Redistricting: Is 2001 happening again? Around Town, posted by [removed], a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 27, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Dear Editor,
News services have been revisiting the 2001 redistricting in Contra Costa County that was quite evidently done to impact the political future of one supervisor while enhancing the elections of other supervisors. What isn’t a surprise is the same political process is in progress in 2011 to create districts that politically favor the election of candidates supported by state-level politicians and their backers. News service research has illustrated the influence of our state senator and assembly members in county redistricting for potential gain of moderate voters that will likely support opponents over incumbents.
Thus, as your readers review the seven concept plans for redistricting, there needs to be a realistic view of how political majorities are created by each plan, what potential candidates might be favored by such new districts, and why a majority of residents’ preferences for redistricting will not be a deciding factor. As your Alamo and south county readers review all seven plans, there are clear political content in each plan. How our region votes can be modified by combination with other areas that have a larger majority of moderates. Who we see as candidates immediately following redistricting will define why such district boundaries were chosen.
AS the redistricting process proceeds to public hearings, your readers will have the opportunity to see such politics unfold. It only takes three supervisors to redistrict the county and political theater will likely be on display in the public hearings and CCC-BOS meetings that lead to a redistricting decision this summer.
Posted by [removed], a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2011 at 8:16 am
Dear Editor,
This morning, news service distribution provided evidence of a preliminary map negotiated among supervisors. In separate documents including such a map, the county’s current boundaries are adjusted for population and maintenance of voting strongholds for each supervisor. It appears this map has been submitted by members of the Contra Costa Council to the county redistricting committee with notation that it represents the interests of supervisors and staff. If such a map is a public document at the county redistricting committee it would be appropriate for EMCEB and other media to publish it as a PRIMARY concept plan prior to CCC-BOS redistricting hearings starting later this month.
In notation for the map, there is intention to break-up the 24/680 south corridor as Orinda to Dougherty Valley because of the combined wealth, power and representation that could “unduly influence the operations of the county.” In review, the corridor becomes divided among districts 2, 3 and 4, and specifically leaves Alamo, Diablo and Blackhawk as small interests among major cities. Rather than creating voice and representation for communities and neighborhoods, this map creates political control for the CCC-BOS.
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