Public Comments

I simply want district lines drawn based on major roads and city/county boundaries - natural divisions we live with every day. For metro Denver: west-side suburbs, east-side suburbs, north-side suburbs and south-side suburbs. And then city center. Mountain districts by major collecting roads (like water drainage) since people live and move based on where they can drive. For prairie, same road-system districting.

Our community is concerned about handling population growth, which relates to water, transportation, environmental impacts, and the cost of all such growth factors.

Commissioners, congratulations on your appointments to the Colorado Congressional Redistricting Commission. We want to thank you for your commitment and dedication to ensuring the will of the people is adequately represented in congress through the unbiased, fair, and important task of apportionment of our congressional districts. We would like to point a grave disparity in the current alignment of our congressional districts which are to the south of El Paso County, and east of the Continental Divide, including the San Luis Valley which we will call True Southern Colorado. In the past forty years Pueblo, Huerfano, and Custer Counties has been part of the 3rd Colorado Congressional District along with the counties that make up the San Luis Valley and the entire section of the State of Colorado known as the Western Slope, or that portion that lies west of the Continental Divide. This alignment of the 3rd Congressional District was apportioned in 1982 as a gerrymandering maneuver by the Republican control legislature to make the district easier for Republican Control. During the last forty years this district has had fifteen sessions of congress represented by a republican where only six have been represented by a democrat and of that two-thirds disparity a citizen from the geographic physical Western Slope has been in the 3rd Congressional Representative sixteen out of twenty sessions of Congress. This means that True Southern Colorado has not been represented in Congress for at least an eighty percent of time during the last forty years, and this is the type of and misrepresentation that this commission is designed to control. We feel that a complete realigned of the 3rd Congressional District is warranted by these facts and because of geographical distortion of the district. Look at a map and you will see that Huerfano, Custer and Pueblo Counties, along with the San Luis Valley look like an appendage stuck on the side of the Western Slope geographically we can see this is not representation, however more important is that the area are culturally, historically, and economically misaligned. Commissioners ask yourselves this question; Geographically does it make sense that Pueblo, Walsenburg, Westcliffe, Alamosa, Monte Vista, Del Norte, South Fork, Creed, Lake City, Antonito Saguache, and San Luis be aligned with the same representation they have in Grand Junction, Durango, Vali, Telluride, Rifle, Craig, Aspen and Steamboat Springs. Also ask the same question, “Do these same areas, that we just pointed out, also match up economically and culturally”? The obvious answer is NO, so why should we all be lumped together for representation as one when our needs, our cultures, our economies are different. This was put together for a political purpose and we ask you, the appointed redistricting commissioners, to split this forty-year travesty of misrepresentation up and allow South- Central Colorado to be able to choose our proper representation in Congress and be represented as we want to and not a political entity. We ask you, the commissioners to investigate this matter very thoroughly to have South Central Colorado represented in Congress adequately and this will help the Western Slope to improve their representation. We have proposed, on how we would like to see the 3rd Congressional District redrawn, each commissioner was sent a proposed, by mail, when each of you were appointed to this commission. One other important item is that we in this proposal are suggesting that El Paso County be spilt at Pikes Peak Ave and added to the newly aligned 3rd Congressional District because this will satisfy population requirements and bring South-Central Colorado line with better representation geography, culturally and economically. One other item which is important to use this the area we proposed for the South – Central District be allowed to retain the nomenclature of the ‘Third Congressional District’ because before the gerrymandering in 1980-82, we in this geographical area were the 3rd Congressional District and we want to keep that designation and be more properly aligned as a people. Sincerely Thomas McKenna- Pueblo Spokesperson for the Citizens of True Southern Colorado.

My community of Gilpin County is united by the following shared interests: 1. a community center 2. a senior citizen aggregate meal site and transportation service 3. ball fields 4. a library 5. catastrophic wild fire mitigation measures including a shared free to the user slash pile 6. an early learning center for infants through age 5 7. vote centers 8. the gaming industry We are concerned about public policies associated with catastrophic wild fire mitigation, sewer and water policies and gaming impact funding We have a strong identity with the entire county unlike some communities where the residents may not even know what county they live in. Instead, they just identify with the city or town they live in. The mountains, forest, wildlife, and creeks in Gilpin County are very important to us. Gilpin residents respect diversity of cultures, life styles, races, religions, and opinions. We don't like to be treated like the "red headed step child" because we are small in terms of population size and/or geographic size. We expect to be treated equally, no better or worse than any other community in Colorado. We relate closely to Nederland in Boulder Countyand Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County because we share common interests regarding mountain living and because there is no grocery store in Gilpin County so we shop in Idaho Springs or Nederland depending on which end of Gilpin County you live in

The commissions need to be larger and equal representation from both parties and independents. Rural and western slope should be included even if their representation does not change.

