Can Redistricting Improve California?

In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 11, which authorized the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The 14-member independent commission is responsible for drawing boundaries for the State Assembly, State Senate and the Board of Equalization--a process formerly controlled by politicians. In 2010, Californians voted to expand the commission’s role to also re-draw federal Congressional boundaries.

Southern California Grantmakers is partnering with the California Community Foundation and the Center for Nonprofit Management for a two-part series to discuss the 2010 Census results, the changing demographics in Los Angeles County and the impact of redistricting on the political landscape.

In Part One of this series, SCG is partnering with Zócalo Public Square to examine the impact of the new redistricting commission and process, particularly on under-represented communities. Will the commission affect greater democratic involvement? What effects will redistricting have on citizens’ lives? Moderated by Jessica Levinson, director of political reform, Center for Governmental Studies, the panel will feature: 

• Kathay Feng, director, California Common Cause and co-author of the 2008 redistricting reform bill;
• Steven Ochoa, national redistricting coordinator, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF); and
• Dan Schnur, director, Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, University of Southern California.

The second part of this series will focus on the 2010 census data and its implications for the work of the nonprofit sector. Event details are forthcoming.