<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Here are the comments CCDC submitted to sponsors on the most recent draft-the documents are attached</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default">Good Afternoon Nicholas and Representatives</div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div><div class="gmail_default">CCDC appreciates changes that have been made to address our many concerns with this bill.   Here is some input on the questions you asked in the proposal.   While we appreciate and agree that there needs to be attention to those of us that require transit, a good transit system will only work when there are choice riders as well.  We would like there to be attention to people that would use transit.  This might mean younger people that are environmentally conscious such as urban dwellers, bike enthusiasts, as well as aging people who may be ready to drive less.   People choosing to live in cities are more likely to want to use transit.  At the DOTI transition town there were over 100 people there from Denver, many of whom are young professionals living in Denver who said they would love to use transit more regularly but would need it to run more often.  They are also a demographic that should be included.   </div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div><div class="gmail_default">1) <span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Section 3:</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700">The sponsors welcome additional language to strengthen accountability to disproportionately impacted communities and transit-dependent riders. </span></div><span id="m_-1526382347658828079m_4046840060794377962m_-4150523420411289719m_2235578178567631267gmail-docs-internal-guid-005c1156-7fff-e04c-97f5-7cbcfcba0687"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.32186;margin:15.0227pt 84.0205pt 0pt 85.7337pt"></p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">Any place it says race and gender it should also say disability.   </font></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">At least one of the appointed members, preferably a DRCOG one, should be someone who relies on transit 100% of the time or at least chooses to use transit as their primary means of transportation.</font></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">DRCOG appointees MUST be confirmed by the Senate. They also MUST be willing to be accountable to meet with members of the community as needed and their contact information must be public.   We would also like anyone from DRCOG involved to go through anti-ableism training.</font></span></li></ul><p></p></span><span class="gmail_default">2)  Section 16: </span><span id="m_-1526382347658828079m_4046840060794377962m_-4150523420411289719m_2235578178567631267gmail-docs-internal-guid-c2789129-7fff-1c80-203d-849a19cf1c43"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;text-align:center">In this area, the sponsors are open to hearing specific approaches to improve employee retention in addition to training. </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.32186;margin:15.1385pt 49.9734pt 0pt 52.0128pt"></p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">The biggest barrier to employee retention is safety.  The state should provide additional security resources to RTD if they want to retain drivers.    There are many fewer conflicts during the free fare months<span class="gmail_default"> so funding to make this last more months or year round could also help. But the real need is for much more uniformed security.</span>   </font></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">The issue is not training, RTD has a fairly robust training program.  <span class="gmail_default">  RTD has a lot of disability rights and disability cultural competency training in their program.  We would hate to lose this.  If CDOT has anything we are not aware of what it is. </span></font></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000">Unfortunately <span class="gmail_default">US</span>DOT license rules will not allow anyone to<span class="gmail_default"> </span>ge<span class="gmail_default">t</span> a CDL if they test positive for marijuana which is a problem in our state. </font></span></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height:1.32186;margin:15.1385pt 49.9734pt 0pt 52.0128pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font color="#000000"><br></font></span></p></span><span class="gmail_default">3)   Accountability and budget transparency:  These are good standards for all governments, and we would love to see the state do something similar, especially around transparency in developing budget proposals.  We request that there be a requirement for public involvement that specifically targets both transit reliant communities (seniors, disabled, low-income) AND people who do not use transit but would be willing to do so such as downtown and tech center workers, teens, young professionals, bikers, etc. in the process. </span><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default">4) Board reform: <span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;text-align:center">The sponsors welcome any specific feedback on how the board composition could be improved to adequately represent disproportionately impacted communities and transit dependent riders. </span></div><span id="m_-1526382347658828079m_4046840060794377962m_-4150523420411289719m_2235578178567631267gmail-docs-internal-guid-72982658-7fff-9e1d-811d-fb267c9383a2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.32185;margin:16.2558pt 52.0312pt 0pt 53.2966pt"></p><ul style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">One of the appointed positions from the Governor and DRCOG should be someone that uses transit full time.   </span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">See earlier comments about DRCOG appointees. <span class="gmail_default"> We would like anyone involved with DRCOG and transportation to go through anti-ableism training.</span></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Do not allow <span class="gmail_default">board </span>business with a quorum that only is half of the people that show up. <span class="gmail_default"> There should be a way to replace appointees that do not attend 85% of all meetings including committee meetings.  </span></span> That is a recipe for gamesmanship..scheduling meetings at times you know there is a conflict, then rushing decisions.  It should be a typical quorum of a majority of the whole board.  </li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default">We are worried that mayors or commissioners will not have time to do this work. While we would prefer DRCOG is not involved at all, at least they should be able to designate someone that will have the time. Moreover, being a mayor or commissioner does not guarantee that they know about transit any more than the current system. It just takes a choice away from voters.</span></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span class="gmail_default">If someone is a mayor or commissioner is there not a conflict with the duty of loyalty required of a board member?  How do they vote if they are supposed to represent the whole district but they were elected to serve their community?  There will be votes that might be better for the district but not for their particular community.  </span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font color="#38761d"><b>In addition, please share any feedback on the transition between the current elected board and new hybrid board. </b></font><br></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">How does this impact people that have already filed to run for a specific district in 2024?  