Council District Plans Would Cross the Line

If disenchantment with Los Angeles city government has people in the San Fernando Valley on the verge of secession, wait until they get a load of what’s happening with redistricting.

In order to ensure equal representation, the Los Angeles City Council redraws its political map after each decennial census. It always has been a crass process, more about incumbency and personal agendas than what the community really wants or needs.

This year, things were supposed to be better. Instead, they got much worse. And despite the rhetoric of those running the redistricting show, the most negative effects will be felt in the San Fernando Valley.

Part of a new day in Los Angeles politics, the new City Charter called for a citizen commission to hold an open process of redistricting and to forward to the full City Council a proposed map that incorporated community needs and desires for effective and sensible representation.

Members of the citizens commission, appointed by elected officials, dutifully held hearings throughout the city, solicited public input, listened carefully and then promptly ignored the wishes of the community when those wishes conflicted with their own.

Communities from across the city testified. Van Nuys residents asked to keep Cindy Miscikowski as their councilwoman but will lose her to the Westside.

Residents of Sun Valley asked to be kept in a single council district; they will be split between what remains of the 2nd District with Wendy Gruel and a new 6th District.

Westchester and Venice constituents asked to stay in my district but will find themselves in the 11th District with Miscikowski. In fact, all of my 240,000 current constituents will have a new representative--in the 11th, 10th or 5th districts.

In the Valley, the political musical chairs game is even worse. By next year, tens of thousands of Valley residents will have had four different council members in two years: Joel Wachs, Greuel, me and whoever wins the spring 2003 election for my current seat.

There is a better way.

The City Council can approve the new district lines but require them to take effect after the next round of elections--in 2003--as is also done with congressional boundaries. Fewer voters would suffer unexpected changes, ongoing projects could be completed and elections would take place on schedule.

It would be simple, more efficient and far less confusing--all qualities that Valley residents find too often lacking in Los Angeles government.

City government is going to have to demonstrate that even reapportionment is really about the people and not just about the politicians.