Public Comments

Lakewood shares much in common with other sweet Denver suburbs such as Wheat Ridge and Arvada, and much less with Douglas County. Please do not redistrict Lakewood with Dougco.

Our community shares share no mutual ideals with douglas county. Tired of being in communities that are rural and ignorant.

As a 30+ year resident of Lakewood, I can assure you that Lakewood shares nothing in common with Douglas County. We are much closer, in terms of geography, identity, shared history and culture with Arvada and Wheatridge. I grew up in Arvada and I spent much time in Wheatridge as well. Which is why I felt so comfortable moving to Lakewood and settling here for so many years. I’ve always considered myself a “west-sider”. To me, Douglas County is more like Aurora / Centennial. Please don’t lump Lakewood in with DougCo for redistricting purposes. Thank you.

Lakewood shares little in common with Douglas County, and should stay in a district with Arvada and Wheat Ridge.

The guidelines for the Redistricting Board (making districts the same size, respect city and county boundaries, competitive elections, and how to identify communities of interest, etc.) have been widely publicized. Most of the criteria are easily discernable based on previously published information. The subjective guideline is identifying communities of interest, and my input to the Redistricting Board addresses that topic. I own a home and I am a registered voter in Broomfield, Colorado. Since districts were redrawn in 2010, the City and County of Broomfield has grown dramatically: Population 2010 Census: 55,889 Population 2020 Census: 72,747 Growth in ten years: 30.16% Future planning and zoning in undeveloped tracts indicate that Broomfield will probably come close to full build out over the upcoming ten-year period. The community is and will be a suburban community in-between Denver and Boulder. Based on the 2020 population estimate, Broomfield is a little too small for a Colorado House district, and less than half of a Colorado Senate district. Because of that the communities of common interest become the decisive criteria. Generally, Broomfield shares common interests, as well as economic interests, with neighboring communities that are not identical in makeup, but are primarily urban residential areas such as Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Golden, and Westminster. Primary issues with residential urban areas include: - Transportation (especially arterial roadways connecting communities and regional highways). - Education for growing families - Development, zoning, and urban congestion - Healthcare in an urban environment - Real estate and sales tax rates - Parks and recreational areas - Social issues that are common in urban environments (equality, justice, fairness) Issues that are not on the radar screen for residential urban areas: - Agricultural policy - Rural healthcare - Oil and Gas development (not viable in primarily residential areas) As the Redistricting Board considers communities of interest, I hope that you will match Broomfield with adjacent communities that are facing the same issues. Where common interests can lead to common action to address the challenges of urban residential communities, and where our representatives can concentrate on issues that are common to all of the communities in their district. Thanks you for your efforts. Charles L. King Broomfield, Colorado

As a Lakewood resident, I think that Lakewood shares little in common with Douglas County, and should stay in a district with Arvada+Wheat Ridge.

Please do not include Lakewood in Douglas County for redistricting! We have nothing in common with that county, but lots in common with Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Arvada. We are the WEST side of town, the FOOTHILLS. We live a different kind of life here.

Lakewood should stay in district with Arvada/Wheat Ridge. This makes much more sense demographically and with location.

I have been a Weld County resident for almost 18 years and have lived in Johnstown for the last 8. In that time, I have seen the communities I know and love grow immensely. The reality of living in this area is that I frequently utilize resources across county lines. My nearest hospital is in Larimer County as are many convenient retail opportunities. In fact, a good portion of the residential and commercial properties within Johnstown limits are in Larimer County. It is for this reason that I am reaching out to encourage the commission to create a congressional district that encompasses the Northern I-25 corridor and does not seek to split Weld and Larimer Counties. The communities encompassed in this area (indicated on the attached map) are inextricably linked by issues related to their growth. Infrastructure, transportation, water rights, emergency services, education, healthcare, commerce, and entertainment are all shared interests in the indicated community. We have more things in common with each other than we share with the more rural parts of Weld County. It is for this reason that I ask you to consider drawing a district that reflects these common interests in the Northern I-25 corridor and resists the urge to lump Weld county into a district with the rest of the Eastern plains. Another compelling argument for a district to be drawn this way is that it would make a competitive voting district. It is important for the commission to consider creating competitive districts where possible. This district would accomplish that goal. In addition to specific concerns about my personal district, I want to voice the necessity that the commission adhere to the voting rights act by creating majority minority districts where possible in our state. Given that minority groups make up 30% of our state's entire population and that many of these residents live within close proximity to each other, it is imperative that the commission seek to create 2 districts that fit this criteria. This task will be a more attainable goal if the commission seeks to preserve communities of interest over county borders. It is important to note that many county lines in our state were drawn over a century ago. As our state has grown and changed, so have our communities. Particularly in populated areas, county lines no longer represent communities of interest.

Lakewood has nothing in- conman with Douglas County. Leave us where we are.