LA Council Redistricting- THE FIGHT IS ALMOST OVER! LA City Council Adhoc Committee Upholds and Strengthens Jewish District

Oct 30, 2021 Article / Local Jewish News

UPDATE 11/9/21

Thank you for all of your time and effort to create an equitable map for the City of Los Angeles. Thank you for protecting the 70-year-old historic Jewish Council District 5. The unity of this district over time has given this community a representative and collective voice in fighting anti-Semitism as well as the opportunity to uplift and share our culture Citywide.

 

Hillygram would like to thank Adeena Bleich and Dr Irving Lebovics for their tireless efforts to organize community involvement and keep us all informed on what is going on.

 

This past Friday the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting ad hoc Committee, Chaired by Council President Nury Martinez upheld the call to maintain the 70 year old Jewish representative district in CD5. The proposed map is being called the Hybrid map and will be voted on by the full City Council tomorrow 11/9.

Not only does this map keep the core together but they also incorporated all of Hancock Park into CD5, which was a request 30+ years in the making. Thank you for all of your efforts in helping to make this happen.

Please join me in sending a THANK YOU note to the members who voted for this map. List below

ACTION ITEM:

Please send an email to say THANK YOU to the ad Hoc committee members for supporting our Collective voice.

Message to Cut and Paste or Make Your own:,

Dear Honorable Councilmembers,

Thank you for all of your time and effort to create an equitable map for the City of Los Angeles. Thank you for protecting the 70-year-old historic Jewish Council District 5. The unity of this district over time has given this community a representative and collective voice in fighting anti-Semitism as well as the opportunity to uplift and share our culture City wide.

 

May you go from strength to strength. 

 

Thank you,

 

EMAIL List for LA City Council Redistricting Ad-Hoc Committee and Chiefs of Staff:

nury.martinez@lacity.org,

ackley.padilla@lacity.org

councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org

jeanne.min@lacity.org,

councilmember.kevindeleon@lacity.org.

jennifer.barraza@lacity.org,

councilmember.koretz@lacity.org,

joan.pelico@lacity.org,
councilmember.price@lacity.org,

curtis.earnest@lacity.org
bob.blumenfield@lacity.org,

 john.popoch@lacity.org,
Lisa.hansen@lacity.org,

——————————————————————————–

We need to make the city council aware of the importance of keeping the historic Jewish neighborhoods together. These neighborhoods together have given the community a collective voice, speaking for positive needs and standing against anti-Semitism for 70 years. 

Redistricting and voting are part of a two-step process that maximizes each other. 

Speak up for Jewish representative and collective voice.

 

HOW

Action Item:

1)Please call into the committee and read the statement below (public comment will be at the beginning and end of the meeting)

2)Please email the City Council Committee with the statement below before FRIDAY 11/05/21

 

WHEN

Call Into Ad-Hoc Meeting: 11/05/21 @1PM

To make public comment call 1 669 254 5252 and use Meeting ID No. 160 229 0428 and then press #. Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

(NOTE: CLICK THE LINK BELOW IT TAKES ABOUT ONE MINUTE TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE!
SUPER EASY SUPER FAST)

Submit written comment at: LACouncilComment.com

use Council File number: 20-0668-S7

 

Message to Read and Submit Comment:

 

Council President Martinez and fellow Councilmembers,

 

Thank you for all of your time and effort to create an equitable map for LA City. We advocate on behalf of the Jewish community and not at the expense of any other community. We ask that you protect the 70-year-old historic Jewish Council District 5 which has given this community a collective voice in fighting anti-Semitism as well as the voice to uplift our culture City wide. Please keep Bel-Air, Westwood, Beverly Wood, Pico-Robertson, Fairfax- Beverly area, Mid-Wilshire/Labrea, and Hancock Park together in CD5 in the final map  to be voted on by the LA City Council. 

 

Thank you,

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Thank you to each of you who helped call and write into the LA City Commission to protect a Jewish representative district. The commission’s final map reflected this request.

(SEE MAPS BELOW)

The President of the City Council has said that the Commission’s recommended map has big flaws in it and plans to create a sub-committee to redraw the lines potentially entirely. This discussion will start this coming Tuesday-Nov. 2, 2021 @10am during the City Council Meeting.

 

There is a map circulating at City Hall which would divide the communities in a detrimental way.

