The map not only redraws the existing lines, it carves out a new 9th council district. Voters approved the district when they approved a switch to the strong-mayor form of government. The Redistricting Commission has tentatively settled on a map that puts the new district in the southeast section of the city. It would include City Heights, Kensington and the College area among others.
Brian Pollard is on the redistricting committee for San Diego’s 4th council district and also worked with the Latino Redistricting Committee. Speaking on KPBS’s Midday Edition he said he has mixed feelings about the proposed map.
“It is great that there is now a district that encompasses most of the immigrants and multilingual residents,” he said. “It would have been nice if the LRC, the Latino Redistricting Committee map, was considered more favorably.”
Pollard said he believes the 4th district may benefit from the changes. The district is home to a majority of San Diego’s Africa-Americans.
But he said the Asian community fell short in its attempt to be better represented.
That group had proposed a map that put the new district in the northern part of the city where many Asians live. Dr. Allen Chan headed up the effort and got his adult daughter involved as well. He believes his community wasn’t heard during redistricting 10 years ago and isn’t being heard now.
“Sixteen percent of the population has no representation, most possibly for another 10 years,” he said. “So maybe next time I’ll have to bring my grandson to seek representation.”
Chan said the Asian population is the city's fastest growing. The Redistricting Commission does consider race when drawing district lines, but it cannot be the only factor taken into account.
This isn’t the end of the process. There will be a series of public hearings on the map.
The Redistricting Commission is expected to release a final version at the end of August. The changes take effect 30 days after the map is finalized.
