Chicanos Still Negotiating Ballot Suit

Negotiations in the Chicano Federation’s election lawsuit against the city of San Diego continued Wednesday without discussion of the settlement offered Tuesday by the San Diego City Council.

“There has been no formal offer,” said Patricia Meyer, attorney for the Latino advocacy group, which is attempting to gain greater political power for minorities through the lawsuit.

‘We’re Just Talking’

“Right now, there is no proposal on the table,” she added. “We’re just talking about different avenues and different problems and how things might occur. Really and truly, we’re just in negotiations.”

Meyer and attorneys for the city met in a settlement conference with U. S. Magistrate Harry McCue on Wednesday morning. Deputy City Atty. Ken So said only that negotiations are continuing.

Faced with the possibility that a federal judge might postpone the Sept. 19 council election as a result of the lawsuit, the council offered to settle the suit by giving voters a chance to expand the council from eight to 10 seats in a June referendum.

Meyer, however, virtually rejected that offer the same day, saying it does not address the group’s other demands, including the creation of an independent commission to redraw council district boundaries. That complex and politically sensitive process is now handled by the council.

Lawsuit Updated

On Monday, U.S. District Judge John S. Rhoades agreed to allow the Chicano Federation to amend its lawsuit aimed at altering the city’s electoral system. Rhoades also scheduled an Aug. 28 hearing on whether he has the authority to order the city to place election changes sought by the Chicano Federation on the November ballot.

If Rhoades agrees to do that, the Chicano Federation probably will ask the judge to postpone the Sept. 19 council election until June on the grounds that the current election system is unconstitutional.