The Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success held its first Undoc Summit aimed to provide resources and support for undocumented community members throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County.
Housing and Development Newsletter
Racial equity and diversity are a focus of modern politics. Yet, too often, the second that prioritizing racial representation undermines a political agenda, it becomes irrelevant.
The Santa Barbara County Redistricting Commission is guilty of such behavior. As the commission deliberates the best way to fill the recent vacancy created by the resignation of James Hudley, commissioners such as Jannet Rios, who originally prioritized racial representation in commissioner selection, have suddenly flipped to prioritizing political affiliation over representation of the diverse racial makeup of Santa Barbara County.
The independent commission is considering forgoing willing and qualified applicants in District 3 like Lupe Alvarez, who would bring another Latino voice to the redistricting process, in pursuit of a member affiliated with the Democratic Party.
By Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk Managing Editor | @magnoli
March 11, 2021
| 3:33 p.m.
The 11-member redistricting commission was created by a voter-approved ballot measure and is tasked with drawing new boundaries for the five county supervisor districts.
Four firms initially submitted proposals to be the commission’s legal counsel, and members interviewed three of those firms in early February: Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP; Scott Rafferty; and Strumwasser & Woocher LLP.
Commission members voted to hire Strumwasser & Woocher, and the majority of the Board of Supervisors voted to approve the $200,000 contract after discussion.
Attorney Mark Meuser representing The Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business sent a letter to the county threatening litigation if the Strumwasser & Woocher contract was approved.
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By Kasey Bubnash
The 11 members of Santa Barbara County’s Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission have officially been chosen, and although the commission isn’t perfectly representative of the population that inhabits this county, it’s more diverse than when the selection process started.
FIRST FIVE
Laura Katz, William McClintock, Norman Bradley, Cary Gray, and Glenn Morris (left to right) were the first five members of the Santa Barbara County Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission.
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
At a meeting on Dec. 14, the first five commissioners, who were randomly selected for their positions in October through a lottery system, announced the applicants chosen to fill the commission’s six remaining seats, the conclusion of a months-long and controversial selection process.