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2008
Prop. 11 Gets Big GOP Money Push
Sacramento Bee
November 03, 2008
Legislature's Balance Of Power May Shift
Sacramento Bee
November 01, 2008
Editorial: Foes Distorting Proposition 11
Sacramento Bee
October 30, 2008
Think Tank Debunks Idea That Prop. 11
Would Hurt Minority Communities
Los Angeles Times
October 30, 2008
Ad Watch: Prop. 11 TV Spot Focuses On
Tossing Lawmakers
sacbee.com
October 29, 2008
Minority Groups Fear Loss Of Power
Sacramento Bee
October 25, 2008
Better Lines, Better Representation
Sacramento Union
October 24, 2008
No On 11 Campaign Accused Of Double Speak
sacbee.com
October 23, 2008
2008 Ballot Watch: Proposition 11:
Redistricting
Sacramento Bee
October 23, 2008
Ad Watch: Foes Paint Prop. 11 As Too
Complex
Sacramento Bee
October 21, 2008
Community Legal Organizations Voice
Opposition To Redistricting Proposal
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
October 20, 2008
Schwarzenegger Takes In A Pair Of
GOP-Sponsored Fundraisers
Contra Costa Times
October 20, 2008
Proposition 11: Supporters
See Redistricting As End To Gridlock
Ventura County Star
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Independent Journal Urges 'Yes' Vote On
Redistricting Measure
Marin Independent Journal
October 17, 2008
Ad Watch: Prop. 11 Backers Hammer At
'Politicians' As Foes
Sacramento Bee
October 15, 2008
Proposition 11 Leaves Congress Out Of The
Argument
Sacramento Bee
October 14, 2008
Redistricting Isn't To Blame For
Partisanship
San Francisco Chronicle
October 12, 2008
Governor Tries Again With Redistricting
Bid
San Diego Union Tribune
October 10, 2008
Editorial: Proposition 11: A Vote For
Change
Sacramento Bee
October 10, 2008
Editorials - Endorsements '08: Say 'No' To
All Propositions Except 11
Sacramento Bee
October 9, 2008
Opinion: Bad Districts Yield Bad Budgets
San Francisco Chronicle
October 5, 2008
The Conversation: Getting Districts Right
Is A First Step Toward Reform
Sacramento Bee
October 5, 2008
Prop. 11 Calls For Redistricting Overhaul
San Francisco Chronicle
September 29, 2008
Will State Budget Delay Boost Redistricting
Initiative?
Sacramento Bee
September 29, 2008
GOP Votes Not To Back Redistricting
Fresno Bee
September 28, 2008
Budget Signed, Schwarzenegger Sets Sights
On Redistricting, Other Changes
Sacramento Bee
September 24, 2008
Schrag: Redistricting Reform - Just Get It
Over With
Sacramento Bee
September 11, 2008
Public Policy Institute of California
Argues 2001 Redistricting Did Not Make Legislators More Partisan
RoseReport.org
September 10, 2008
The Governor, The Money And Prop. 11
San Francisco Chronicle
September 4, 2008
Editorial: Throw California's Legislature
Out If It Can't Get The Job Done
Fresno Bee
September 1, 2008
CCPOA Gives $250,000 To Defeat Prop. 11
Sacramento Bee
August 29, 2008
Prop. 11 Backers File Complaint Against
Perata, Prison Guards Union
Sacramento Bee
August 29, 2008
Gerrymandering A Key Culprit In California
Budget Mess
Los Angeles Times
August 28, 2008
Prop. 11 Will Take Politics Out Of
Redistricting
Marin Independent Journal
August 17, 2008
Reforming Redistricting: Let Independent
Citizens Draw The Lines
Capitol Weekly
August 14, 2008
Democrats Need Not Fear Prop. 11 On
Redistricting
California Progress Report.com
August 14, 2008
Democrats Break Ranks On Prop. 11
San Francisco Chronicle
August 13, 2008
Proposition 11: Fake Redistricting Reform
California Progress Report.com
August 12, 2008
Dan Walters:
California's House Delegation Could Shrink
Sacramento Bee
August 11, 2008
Proposition 11 Has 2 Giant Loop-Holes In
It---And More!
Fox & Hounds Daily.com
August 11th, 2008
Opinion: Would Prop. 11 help minorities?
