Bill Planned to Keep Cities in Single District

Responding to complaints that the community is divided among five Los Angeles City Council members, Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) will introduce legislation today to keep communities within single political districts as much as possible.

Hertzberg said redistricting after the 2000 census should conform as much as possible to existing neighborhoods.

Van Nuys residents have long complained that it is difficult to get anything done because their Los Angeles community is divided among several City Council members. For example, Don Schultz of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn. said it took two years to erect community identification signs because he had to talk to so many politicians.

Using the census as a basis, cities and counties must adjust the boundaries of their local political districts every 10 years to ensure each district represents close to the same number of people. In establishing the boundaries, city leaders may give consideration to geography, topography and what is called “communities of interest.”

Hertzberg’s bill would require them to specifically consider the protection of local communities as part of the redistricting process. A similar bill was vetoed last year by former Gov. Pete Wilson.