HomeMy WebLinkAbout65A - OPPOSITION PROPOSED REDISTRICTINGREQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
JUNE 20, 2011
TITLE:
OPPOSITION TO THE CITIZENS
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION'S
PROPOSED REDISTRICTING IN
SANTA ANA
CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
APPROVED
? As Recommended
? As Amended
? Ordinance on 15f Reading
? Ordinance on 2nd Reading
? Implementing Resolution
? Set Public Hearing For
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
Authorize the City Manager to prepare a letter on behalf of the City Council and the City of Santa
Ana to the Citizens Redistricting Commission in opposition to the proposed redistricting of the
City's State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional Districts.
DISCUSSION
The Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) was created by California voters to re-draw State
Congressional, Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization Districts. Currently, the
Commission is taking public testimony from local area residents to redraw existing legislative
districts in central Orange County. On June 10, 2011, CRC issued a preliminary proposed
redistricting map for the cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim which would divide the two cities into
separate Assembly, Senate, and Congressional Districts.
Historically, Santa Ana and Anaheim flatlands have been identified as "Communities of Interest"
through shared socio-economic demographics. The two cities are linked by a large blue collar
working class-immigrant population. Both areas share significant populations that are primarily
Spanish speaking, young median age, and have common health issues related to diabetes,
obesity, and a lack of medical insurance. Additionally, Santa Ana and Anaheim have common
interests related to a variety of regional transportation and important infrastructure projects. Both
cities are pursuing fixed-guide way projects and are currently serving as major public
transportation hubs and pursuing multi-modal transportation centers known as the Anaheim
Regional Transportation Center, and the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. Santa Ana
and Anaheim are older, more densely populated cities with common issues related to aging
infrastructure, and along with Fullerton, Anaheim and Santa Ana are the only three cities with
direct membership in both the Metropolitan Water District and the Orange County Water District,
thus sharing common water resources and needs. Also, because of the common socio-
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Opposition to the Citizens Redistricting
Commission's Proposed Redistricting in Santa Ana
June 20, 2011
Page 2
economic demographics, Anaheim and Santa Ana's population tend to share similar
transportation habits such as higher bus ridership, and similar recycling and disposal habits -
more likely to change their own oil and wash their own car, for example.
The Santa Ana and Anaheim Police Departments have also collaborated on numerous programs
and projects throughout their respective histories. One important joint program is the Urban
Areas Strategic Initiative (UASI) which was designed by the federal government to facilitate a
county-wide strategy, training, and exercise program to increase homeland security and public
safety. Through this collaborative effort the cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim have distributed
over $60 million dollars in Orange County to strengthen the County's ability to prevent and
respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Other collaborative efforts with the City of
Anaheim include the CAD2CAD project that when finalized will allow all fire dispatch centers in
Orange County to automatically dispatch emergency units from other jurisdictions should
additional assistance be required. Santa Ana and Anaheim are the lead cities partnering on this
project, and also maintain mutual aid agreements for emergency response assistance.
Dividing the state and federal legislative districts in Santa Ana and Anaheim will dilute the voice
of this working class area and place our residents into more affluent areas that may not have
similar interests. If approved, the CRC's proposed map will substantially alter the socio-
economic composition of Santa Ana's legislative districts and profoundly impact the lives of our
residents. It is imperative that Santa Ana and Anaheim flatlands remain in the same state and
federal legislative districts to maximize our "Communities of Interest" and to ensure that our
residents can continue to elect candidates of their choice who represent their common interests.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
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