 

5 Min CALL TO ACTION- Please send emails (list below) before November 1st, to the Mayor, City Council, City Attorney & City Controller expressing to them the importance of keeping the historic Jewish neighborhoods together. These neighborhoods together have given the community a collective voice, speaking for positive needs and standing against anti-Semitism for 70 years. 

 

Email List:

ackley.padilla@lacity.org 
nury.martinez@lacity.org 
eric.garcetti@lacity.org

tanaz.golshan@lacity.org,
karly.katona@lacity.org,
christine.jerian@lacity.org,
erin.seinfeld@lacity.org 

brad.fingard@lacity.org 

kevin.keller@lacity.org 

brenda.shockley@lacity.org
councilmember.buscaino@lacity.org,
gilbert.cedillo@lacity.org,
councilmember.koretz@lacity.org,
councilmember.price@lacity.org,
bob.blumenfield@lacity.org

councilmember.lee@lacity.org,
councilmember.rodriguez@lacity.org

councilmember.price@lacity.org,
curtis.earnest@lacity.org,
debby.kim@lacity.org,
hannah.lee@lacity.org

james.westbrooks@lacity.org,
jeanne.min@lacity.org,
jenny.chavez@lacity.org,
joan.pelico@lacity.org,
john.popoch@lacity.org,
Lisa.hansen@lacity.org,
Ron Galperin <ron.s.galperin@lacity.org, 

jeremy.oberstein@lacity.org,
Tony Ricasa <tony.ricasa@lacity.org 

mike.feuer@lacity.org 

leela.kapur@lacity.org

councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org,     

nithya.raman@lacity.org,     

councilmember.harris-dawson@lacity.org,    

councilmember.bonin@lacity.org,    

councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org,    

councilmember.kevindeleon@lacity.org 

 

 Anyone who wants more information please feel free to email me back or call or text me at 310.867.3591. To be clear I do not work for any elected officials and I am not getting paid for any of this work. My only agenda is making sure that the Jewish community continues to have representative leadership on the City Council.

———————————END OF UPDATE POSTED ON 10/31

Please email the commission before Noon tomorrow 10/21/21.

This is a new map so support needs to be shown again.  Email ASAP.

 

History:

Every 10 years LA City Council lines are redrawn. LA Council District 5 has been the historic Jewish district since the end of WWII and since that time has always been held by a Jewish City Councilmember who has stood up against antisemitism and anti-Israel actions and sentiments in Los Angeles. With the rise of anti-Israel sentiment all around and specifically within some segments of politics, it is vital that the Jewish community have the ability to elect representative leaders in CD5.

 

Message to Cut and Paste:

 

Dear Commissioners and Staff

Thank you for all of your time and effort. Thank you for keeping the historic Jewish Council District 5 together in the current configuration of the proposed map K2.5 (amendment 4). Please keep Bel-Air, Westwood, Beverlywood, Pico-Robertson, Fairfax Beverly area, Mid-Wilshire/Labrea, and Hancock Park together in CD5 in the final map that is sent to the LA City Council. 

 

EMAIL Redistricting Commission and Staff:

 redistricting.lacity@lacity.org

fred.ali@lacity.org

paul@redistrictingpartners.com; frank.cardenas@lacity.org;

rafael.gonzalez@lacity.org 
Copy President of LA City Council and her Chief of Staff

Cc: nury.martinez@lacity.org; ackley.padilla@lacity.org 

 

LACity Redistricting Website for General Information:https://laccrc2021.org/

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Update on  LA City Redistricting 10/15/21 
(NOTE SAMPLE LETTERS TO USE FOR EMAILS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES

Thank you to all those that called into the commission meeting on 10.13 and submitted letters. The message is getting across to not divide the historic Jewish communities in CD5 and the commission only made minor modifications at the meeting.

The Continuing Challenge

The fight is not over. There were people who, without shame, called in saying that Jews are not a unique ethnic group that should be considered for cohesive City Council districts. We must keep speaking up.

Call to Action!

This Commission has another meeting tomorrow 10/16@10am which is on the sabbath. SAVE THE DATE to be on the meeting on Oct. 18th@6PM to AMEND THE CURRENT MAP. Final vote on map will be at hearing on Oct.21@6PM. The link below can be used for all the meetings.