They have likely created a campaign, fundraised, etc., with a focus on a specific district.  I know there are two people running for District A.  I am not aware of other districts but know at least in that one this will be an issue. </span></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default">How do you decide which one serves the 2 vs 4 year term since they are all elected.</span><br></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default">What do you do if you say no write in and there is no one that files in time OR the person who is running has to drop out, dies, etc. if the legislation prohibits write in candidates?</span></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default">Current directors that represent a district will move to at large. Will they get a larger budget to do their constituent work? Will the state pay for this? Right now they have funds based on their area only and they will have many more constituents.</span></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default">Appointed members must be as available to the public as elected members including posting their contact information and they must be available to meet with constituents both during the day and evening.</span></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="gmail_default">If there are not the same number of districts how does it work to say each director lives in the district but serves at large.  Some areas will not have a director in their district. </span><br></li></ul><p></p><br></span><span class="gmail_default">We also support TOC but fail to see how RTD can control where people develop property.  </span></div></div></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default">We are supportive of anything that will increase ridership.  We do not think a focus on events is going to do this, someone using RTD to go a concert or game a few times a year is not as important as someone using it to do daily business such as getting to work, getting kids to school, errands, regular activities.    We already have light rail service to most event venues (DCPA, Pepsi Center, Ball Arena, etc)</div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.8px">With Gratitude,</span></font></div><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Julie Reiskin</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Co-Executive Director</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Email Address: <a href="mailto:jreiskin@ccdconline.org" target="_blank">jreiskin@ccdconline.org</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition<br>1385 S. Colorado Blvd. Bldg. A., Suite 610<br>Denver, CO 80222<br>Organizational phone: 303-839-1775 | Direct Phone: 303-667-4216</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Looking for ways to support our mission? Follow these links:</b><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><a href="https://ccdconline.org/take-action/membership/" target="_blank">Join our membership for free</a> | <a href="https://www.ccdconline.org/donate/" target="_blank">Online giving</a><a> | </a><a href="http://www.ccdconline.org/donate/other-ways-to-give/" target="_blank">Other ways to support</a></b><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><i><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"></i><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11.4px">*CCDC is headquartered in Denver*; we acknowledge that Denver is on the occupied land of the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne people</div><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"></p><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(34,139,222)"><b>Nothing about us without us - ever!</b></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">--</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.8px">With Gratitude,</span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Julie Reiskin</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Co-Executive Director</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Email Address: <a href="mailto:jreiskin@ccdconline.org" target="_blank">jreiskin@ccdconline.org</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition<br>1385 S. Colorado Blvd. Bldg. A., Suite 610<br>Denver, CO 80222<br>Organizational phone: 303-839-1775 | Direct Phone: 303-667-4216</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Looking for ways to support our mission? Follow these links:</b><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><a href="https://ccdconline.org/take-action/membership/" target="_blank">Join our membership for free</a> | <a href="https://www.ccdconline.org/donate/" target="_blank">Online giving</a><a> | </a><a href="http://www.ccdconline.org/donate/other-ways-to-give/" target="_blank">Other ways to support</a></b><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><i><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"></i><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11.4px">*CCDC is headquartered in Denver*; we acknowledge that Denver is on the occupied land of the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne people</div><p style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"></p><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(34,139,222)"><b>Nothing about us without us - ever!</b></div><a href="https://ccdconline.org/" alt="CCDC logo in blue and black" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.ccdconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ccdc-logo.png" style="max-width:15%;min-height:15%;vertical-align:middle;width:285.594px"></a><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:19px">...<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CCDC.CO" target="_blank"><img src="https://ccdconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/iconmonstr-facebook-4-32.png"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/CCDC501c3" target="_blank"><img src="https://ccdconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/iconmonstr-twitter-4-32.png"></a></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(34,139,222)"><b>Click the logos above or the text here to connect with us at <a href="https://ccdconline.org/" target="_blank">ccdconline.org</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CCDC.CO" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/CCDC501c3" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b></div></div></div></div></div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 6:05 AM Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk <<a href="mailto:colorado-talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">colorado-talk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal">Good morning!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">I posted an article on this proposed shakeup a while ago, but it’s looking more and more like it’s gonna happen. This article doesn’t mention equity for people with disabilities, so I’m curious what the NFB of Colorado and the CCD’s positions would be on this proposal? It seems as though it has a lot of support and is unlikely to be stopped. I don’t know enough about the subject to have an opinion, but I’d love to know what people think who know a lot more than I do.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/03/26/state-lawmakers-move-to-cut-two-thirds-of-rtd-boards-elected-seats/" target="_blank">https://www.cpr.org/2024/03/26/state-lawmakers-move-to-cut-two-thirds-of-rtd-boards-elected-seats/</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cheers,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Tim<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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