My first consideration for any definition of 'community' is an HOA neighborhood. They already engage in some form of common governance and election efforts. So any district boundaries must be clear HOA boundaries. Major thoroughfares should be leveraged as boundaries to minimize confusion when determining an individuals district. Arapahoe Rd, Smoky Hill Rd, Parker Rd, 470, I-25, 225 and the like.

I want to comment on HD37 in Arapahoe County. This is a 10 mile long district (east to west) and is divided into three parts by two highways: I-25 and Parker Road. I live in the western third which tends to have more established neighborhoods. (I believe this may also be true of the eastern third.) The center third seems to be rapidly changing with many new apartment buildings. It also has a commercial corridor (Arapahoe Road) which has heavy traffic that I tend to avoid. Driving from one end to the other takes thirty minutes in good traffic. Any house district this long is likely to have distinctly different sections. I hope that redistricting will result a more compact and homogeneous form.

I am a resident of Edwards, Colorado in Eagle County. I happen to be in the area of Eagle County that is now CD3. Part of our county is CD2 and part is CD3. This is puzzling to me as I believe our county has similar interests that should be represented as a group and not separate. A good portion of Eagle County includes ski resort communities. These communities have different needs than say those in the southern and more rural parts of CD3. We are subject to higher healthcare costs, along with higher insurance rates. We are tourist driven where other areas of CD3 are not. As it stands we depend heavily on tourists for our livelihood. Whereas some areas are more dependent on farming. It would make sense to keep Eagle County under one district. Perhaps the farming areas should be grouped together because they have similar requirements. Thank you for considering my input. I am concerned that we all have equal representation. I am also concerned with gun regulation. I have always thought assault rifles should be banned. I know my representative for CD3 is against this and is pro-guns. Especially in light of the mass shooting at a King Soopers in Bounder, we need to restrict gun ownership. Please. Before more innocent people loose their lives.

Dear Commissioners, Thank you for the opportunity to comment. The San Luis Valley shares key geographic, economic, agricultural, water, recreational, environmental, and cultural issues and needs. The way these issues interrelate is unique to the alpine Valley (comprised of the counties of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Saguache, Rio Grande, Mineral). There’s a Valley Way of doing things that seems from another time, but holds respect for others even in disagreement. Our Valley needs representation for our unique challenges. I can attest that when our Valley comes together, most often mutually beneficial outcomes aren’t far behind. Whatever the subjects are be they energy, agriculture, growth, sustainability, cultural integrity they all revolve around water. I’m currently serving as President of the Baca Grande Water and Sanitation District and as such am well acquainted with the threat posed by drought for our adjoined communities. We need Congressional Redistricting (CD3) and Legislative Redistricting (House District 62) to ensure that rural voices are heard and represented. Our way of life and shared cultural traditions are at risk and I ask for your due consideration. Sincerely, John Loll Crestone

Subject: Recommendations For Immediate Consideration by Colorado’s Redistricting Commissions Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissioners and Redistricting Commissions Staff: The Colorado Constitution requires that: “Within the first twenty days after the commission has convened, any member of the public and any member of the commission may submit written comments to nonpartisan staff on the creation of the preliminary plan and on communities of interest that require representation in one or more specific areas of the state.” Colo. Const. art. V, §§ 44.4(1); 48.2(1). As Colorado’s Independent Redistricting Commissions convene and the redistricting process begins, we offer the following recommendations in order to ensure that opportunities for public participation are prioritized, expanded, and accessible. - Extend the 20-day written public comment period: Given the delay in US Census data, we urge both the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission and the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission to formally adopt, at a minimum, a 60 day extension to the 20-day written public comment period as quickly as possible. Additionally, the finalized deadlines for the written public comment should be posted on the Colorado Redistricting Commissions’ website and publicized as broadly as possible. - Increase accessibility of written public comment form: We urge commissioners and commission staff to make the written public comment form more accessible to communities whose primary language is not English by improving translation of the form. Currently, the form includes a sentence in Spanish informing the public that comments submitted in other languages will be translated; however, this is not sufficient. We recommend a comprehensive translation of the form in its entirety. We respectfully offer these recommendations to the Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions in the spirit of transparency and ensuring Colorado’s Redistricting process is accessible to all Coloradans. Sincerely, Nicole Hensel New Era Colorado