Public Comments

Please find attached recommendations for both commissions by the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, & Research Organization (CLLARO). Our comments address Latino communities of interest, biases inhering in older census data, and reasons why public comment periods should be extended.

I think Larimer county should be with Boulder county not Larimer and Weld. There are lots of differences between the counties east of I25 and the counties west of I25. East of I25 are mostly industrial (Meat packing, cheese factory, Oil production) and agricultural. West of I25 we count on tourism, higher education, high tech. Economically and socially there are few common interests from East to West of I25 so I am asking that Larimer county be in a district with Boulder county. Thank You

I would like Larminer County to be districted with Boulder County for the following reasons: Boulder and Larminer have similar lifestyles/cultural types of activities (hiking, tourism, high-end, eclectic, and multiple ethnic types of restaurants), businesses that generate similar types of revenue. Both counties have high-tech and educational jobs, extensive UC healthcare facilities, strong educational sectors that are geared towards research and high tech. Since both are backed up into the foothills and are at high risk for fire damage, working together to mitigate damages would be in both of our interests as well as preserving natural resources and habitats. Both counties also feel strongly about having open spaces and building in a more planned way, rather than having developers decide. Also, both are against the oil and gas industry that is so prevalent in Weld County, which pollutes, potentially damages the underground aquifers, and has led to an increase in earthquakes, especially in Greeley. Thank you for your time and attention.

For the redistricting which includes Larimer County, it makes more sense to combine Larimer with Boulder County, rather than Weld County. Boulder and Larimer share many common values and views. Both have an active educational community comprising CU and CSU. Both of these institutions support clean energy initiatives and support an active entrepreneurial atmosphere. Both counties tend to have a good mix of liberal and conservative voters to maintain a competitive election process. Both of these counties have a very active outdoor community where the residents are concerned with climate and the environment. Both counties tend to be very particular about what kinds of industries they want to have. Conversely, combining Weld County with Larimer County would be like trying to mix oil and water. Weld County relies on agriculture, ranching, meat processing, and oil and gas as the primary industries. They don't have the same views about climate and the environment, which would be an issue between the counties. Politics in Weld County are very conservative and would skew the district toward supporting Trump and the far right, which is opposite to what Larimer County supports. Larimer tends to be more liberal, but with a solid mix between liberal and conservative. Combining with Weld would result in having our views and goals being overpowered by the large conservative population in Weld. We would end up with a very conservative majority in the district and we would lose our voice in government. It ultimately is a much better match to pair Boulder with Larimer rather than Weld. It would result in the desired size and population for the district.

5-12-2021 Colorado Congressional Redistricting Commissioners: We have sent several emails and a proposal, along with regular mailed letters to you in our quest on behalf of 'Citizens of True Southern Colorado' to make sure that South-Central Colorado receives its own congressional district in which we have presented both act and legal definition in our justification to have your commission remap the 3rd Congressional District to an area on the Eastern side of the Continental Divide We feel that the proposal we have sent you will meet the needs of representation for residents of South-Central Colorado both in terms of population and cultural. economic, and geographical considerations. It has been brought to our attention however, that certain political entities from El Paso County are trying to exert pressure to prevent proposals, such as ours, to pass and their justification is that they fear they will not be able to overcome the Denver Metro Vote for El Paso Counties GOP agenda. Again, Colorado political pressure will be exerted against Pueblo and all South-Central Colorado counties!! One of the main reasons of this commission was formed is to prevent political pressure, as we are seeing from El Paso County, to (once again) attempt to shut out the constituents of South- Central Colorado from OUR proper and entitled representation. We, the Citizens of True Southern Colorado, wish that all Congressional Redistricting Commissioners review the proposal that we have sent and seriously address this issue. We in South-Central Colorado have been without proper representation for over forty years when the 3rd Congressional District was ripped apart in favor of Republican political gains and placing Pueblo and Huerfano counties over 2/3th of the state away in geographical terms and effectively completely shutting us out of representation. WE do not wish to spend the next ten years in our same representational limbo. Just to refresh your memories, we are proposing in splitting El Paso County and allow the approximately 350,000 El Paso County residents to join with nearly 260,000 thousand South-Central Colorado residents to form either the revised 3rd Congressional District or the new 8th Colorado Congressional District. Thank You Thomas McKenna, Pueblo CO 81008 '

