Public Comments

Good morning or afternoon Redistricting Commissioners! My name is Jacqueline Argueta Nevarez, I am a 29-year-old Garfield County resident. I last spoke before you during the summer listening tour in Carbondale. During this time, I spoke to you a bit about my background (being viewed as sasquatch), why it was important for you to hear from me (1st generation college/law school Latina graduate) and some of my public comments. I was asked to place those comments in written format to ensure everything was properly considered. Before I begin, I do want to thank you for your time and commitment to this process. I appreciate each of you! • What shared interests unite your community? o The tourism industry- ski/snowboard, fly fishing, biking, hiking, rafting, etc.  Pitkin, Eagle, Garfield- as attractions within Roaring Fork Valley  Summit County- included in this section due to the similarity of tourism industry, similar interests for communities  Eagle- Garfield Counties- location of many of the Roaring Fork Valleys workforce o “Roaring Fork Valley”  Eagle, Pitkin and Garfield Counties, these counties seem to be united by interests in location, work, schools, and communities.  A reference that is often relied on now with social media to demonstrate this representation is looking at the Facebook page, “The Roaring Fork Swap.” Here, you will find a place where many of its residents turn to for current news, traffic alerts, sales, and general updates. o 9th Judicial District  I worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the 9th Judicial District for 10 months and was responsible for the Garfield County Court Division I before Honorable Judge Metzger.  I did consider the fact that the districts would be broken up here. The 9th Judicial District includes, Pitkin, Garfield-Division I- Glenwood Springs and Division II-Rifle, and Rio Blanco. Although it was mentioned by one resident that this would be split up based on the current map drawings. I would like to express that I think that this is okay to do. Having worked with prosecutors who were able to work in all counties, it was a consensus that Rio Blanco County had different interest to that of Pitkin and Garfield. However, it was difficult to manage some cases that derived from the Carbondale/El Jebel Areas based on where Eagle County takes over. I think it is more aligned to keep Pitkin, Summit, Eagle, and Garfield for these reasons. Rio Blanco County is more in line with agricultural common interests or ranchers that I believe are more aligned with Moffat and Routt County. o Latino Interests  Latino communities make up most of the work force for the tourism industry, working in the hotels. Many of these workers are among those who cannot afford to live where they work and reside in Rifle, Parachute, and Glenwood Springs.  My parents are among some of the Latino business owners, owning Taqueria El Nopal. The original Taqueria was opened in Basalt and pushed further out to the Glenwood location due to increasing prices. Thus, I believe this also shows how we have been prioritizing the tourism industry over its own residents at times.  Therefore, I think it is key to keep the Roaring Fork Valley together once again. For the congressional and legislative maps, I believe being aligned with Rio Blanco, Moffat and Routt Counties over the Pitkin and Eagle would not be representative of their views. o Garfield County Resident  By education I am an attorney, have worked as a Deputy District Attorney and most recently as a policy and advocacy manager for a Latino nonprofit. I have left my most recent position as a means of advocating for myself and am looking for my next step.  Having held these positions, I present a very unique view and was able to interact with a number of Garfield residents during my employment as a Deputy District Attorney from July 2020 to May 2021.  Under the current representative of Garfield County, I would state my personal views are not representative of my community. I believe that the distinction made in the 9th Judicial District is key, Garfield Division I- Glenwood and Division II- Rifle. While I believe that many of the work force for Aspen, Glenwood, Carbondale and El Jebel resides in Rifle, Parachute and Glenwood, there are some distinctions between each. Some of the Rifle residents would state their views are represented and more aligned with Mesa. However, I would say that the residents of Garfield would not be aligned with those that it is currently grouped with Rio Blanco, and Mesa counties. • What are your community’s public policy concerns? o Affordable Housing  No affordable housing  I currently live in Hotel Argueta (aka my parents’ home). It is sad to think that with my education, I am unable to afford a housing.  If I as a lawyer by education am in this predicament, I know many others are as well.  