Residents Speak Up at Redistricting Meeting

San Gabriel Valley residents offered a message of logistical unity when delivering their thoughts on the yet-to-be-finished redistricting plans at a public input hearing in Whittier on Friday evening.

“The proposed congressional boundaries puts us with Boyle Heights and East LA – communities we respect but have no connection to, historic or otherwise. South Pasadena belongs in San Gabriel Valley congressional district,” City councilman Philip Putnam said. “Move us north, move us south, but don’t cut us in half … Don’t draw the line through the middle of our city.”

The 14-member California Redistricting Commission released draft plans for new congressional and state districts on June 10. The plans show new boundaries for California's 53 congressional districts, 40 state senate districts and 80 state assembly districts, as well as districts for the state Board of Equalization, which handles taxation issues.

To learn more about the commission, click here. 

South Pas City officials aren't the only ones unhappy with the drafts. More than 90 speakers at the hearing expressed confusion and disappointment at the draft maps, which feature boundaries that split some cities, including South Pas, in half and, according to them, would group their cities with practical strangers.

Residents throughout South Pas, in particular, think the Assembly and Congressional District drawings marginalize the city and hurt its fight against the 710 freeway. While the Assembly drawing cuts South Pas in two, the Congressional one groups South Pas with Vernon, Maywood and East L.A.

John Furman, a Pasadena resident, submitted a petition of more than 70 signatures to keep cities of South Pasadena, Altadena and Pasadena united in one district.

 “South Pasadena should not be split between two Assembly districts,” he said.  “Keep our cities united.”

South Pas resident, Tom, said the maps reflect race-based redistricting.

 “That’s become the guiding principal in the drafting of these boundaries. Do people of the same skin color all think the same way? No. That would be racist,” he said. “This kind of tribal segregation is divisive and un-American.”

Harry Knapp also voiced displeasure at South Pasadena’s proposed split.

 “We are not part of LA,” he said. “When you think Pasadena, you should think South Pasadena.”

 A young resident named Alex expressed discontent with South Pasadena being "kicked out of San Gabriel Valley" in the Congressional boundaries. 

To read Alex Maltun's letter to the editor, click here. 

“Any rep from East LA would have neither the time or the inclination to address the needs of South Pasadena,” he said. “We may be a small community but we are a real and strong community.”

The commissioners made no decisions at the hearing, and urged people to submit testimony and public comments online. The Whittier meeting is one of several in Southern California.

Testimony can also be submitted online to votersfirstact@crc.ca.gov, by mail to the Citizens Redistricting Commission, 901 P Street, Suite 154-A, Sacramento, CA 95814 or by FAX at 916-651-5711. The Commission will be holding 11 public input hearings in June on the draft maps. The hearing schedule and the draft maps can be found at the Commission’s website. To see where the commission will be going, check here. Also, for more information on the commission’s work, click here.