Welcome to the June edition of the California Citizen Redistricting Commission newsletter. It is a privilege to chair the next set of Commission meetings. We are happy to announce several additions to our staff, who join us at a pivotal time as we move into the public input collection phase for Communities of Interest (COI). We will be phasing out the educational Redistricting Basics presentation, honoring those commitments we have confirmed. Commissioners will turn their focus on hosting COI input sessions to collect testimony and COI map renderings from Californians. These will be used as building blocks once we begin drawing district maps. You do not need to wait to provide this valuable input. Visit https://DrawMyCACommunity.org to submit your input today.  

The first live COI input session will take place on Thursday, June 10th from 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM. For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/june_10_mtg.

The Commission used its time wisely while waiting for census data. To date we have completed 134 presentations, have 40 upcoming presentations, and are in the process of scheduling another 17 presentations. The request form will close today!

Upcoming and past presentations can be found on the Commission website, under the Outreach Calendar tab, including video recordings and registration links. Click here: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/outreach_calendar.

To watch our Redistricting Basics video or use it at one of your organization’s upcoming meetings, please click here: https://youtu.be/bsPzYGxqHA8.

May brought several additions to the Commission staff. We welcomed Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel. He joins us from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), where he managed the day-to-day activities of attorneys and advised Board/Bureaus on Bagley-Keene requirements among other things. Read more about Anthony here: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/commission_hires_anthony_pane_as_chief_counsel.

The outreach team doubled with the addition of our Outreach Coordinator Sulma Hernandez, and Field Team Leads: Kimberly Briggs (Greater Los Angeles and Orange County), Jose Eduardo Chavez (Central California), and Andrew Amorao (San Diego/Imperial and Inland Empire). Read more about our outreach staff here: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/commission_hires_state_and_regional_outreach_staff.

The Commission is still hiring for a Field Team Lead in Northern California and a Data Manager. To learn more about these opportunities and to apply, visit our website at: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/jobs_contracting.

Data Manager
The Commission seeks a Data Manager to provide leadership in the development and execution of the Commission’s Public Input data analytics plan, including oversight and direct responsibility for initiatives to achieve the Commission’s goals and objectives for carrying out the plan. The applicant should be a creative problem-solver with experience in management, data analysis and modeling, research methodology, and statistical procedures, along with the ability to manage analysts, and to work with data from a variety of disciplines. A strong candidate for this position will have a demonstrated background in project management and have experience validating and synthesizing data from a variety of disciplines.

Field Team Lead (Northern California)
The Commission seeks a Northern California Lead to support the Commission’s public outreach and engagement activities. The Field Staff Lead candidates should demonstrate strong communication and organizing experience, combined with the background and knowledge to support the Commission’s redistricting mission. The applicant should be knowledgeable about the local and regional communities in the region they are applying for. A strong candidate for this position will possess the skills to be a good collaborator and relationship builder for the Commission.

When the Commission begins drawing maps using census data, they will need to follow this set of criteria, in this order, as outlined in the California Constitution.

  1. Districts must be of nearly equal population to comply with the U.S. Constitution.
  2. Districts must comply with the Voting Rights Act to ensure that minorities have a fair opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
  3. Districts must be drawn contiguously, so that all parts of the district are connected to each other.
  4. Districts must minimize the division of counties, cities, neighborhoods, and communities of interest to the extent possible.
  5. Districts should be geographically compact such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant populations.
  6. Where practicable, each Senate District should consist of two complete and adjacent Assembly Districts, and Board of Equalization districts should consist of ten complete and adjacent State Senate Districts. This is known as nesting.

We can obtain the city and county information from those jurisdictions, but we need the neighborhood and communities of interest information from Californians directly.

We invite Californians to get involved in the redistricting process by providing their input today at https://DrawMyCACommunity.org or through our live public input sessions, which will start on June 10th and extend through early September 2021. 

Your input is vital to the success of the Commission. We need your Communities of Interest information to respect the boundaries of your communities to the best of our ability during the redistricting process.

On June 10th, from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM, we will host our first live Communities of Interest public input session. During this meeting you will be asked to describe your community. Here are some points to consider highlighting in your description:

  1. Begin with your county or city.
  2. Mention the street names and significant locations in your neighborhood to help us identify the parameters of your community.
  3. What are your shared interests?
  4. What brings you together?
  5. What is important to your community?
  6. Are there nearby areas you want to be in a district with?
  7. Nearby areas you don't want to be in a district with? Why or why not?
  8. Has your community come together to advocate for important services, better schools, roads, or health centers in your neighborhood?

Registration is not required to participate in this public input meeting. The call-in number for public input on the day of the event will be (877)853-5247.

For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/june_10_mtg.

Here is a list of upcoming meetings for June. We welcome you to join us and take part in the conversation. All meetings are currently held virtually until further notice.

June 9, 2021 Meeting
2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission Meeting – 1:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 10, 2021 Meeting
(Statewide) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 14, 2021 Meeting
Public Input Design Committee Meeting – 5:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 16, 2021 Meeting
Legal Affairs Committee Meeting – 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 16, 2021 Meeting
2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission Meeting – 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 19, 2021 Meeting (dedicated time for Spanish interpretation by request)
(Statewide) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 21, 2021 Meeting
(Zone D) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 24, 2021 Meeting
(Zone I) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 25, 2021 Meeting
2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission Meeting – 9:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 26, 2021 Meeting (dedicated time for Spanish/Khmer interpretation by request)
(Zone H) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 28, 2021 Meeting (dedicated time for Chinese-Mandarin/Tagalog interpretation by request)
(Zone C) Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting – 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

June 30, 2021 Meeting
2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission Meeting – 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. daily or upon conclusion of business

For a full list of upcoming meetings and to review past meeting content and videos, please visit: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/meetings.

This month, we introduce you to Jane Andersen, a Republican from Berkeley, CA. Commissioner Andersen has been a registered Civil and Structural Engineer in California since 1988. Her experience includes structural failure investigation and repair, earthquake damage evaluation and repair, seismic retrofit design and evaluation, new structure and building design, building code writing and editing, peer design review, litigation preparation, and expert testimony. Early in her career, Ms. Andersen was one of very few women in structural engineering and pushed for diversity and inclusion throughout her professional and volunteer activities.

Learn more about Commissioner Andersen here: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/jane_andersen.