ACT NOW:

  1. We need HUGE numbers to call into the Special Meeting AMENDING the current Map on October 18th@6PM
  2. Submit email comment to the commission as much as you can (suggested letters attached)
  3. Ask 3 friends to submit email comment to the commission
  4. Copy the City elected officials’ office emails below when you submit written comment to the commission

HOW TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENT: 

redistricting.lacity@lacity.org;

fred.ali@lacity.org;

paul@redistrictingpartners.com 

frank.cardenas@lacity.org

 

COPY CITY COUNCIL & CITYWIDE ELECTEDS:
ackley.padilla@lacity.org

nury.martinez@lacity.org

eric.garcetti@lacity.org,
andrew.westall@lacity.org,
christine.jerian@lacity.org,
erin.seinfeld@lacity.org

brad.fingard@lacity.org

kevin.keller@lacity.org

brenda.shockley@lacity.org
councilmember.buscaino@lacity.org,
gilbert.cedillo@lacity.org,
councilmember.koretz@lacity.org,
councilmember.price@lacity.org,
bob.blumenfield@lacity.org,

councilmember.lee@lacity.org,
councilmember.ridley-thomas@lacity.org,
councilmember.rodriguez@lacity.org,

councilmember.price@lacity.org,
curtis.earnest@lacity.org,
david.hersch@lacity.org,

debby.kim@lacity.org,
hannah.lee@lacity.org,

james.westbrooks@lacity.org,
jeanne.min@lacity.org,
jenny.chavez@lacity.org,
joan.pelico@lacity.org,
john.popoch@lacity.org,
Lisa.hansen@lacity.org,
Ron Galperin <ron.s.galperin@lacity.org,

jeremy.oberstein@lacity.org,
Tony Ricasa <tony.ricasa@lacity.org

mike.feuer@lacity.org

leela.kapur@lacity.org

 

 

How to Join the Meetings:

Zoom Link

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615454787#success

Once inside the Zoom press the “raise your hand” function to request to speak.

 

You can also dial in toll-free 1-669-254-5252 with Meeting ID No. 161 545 4787.

  Press #, and Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

 

 

More Information on Redistricting can be found at the LACITY Redistricting Website: https://laccrc2021.org/

Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition

 Suggested Written Comments for LA City Redistricting Commission

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General Email#1

Dear Commissioners and Redistricting Staff,

Your patience and service to democracy are inspiring.

I am writing today on behalf of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition.

CD5 has been the historic Jewish district since the end of WWII and before this there was none due to official attempts to divide communities of interest. The community is not monolithic by any means and is diverse in body and thought. Please keep the historic Jewish communities together in Council District 5.

There are diverse Jewish communities all over Los Angeles, but having at least one seat where electing representative leadership is possible is truly important to our collective voice in Los Angeles. With rising anti-Semitism and the economic difficulties of this pandemic the community being able to keep historic social service infrastructure and communal cohesion is critical.  These historic Jewish neighborhoods are currently encompassed in the configuration of the map within CD5. There is one small area between Robertson and LaCienega Boulevards and 18th street and Cadillac that we would appreciate getting moved back into CD5.

Our coalition supports and thanks this commission for keeping the historic core of the Jewish community together in CD5. We strongly urge the commission to also support the needs of other communities of interests.

May this map find its way to equity for all communities.

Thank you,

————————————————–

For Immigrants or Children of Immigrants

Dear Commissioners and Staff,

As a ________ American Jew we fled oppression for being Jewish in my home Country of_______ and now with rising anti-Semitism all over America including Los Angeles, I am concerned for representation and communal cohesion.

I am part of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition for this reason. I strongly urge this commission to keep the historic Jewish neighborhoods together in CD5 as configured in the current map.  

My family left ________ to seek a more equitable life, so the power of democracy and the need for representative government is something I know first hand cannot be taken for granted.

Please keep the historic Jewish District whole in CD5 as it is currently represented in the commissions map

May this map find its way to equity for all communities.

In appreciation,

—————————————————-

For those who grew up in small Jewish Communities

Dear Commissioners and Staff,

 

I am part of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition and

 as someone who grew up in a small Jewish community, I saw how hard it can be without representative voice and now that LA is my home I support the historic Jewish neighborhoods to be kept whole as presented in the current map in CD5.