Los Angeles Times
July 27, 2008
Editorial: Redistricting Threatens
Incumbents
North County Times, Escondido
July 24, 2008
Cavala: California Voters’ Initial
‘Take’ On Redistricting Scheme Presages Its Defeat
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
July 22, 2008
Pelosi Reveals Herself And Makes Case For
Redistricting, Unintentionally
NewAmerica.net
July 18, 2008
Opinion: Proposition 11 Levels The
Redistricting Playing Field
San Jose Mercury
July 16, 2008
House Dems Oppose Calif. Redistricting
Measure
San Francisco Chronicle
July 16, 2008
Cavala: Could Redistricting ‘Reform’
Make California Competitive For John McCain? (No)
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
July 16, 2008
SEIU May Come Out In Favor of Voters’
First
RoseReport.org
July 11, 2008
Nunez Gets $600,000 From Dems’
Redistricting Fund
CapitolWeekly.net
July 10, 2008
Big Money Needed To Redraw Districts
The Sun, San Bernadino and the Inland Empire
July 9, 2008
Commentary: The Initiative Road To Terminal
Government Gridlock
Sacramento Bee
July 8, 2008
Remap Proposal Worries Civil Rights Groups
Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bureau
July 8, 2008
Our View: Perata Won't Fool Us Again
Merced Sun-Star
July 7, 2008
Daniel Weintraub: Voters Beware -
Politicians Will Lie To Kill Proposition 11
Sacramento Bee
July 2, 2008
Gerrymandering The Vote: How A “Dirty
Dozen” States Suppress As Many As 9 Million Voters
Democratic Leadership Council
June 2008
Editorial: Perata's Power Play
San Francisco Chronicle
June 30, 2008
Democrats Fear Redistricting Measure Would
Curb Their Power In State
San Francisco Chronicle
June 27, 2008
Election-Map Initiative Helps Voters, State
Progress
Sacramento Bee
June 27, 2008
Politics And California Redistricting
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
June 27, 2008
Millions On Line In Ballot Drives
Sacramento Bee
June 24, 2008
Democratic Leaders Accused Of Pressuring
Supporters Of Redistricting Measure
Contra Costa Times Sacramento Bureau
June 21, 2008
California Is Branded Among A 'Dirty
Dozen' On Gerrymandering
Los Angeles Times
June 19, 2008
Redistricting In California: Control or
Democracy?
CaliorniaProgressReport.com
June 19, 2008
Changing Method Of Redistricting Makes
Ballot
San Francisco Chronicle
June 18, 2008
Government Reformer Down On Redistricting
Initiative
PolitickerCA.com
June 18, 2008
Redistricting Initiative Makes California
Ballot
San Jose Mercury News
June 17, 2008
Democratic Party Takes Stands On Ballot
Measures
CaliforninaMajorityReport.com
June 17, 2008
Cavala: Republicans Kill Reform Bill That
Hurts GOP Chances While Democrats Support 'Reform' That Hurts Their Chances
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
June 9, 2008
Speaking With The New Speaker
Los Angeles Times
June 2, 2008
Two Plans Created To Reform Districts
Modesto Bee
May 19, 2008
New Speaker Should Focus On Public
Interest
Los Angeles Daily News
May 13, 2008
Why Schwarzenegger's Redistricting Plan
Won't Work
California Majority Report.com
May 13, 2008
Tony Quinn: Redistricting Reform OK, But
It's Only A Start
Sacramento Bee
May 11, 2008
Governor May Face Donor Fatigue
Contra Costa Times
May 11, 2008
California Redistricting Plan Faces Hurdles
Capitol Weekly
May 7, 2008
Dan Walters: Competing Proposals For Remap
Sacramento Bee
May 7, 2008
Initiative On Redistricting Closer To
Ballot
San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Nunez Pushes Ethics Plan As Rival Petitions
Are Filed
Sacramento Bee
May 7, 2008
To Get Leadership Reform, We First Need
Redistricting
Los Angeles Daily News
May 1, 2008
Good Intentions Could Harm Redistricting
Ballot Measure
Los Angeles Times
April 28, 2008
Redistricting On Track To Qualify,
Consultant Says
New America Foundation.com
April 23, 2008
Why Are GOP Contributors Putting Big Money
Into Redistricting Reform?
California Progress Report.com
April 19, 2008
Gov's
Giving To Remap Measure Tops $1 million
Sacramento Bee Capital Alert
April 21, 2008
‘Due
Process’ Democrats Have Their Heads Buried in the California Sand
California Progress Report.com
April 20, 2008
Opinion: Seeing The Light
Los Angeles Daily News
April 19, 2008
California
Voters FIRST Presents A Balanced And Bipartisan Effort For Redistricting
Reform
California Progress Report.com
April 17, 2008
Schwarzenegger's
Redistricting Plan Comes Under Fire
Contra Costa Times
April 17, 2008
Group Says Plan Will Put A Stop To
Gerrymandering
The Simi Valley Acron
April 4, 2008
The Need For Redistricting Reform From
This California Democrat’s Perspective
California Progress Report.com
April 4, 2008
Labor Says No To
Schwarzenegger/Republican/Common Cause Redistricting Measure
The California Majority Report.com
April 02, 2008
Revenge In Attack On Legislative
Redistricting?
