SATURDAY you could go shopping, or to the beach (it's going to be hot). You could take in a movie, or spend the day in the garden. Or you could do something that may change your life, your neighborhood, your city and state for the better.
That thing would be attending the local hearing of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission at the San Fernando City Hall. (The commission is set to hold its business meeting starting at 10 a.m.; the public input portion of the meeting starts at 2 p.m.)
The independent citizens commission was formed by Proposition 11, a measure passed by California voters in November 2008. It has an important job: Redraw the political lines in California so that they reflect the wishes of the community, not the politicians.
Every 10 years, armed with the newest census data, governments are required to reassess political boundaries and move them. The reason this particular statewide redrawing is so important is because it reflects a significant departure from the past. The current political boundaries were drawn by politicians whose main interest in the districts was to create safe seats for both parties.
And guess what? You can help. The hearing Saturday in the San Fernando Valley is one of the many being held up and down the state. The idea is to hear
from residents before commissioners, with the help of geographers, start divvying up the state into legislative districts. (The city and county are doing their own redistricting.)This input could be particularly important for places like the Valley, which is bisected by districts that dip in and out of the Valley and even the city. Many of the people elected to represent the Valley on the state Legislature don't even live here.
This may be your only chance to participate in this historic process. The commission has only until August to take public comments, draw the maps, collect more public comments and then adopt the new district maps. If you care about who represents you and why, then take a few minutes to stop by. What the heck, at least it's an air-conditioned room.
For the meeting agenda and address, as well as more information about the redistricting process, go to the commission's website, www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov.
A Los Angeles Daily News editorial. To read more editorials from the Daily News, go to www.dailynews.com/opinions.
Connie Nielsen Thora Birch Marika Dominczyk Zhang Ziyi Carmen Electra
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