 

Before World War II it was extremely hard for someone of Jewish ethnicity to be elected to the City Council due to rampant anti-Semitism and official attempts to divide communities of interest. Anti-semitism has again reached unprecedented open acts of hate. There are diverse Jewish communities all over Los Angeles, but having at least one seat where electing representative leadership is possible is truly important to our collective voice in Los Angeles. With rising anti-Semitism and the economic difficulties of this pandemic the community being able to keep historic social service infrastructure and communal cohesion together is critical. 

 

These historic Jewish neighborhoods are currently encompassed in the configuration of the map within CD5. There is one small area between Robertson and LaCienega Boulevards and 18th street and Cadillac that we would appreciate getting moved back into CD5.

Our coalition supports and thanks this commission for keeping the historic core of the Jewish community together in CD5. We strongly urge the commission to also support the needs of other communities of interests.

May this map find its way to equity for all communities.

 

 In appreciation,

————————————————————

General Email#2

Dear Commisioners and Staff,

Thank you for all your time and effort spent on this process. I am writing today on behalf of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition.

 

In the early 2000’s a LA Councilmember condoned trying to close down Jewish prayer services on Yom Kippur being held at a neighborhood Jewish school and to stop a neighborhood synagogue from continuing to stay open. It was thanks to the only Jewish Councilmember and his staff at that time and a law suit that these awful acts were stopped.  This incident happened before the recent tide of anti-Jewish hate crimes that have recently happened in Los Angeles.

CD5 has been the historic Jewish district since the end of WWII and before this there was none. The community is not monolithic by any means and is diverse in body and thought.

There are diverse Jewish communities all over Los Angeles, but having at least one seat where electing representative leadership is possible is truly important to our collective voice in Los Angeles. With rising anti-Semitism and the economic difficulties of this pandemic the community being able to keep historic social service infrastructure and communal cohesion is critical.  These historic Jewish neighborhoods are currently encompassed in the configuration of the map within CD5. There is one small area between Robertson and LaCienega Boulevards and 18th street and Cadillac that we would appreciate getting moved back into CD5.

Our coalition supports and thanks this commission for keeping the historic core of the Jewish community together in CD5. We strongly urge the commission to also support the needs of other communities of interests.

May this map find its way to equity for all communities.

 

Thank you,

 

 

——————————————————————————————————

From 10/10/21

YOU CAN’T HAVE RELATIONSHIPS ON THE DAY YOU NEED THEM. SPEAK UP FOR EQUITY & A UNITED VOICE FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS VIRTUAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 10/13/21 WHICH WILL DECIDE HOW YOU ARE REPRESENTED

In the early 2000’s a LA Councilmember condoned trying to close down Jewish prayer services on Yom Kippur being held at a neighborhood Jewish school and to stop a neighborhood synagogue from continuing to stay open. It was thanks to the only Jewish Councilmember and his staff at that time and a law suit that these awful acts were stopped.  SPEAK UP TO CREATE VOTING Districts that give us JEWISH REPRESETATIVES on the CITY COUNCIL so we always have someone to speak up for us.

Thank you to those who have participated so far- the message is getting across and we must stay vigilant and keep calling and emailing.  The current Map K2.5  to be discussed at the hearing on October 13th, keeps most of the centers of Jewish community together in a cohesive unit.  

But there are other maps that have been discussed that significantly divide the Jewish neighborhoods- particularly one that takes Beverlywood and Culver City and South Pico-Robertson and Hancock Park and Westwood and Bel Air and Encino dividing them into 3 different Council Districts.   

 

Please SPEAK UP to keep Jewish Neighborhoods and Representatives Intact! 

LA City re-Districting Commission has the next meeting this WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13th @6PM  

PUBLIC COMMENT WILL RUN FOR 2 HOURS–PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO SPEAK UP

 

How to Join the Meetings:

Zoom Link

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615454787#success

Once inside the Zoom press the “raise your hand” function to request to speak.

 

You can also dial in toll-free 1-669-254-5252 with Meeting ID No. 161 545 4787.