California Progress Report.com
March 31, 2008
Weintraub: Governor Gets Another Shot At
Redistricting Reform
Sacramento Bee
March 30, 2008
Editorial: Can't Legislature Do Better Than
Bills On Dogs, Donkeys?
The Fresno Bee
March 30, 2008
Walters: Voters Irate At Budget Posturing
Sacramento Bee
March 28, 2008
New Foundation To Campaign For More Efficient
California Government
Sacramento Bee
March 27, 2008
Editorial: California Voters Should Support
Redistricting Ballot Measure
Fresno Bee
March 24, 2008
Editorial: Redraw the Map
Los Angeles Daily News
March 22, 2008
Walters: Court Ruling Offers Hope to
Dysfunctional California Politics
Sacramento Bee
March 19, 2008
Supreme Court to Hear Major Redistricting
Case
The Thicket at State Legislatures (ncsl.com)
March 18, 2008
Editorial: Let Citizens Redraw the Map
The Torrance Daily Breeze
March 17, 2008
Walters: Redistrict Reformers Miss Mark
Sacramento Bee
March 10, 2008
Let Citizens
Redraw Map
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
March 9, 2008
Governor Proposes Redistricting Ballot
Measure
North County Times
March 8, 2008
Redistricting Initiative Has Strong
Republican Backing
San Jose Mercury News
March 6, 2008
Governor Gathers Signatures to Qualify
Redistricting Measure
San Jose Mercury News
March 4, 2008
Manipulative Lawmakers Playing To The Crowd
Fresno Bee
February 14, 2008
State Voters Need To Do What Lawmakers
Won't
Los Angeles Daily News
February 14, 2008
Editorial: What We Need In Sacramento,
Redistricting, Not Retaliation
San Jose Mercury News
February 14, 2008
Redistricting Reform, Not Longer Terms, Is
The Answer
California Republic.org
February 12, 2008
The Buzz: A Hardball Tactic Could Ricochet
Sacramento Bee
February 11, 2008
Wake Up, Sacramento Media! Wake Up! Wake
Up! Wake Up!
San Diego Union Tribune
February 8, 2008
Editorial: Passive Aggressive Lawmakers
Just Play to the Crowd
Fresno Bee
February 8, 2008
Nunez Takes Blame For Prop. 93 Loss
Los Angeles Daily News
February 7, 2008
Weingand: Voters Got A Whiff and Said 'No'
Sacramento Bee
February 7, 2008
Lawmakers Believe In Term Limits But
Oppose The Measure
North County Times
February 4, 2008
Good For Us
Los Angeles Times
February 4, 2008
Commentary: A Conversation with Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger
Sacramento Bee
January 20, 2008
Walters: Two Party Structure Under Fire
Sacramento Bee
January 18, 2008
Walters: Governor's Brownian Flip-Flops
Sacramento Bee
January 16, 2008
Editorial: Corruption of a Good Idea
San Francisco Chronicle
January 15, 2008
Governor Supports Term Limit Measure
Sacramento Bee
January 15, 2008
A Deceptive Prop. 93
San Francisco Chronicle
January 10, 2008
Use Prop. 93 To Say 'No"
dailybreeze.com
January 3, 2008
more
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Opinion: Would Prop. 11 help minorities?
It takes redistricting away from the Legislature. Will minorities
gain or lose?
By Tony Quinn
Los Angeles Times
July 27, 2008
Will minority representation in the Legislature decrease if
Proposition 11, the redistricting reform initiative on the November
ballot, passes? The measure would take away the Legislature's power
to draw its own political map and give the job to an independent,
bipartisan citizens commission made up of 14 members, whom the state
auditor would randomly select from registered voters who apply for
the positions.
Such groups as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational
Fund and the William C. Velasquez Institute contend that such a
change would imperil seats held by minorities or possibly pit
African Americans against Latinos in some districts. Alan Clayton, a
redistricting expert with the L.A. County Chicano Employees Assn.,
says the measure, if approved, "could take the clock back in
terms of political power in the Legislature that Latinos and African
Americans have secured." Clayton and other critics principally
cite the directions the commission would use to draw the districts.
