The process of redistricting — redrawing lines for all sorts of governmental entities — starts with the census. Redistricting commissions take that data and try to redraw lines to best represent neighborhoods and communities of interest, which includes areas with common geographic, economic or cultural interests.
“The problem we’ve all been facing is that the 2020 census, which is the basis for all the data we need, was delayed in releasing its data," said the chairman of the non-partisan Independent Redistricting Commission, David Bame.
So the non-partisan Independent Redistricting Commission has only had a few months to pull everything together. Hundreds of people showed up at Thursday night’s meeting.
The biggest point of contention, shown on the draft map above, centers around moving El Cajon into a district comprised of communities to the west. Much of the city’s large Chaldean community said they want the city to stay in an east county district.
But Chairman Bame said there is disagreement, even within the Chaldean community.
"Others say, with similar backgrounds, we believe we ought to be located in a more central district," Bame said.
Chaldean community leader Mark Arabo said he’s heard from people on both sides, and he has the same advice for everybody.
“Register to vote, organize your communities. It’s an independent commission and hopefully a balance will be met. This is the American process," said Arabo.
Lilian Serrano represents a group lobbying for the interests of the Latinx community in the north county, Universidad Popular. She said they love the new map, specifically the fact that Escondido is included along with other north county communities like Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos.
"All the communities that have majority Latino population or very close to half of the population being Latino (are kept) all together. They’re also keeping tribal lands all together under District Five.”
The meeting lasted for about eight hours, until 1:30 Friday morning. The Commission will meet again Saturday morning. They are required by law to have the final map and the report that goes with it submitted by next Wednesday.
