Grassroots workshop helps locals understand redistricting in California

Robert Cuthbert
Los Angeles Examiner
March 14, 2011

Never before have the “people” of California had so much power to draw “the lines” for their congressional, state senate, and assembly districts. When voters approved Proposition 11 (2008) and Proposition 20 (2010) the tables were turned on the back room deals by politicians so prone to gerrymandering. 

The propositions created the Citizens Redistricting Commission of California. Made up of citizens not involved in politics. They will draw the districts “…in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians.” 

If the organizers of Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) can get the public on-board they expect an “open and public process” that takes “into account public input.” 

The first workshop was in Santa Maria Saturday. Called the Central Coast Redistricting Collaborative the event attracted a broad range of activists, democrats, local non-profits, and young people interested in the political process. Maricela Morales, Deputy Executive Director of CAUSE, explained that from Ventura to Santa Cruz grassroots workshops will be held in the next few weeks. 

“For the first time a 14-member commission will determine our assembly, state senate, and congressional lines,” said Morales. “This is our opportunity as communities to impact that determination. Today we will describe the process and gain input on how people describe their communities. That’s what will determine what recommendations to make in terms of what kind of district best represents the community.” 

Organizer Chris Lanier said, “This is a real start to create districts that are fair. Typically, when elected officials are able to draw their own districts there is a tendency to protect their political interests. It’s essentially like choosing their voters rather than the other way around. 

Lanier explained to the group the first step is to define, “communities of interest.” Then to work from the law and for the “purposes of the commission” to identify “overriding themes of the community.” The facilitators worked a wide-ranging “brainstorming” session. Participants identified regional issues of income levels, north-south differences, changes in population, ethnic diversities, and more. Organizers will correlate and come back to re-evaluate conclusions. 

With deadlines pointing to August this year their work has little time to waste. They will concentrate on developing, with the full participation of the public, appropriate and pertinent recommendations to the Commission. 

“This is the exciting part of the process, now there is an opportunity for people to participate, in the past it was in the hands of the legislature,” says Morales. “Now, we can shape it…” “This is an opportunity to create districts that represent us.”