San Francisco Redistricting Task Force Announces Second Round of Outreach Meetings

SAN FRANCISCO, California—The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force will be holding meetings in each of the Supervisorial districts to maximize public participation in the redistricting process.

The total population in San Francisco reported in the 2010 Census is 805,235. The Census data indicates that San Francisco’s population added 28,502 residents, a 3.7% increase, from the 2000 Census count of 776,733 people. The reported increase in population, however, was not uniform amongst the 11 supervisorial districts.

The nine-member body of the San Francisco Redistricting Task Force will determine how the supervisorial district lines should be redrawn so that the districts comply with the legal requirements established in federal, state and local law. The Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and the Elections Commission each appointed three members.

The Task Force urges the people of San Francisco to attend the meetings, provide input and submit proposed district maps in compliance with established criteria no later than March 29, 2012.

The Redistricting Task Force must present a final plan outlining the new supervisorial district lines to the Board of Supervisors no later than April 15, 2012.

The following community meetings are scheduled for January, February and March 2012.

January Schedule:

Wednesday              January 4 Regular Meeting      6pm         Room 406, City Hall

Monday                   January 9 Special Meeting                       6pm         District 11

Saturday  January 21               Special Meeting                       10am       District 6

Thursday January 26               Special Meeting                       6pm         District 10

February Schedule:

Wednesday              February 1               Special Meeting                       6pm         District 9

Monday                   February 6               Special Meeting                       6pm         District 2

Saturday  February 11             Special Meeting                       2pm         District 1

Friday                      February 17             Regular Meeting      3pm         Room 416, City Hall

Thursday February 23             Special Meeting                       6pm         District 3

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March Schedule:

Thursday March 1   Special Meeting                       6pm         District 8

Wednesday              March 7   Regular Meeting      6pm         Room 406, City Hall

Monday                   March 12 Special Meeting                       6pm         District 7

Saturday  March 17 Special Meeting                       10am       District 5

Thursday March 22 Special Meeting                       6pm         District 4

Thursday March 29 Regular Meeting      6pm         City Hall

The locations for the special meetings are still being determined. Information on the locations will be available at sfgov.org/rdtf.

What is Redistricting? It is the constitutionally mandated redrawing of local, state, and federal political boundaries every ten years following the U.S. census.  Redistricting is done to equalize the populations in the districts, using various criteria.

Who is the San Francisco Redistricting Task Force? The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force is charged with redistricting the boundaries for the Board of Supervisors. The Mayor (M), the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the Elections Commission (EC) each appointed three members. The nine members are:

Chair: Eric McDonnell (BoS)

Vice-Chair: Jenny Lam (BoS)

Mike Alonso (BoS)

Myong Leigh (M)

Sonia Melara (M)

Marily Mondejar (M)

David Pilpel (EC)

Mark Schreiber (EC)

Melissa Tidwell (EC)

More info: www.sfgov.org/rdtf

The criteria the San Francisco Redistricting Task Force will use for redistricting:

Equal Population (within 1%/5% as applicable)

Compliance with Sec.2 of the Voting Rights Act

Contiguity

Preserve recognized Neighborhoods

Preserve Communities of Interest

Compactness

Why should YOU participate in Redistricting?

Give your community a voice, which is critical to ensuring that it has equal access to the political process.

Participation can encourage citizens to register, vote, and remain politically engaged.

It can also help lead to the adoption of redistricting plans that provide communities a meaningful opportunity to elect candidates who represent their interests on issues that are important to their lives, from getting street lamps in their neighborhoods, to securing safe schools and new playgrounds.

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