Public Comments

Dear Commissioners: Following is a Dave's Redistricting link to the House footprints I proposed last week at the Lakewood hearing: https://davesredistricting.org/join/9ced7906-8d74-465b-b76f-061c50e90a6c * Green footprint (labeled district 17) is Aurora and unincorporated areas and totals 5 districts * Purple footprint (labeled district 20) is the western Arapahoe County towns of Centennial, Littleton, Sheridan, Englewood, Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village and totals 3 districts * Royal blue footprint (labeled district 1) is Denver and totals 8 districts (in this version, I split off a portion of SW Denver (the 1/4 extra seat in Denver) and combined with Jeffco instead of part of SE Denver into Aurora as contemplated in preliminary house map) * Blue footprint (labeled district 28) is unincorporated south Jeffco and SW Denver and totals 2 districts * Red footprint (labeled district 22) is all of Lakewood and Edgewater and totals 2 districts * Yellow footprint (labeled district 24) is Wheat Ridge, Golden and western Boulder County (1 whole district) * Brown footprint (labeled district 27) is Jeffco portion of Arvada and Westminster (2 whole districts -- same as preliminary map) * Blueish green footprint (labeled district 25) is most of Boulder County (3 whole districts) * Cyan footprint (labeled district 29) is Broomfield and most of Adams (6 districts -- almost same as preliminary map) * Magenta footprint (labeled district 28) is 1 district (pretty much half Weld and half Boulder) * Tan footprint (labeled district 65) is NE Plains and most of Weld County (4 districts) * Blue footprint (labeled district 61) is Larimer (4 districts) (could draw 4 districts wholly within Larimer instead) I have also attached a csv file. More info can be obtained in the flier and and written submission I made last week. I am a lobbyist for Colorado Neighborhood Coalition. Because CNC has not proposed or endorsed any specific map, the mapping ideas proposed herein are my own. Regards.

Separating communities with BIPOC should never be allowed.

Hello- I am Executive Director of Focus Points Family Resource Center and I do not support the proposed new proposed state senate district maps. Focus Points has been a pillar of the local community for 25 years and I’m concerned about the way the preliminary senate map bifurcates the community. The people that we serve and that are part of our neighborhood live north of 38th street, south of 56th street, east of the South Platte River and west of Colorado Blvd. We’re concerned that the current district goes too far into the CBD and that it will reduce out community’s ability to have our voice heard on issues like transportation, job opportunity, and education access. Our families deserve to have a voice in the policies that effective them and if they are in a district that is 64% white and much higher income (as the CBD is) I’m concerned that their voices will get washed out/silenced. Our community would really be better served if it were kept whole. I hope you will take community voice into consideration as you make this decision.

These maps and comments are in response to a request during my oral testimony on July 14th. Please see the attachment.

Per the preliminary map of state legislative boundaries, I am writing to the Commission to express my appreciation that the Heather Gardens Retirement Community in Aurora, which involves four precincts in State House District 41, has been kept wholly in one state house district (as is the case currently for House District 41). I have lived within 3 blocks of this special community for the last 23 years! By not dividing this community into more than one house district, this special residential community will be able to have its public policy and shared interests voiced at the state level. As the former House District 41 Chair for the Arapaho County Democratic Party, I know how important this community and its residents are to our district, to the City of Aurora, and to the southwestern Denver Metropolitan area. Heather Gardens is an age-restricted community of active, independent seniors from diverse backgrounds. It is located in the southeast metro area less than a mile from I-225, the RTD Nine-Mile light rail station, and Cherry Creek State Park and reservoir. The community is an established, neighborly, and secure urban enclave located on 200 park-like acres enhanced by the community's golf course. Breaking up this community into more than one state house district would be confusing and unfair to the residents who meet and hold respective monthly party meetings for both the Republicans and Democrats, plus unaffiliated members are always welcome to join these meetings with informative speakers and legislative udpates. However, two of the four Heather Gardens precincts are currently assigned to Senate District 28 and two precincts to Senate District 26, but this has worked fine for the past 10 years. Presently, the three legislators, two state Senators, and one state Representative serve the retirement community well. Please see that this apportionment for Heather Gardens remains the same. Once again, thank you, Commission members, for your work to date, your careful attention to redistricting, and your respectful service and leadership.

I want to take this opportunity to express to the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission my deep concerns for Arapahoe County in the map of our state's future eight congressional districts. As a resident of the City of Aurora and Arapahoe County for the past 23 years, I am writing to ask that the Commission keep Arapahoe County in one congressional district. Having cohesiveness in Arapahoe County’s congressional district is critical to public health, infrastructure, education, economic justice, and the courts. By keeping Arapahoe intact within one congressional district, our U.S. Representative can appropriately advocate for our county's uniquely tripartite urban-suburban-rural public policy and program needs in Washington. As of June 8, 2021, Arapahoe County had 453,259 voters, representing 197,423 unaffiliated voters, 145,903 Democratic voters, 101,997 Republican voters, and 7,936 voters registered in minor parties. This virtually mirrors the percentage by political parties of Colorado voters statewide. Maintaining that same party apportionment will serve Arapahoe County well by keeping our county in one federal district. Thank you, Commission Members, for considering my concerns and for your service and commitment to holistic and fair redistricting.