Please remember that South-Central Colorado is not a part of the Western Slope and should have its own district starting at Pikes Peak Ave in Colorado Springs and include Southern Colorado from the Eastern side of the Continental Divide to the eastern borders of Las Animas, Otero, and Crowley County, It area must include the San Luis Valley, Lake and Chaffee counties and all counites in between such as Fremont, Custer, Pueblo, Huerfano and the Southern Portion of El Paso counties. By creating a district such as this it will contain the necessary 710,000 population and consolidate the culture, heritage, and economic well being of this district. You can designate it as either the 3rd Congressional District or the new 8th Congressional District. Regardless this area needs its own district and a portion of Colorado Springs is necessary to create the proper continuity. Thomas McKenna - Citizens of True Southern Colorado

Please accept the following attached letter for the Legislative Commission. The letter from the Southwest Colorado Redistricting Alliance and concerned citizens outlines the reasons we believe a district which is fully configured within Southwest Colorado is critical to effective representation. Please see attachment for the full text of the letter. Thank you for your consideration. Kermitt Barrett

I am submitting this comment on behalf of Colorado Common Cause, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has been advocating for open, honest, and accountable government for the last fifty years. Colorado Common Cause was also one of the drafters of Amendments Y&Z. We respectfully submit the attached memo encouraging the staff and commissions to create maps which accurately reflect the residences of incarcerated Coloradans.

I am concerned about the redistricting proposal in the state of Colorado to redistricting Larimar County in with Weld County. I believe this would be a disaster for the Larimer county citizens. First and foremost we in Larimer county are delighted with our present congressmen Joe Neguse and would hate to lose him as our representative. In addition, there are several criteria which your redistricting committee has specified should be met in order to proceed with a redistricting proposal. I would like to address these individually. 1. Communities of common interest. Let me be very blunt Larimer county and Weld county have nothing in common. Weld county is an agricultural County, a gas and oil industry county, and they have many feedlots and slaughter houses. Larimer county has tech industries, pharmaceutical, and educational sectors with CSU. IF YOU MUST combine Larimar county with another county then you should consider Boulder County which Larimer county has far more in common with. Larimer County and Boulder County also has one large issue which make them close partners. Both countries have large forested area and work together in the event of a fire. I believe this is referring too as a mutual aid agreement. 2. Districts should be of equal size and compact. Larimer county combined with either county would be about the same population size, however the Larimar county and Boulder County would be and much more compact voting district. Larimer county and Weld country together would be huge. 3. Each District will be Competitive. Combining Larimar county with Weld county would be a hugh disadvantage to the democratic votes. Weld county has approximately 80,000 very right wing votes. It is no surprise that this county voted for Donald Trump. They also have voted for some of the most radical right representatives in congress. This would mean we would lose our reprentative Joe Neguse whom we are very happy with. In addition, Larimer county by itself is a very neutral country with about equal republicans and democrats. I would prefer if Larimer county was not combined with any other county. But, if you must please let it be Boulder county as Larimer county has so much more in common with this country.

I live in southeastern Brighton and am sorely disappointed that my conservative neighborhood (Sugar Creek subdivision) is stuck in Jason Crow's district. I as an independent conservative have NO representation in this state at all. I really wish my neighborhood can be redistricted into a Republican district where I feel I would have a voice and far more sympathetic representation. I find myself boiling angry all of the time with what's going on in this country now and I have no voice!!! (submitted by email 5/10/2021)