  Press #, and Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

 

Suggested Comments (Please use to make your own statement- you will ONLY get 60 seconds)

 

Hello My name is: ________________

 

I am part of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition

 

  1. Thank you for this huge task you are all undertaking.
  2. CD5 became the first representative Jewish district in LA history after WWII. We ask that the district remain intact for residents with social service infrastructure. The configuration in Map K2.5 is respectful of this history, though we know the maps needs more work and urge the commission to keep developing this map to find the most equitable options for other communities of interest.
  3. In the last redistricting portions of South Pico Robertson were removed. We ask that the small neighborhood between south Robertson to LaCienega and 18th street to the 10 freeway be shifted back into CD5.
  4. The orthodox Jewish community has unique communal needs of government and its highest concentration of anywhere in the City are within the neighborhoods designated in the CD5 represented in the current map. Many Jews live at or below the poverty line and it is the Jewish organizations and fellow Jewish community members within CD5 that support them and make up this historic community of interest.
  5. Thank you for your wise consideration. 

If you can’t be on the virtual meeting, then it is VITAL that you take 10minutes and send in written comment via email at : 

redistricting.lacity@lacity.org;

fred.ali@lacity.org;

paul@redistrictingpartners.com 

frank.cardenas@lacity.org

 

Suggested Email Comments:

Dear Commissioners,

Your patience and service to democracy are inspiring.

I am writing today on behalf of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition.

CD5 has been the historic Jewish district since the end of WWII and before this there was none.

In the early 2000’s a LA Councilmember condoned trying to close down Jewish prayer services on Yom Kippur being held at a neighborhood Jewish school and to stop a neighborhood synagogue from continuing to stay open. It was thanks to the only Jewish Councilmember and his staff at that time and a law suit that these awful acts were stopped.  

Jews represent a minority of less than .2% of total world population and therefore cannot ever take representative government for granted. The American constitution gave the states the right to decide voting rights and many states denied Jews and other minorities the rights to vote up until the early 19th century. In fact, “the Jew Bill” that was argued by the Maryland legislature for 8 years finally passed giving Jews in this State the right to vote in 1828. Land deeds in Los Angeles had restrictive covenants against Jews and like many other minorities Jews living in a neighborhood brought down the federal housing designated grade of a neighborhood, or otherwise known as redlining.

There are diverse Jewish communities all over Los Angeles, but having at least one seat where electing representative leadership is possible is truly important to our collective voice in Los Angeles.  These historic Jewish neighborhoods are currently encompassed in the Map K2.5 configuration within CD5. There is one small area between Robertson and LaCienega Boulevards and 18th street and the 10 freeway that we would appreciate getting moved back into CD5.

Our coalition supports and thanks this commission for keeping the historic core of the Jewish community together, but strongly urge the commission to also support the needs of other communities of interests.

Thank you,

Agenda for Meeting Here:https://laccrc2021.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/10.13-LACCRC-agenda_amended.pdf

More Information on Redistricting can be found at the LACITY Redistricting Website: https://laccrc2021.org/

———————————————————————————————————————————-

 

 

 

UPDATE 10/5/21

HANCOCK PARK REDISTRICTING BULLETIN

Dear Hancock Park & GWNC Surrounding Neighbors,

We need your voices again in the upcoming Redistricting meetings!

October 6th and 13th at 6:00pm                               October 9th and 16th at 10am

  Zoom Click this link to join the meetings!             

Important!                                                               Please continue to submit your comments to the commission by emailing: redistricting.lacity@lacity.org , fred.ali@lacity.org  and  frank.cardenas@lacity.org

The City Council-appointed Redistricting Commission has approved a draft map (“Map Plan K2.5”.)

The Hancock Park HOA strongly supports this map for our Communities!

Please send your comments to the Redistricting Commission NOW!

Click here to email the Commission:

Email the Redistricting Commission

See redistricting maps below

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UPDATE 10/4/21

REDISTRICTING COMMISSION SEEMS TO GET IT RIGHT

                                 Our Next Steps As A Community.

Thank you to all who were able to speak or emailed the commissioners  during the recent LA Redistricting hearings!  We will need your voices again in the upcoming meetings which will be held on October 6th and 13th at 6pm, October 9th and 16th at 10am via  Zoom (Click this link to join the meetings and we will also send reminder emails.) And please continue to submit your comments to the commission by emailing: redistricting.lacity@lacity.org , fred.ali@lacity.org  and  frank.cardenas@lacity.org

THE STORY : For decades, every time redistricting has been done, the call from Angelenos Citywide has been that corruption is rampant. Accusations that maps are being drawn behind closed doors by incumbents or their loyal staff members. That community organizing and input is just a sham show to pretend that the public is being listened to.

