Karman Line Annexation

June 17th, 2025 – Colorado Springs residents will be asked to vote on the Karman Line Annexation.  Ballots are dropping soon!

The El Paso County Democrats Executive Committee has taken a firm stance against the Karman Line Annexation. By voting to oppose this measure, the committee underscores its commitment to sustainable development and protecting the interests of Colorado Springs residents. This decision reflects the growing concerns over the annexation’s potential to burden taxpayers, strain resources, and disrupt the community’s balance.

 

Karman Line Annexation: A Controversial Proposal in Colorado Springs

The Karman Line Annexation is a highly debated plan to annex 1,900 acres in Colorado Springs for a new development near Schriever Space Force Base. If approved, this project would introduce approximately 6,500 new homes, dramatically expanding the area south of the base, near Curtis and Bradley Roads.

The Urgent Need for Housing

Housing is a critical issue in Colorado Springs, and the El Paso County Democrats recognize the need for increased residential development. However, sustainability must be prioritized. This proposal places the burden of infrastructure—such as water supply, emergency services, and roads—on Colorado Springs, rather than ensuring responsible, independent development. Shifting these costs onto the city’s taxpayers has been labeled predatory planning by critics.

Standing with Farmers & the Community

Concerns have also been raised by Arkansas River Valley farmers, who worry about the effects of rapid expansion. Advocates for more sustainable urban planning argue that increasing urban density—rather than sprawling development on small parcels—would be a more responsible solution.

The Path to a Vote

Despite strong public opposition, the Colorado Springs Council approved the annexation on January 28. In response, a campaign was launched to bring the issue to voters. After successfully gathering the necessary signatures, the measure is now set to appear in a special election, allowing residents to decide the future of this development.

While supporting affordable housing for active-duty military members is a shared priority, opponents argue that this plan fails to serve the best interests of the county due to its unsustainable structure.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2025

El Paso County Democratic Party Condemns Government Response to Colorado Springs Raid; Affirms Commitment to Defending Due Process

The public statements released by Mayor Yemi Mobolade and the El Paso County Board of Commissioners failed their constituents by refusing to call for restraint, compassion, or due process for the very residents they represent.

At a time when U.S. residents are being wrongly detained by ICE and subjected to brutal confinement conditions in detention centers both in the U.S. and in countries like El Salvador, it is especially shocking to see our city and county governments publicly praise rogue police forces that are bypassing constitutional rights. Instead of standing up for the rights and dignity of the very residents they were elected to serve—including citizens who may have voted for them—they chose complicity.

Residents, including U.S. citizens, are at real risk of wrongful detention, deportation, and imprisonment—or worse. Their actions early Sunday morning showed a blatant disregard for the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, and their public use of dehumanizing language against county residents of Latino, Hispanic, and Indigenous descent demands condemnation.

We stand in solidarity with local and state immigration rights groups who have called attention to these abuses and who continue to fight for human dignity, constitutional rights, and true public safety for all members of our community. The El Paso County Democratic Party is currently engaged in consultations to determine how we can best support ongoing legal efforts to defend due process and protect the rights and safety of all our residents.