, BLM, taxes, housing, weed control, wildfire mitigation, jobs, low income resources, jails, courts, airport, roads, water, etc. What are your community’s public policy concerns? Considering how taxes and voting ballots are applied. Right now both are covered by a small staff, sometimes of just one person. If that small staff now has to determine where a person in the county lives in order to send the right ballots you now need additional staffing. Can our county truly afford the cost? I don't think so, without raising taxes. What geographic areas or features are important to your community? BLM and water resources. What else should the commissions know about your community? The tri-city areas (Cortez-Mancos-Dolores) are dependent on each other for retail, tourism, healthcare, housing, jobs, schools, and so much more. If you split the county you require an already small county to stretch their resources thin.

Dear Commissioners, My name is Mario Corvetto and have lived in Frisco (Summit County) for the past 20 years. Wanted to let you know that I support including Summit County in the same district as I-70 and Front Range communities since we are closely linked to them. Tourism is the main engine for our economy and since we have no airport, driving is the only way for tourists to get to us. I cannot overstate how dependent we are on I-70 and the Tunnel. We have more in common with the communities from the Front Range than the communities based in the Western Slope. We are focused on green and sustainable development, which is so important for our future, just like the Front Range which is also navigating a similar problem balancing growth and sustainability. Just a month ago we installed 12 solar panels on our roof in order to be part of the climate change solution. We need to have members in Congress who understands the vital link and common vision we share with the Front Range communities. Please keep this in mind when redistricting. Thank you very much. Regards, Mario Corvetto Managing Director / Owner Mondo Verde Expeditions LLC Frisco, CO 80443