Gerrymandering is basically the practice of setting boundaries of electoral districts to favor specific political interests or incumbents within legislative bodies often resulting in districts with odd boundaries. This practice tends to violate equality of size of communities of interest and significant changes in populations which reduce the weight of votes cast, amounting to violations of the equal protection clause of the Fourth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act.

Well in 2021 something remarkable is happening: the commission is following the census data, voting rights protections, communities of interest, neighborhood council boundaries and the voices of the people.  The independent commission formed months ago and at the start of it the commissioners created ground rules for ethical behavior. They created principles of how they would be respectful of each other and the communities they were about to move around on a map. And they agreed that this time, the process would be transparent and done in the open. And for months the commission worked off of these principles and the map started to morph based on community input, particularly for communities of interest.

We often don’t feel like we have a lot to applaud at City Hall between the crime and ever-growing numbers of unhoused, broken streets and poor air quality. Yet this redistricting commission has stood on principle and stood by the community. They have been ethical and listened to so many neighborhood voices. And they adopted Draft Map K.25 (see link)  https://laccrc2021.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/City-of-LA-Draft-Map-K-2.5-with-numbers.pdf Hancock Park and our Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council are together in CD5 – with our communities of interest!  This is the result we will continue to advocate for!  This is our message to the Commissioners!

The process is not over yet. This commission will continue to work and adjustments will be made to the draft map, to create a map for the City of LA. That map will then be sent to City Council for their own review and revision process and a final vote. Though shifts around Council Districts will happen what matters is that this commission is unprecedented in putting census data, population, voting rights protections, communities of interest, neighborhood council boundaries and the voices of the people first over sole political interest.

Join the historic effort to keep the LA Redistricting Process ethical and transparent!  Hold our City accountable and lend your voice in the upcoming meetings- October 6th and 13th at 6PM, October 9th and 16th at 10am. Click to join the Zoom hearings!

Submit emails with our message to the commission at:
fred.ali@lacity.org, frank.cardenas@lacity.org, and redistricting.lacity@lacity.org

———————————————————————————————————————–

 

SENT TO THE COMMUNITY FROM ADEENA BLEICH

THIS IS A MAJOR UPDATE TO LAST WEEKS POSTING.

SEE ALL THE UPDATED MAPS BELOW WITH CENSES DATA.

 

FOR PICO/BEVERLYWOOD

Every 10 years the Census is taken. Every 10 years voting districts get redrawn based on this data and community input.

LA City Commission will be voting TOMORROW- 9/30 on New Council Districts–oh how your neighborhoods will be grouped and who will represent YOU and be the representative you count on.

Please call-in tomorrow night and submit written comments in support of Map K2 and opposing Map L

Two maps are up for adoption by the commission TOMORROW-9/30/21:

Map K2 is the staff recommendation based on community input and Executive Director Frank Cardenas listening to the 21 person commissions principles to create a bridge district to the valley, thus leaving the valley whole, and to respect the Mulholland Corridor and the Hillsides as communities of interest.  He also tried to use neighborhood council boundaries as guidelines where possible. This map was created through a series of updates through many community meetings.

Map L is n newly submitted map supported by one of the commissioners on the redistricting committee as an alternative to the K2 Map. Map L divides the hillsides down Laurel Canyon Blvd. Divides Larchmont and Hancock Park and West Adams and Harvard Heights and many more areas. Century City somehow lands in District 10 as well as part of Beverly Wood and  Carthay, and Pico Robertson are cut off from being the historic heart of the Jewish District, of Council District 5. 

Public comment is at the beginning of the meeting and only lasts for an hour and 15minutes. If you can’t be on the virtual meeting, then it is VITAL that you take 10minutes and send in written comment via email at : 

redistricting.lacity@lacity.org;

fred.ali@lacity.org;

paul@redistrictingpartners.com 

THURSDAY, September 30th, 5PM 

  • It is recommended to join the meeting 10 minutes early, and as soon as you are in the meeting, virtually raise your hand. If you are on the call-in line only you will have to press *9 to request to speak and then *6 to unmute yourself after your name is called.

 

LA City Redistricting Hearing- September 30

How to Join the Meetings:

 Thursday, September 30, at 5 p.m.

