Public Comments

September 26, 2021 The Colorado Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions Re: Proposed Staff Map - Redistricting in Fort Collins September 23, 2021 Ladies and Gentlemen: First, I would like to thank you for your dedicated service to the multiple communities of Colorado. Applying Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom to your task, “…You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time,” I believe you have done a stellar job in designing the District map that puts Fort Collins back in Larimer County. However, I am baffled by the proposed map dated September 23, 2021 that suggests reapportioning Colorado State House Districts 52 and 53. As an unsuccessful Fort Collins District 3 City Council candidate (2013), I have a unique perspective on voting strength. One of my primary concerns was public transportation. The current public transportation system is designed on a north/south grid along Highway 287. I see no apparent value in replacing that clear dividing line with a convoluted, stair-step, north/south configuration to divide the House Districts. As an unaffiliated voter, my conclusion is gerrymandering …the primary issue I was hoping to eliminate through the redistricting process. The stated objective of my first letter to the Commission was equity for all communities. That hasn’t changed. The north/south proposal places two educational institutions: CSU and Front Range Community College - as well as both primary medical facilities – UC Health and Fort Collins Banner Medical Center in HD52. What will be the impact for both students and staff affiliated with those institutions? You are encouraged to reconsider the September 23 proposal, and find a more equitable solution …if there is, indeed, a problem to solve. Once again, I thank you for your service. Sincerely, Lynda Blake PO Box 270666 Fort Collins, CO 80527

Why would you consider putting rural, mountain communities in with urban communities? We have very little in common and these population centers and they will easily bury the rural community interests. The I-25 corridor consistently takes opposite positions of the majority of the western slope. The redistricting that you have suggested violates the most fundamental principle of congressional redistricting: that communities of similar interests have representation in our Congress. Give those areas on the Front Range their Congressional voices, and give a voice to the Western Slope by keeping all of the Western Slope in CD3.

My name is Megan Burch, and I am a resident of Roxborough, which is located at the northwest part of Douglas County. This is my *fifth* time providing public comment on how Roxborough has been drawn in the congressional map. I have provided both written comment and have provided public testimony twice. Each time, I have requested that Roxborough is acknowledged as the suburban community that it is, with close ties with Highlands Ranch and Littleton, and is subsequently placed in a suburban, not rural, legislative district. The latest version of the congressional map puts the entirety of Roxborough into one community. Thank you for that modification, as the last version split our community into two parts. My request today is what I have asked for this entire time, that Roxborough is placed with a suburban, not rural district. This request has been echoed by many members of the Douglas County community, in which we have requested that you honor our ties to the Denver metro community with employment, roads, land use, etc. and put us in a suburban congressional district. This request is also in alignment with testimony that I have also read and listened to from residents on the eastern plains of Colorado that have requested that their rural area not be combined with an urban area. Please honor this request to recognize Douglas County as a suburban, not rural district. Putting us in a rural district will take away the voice of this rapidly growing community for the next ten years. Please do not leave us behind. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Having lived in Eagle County for 41 years we must state how different this area is to the eastern part of the state. When we came here it was more rural, but it still holds that trait with hunting, fishing, livestock raising & raising hay to be the livelihood of many. We as a family raised 4H animals and harvested hay on our small field. We don't connect with big city ideas and their pace of life. We want a more simple quiet life with open space, less people, less government, less restrictions on us and our families. Keep Eagle County with the western part of the state. Don't divide us geographically making us part of big city ideas, & government. We chose to leave urban cities to live a more peaceful life.

My name is Megan Burch, and I am a resident of Roxborough, which is located at the northwest part of Douglas County. This is my fourth time providing public comment on how Roxborough has been drawn in the legislative map. I have provided written comment and have provided public testimony twice. Each time, I have requested that Roxborough is acknowledged as the suburban community that it is, with close ties with Highlands Ranch and Littleton, and is subsequently placed in a suburban, not rural, legislative district. On this latest version of legislative maps, Roxborough is still included with the 30th senate district. Thank you for that. I am in complete agreement that this is the best placement for our community of interest, as we have close ties with the community of Highlands Ranch. The remaining issue is with the house map. This map combines both suburban and rural areas in Douglas County. Douglas County, like some of the other metro Denver counties, such as Adams and Arapahoe, include a mix of both suburban and rural areas. The northern parts of Douglas County are all suburban areas, share communities of interest, and should be grouped together, as much as possible. These communities include Roxborough, Sterling Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker. On the latest map, the communities of Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch have their own house districts, which is why I am not including them in the above list. The rural areas of southern Douglas County should be grouped with other rural areas to best serve their needs. The latest senate map is actually reflective of this difference in our county. Thank you for your consideration in placing the community of Roxborough with other suburban areas on the house map.

