Proposition 11 - -Redistricting Makes Good Sense
Passing Proposition 11 will change the way legislative districts are drawn every 10 years and make our legislators more accountable to their constituents by taking away their authority to draw their own district boundaries.
What is important is that it will break the gridlock of safe seats. Now I know a lot of Democrats and Republicans like to have their winners picked at the Primaries and start the transition teams soon after but who does that benefit.
The current redistricting guarantees safe seats for both sides and those safe seats tend to bring out the more extremists in the parties. These safe seats also fail to account for new emerging minorities.
As populations shift and with it demographics, what is occurring is that the current redistricting formula fails to take this into account. It is potentially racist because in certain circumstances it might deprive an emerging minority (that might have enough votes to win if the boundaries were drawn to include a particular city) from being elected. It may not be happening now but it may in the future.
Also, what is so bad about the democrats and republicans moderating their views so that they appeal to all of their constituents at a general election and not just the ones who vote in primaries? This just seems fair — plain and simple.
California Voters have the opportunity to finally end the partisan gridlock that has paralyzed state government and prevented us from effectively addressing our most pressing issues such as the state budget, health care, education, the impending water crisis, and the environment by passing this measure in November.
A broad, bipartisan and growing coalition of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, good government groups, business organizations and many others led by campaign co-chairs Gov. Schwarzenegger and former State Controller Steve Westly has come together to support this measure.
Politicians Accountable has been established as a ballot initiative committee with the California Secretary of State (SOS) and the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for the purpose of passing the California Voters First Act. The committee is governed by a Board of Directors that approves the activities of the campaign and provides direction and oversight to the committee’s consulting team.
Rick Claussen of Goddard Claussen Strategic Advocacy, a leading ballot measure management firm in the country, and Adam Mendelsohn from Mercury Public Affairs are managing the campaign. Under the direction of the committee’s Board of Directors, an experienced team of professionals has been assembled to conduct the campaign including Democrat consultant Steve Smith, Republican consultant Wayne Johnson and Tom Ross from Meridian Pacific.
Sure, there are loopholes but all of us have to be vigilant in our rights and call the politicians on them if (or when) when they play games with the formula. Proposition 11 is not perfect but it is better than what we have.
A June 2008 voter research shows that after hearing a battery of pro and con messages, support for the measure is in the 60% range and opposition is below 30%.
Having a “yes” vote in this range and 2-1 margin of support over opposition makes
this campaign winnable.
I am hoping that it will not be business as usual in California come November 5th.
Vote Yes on November 4th on Proposition 11.
Proposition 11 has 2 giant loop-holes in it!
Giant loop-hole #1 is the Legislature is allowed to change the make up of the so-called Citizens Redistricting Commission in future years. Thus allowing the Legislature’s skilled gerrymanders to dominate the process in the future just like they do now. (see Government Code, Chapter 3.2. 8251. (c, 2,3,4)
Giant loop-hole #2 is that this so-called Citizens Redistricting Commission can craft new districts anyway they want, just by calling them Communities of interests. (see Article XXI, Sec. 2. (d4)
That’s right, by using the “communities of interests” criteria, they can run districts hundreds of miles across the state. And, because there is no definition for community of interest, it allows the commission to define it anyway it want.
So, that’s the way it is, “politics”. The drafters of this initiative hid their loop-holes so well that Governor Arnold Swartzenegger was not aware of them last time I talked to his staff.
Even worse than these giant loop-holes is the selection process. It invites every partisan political machine in the state including giant lobbyist and labor unions to recruit potential members of the commission. The list will certainly include the best gerrymanders California’s political machines have to offer. Naturally, Democrats will call it a Republican power grab and Republicans will call it a sceam to take redistricting power out of the legislature and give it to non-profits controlled by giant public employee unions.
Last, we must all ask ourselves. “why isn’t Congress included?” The drafters are very candid about this. They simply admit they want Nancy Polosi to be able to Gerrymander Congressional Districts next time around.
Vote No on Proposition 11
Comment by Ted Costa — August 7, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
The points raised by Mr. Costa sound like there is a need to close the loopholes, however I support Prop 11 because taking no action is worse. I think we need to be logical and firm as citizens. We all need to work together to make positive changes. Status quo is not a road Californians should take in the 21st century.
Comment by Don — August 7, 2008 @ 4:31 pm