HomeMy WebLinkAbout2_17_2021_Open Session_Agenda Item 6 _League of Women Voters_ Redistricting_Redacted LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® of SAN BERNARDINO
February 16, 2021
City of San Bernardino
Mayor and City Council Members
201 North E St.
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
Re: February 17, 2021 Agenda, Open Session, Agenda Item #6
Congratulations on the opportunity you have to profoundly affect leadership in the City of San
Bernardino for the next decade. Beyond opportunity, it is a tremendous responsibility to engage
in a transparent process which will result in fair and effective representation for the county's
residents.
The League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area, with membership in each of the
seven wards, strongly urges you to form an independent redistricting committee, one that will
result in the development of two or more maps that will be considered by the Mayor and Council
and adopted without changes (except where needed in order to ensure compliance with state or
federal law). (Cal. Elec. Code § 23000(c).
The standards upon which a redistricting plan is based should include: a substantially equal
population, geographic contiguity, and protection from diluting the voting strength of a racial or
linguistic minority. It should not allow the goal of protecting incumbents or the preferential
treatment of one political party. Further, to the extent possible, the adopted map should
respect the boundaries of cities and preserve and protect communities of interest.
We urge you to form an independent committee with members that include citizens at large,
representatives of public interest groups, and minority group interests.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
BETSY STARBUCK, Co-President
LWV of the San Bernardino Area