The roller coaster ride of California redistricting reform continues. In a huge decision last Friday, the California Supreme Court decided to put
redistricting reform issue (Prop. 77) back on the ballot:
The California Supreme Court ruled Friday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to change the way legislative districts are drawn should be placed back on November's special election ballot.
The 4-2 decision overturns a state appellate court ruling that removed the measure because of a wording dispute.
In its ruling, the San Francisco-based court said it was unconvinced there were different meanings in the versions of the measure that were submitted to the attorney general for review and shown to registered voters for their signature to place it on the ballot.
"We conclude that it would not be appropriate to deny the electorate the opportunity to vote on Proposition 77 at the special election to be held on November 8, 2005, on the basis of such discrepancies," the majority wrote.
Prop 77 is Ted Costa's intiative, which will create a three-judge redistricting commission that would redistrict as soon as 2006, had qualified for the November 8 elections.
What does this decision means for our efforts to attain a real real redistricting reform in California? It makes a legislative compromise like Senator Alan Lowenthal's redistricting reform bill, SCA 3 more critical than ever. The Lowenthal bill proposed the creation of a panel of seven citizens (not just retired judges) who would redistrict once a decade after the Census. We are urging our activists to call the following leaders in Sacramento today (including the Governor) and get behind Senator Lowenthal's bill:
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: (916) 445-2841
- Senate Pres. Pro-tem Don Perata (D-Oakland): (916) 651-4009
- Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin, OC): (916) 651-4033
- Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles): (916) 319-2046
- Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield): (916) 319-2032
If you are calling these leaderst today, please keep in mind here is what we are shooting for as real redistricting reform in the Golden state:
- A 7-person independent redistricting commission with a diverse mix of people (not just judges) will help make redistricting serve the people's interests, not incumbents' interests.
- There must be a ban on considering incumbent residence information in drawing the maps. Instead, we should preference equal population, the Voting Rights Act, and communities.
- There must be a ban on closed door negotiations. The public has a right to open hearings and accessible information.
- Redistricting should happen once a decade, after the Census.
So if you are out in California reading this post today, please take the time today to make these five calls, and please also forward this email to everyone on your list, urging them to remind our leaders in Sacramento about the urgency for redistricting reform today. You can forward our message by clicking here. Let us know how your calls are going, and feel free to post your comments, and questions. Thank you.
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