by TImothy Rutt
While the current proposal for changing the county supervisory districts keeps Altadena intact and firmly in the district of Michael D. Antonovich, the battle isn't over yet.
Supervisor Gloria Molina and what the LA Times calls "Latino activists" are pushing for district boundaries that would in effect create a second majority Latino district and thus reflect the demographic reality that the county is 48% Latino. A recent LA Times article says that Supervisor Don Knabe of Cerritos, who can run for one more term, will be pushed from a Republican district to one that is majority Latino and tends to vote Democrat.
The supervisors' appointed Boundary Review Committee drew up the current proposal that the supervisors will consider. However, among the alternative boundaries that the committee considered and rejected included plans drawn up or favored by the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) and other groups, which would either put Altadena under Molina, or split the town between Molina and Antonovich.
The supervisors will hold their first hearing on the proposed boundaries this Tues., Aug. 9, at 11 AM at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration Board Room, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.
Community volunteer Carolyn Seitz has been circulating an email urging residents to speak out, which says in part:
Many of these [redistricting] plans propose splitting communities and/or areas of common interest. It appears that many people in Altadena have made it known to the Boundary Review Committee have asked that our community not be divided, creating an artificial boundary within Altadena with services being provided by two different Supervisors, and you've asked that we not be divided from our closest neighbors. We share similar crimes, social issues, environmental issues and the same potential for catastrophic impact from natural disasters.
The redistricting issue is not settled and we can't take for granted that our community would remain in one district. We're currently in the 5th District represented by Supervisor/Mayor Michael Antonovich. We also can't take for granted that we will still be united with Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
Residents can also address their concerns to the board by emailing:
BOSCustomerServiceCenter@bos.lacounty.gov