I am not in favor of the new redistricting maps! We have told the committee many times over....Leave Eagle County as ONE and do NOT combine us with the Front Range (Boulder) We want our voices to be heard and counted for the issues that concern our area communities. Water, Water, Water, agriculture, fishing, rafting, is only one of our main issues. I do not want my voice muted or overlooked by the representation shown on these maps. Go back to the June 3rd maps....at least it is closer to what is fair for our area.

Thank you for listening to us in rural areas with your updated map of Sept 23!!! I really appreciate being heard!!

Hello, my name is Brita Horn. A mom, ranchwife, and volunteer fire chief. I have lived in Routt County for over 30 years and have been married to lifelong rancher Gary Horn and raised two daughters. I have also been the Routt County Treasurer and Public Trustee and served on the Routt County Planning Commission as the South Routt Representative. I am speaking for myself as a landowner and registered voter. I urgently request the commission to reconsider the preliminary map for CD3 or consider and adopt the Club 20 map that was submitted. It will keep our rural western slope whole. We do not have anything in common with the urban Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Summit, eastern portion of Eagle County, most of Larimer County and the portion of Windsor in Larimer County and including portions of Weld County with Berthoud, Erie, and Longmont. Again, our community of interest is in the hard-working class wearing blue jean and cowboy boots. Whether it’s water, forests, federal land, environment (the original environmentalists are ranchers and farmers), agriculture or tourism (hunting); visitors think of our western slope as Colorado. My Colorado pioneer family, neighbors and friends petition the commission to keep western slope whole and adopt the Club 20 map or the preliminary map. Thank you in advance for your consideration in this important matter, Brita Horn Routt County landowner.

Thank you for creating a new map in which Broomfield is unified. When the vote occurs on the maps you have created I hope you will vote for one that keeps Broomfield unified and reject any that divide it.

