Send your Email on Redistricting TODAY

As many people know, when the first draft map of new Los Angeles City Council districts was released on January 25, the Greater Wilshire area was united – as requested by the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council – within one council district (instead of the three it has been divided among for the last 10 years). At the same time, however, the draft map put the united GWNC area wholly within Council District 5, instead of CD 4, which has traditionally represented about 75% of Greater Wilshire.

At its Wednesday board meeting, the GWNC discussed the draft map and passed a resolution containing three requests to the Redistricting Commission and the City Council as the redistricting process moves forward:

1. That the GWNC remain united within a single city council district.

2. That, because of Greater Wilshire’s longstanding connecting with other preservation-minded residential communities in CD 4, it be united in CD 4 instead of CD5.

3. And that, if the the balancing act of redistricting cannot be achieved without splitting the GWNC area, the split occur only for the area from Willoughby on the north, Highland on the east, Third Street on the south and La Brea on the west.

There will be one more public hearing on the draft map, which will be held on Saturday, February 11, 11:00 a.m., at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, 3045 South Crenshaw Boulevard, LA, CA 90016.  The GWNC is urging ALL GWNC STAKEHOLDERS to attend this meeting to show their support for the points above, noting it is extremely important that we retain our historic affiliations with the parts of the city that most clearly mirror our own community of interest.

Even before that, however – on Friday, February 10 – individual Redistricting Commissioners are being asked to submit their suggestions for map changes to the Commission’s Executive Director, for distribution to other Commissioners and for discussion. So if people would like the points above to be part of that discussion, it is URGENT to ACT FAST.

Whether or not you plan to attend Saturday’s meeting, please take a few moments TODAY to contact the Commission (their mission is to listen to stakeholders and they respond best when large numbers of people speak up through letters or attendance and testimony at public hearings). Also, people are being urged to share their letters of support with our current City Council representatives (since they will have the final say on whatever map is finally approved), and the GWNC itself.

Here’s a sample letter you can cut, paste and send:

The Redistricting Commission
City of Los Angeles
[email protected]
cc: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

To Whom It May Concern:

SUBJECT: Redistricting and the Greater Wilshire Area

My name is _________________________________________ , I live at __________________________________, in the Greater Wilshire area, and I would very much like you to keep our neighborhood intact in our historic Council District 4.

Greater Wilshire is roughly bounded by Melrose Ave. on the north, Western Ave. on the east, Olympic Blvd. on the south, and La Brea Ave. on the west. This is a historic community with roots stretching back nearly 100 years. It includes some of the oldest and most well-preserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles, including four contiguous HPOZs. We are proud of our historic integrity and the ethnic diversity among our neighbors.

While we appreciate the Commission keeping Greater Wilshire whole in the original draft map, we also urge you to support the February 8 resolution of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, which asks that:

1. The GWNC area continue to be united within a single city council district as the redistricting process moves forward.
2. That you return the united Greater Wilshire area to CD4, which will more closely connect us to other historic single-family neighborhoods in the middle of Los Angeles, and which will honor our long-standing connection to CD4, a strong advocate for the preservation of our historic homes. And…
3. That if total unification cannot be achieved in CD4, the only area placed in CD5 should be that bounded by Willoughby on the north, Highland Ave. on the east, Third Street on the south, and La Brea Ave. on the west.

We hope you will honor our community of interest.

Sincerely,

_________________________________________