To the Congressional Redistricting Commission - My name is George Sparks and I am the President and CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I would have liked to speak to the Commission in person, however, I had a prior commitment on the evening of the Denver hearing, so please consider this my testimony. Denver is a booming artistic and cultural city. We have the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and more. This city is the hub of a wide range of art, culture, and expression. But there is one unifying factor: all of these cultural and artistic entities need federal funding to thrive. These institutions have been successful thanks to advocacy at the federal level that works to ensure they have the funds and support necessary. With one representative who prioritizes funding for the arts, these organizations have helped make Denver the cultural capital of Colorado that it is today. That’s why it is so vital that the city of Denver stays as whole as possible when you consider drawing a new Congressional District. Without federal funding, some of these institutions would not be able to survive. It is imperative that a congressperson representing these organizations work closely with the Endowment to ensure that Denver-based art receives the necessary funding. A suburban congressperson does not have these same concerns - while the National Endowment for the Arts does fund other Colorado institutions, most are in Boulder and Aspen, not the surrounding suburbs of this city. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan allocated $15 million to the Institute and Museum and Library Services to fund museums and libraries that struggled to collect revenue during the pandemic. A congressperson for this district needs to prioritize advocating for federal funding for these entities to ensure their ability to continue operating, even under dire circumstances such as the pandemic. The preliminary maps do their best to keep Denver as whole as possible and I thank you for that. Moving forward, as you consider what the first congressional district should look like, please consider the federal needs of the arts organizations in Denver. It is well documented that arts can help impoverished children find a path to college, and that they can produce opportunities for entire communities that face poverty. In addition, our art community reaches beyond language barriers - one example, our museum recently began offering bilingual educational materials, a Virtual Science Academy for teachers, and resources for students to experiment with science at home. Now, you might think, “Who could possibly oppose funding of the arts?”. Unfortunately, there are a number of Congresspeople, including members of Colorado’s delegation, who find federal funding of the arts to be wasteful or imprudent. Others, on principle, have made it part of the public record to clearly state they won’t ask for funding of projects within their districts. That’s okay - if that’s what your constituents want. But here in Denver, voters are not looking to give up our taxpayer dollars by funding only institutions and projects in other states. Our organizations need help, and if the federal government can provide it, our congressperson should be our advocate in that process. Again, we rely on federal funding to help the arts and museum community. So, I ask of you commissioners, please consider the needs of these institutions as you draw the lines around the first congressional district. Please take to heart the importance and federal needs of art and science in Denver as this city continues to grow and evolve when you look to create new maps that protect communities of interest.

Dear Commissioners: I appreciate you taking the time to hold a joint hearing of the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions in Aurora. Thank you all for the tremendous efforts and personal sacrifices you are making in the face of great COVID-imposed delays. You have my utmost respect and appreciation. While I am unable to testify at the Aurora hearing in person, I want to share a few thoughts about the preliminary maps. First, thank you for keeping the City of Aurora largely whole in one congressional district. Mr. Bill Keever recently submitted a map highlighting a small portion of the city that was omitted from proposed CD 6, and I urge the Congressional Redistricting Commission to address this omission to make the city whole if at all possible. As Colorado’s third-largest city and growing, we are best served by being kept whole within a congressional district and having open and constructive lines of communication with a single member of congress who is familiar with the unique needs the people of Aurora have related to transportation, infrastructure, job training, and economic development. Now to the legislative maps. As a city that spans 3 counties, Aurora has long endured awkward splits. Because the pre-Amendment Z constitutional language prioritized county integrity over municipal integrity, the 2011 maps split the Adams County portion of north Aurora from the rest of the city. Yet another district lumped a portion of southwest Aurora into a Littleton-based district. Aurora has likewise endured awkward splits in State House districts. The district encompassing the Adams County portion of Aurora wraps around DIA to include portions of Commerce City, for instance. As a result, even though Aurora has nearly the population for 3 Senate districts and 5 House districts, only 2 Senators and 4 House members reside in Aurora. Aurora’s ability to send representation to the state Capitol is diminished by the previously mandated county-based splits to Aurora. This comment is not meant to disparage any incumbent. They represent the districts to which they are elected. It’s not their fault they don’t reside in Aurora. But 2021 affords the commission an opportunity to better unite Aurora and respect our municipal integrity. Consistent with a resolution adopted by the Aurora City Council this past spring and submitted to the commissions, I urge you to minimize splits to the city of Aurora and respect our neighborhoods. I thank you for placing most of north Aurora into Aurora-based districts. Keeping north Aurora whole should enable the commission to create more minority majority and minority influence districts. I understand that this has been a priority conversation amongst legislative commissioners. However, the preliminary House map appears to divide Aurora into 9 House districts, far in excess of the 5 necessary, and potentially diminishing Aurora’s voice in the state House even further than the map adopted in 2011. The city is divided into 4 Senate districts, more than the 3 necessary. I urge you to work to minimize splits to the city of Aurora in the House and Senate mapping. Dividing Aurora dilutes Aurora’s voice and does a disservice to the citizens of Aurora. Thank you so much for your consideration. Mike Coffman Mayor of Aurora

We need representation for all people and not just one group of people.

I do not believe Summit County should be lumped into Boebert's county lines because she should be in jail due to ignoring her oath of office. In addition, I do not believe one county should be all one party, because this causes them to all vote them same way ALL he time and not think for themselves. This is a problem Summit County has. It's either 3-0 or 0-3, with never one commissioner being able to think for themselves. So if there is a solution to this in the redistricting plans, then it should be addressed.