"It’s wide an probe is sorely needed to assistance reconstruct assurance successful the redistricting process for the radical of Los Angeles,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday helium would analyse Los Angeles’ redistricting process successful airy of recordings successful which City Council members sermon utilizing the process to consolidate power.
“It’s wide an probe is sorely needed to assistance reconstruct assurance successful the redistricting process for the radical of Los Angeles,” Bonta said astatine a quality conference.
Los Angeles has been rocked by concealed recordings successful which then-City Council President Nury Martinez, City Council members Kevin de Léon and Gil Cedillo, and then-labor person Ron Herrera usage racist connection portion discussing however to carve up assembly districts during the city’s once-in-a-decade process of redrawing lines. Martinez has taken a permission of lack and Herrera has stepped down.
While their racist statements person drawn fierce condemnations, the speech besides illuminated the zero-sum authorities of redistricting. The assembly members and Herrera speech astir undercutting different subordinate by putting her territory “in a blender” and diluting the powerfulness of renters. They besides sermon distributing “assets” similar an airdrome to “Latino districts,” and stress however they tin “massage to make districts” that payment themselves.
Unlike successful the process for drafting California’s legislature and authorities Legislature seats, which is overseen by an autarkic panel, maps of Los Angeles City Council districts are shaped and approved by sitting members, enabling manipulation and abuses of power.
The expanding fallout from the recordings has included calls for Los Angeles to follow an autarkic redistricting panel. State Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) said earlier this week helium mightiness tally authorities to bash so.
“We should person a non-partisan process successful cities similar LA to make just districts autarkic of self-serving politicians, and I americium exploring legislative options on those lines,” Allen said in a Tuesday tweet.
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