• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Friday, March 31, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Letter to the Editor: No Need to Rush to Districting

by Dana Point Times
March 29, 2018 5:24PM
in EYE ON DP, News Headlines
Letter: Mayor, City Manager Incorrect About Strand Beach
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY: To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@danapointtimes.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

JULIAN JOSHUA, Dana Point

With the majority bloc on the Council seemingly determined to move with haste to five districts, we are not getting enough information to inform the most important and momentous decision in city governance since incorporation. Only Councilwoman Lewis thought fit to hold open information forums and was publicly scolded by Councilman Tomlinson for her pains.

Recent developments in the ongoing California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) case involving our sister city Mission Viejo make it all the more important to put the brakes on this ill-considered rush over the cliff.  Mission Viejo received their letter in September but did not roll over. They proposed “other remedies” to enhance the voting influence of their minority community. Until now they were not sued. It seems the plaintiff’s lawyer has now issued a lawsuit, but reading between the lines this looks more like a way to bring any “other remedies” settlement that is in the pipeline before a judge. This would be the only way to give it validity under the CVRA. The facts are not yet clear, but it would be folly for Dana Point to move to districting before we even know what is happening in Mission Viejo.

Receiving a letter does not mandate an immediate move to districts. It merely starts a process.  One option involving fairly tight deadlines provides a ‘safe harbor’ if a City decides to change to districting, but there are other possible outcomes short of fighting. Curiously, the Council has ignored the “step-by-step” defense strategy advocated by its own demographer starting with a risk assessment under the CVRA.

Contrary to what we have been told, the City is not required to prove voting is not racially polarized. The CVRA test of what constitutes “racially polarized voting” is indeed much lower than the federal standard, but as the plaintiffs’ lawyer himself concedes, Elec. Code S. 14028 (a) requires him to “show” racially-polarized voting in order to make out a CVRA violation. A conclusory assertion unsupported by evidence is not good enough.

Racially polarized voting under the CVRA is when the protected minority class votes differently from the rest of the electorate. Surely before we roll over, it makes sense to see whether that is indeed the case in Dana Point. Whatever the finding, the analysis would be a useful tool to inform any negotiations with the plaintiffs. Such a demographic study would cost in the region of $15 to $20,000 – which many would consider money well spent.

Even if a violation is shown, it’s hard to believe a judge would force the City into creating five districts when far from helping minorities, it might actually dilute their political influence. This is why the CVRA mandates the court to craft other “remedies appropriate to the violation” where districting will not help the protected class to increase its voting influence. This is exactly what Mission Viejo has consistently argued.

The City has been pushing us toward five districts now. Even if we do ultimately have to district, what’s the rush? Let’s get it right. And why no mention until a few days ago of the “four districts plus mayor at large” model? Ironically, while Palmdale (massive litigation, $4.5 million legal bills and having to district anyway) was continuously rolled out as a horror story of what will happen if we don’t go to five districts immediately, the City did not see fit to mention that Palmdale had settled for four districts and an at-large mayor.

Before we even start pouring over maps, the Council needs to do four things immediately: coordinate with Mission Viejo and other similarly placed cities to develop a joint strategy; commission the detailed demographic study its own demographer recommends as SOP; start good faith discussions with the lawyer (and his unidentified clients); hold a special open forum with the entire Council and allow full and open discussion with the community.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Capistrano BeachDana PointDana Point letters to the editordistrictDistrict VotingLetters to the Editorvote
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Doheny Crazed

Surfing & Shenanigans: ‘Doheny Crazed’ Shares Stories of the Golden Age of Surfing

March 31, 2023
Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

March 31, 2023
Groms of the Week: Eden and Zion Walla

Surfrider Goes to Washington

March 31, 2023
Groms of the Week: Eden and Zion Walla

Groms of the Week: Eden and Zion Walla

March 31, 2023
Next Post
Business Beat: Club Pilates Dana Point

Business Beat: Club Pilates Dana Point

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Fundraiser
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.