During my time studying for the CO Bar Exam, I worked at North Face in Snowmass to afford a ski pass. I was making $13.50 as a sales associate + commission. There is no way someone working this position can afford to live off this salary. Again, only fortunate enough to do this, thanks to Hotel Argueta. o Tourism priority over its residents  Ski passes prices and times favoring tourists over season passes for locals  Texas, Florida, New York upper class residents moving to Aspen/Basalt and driving its residents and affordable mobile homes out of these areas pushing them further down valley. o Climate Change  Lost an entire month of winter due to global warming  Wildfires, mudslides, flooding, lower river water levels  Wildlife affected by natural disasters, fishing habitats  Ruedi reservoir water levels continuously declining o Preservation of Natural Parks and Rec.  No oil drilling  Thompson Divide o I am a big advocate for the outdoors, Latinos, and the issues that affect the Roaring Fork Valley. Being born and raised in this community I have a unique perspective on its residents and the many changes that affect them. Personally, these changes have affected my love for the outdoors our backyards have to offer. I snowboard in the winter, hike, bike, fly fish, raft, and wake surf in the summer. Many of the climate changes affect my ability to indulge in these activities and it is important to preserve them for future generations as many of our community depends on them. • What geographic areas or features are important to your community? o Keep ski communities and work forces together for common interests described above. • What else should the commissions know about your community? o The Roaring Fork Valley is a special place unlike many others. During my in-person testimony, I shared some of my experiences having lived in Boston, Louisiana, Barcelona, Texas, and other parts of Colorado. There is no place and community like this one. We care about one another and are eager to help those of our residents who are in crisis. o This can be seen during the Lake Christine fire and how our community responded. Traveling firefighters left with smiles, hugs, and gratitude that many shared they had never felt like here. o We are surrounded by natural wonders including American Lake, Cathedral, Aspen/Snowmass ski resorts, Crystal Mill, the Frying Pans gold medal fishing and many more. Many of us live for the outdoors, either working in the field or enjoying their free time in it. o Our community events include local farmers markets, the roaring fork swap, mountain fair, strawberry days, X games, ski swaps, ducky derbies, local longhorn, skier and demon sporting events and fly-casting competitions. We are very community driven and would like this to be reflected in our representation. o In the past, we have been overlooked by community engagement in the electoral processes, but we are here and deserve fair representation. Just as I stated in person, I have recently found my voice and believe even at 4’11” it matters, and my opinions need to be voiced. Legislative Map Comments • I believe that Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Summit Counties should be considered one district. • As currently drawn, District 57 would split up Garfield County from the above-mentioned counties. As mentioned above, this would remove the work force of Pitkin and Eagle County from being represented where they work and contribute to. • As drawn, the Roaring Fork Valley would be broken up into 3 different districts, 57, 35, and 54. • As a Garfield resident my views would not be aligned with Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco counties. • My reasoning for these suggestions is laid out above. Congressional Map Comments • As a Garfield resident the current representative for Congressional District 3 does not represent my personal or communities’ views. • I’m not sure of the suggestions I could make to the map in this area aside from breaking up the mountain communities to have their own district. • As congressional district 3 currently stands I believe it encompasses way too many diverse views from agricultural/ranchers, ski seasonal employees, Aspenites, and touristic areas. • I think they need to be broken up in communities of interest more closely aligned with the areas represented. • My suggestion would be to include Mesa, Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake, Summit, Park in a smaller congressional district. Again, I appreciate each of you. Thank you for taking the time to read each public comment and having listened to everyone who provided testimony at the listening tour stops. It takes a great deal of responsibility to take on this job but am grateful for each of you. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jacqueline Argueta Nevarez