Maps Senate 25 and 28 (second version-date 9/23/21) Senate 28 As drawn has no urban/rural of Arapahoe County; this should be east to west directional and not north to south Senate 25 This is a major and drastic change in state level representation for the area of north Aurora (Adams County/north of Colfax). This area has never been represented as part of Arapahoe County. In the past, always, representation has been part of Adams County. The map dilutes the voices and needs of those in Adams County (north of Colfax). The map should be more inclusive of the communities in Adams County (north) and not south/southeast Arapahoe (to E. Quincy Avenue) The map continues to go south to E. Quincy Avenue; this area south/southeast Arapahoe County has nothing in common with the Adams County (north of Colfax/Aurora) communities. There are vast differences in community needs, community demographics. There are differences in school districts, school populations. There are differences in housing. There are differences in RTD districts-the area north of Colfax/Aurora-is RTD District B. There are differences in that north of Colfax (Adams County) does not have HOAs, metropolitan districts. There are differences in community needs, including, but, not limited to: roads, transportation, county services. The area south/southeast Arapahoe County is one of the least diverse and Adams County should not be used to “add color” to Senate 25. This area is a long standing community, one county-Adams. This area contains many communities of interest, including, but, not limited to: Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Burmese), people of Hispanic origin, people of African descent. There are many multi-generational households, there are many languages spoken and many cultures. This area does not consist of HOA's nor Metropolitan Districts. This area has been effected by gentrification. This area of north Aurora/Adams County is in the Aurora Public Schools district (28J). There are many community based resources and services located in the north Aurora/Adams County that provide culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate services to the residents. This area consists of, but not limited to: retired citizens, elderly, fixed incomes, current and retired military, higher education students, working class families, newly immigrated, established ties to this community. This area is considered RTD District B-this area includes the area that is part of north/northeast Denver and the DIA area, including the Green Valley Ranch area. DIA and the DIA area is an employer of many residents. The map of Senate 28 should be changed to incorporate more the south/southeast are of Senate 25 (therefore, more east/west, rural/urban). The map of Senate 25 should be more inclusive of Adams County-there is more in common with the north Aurora (Adams County/north of Colfax) and the surrounding DIA (Adams County) area and north and east. Per The Washington Post, Aug. 13, 2021-“A Colorado county offers a glimpse of America’s future” (this article highlights Adams county) https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/13/colorado-race-census-adams-county/ Adams County has the lowest per capital income in the state. https://www.denverpost.com/2021/08/27/colorado-wealth-gap-asset-income-disparity/ Map House 36 (second version-date 9/23/21) HD 40, 41, 42: As drawn are not inclusive of rural/urban parts of Arapahoe County; HD 40, 41, 42 should go west to east and not north to south HD 36: As drawn: is a major drastic change in representation at the state legislative level. This appears that the commission is “creating” the “city and county of Aurora”-which does not exist. The area north of Colfax is Adams County and is the north area of Aurora. As drawn, this incorporates north Aurora/Adams County (north of Colfax) with Arapahoe County; this a major drastic change in representation at the state legislative level. As drawn, this dilutes and diminishes the voices of the communities in north Aurora/Adams County (north of Colfax). This diminishes and dilutes the identities of the communities. This dilutes and diminishes the unique needs of the Adams County communities. The north Aurora/Adams County (north of Colfax) has NEVER been incorporated with Arapahoe County. This area is the most densely populated in Aurora and has the most communities of diversity. This area should incorporate the rural and urban aspects of Adams County. This area should follow the county lines, going west to east and north, incorporating the area around DIA (Adams County). This should be as similar to present day HD30 as possible. The north Aurora area has no similarities with south/southeast Arapahoe County (as drawn-south past the Aurora Reservoir). The north Aurora area has more similarities with Adams County and the surrounding Adams County communities (to the north). The north Aurora/Adams County should be incorporated with Adams County communities and not Arapahoe County communities. There are differences in items such as, but, not limited to school districts, income level, housing, county funding, county resources, community resources, RTD districts (north Aurora is RTD District B), community interests, community diversity. There are differences in health care needs, health care access, access to affordable health care. There are differences in access to housing, access to affordable housing. There are differences in transportation needs. There are differences in culturally competent needs. The differences are not limited to those listed, they are examples of the differences between the area north of Colfax (Adams County) and south/southeast Arapahoe County. Adams County has the lowest per capital income in the state. https://www.denverpost.com/2021/08/27/colorado-wealth-gap-asset-income-disparity/ The further south/southeast into Arapahoe County (especially south of East 6th Avenue), there is less diversity and culturally competent services. The area south/southeast Arapahoe County is filled with HOAs, metropolitan districts, private country clubs, private golf courses. The Adams County (north of Colfax) portion does not have HOAs, metropolitan districts, private country clubs, private golf courses. The area south/southeast Arapahoe County is an area that is part of the issues of systemic racism, structural racism and institutional racism. There have been hate incidents and bullying in this area. This south area lacks diversity, culturally competent services. This area contributes to the lack of equity and the growth of gentrification (the new term for segregation) and disparities that is found in north Aurora (north of Colfax)/Adams County. This dilutes and diminishes the voices of the communities in north Aurora/Adams County (north of Colfax). Instead of lessening the disparities, this is contributing to the disparities and inequities. The Adams County portion of Aurora needs to be considered compact and whole. This area needs to be part of Adams County and not Arapahoe County. This area is a long standing community, one county-Adams. This area contains many communities of interest, including, but, not limited to: Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Burmese), people of Hispanic origin, people of African descent. There are many multi-generational households, there are many languages spoken and many cultures. This area does not consist of HOA's nor Metropolitan Districts. This area has been effected by gentrification. This area of north Aurora/Adams County is in the Aurora Public Schools district (28J). There are many community based resources and services located in the north Aurora/Adams County that provide culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate services to the residents. This area consists of, but not limited to: retired citizens, elderly, fixed incomes, current and retired military, higher education students, working class families, newly immigrated, established ties to this community. This area is considered RTD District B-this area includes the area that is part of north/northeast Denver and the DIA area, including the Green Valley Ranch area. DIA and the DIA area is an employer of many residents. This needs to be redrawn to restore the area as HD30 exists currently to encompass Adams County and the surrounding DIA area (Adams County) and the Adams County communities. Per The Washington Post, Aug. 13, 2021-“A Colorado county offers a glimpse of America’s future” (this article highlights Adams county) https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/13/colorado-race-census-adams-county/