Ending Gerrymandering by Politicians: Pros and Cons of Propositions 118-119

Your editorial on May 23, “An Unreliable Way to Realign Voters,” sounded like it was written by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown--and with the same motivation--”Preserve the unfair balance power in the state Legislature and in Congress at any cost.”

After the 1980 census, California voting district lines were outrageously gerrymandered by Democratic lawmakers and a Democratic governor. As a result, almost half of the voters (i.e., inner-city Asians and Latinos, and suburban whites) have 30% less voting power than their fellow citizens. This is violation of the “one man, one vote” concept that our republic is supposed to be founded on.

This California Legislature of the 1980s has displayed arrogance and irresponsibility toward the people in favor of cultivating special interests for personal gain. They paraded an overabundance of scandals, criminal acts and self-interest legislation before us with relative impunity. Willie Brown has maintained total autocratic control of this Legislature. No legislation that he personally opposes is allowed to even get out of committee for consideration on the floor (i.e., insurance reform). Also, Willie Brown is continuously trying to weaken or destroy the “initiative process” itself, because it takes some of this awesome power away from him and gives it back to the people.

Actor Jack Lemmon has a 30-second commercial that says Prop. 119 is a “fraud.” The League of Women Voters believes that the “fraud” happened 10 years ago and Prop. 119 will help fix it. I think I’ll go with the League.

ROBERT E. ANTLETZ

Lomita