Zoom Link

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615454787?pwd=MHJRWW10WHN1b0dmR29zMXMvMldkdz09#success

 

You can also dial in toll-free 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864, with Meeting ID No. 161 545 4787.

  Press #, and Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

 

Suggested Comments (but please feel free to make your own- you will ONLY get 60 seconds)

 

Hello My name is: ________________

 

I am part of the LA Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition

  1. Thank you for this huge task of thought and patience this commission is taking on.
  2. Jewish residents and particularly those that adhere to orthodox Jewish practice are part of a community of interest with particular need of representation and cohesion because of our unique practice and shared social service agencies, schools, kosher restaurants and markets, and synagogues.  
  3. In addition, due to the significant rise in anti-Semitism the community has very unique security needs and therefore focused representation.
  4. Hancock Park, Pico Robertson, Beverlywood,  and Fairfax LaBrea,  have a large traditional Jewish demographic, with many seniors and holocaust survivors who receive services from organizations inside CD5. This community has asked in multiple redistricting processes to be made whole in the historic Jewish district which is CD5 and Map K2 has made this happen after years of asking in the past. 
  5. I strongly urge that you reject the late to the discussion Map L which bypassed all the transparency and consensus building that went into developing Map K2.  But by some chance Map L should pass please implore you to make sure that Hancock Park and Beverly wood and Pico Robertson which are the center of Jewish Los Angeles, stay within their historic community of interest which is Council District 5.

We strongly urge the commission to enact Draft Plan K2- District J and support the Jewish Communal Redistricting Coalition’s request for cultural equity. 

Thank you for your wise consideration. 

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615454787…

LACITY Redistricting Website and General Information:

https://laccrc2021.org/


HANCOCK PARK

                   Calling  Hancock Park To Action!

SEE RELEVANT MAPS BELOW

Dear Hancock Park Neighbors!

We need five minutes of your time today to read and act on this important message. We are very good at this!  Our future in City Hall is at stake.

The Short Story. The City Redistricting Commission will vote on its final City Council redistricting plan on Thursday. See their latest email about this to us below. Their plan will be sent to the City Council for adoption. The Commission is still considering two plans. Its excellent Plan K2 has been exhaustively vetted and debated. We endorsed its prior version. It is now even better. Plan K2 keeps all of Greater Wilshire together in one Council district J, and pairs us with our like-minded “Community of Interest” to the west (Fairfax, West LA, Bel Air, Beverly Crest, Brentwood). However, an eleventh-hour Plan L will also be on the table Thursday night, at the request of Councilmember Raman. It throws the entire process, the weeks of public input, and most City Council districts into chaos. Plan L cynically keeps Greater Wilshire (50K population) together, but pairs us with Park La Brea, a massive reconfigured Koreatown (120K population), Los Feliz and Silver Lake, to form a Council district of renters. 

Click on the blue links in the City’s announcement below to view Plan K2 and Plan L. 

The Task for Greater Wilshire. The Commission has urged and warned Greater Wilshire to be vigilant, and to make sure that its voice is continually heard by the Commissioners. This means that we need a barrage of fresh emails from you to them — before Thursday at noon. We also need your fresh testimony at their Thursday 5 PM public hearing. This email provides step-by-step instructions for your emails and your testimony. We are asking you to raise your voices, yet again. Stand united behind Plan K2.

Step-By-Step Instructions.  

