Minorities

In your article about the Hispanic Caucus (Part I, March 29) in the state Legislature, you described bills sponsored by Latino assemblymen that would require city councils and school boards to be elected by divisions or districts. The stated purpose of these bills is to increase minority representation in local government.

In populous, sprawling urban areas such as Los Angeles, racial and ethnic neighborhoods are common. Specific areas are recognized as Hispanic, black, Asian, or European. However, in Los Angeles and other large cities, both the city council and school board are already elected by districts.

The cities and school districts that would be most affected by the proposed legislation are much smaller than Los Angeles. While the populations of most of these jurisdictions might not have the racial and ethnic proportions of California’s overall population, some of these cities do approach an ideal of integration by having their minorities dispersed rather than concentrated in segregated neighborhoods. In these areas, elections are generally at-large.

In Los Angeles and other large cities, the objective has already been met; officials are already elected by district. For smaller cities and school districts, however, the bills would divide and dilute the voting strengths of minorities, preventing minorities from joining in an areawide effort to elect officials. In truly integrated communities, these bills will actually have an effect opposite of the intent.

DAVID E. ROSS

Agoura