Talk about a half-witted, half-baked redistricting plan leaves Eighth Councilmanic District with half of a shopping center. It appears that things are half-off at the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza, and I'm not talking about the low, low prices.
When the architects of the approved redistricting map sought out to break up communities, they didn't stop there. They also broke up a shopping center, leaving one half of the Crenshaw Plaza in the Eighth District and the other half in the 10th District.
It would be funny if it weren't true. Councilmember Herb Wesson and his “non-tourage” actually drew the lines to ensure businesses like Macy's and Buffalo Wild Wings would be split from the rest of the shopping center and placed into his district.
I don't know… maybe he likes the short ribs.
Favorite foods aside, what these strong-arm tactics really speak to is the land grab that this redistricting process has become.
Every 10 years, we go through this process in an effort to accommodate the population changes in each district. The key word there is: population. There is no living population in any shopping center in the world- unless you count the mannequins(which we don't).
That means that Mr. Wesson is taking the Crenshaw Plaza and neighboring Marlton Square from Council District 8 simply because he wants to and also because he got 12 bystanders disguised as Council members to sign off on the plan.
That's 12 bystanders and state Sen. Curren Price (D-Culver City), whose testimony that deemed it “appropriate” for Council District 8 to acquire a shopping center it already had now seems about half as valuable as it did when he delivered it on March 16, which begs the question: what's half of zero?
The redistricting process is crucial to the future of our community. The process has brought unrest, controversy and confusion, and we need your continued support to make sure these unfair maps do not get passed.
This proposal is now in its third and final phase, before becoming law. It is now up to Mayor Villaraigosa to either sign – thus approving – this plan to dismantle South L.A. or stand up for what is right, and veto it.
Council District 8 keeps Wal-Mart, Staples and Rave Theater.
Council District10 takes Macy's, Bank of America, Buffalo Wild Wings.
Take Action
I urge you to call, write or email Mayor Villaraigosa and demand he veto this proposal.
Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
200 N. Spring St.
Room 303
Los Angeles 90012
Contact him at 213.978.0600 or mayor@lacity.org
I will continue to stand with you and stand with my colleague, Councilmember Jan Perry, and fight this grave injustice with every tool at my disposal.
If the mayor approves this plan, we are prepared to file a lawsuit, challenging the legality of the new districts, due to violations of the U. S. Constitution, the Federal Voting Rights Act, and the City Charter.
Make sure you stay up to date with all the latest developments on my webpage: www.bernardparks.com or twitter @BernardCParks and on Facebook at Facebook.com/CouncilmemberParks and Facebook.com/BernardCParks.
