Next Redistricting Workshop Scheduled for Wednesday

Local residents will get their second chance to participate in local redistricting efforts.

The second of seven redistricting workshops is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Rose Bowl Locker Room, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive.

The first meeting of the city’s Redistricting Task Force was held last week in District 2. 

Local residents will learn the history of redistricting in Pasadena and receive a review of the current laws that govern the process, an overview of the timeline to complete redistricting, an explanation of communities of interest, and a demonstration of mapping tools the public can utilize to define communities of interest and eventually submit redistricting plans for the task force to consider.

Following every 10-year census count, the city utilizes that information to examine the people residing in existing City Council district boundaries to account for changes in population.

In 2012, the City Council voted 6-1 to shift the districts slightly, resulting in the exchange of about 1,392 people from one district to another.

The biggest impact of redistricting occurred almost 30 years ago, when the council created a new district — which is now District 5 — in the hopes of creating more opportunities for growing numbers of Latino residents to participate in the political process.

The creation of the new district eventually led to Mayor Victor Gordo’s election. Gordo served as field representative for Bill Crowfoot, the first District 5 representative and won the seat after Crowfoot retired. 

The process ensures the proper balance of populations between all districts. With completion of the 2020 Census, the council formed the task force to review changes in populations and demographics in the city, and recommend a redistricting plan.

One meeting will be held in each of the city’s seven City Council districts to ensure the process comes to every corner of the community, with residents highly encouraged to participate.

The meeting will provide local residents with a chance to learn about redistricting and provide feedback on how shifts in population might affect the borders of the seven City Council districts. 

“The redistricting process takes place every 10 years in Pasadena. As part of this current cycle, there are new rules in place set forth by the state of California, and we want to ensure the public is properly informed and engaged,” said Vince Farhat, chair of the city’s Redistricting Task Force. 

“A primary emphasis of the task force is on public input, transparency and education. District elections affect how we elect our representatives on the City Council, so the process is foundational to representative democracy. It is an important effort and a unique civic engagement experience,” Farhat said.

Additionally, each workshop will be available via Zoom, so residents will have a choice to attend in-person or participate online. Each workshop is open to all residents, providing options to choose a date and location that is most convenient.

Details about the schedule of upcoming workshops can be found on the city’s website cityofpasadena.net/redistricting.