  1. Email. Send an email to the Commission. We need an outpouring of emails. Do this now. Scroll down below for a sample script. Personalize your email. Its central messages should be to thank the Commission for Plan K2, and to emphatically support Plan K2 with the intact Greater Wilshire located in District J with our “Community of Interest” neighbors to the west. Emails go to: redistricting.lacity@lacity.org.
  2. Live Testimony – Thursday, September 30th –  4:50 PM. 
  • Write down and rehearse your testimony in advance. You will only have one minute to speak. 
  • On Thursday, log on EARLY to the 5 PM Zoom meeting. We will share the Zoom link with you as soon as it becomes available.
  • As soon you join the Zoom, raise your Zoom hand. This puts you into the speaker queue, which becomes immediately full. If you join late or raise your hand late, you will not make it into the queue. 
  • When they call your name, follow their instructions to unmute yourself. You will have one minute to speak. 
  • Scroll below to see a sample script for your one-minute testimony.
  1. Sample Scripts.
  • Sample Email Script. My name is (enter name). I live in Hancock Park, which is located in Greater Wilshire. It is vitally important to my family and to my neighborhood that our City Council member be responsive to us. We count on our City Council member for our traditional City services, and for all of the unique services that come with living in historic homes. Our City Council member must also understand and be responsive to our special diversity, including the needs of our significant Orthodox Jewish population. For these reasons and so much more, I want to thank the Redistricting Commission for Plan K2, which I support. We are grateful for the opportunity that you have given Greater Wilshire to remain together with our like-minded Community of Interest neighbors in District J of Plan K2, where we belong and will be best served. 
  • Optional Addition to Sample Email Script. I have followed the redistricting process. I am disheartened to see that an eleventh-hour Plan L is also before you. Greater Wilshire and I do not support Plan L, which throws much of the City into chaos. Plan L turns a deaf ear to your months of work and public testimony. It divides and redistributes neighborhoods at random. It ignores the Mulholland Corridor mandate. It divides the hillsides down Laurel Canyon and separates Spaulding Square from Sunset. It similarly divides West Adams, Sugar Hill, Harvard Heights, Western Heights, the United Neighborhoods Council. It cuts off Century City, Beverlywood, Carthay and Pico-Robertson from their Communities of Interest. But, Plan L reserves its most cynical disconnect for Greater Wilshire, throwing us into a newly created district of renters, stretching from Park La Brea, through us to Koreatown and up a narrow isthmus to Los Feliz and Silver Lake. We object to Plan L in the loudest possible voice, but surely Plan L is also not the vision of the Commission.

Sample One-Minute Testimony.  My name is (enter name). I live in (enter neighborhood, e.g., Larchmont Village), which is located in Greater Wilshire. I want to thank the Commission for Plan K2 and its District J, which I support. District J keeps Greater Wilshire together, for which I am grateful. By contrast to the cynical Plan L, which is also before you tonight, Plan K2 places the historic homes of Greater Wilshire with our Community of Interest neighborhoods to the west. We share schools, churches, synagogues, parks, local newspapers, and sports leagues with our western neighbors. Please adopt Plan K2, which will provide the best City Council services to Greater Wilshire


IF YOU ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL MEETING LAST WEEK JUST BEFORE YOM TOV YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS LETTER

Hello all,

Thank you for you for attending last night’s Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Meeting and for your active participation in the redistricting process.

As a reminder, the next meeting of the Commission will be held this Thursday, September 30th at 5 PM. The purpose of this meeting will be to review draft maps and to select one or more of the draft maps for public consideration. You can find the updated agenda for the meeting here. I am also sharing Map K 2 (from the 9.27 meeting) and Map L (which references the publicly submitted draft Map ID #54277) for your consideration (these maps can be found by clicking the blue linked words throughout this email). All maps reviewed thus far by the Commission can be found here in the past meetings section of our website, titled “Redistricting Partners/Commission Staff Draft Plans,”City of LA Redistricting Commission Second Draft Maps” and “Draft Plan K Corrected.”

The link and instructions for joining Thursday’s Commission meeting via zoom can be found here and in the linked agenda. A few reminders about public comment – the Commission is consistently receiving updates on the Community of Interest (COI) and Community Impact Statements (CIS) submitted via email, phone call and website. The Commissioners and Staff review and cite the data to help in their deliberations. All forms of public comment are weighed equally. We also want to remind the public that there will be four Public Hearings held in early October regarding the draft maps. At these hearings, the draft map/maps will be presented to the public for comment prior to the Commission submitting the Final Map to the Council on October 29th. You are more than welcome to attend and speak at one or more of these public hearings. All attendees will be called upon. You can find the dates and times of the upcoming public hearings here.

Also a reminder that The LACCRC has extended the deadline to receive public maps and COI testimony through Friday October 1st at 12pm. That said, we will still be taking public feedback on the Commission draft maps throughout the process. Please send your COI to redistricting.lacity@lacity.org. Sending testimony to this email address guarantees that your COI will be shared with the Commission in a timely manner.

More materials for Thursday’s meeting will be shared with you in the upcoming days. Thank you again for participating in the redistricting process.

Sincerely,

Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-263-5765

 

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