Public Comment is attached below in a PDF file. Thank you for your time. I appreciate you!

At the Aug. 20, 2021 Pueblo hearing, a Commissioner asked for the Dave's Redistricting App links for the LULAC Proposed Plans. They are below: LULAC Proposed Congressional Plan: https://davesredistricting.org/join/ae6ce8c4-883e-42a1-be38-9eb85937e4c5 LULAC Proposed State Senate Plan (Districts 8 & 9): https://davesredistricting.org/join/242068de-5ce1-49d1-85d4-26c09a1e34c6 LULAC Proposed State House Plan (Greeley District): https://davesredistricting.org/join/80c3cd69-cd5e-4eb1-8751-14510a743fce

Good evening, commissioners, and thank you for being here. My name is Bri Buentello and I am here tonight speaking as a Latina and Pueblo community member. As a former state representative and someone who has lived here for years, I know the many ways that Latinos are central to the culture, economic prosperity, and everyday life of this area. Southern Colorado is a unique part of our state. Spanish colonists grazed sheep here in the 1600s, long before the U.S. took the southwest from México by force in 1848. We have some of the richest Hispanic, Latino, and Chicano history in the state. Latinos power the steel mills in Pueblo, farm the land, and run ranches in the San Luis Valley, and are embedded in every level of civic and social life in this area. This vibrant history and beautiful community is a huge part of why my family chose to put down roots here in Pueblo. For a city of 110,000 people, it feels like a small town. I’m proud to raise my kids here. Pueblo Latin families value hard work, honesty, tradition, and of course, our heritage from the green chile fields to our Fiesta Queens to our historic university, Colorado State University-Pueblo that you are in tonight. These cultural values are reflected in our politics: we want good-paying, union jobs to provide for our families, good schools to send our kids to, and healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt us. We are a unique community of interest with unique needs, priorities, and values and we belong together, and we SHOULD have the opportunity to pick our own leaders in state politics. I feel strongly that the Latino community in this area should be kept together to the greatest extent possible. Our traditions, economic prosperity, and influence as a political group could all be drained simply by redrawing legislative lines that dilute our influence and diminish our political power. Latinos are a pillar of the Southern Colorado community, and we should be respected as such. The easiest path to this is by adopting the attached CLLARO’s state legislative maps, as they keep our communities whole, respect our heritage, and honor our power. Keep us together, and adopt these maps. Thank you.

Members and Staff of the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission - Via the link below, please find memoranda and attachments providing context and information about the updated Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate redistricting plans submitted by the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO) for the commission's consideration. The memoranda will describe House and Senate districts centered on communities of interest, with particular focus on Latino communities. Of the 65 proposed House districts, 16 districts are 30 percent or more Latino. Additionally, 11 districts are competitive according to recent election results. Of the 35 proposed Senate districts, 9 districts are 30 percent or more Latino. Additionally, 8 Senate districts are competitive according to recent election results. CLLARO has prioritized 17 House districts and 13 Senate districts that are centered on Latino communities across the state. The districts have been updated to accurately reflect the 2020 census. Full Plans: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v_WS3anWIn25QYUf8hdg5cnHMj9Jf6FK?usp=sharing

A Pueblo is growing toward its north, with new housing being constructed, please consider a state House district that focuses more on northern Pueblo than on the rural areas to its east and west. The current district 47 includes part of northern Pueblo but encompasses adjacent rural areas east and west. Instead, a district focused in the Pueblo northern urban area would better represent its town-oriented residents. People who live in town are better served by services of a city and are better connected to its culture and services. Notably, northern Pueblo also includes Colorado State University, Pueblo, which contributes greatly to the city's culture and economy.

Please find comment letter and supporting documents attached.

In PDF Document entitled ' Petitioning for a Separate Southern Colorado Congressional District' is the actual text of the testimoney for Thomas McKenna at the Public Hearing in Pueblo August 20th 2021

I am a resident of Buena Vista. I feel that our new State House and Senate districts adequately reflect similar interests, concerns, climate and geography. I am glad that were are not in CD 5, since we have different interests, concerns, climate and geography than Colorado Springs and have received little to no attention in the past. I am sorry to see Fremont and Teller moved from CD5 to CD3 when there are contiguous counties, especially to our Chaffee County that are more aligned to our interests, concerns, climate and geography. We are mountain/ranching/river communities in large part with a large tourism and outdoor recreation economy, with most of Colorado's ski areas. I feel Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Conejos, Alamosa, Costilla, Custer, and Huerfano should be substituted for Fremont and Teller, which are more urban and suburban in nature. There is an thriving art community in Salida, Buena Vista, Crestone, and Pagosa Springs. Adams State, Western Colorado, and Fort Lewis are similar sized public colleges. The healthcare services are more equivalent in the community hospitals. Many people commute from Saguache to Salida for work. There are similar needs for broadband, energy and transportation infrastructure. Please consider not adding Fremont and Teller and restore more similarity in interests to CD 3.

One congressional district should be defined by a rectangle extending from the Utah border to the Kansas border across southern Colorado. It should include Pueblo. This southern Colorado region is connected culturally and historically to its adjacent south. The connections are multifaceted. Among them is the Rio Grande, which flows out of the Colorado mountains into New Mexico. The Arkansas River, which historically was a boundary between the Spanish colonial empire and the United States, flows through Pueblo as it wends eastward from the mountains.. Pueblo's history and culture connect with the history and culture to its south. Current family and business connections to the south reflect historic connections. Native American connections exist as well. Fort Lewis College in Durango provides a tuition waiver for Native Americans because of the college's history serving American Indians of nearby populations. Ruins of ancient Anasazi Indian peoples dot southwest Colorado and lands to the south.