But history shows exactly the opposite. Minority representation has
never significantly grown when legislators have drawn the district
lines. Indeed, the huge increase in black and Latino legislators in
the last two decades, and especially the rise in the number of
Latino legislators, came about when the Legislature was not involved
in reapportionment.
Minority representation in the Legislature dates to the 1950s and
1960s, when the growth of the black population in South-Central Los
Angeles led to the election of several African Americans to the
Assembly. By 1974, blacks represented four Assembly districts in
southern and western Los Angeles County, a number that has not
changed since. African Americans also held a state Senate seat and
two South-Central congressional districts.
In 1973, the Democratic-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ronald
Reagan could not agree on a political map, which is redrawn every 10
years. The issue then went to the state Supreme Court, which
appointed three retired judges to draw district lines. It was the
first time in California history that state lawmakers did not do the
job.
The court-supervised reapportionment plan boosted minority
representation. It protected the four African American Assembly
districts by ensuring black majority populations in each, added a
second black state Senate district by combining areas of African
American growth and carved out a third black congressional district
in the Baldwin Hills-Ladera Heights area. In their report to the
Supreme Court, the ex-judges said they had taken special steps to
create opportunities to increase black and Latino representation.
Black politicians have held on to these seats for decades, whether
the Legislature or the courts drew the state's political map. And
there is no evidence to suggest that this pattern would change if an
independent citizens commission took over the redistricting job.
According to the California Target Book, this part of Los Angeles
includes a sufficient number of African American voters to assure
the reelection of these black representatives.In addition,
Proposition 11 specifically states that the federal Voting Rights
Act -- which prohibits any retreat in minority representation in a
county as heavily minority as Los Angeles -- must be followed.
The big issue in minority representation these days is not black
representation but California's growing population of Latinos, who
make up about 19% of the state's voters.For decades, Latinos
complained that they were cut out of legislative seats by
gerrymanders that diluted Latino voting strength to keep Anglo
incumbents in office.
A look at the numbers of Latinos elected in Los Angeles (which has
the largest concentration of Latino voters in the state) under
redistricting plans drawn up by lawmakers shows that they had cause
to complain. The 1973 plan drawn by the former judges established
four Latino Assembly districts in eastern Los Angeles. But when the
Legislature redrew the political lines in 1981, it diluted the
Latino count in one of the four districts held by an Anglo incumbent
to ensure there would no longer be a Latino challenger in the
primary. Throughout the 1980s, when the Latino population in Los
Angeles swelled from 2.1 million to 3.3 million, no additional
Latino legislators were elected to Sacramento or Congress.
In 1991, the Legislature's redistricting plan was solely designed to
protect incumbents, and Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed it. Then the issue
went to the state Supreme Court, which again appointed three retired
judges to redraw the map. In the report to the court justifying
their political map, the former judges said they had not only
protected existing minority districts but had combined minority
neighborhoods to give black and Latino candidates an opportunity to
win election even where they were not the majority of voters.
The results were dramatic. The map carved out three Latino state
Senate districts in eastern parts of L.A. County and, within them,
six Latino Assembly districts. The number of Latinos elected to the
Assembly exploded from four in 1990 to 17 in 2000, the last year of
the court's redistricting plan. Nesting Assembly seats within the
Senate districts kept minority neighborhoods intact and assured the
election of Latinos to seats formerly held by Anglos. The number of
Latinos in the state Senate grew from three to seven, and in the
congressional delegation from three to six. Latinos also began
winning in districts where they were not the majority, something
that had not happened before. The non-legislative 1991 plan did more
to expand minority representation in the Legislature than any
redistricting in history.
How have Latinos fared so far this decade under the map drawn by
legislators in 2001, which was another protect-the-incumbents plan?
In the Assembly, the number of Latino legislators is exactly where
it was eight years ago. The number of Latino state senators has
risen, from seven to 10, but that's not because of new districts
drawn in the reapportionment. Rather, several Latino Assembly
members elected under the 1991 plan have been able to move to the
upper chamber.
One additional Latino has joined the state's congressional
delegation, but there would have been two if redistricting hadn't
favored an incumbent. The Legislature's 2001 congressional map made
it tougher for a Latino to challenge Rep. Howard Berman (D-Valley
Village) in the primary by dispersing Latino voters into other
districts.
That is precisely the problem with allowing legislators to draw the
lines. Minorities that already have districts are taken care of, but
opportunities for additional gains (because of changes in the
population) are stunted because of the need to protect incumbents.
What would happen to minority representation if Proposition 11
passed and citizens drew the lines? Judging by history, the number
of minority-held seats would grow.
Tony Quinn is co-editor of the California Target Book, a
nonpartisan analysis of California legislative and congressional
elections.
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