In the News

Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen spent Friday, April 10, in Chaffee County meeting with constituents in Buena Vista (BV) and Salida. After a meeting with elected leaders, small business owners, and the Upper Ark Water Conservancy, she ended her day with a community coffee in BV. The Piñon Room of the BV Community Center was filled with local voters to hear Pettersen’s update and ask questions.

County Commissioner P.T. Wood spoke briefly about the county and drought concerns. Another challenge the county faces is a lack of state and federal funding, but he assured attendees that the county was working to mitigate the issues.

BV Mayor Libby Fay invited those in attendance to the upcoming BV trustee public hearing on the Amazon facility set for Tuesday, April 14. She added that it is likely that water restrictions will be more intense than usual this year.

County Commissioner Dave Armstrong said the county continues to move forward on projects in transportation, sustainability, workforce development, education, and early childhood support. They are also keeping a close eye on the budget.

Pettersen thanked the local leaders for their work. They remained to offer a local perspective during the question and answer portion of the event.

Pettersen provided a series of updates at the federal level. 

To begin, she focused on the resilience of Chaffee County while acknowledging the chaos in Washington.

“We’re going to get through it together,” said Pettersen.

“No matter how, no matter what, we’re going to come out of this rubble,” she continued. She added that some of the most challenging times in the country’s history resulted in the “greatest steps forward and progress for regular people.”

“So that is my hope for the future, of what we’re going to be able to build.”

The partial government shutdown focused on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding is the longest in U.S. history. It surpassed the record set by the full government shutdown in 2025.

“So things are going real well in Washington,” said Pettersen to laughter from the audience.

“We are holding strong in demanding an overhaul of what’s happening with ICE,” she continued. “These are common sense reforms that we are calling for.”

Pettersen turned to the “economic chaos,” citing tariffs and less international tourism after administration’s threats to Canada in 2025.

“Apparently that’s really bad for tourism. So we have our allies from Canada, Europe, across the world, who are choosing not to come to the United States, and in a place like this, where you all rely so heavily on tourism, that’s really had an impact.”

Data on the local level is difficult to access currently to assess the impact in Chaffee.

DestinationiQ President and Owner Bryan Jordan commented, “Data that identifies in-market demographics is offered by various 3rd-party providers, but as of right now, Chaffee County does not have a license to access and use this data. With recent changes to how tourism is managed in Chaffee County, and knowing that this type of tracking is essential to guide tourism management (and economics in general) now and in the future, Chaffee County is in the process of obtaining the license, and will begin using data to inform strategy and plans.”

On the topic of chaos, Pettersen addressed President Trump’s “civilization ending” post.

“The President of the United States, who is supposed to be the leader of the free world. So we think about the ramifications and the long-term consequences, and the work that we all are going to have to do to build back trust with our allies and people abroad. The rhetoric and the actions are absolutely, they’re lawless. He’s unhinged. He’s unwell, and we need Republicans to have a backbone and stand for country over party.”

Another result of the war, Pettersen noted, was the largest monthly increase in gas prices in six decades.

“Now we know that’s not just about the cost of driving our car and heating our home, this impacts everything. The energy that we rely on, the fertilizers that we import from abroad, this is going to continue to hit everything on top of the tariffs.”

In addition to challenges, Pettersen focused on achievements and the future.

“We can talk about some of the wins that we’re having along the way because we have had big wins, including AG [Attorney General] Phil Weiser fighting for child care funding. Trump tried to unlawfully withhold funding that this county relies on that are critical for the supports here. And we were able to win that lawsuit,” commented Pettersen. “And it is the only reason those funds are still flowing in these communities. So it’s wins like that along the way that I think we oftentimes miss because we’re so caught up in, understandably, what is a constant onslaught.”

Pettersen stated she has been able to pass four bills signed into law, but stated the Trump administration has dismantled the systems that support them.

“So what I was able to help accomplish and get signed into law, Trump has dismantled the very people that oversee those grants and distribute it to our communities.”

She emphasized the importance of shared values and working together in a bipartisan manner to make progress. Instead of tax breaks for the most wealthy of around $2.3 trillion (extended by the One Big Beautiful Bill), she suggested using that money to fund initiatives to support the American people, such as childcare, housing, alleviating student debt, senior care, and more.

“They are very tangible with the money that we spend every day in giving tax breaks to people who don’t need it. So bringing a fair tax system, investing in making things affordable, which means leveling the playing field for regular people.”

In the current environment, she stated, “The American Dream that we all care so deeply about has never been further out of reach.”

Pettersen closed the meeting addressing questions from the audience. 

Questions focused on repairing political damage and moving into the future, disinformation, pollution, working across the aisle, reigning in the current administration, affordability, and more.

One speaker, Virginia, asked that Pettersen and other politicians begin using the term “concentration camps” instead of detention centers. She cited a text, One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps by journalist Andrea Pitzer.

Virginia continued, “I agree with immigration solutions that are reasonable and not everybody can come in. . . but at the same time this is a human rights atrocity.”

The statement received applause in agreement from the audience.

Pettersen did not say she would begin using the term “concentration camp.” Instead, she listed steps she was taking to try to hold officials accountable.

“I’m showing up at GEO [Aurora ICE Processing Center run by GEO Group Inc.], and asking to see the people who are being held there unlawfully. . . The stories I’ve heard are just horrific, and I think about the kids who are being left behind in foster care because their parents are either stuck in GEO, or deported to a country they’ve never been before. So, I couldn’t agree with you more.”

Despite the set schedule, Pettersen stayed longer than planned to answer more questions. Afterwards she spoke with people informally, and collected information from those with whom she planned to follow up.