Why Are G.O.P. Contributors Putting Big Money Into California Redistricting ‘Reform’ - A Love of ‘Fairness’?? [MORE]
Three leading civil rights organizations held a joint press conference yesterday to denounce the California Voters First Initiative, the Schwarzenegger-backed and Republican-funded redistricting proposal that is expected to appear on the November ballot

In what could mean legal tie-ups for years, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), National Association Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO) and William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI), expressed their opposition to the initiative.

"'Voters First' puts minority voters last. The initiative is a flawed strategy for achieving open and accountable redistricting in California. It fails to guarantee diversity, expertise or accountability within the commission it creates, and represents a step backwards for the political progress of California's minorities," stated Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of NALEO Educational Fund. "Its provisions will create barriers for public participation in the redistricting process and will jeopardize opportunities for Latinos to achieve full representation in the state," he added.

"The initiative is full of unrealistic goals, harmful rules, and complex systems that would impede competent redistricting by commissioners and limit involvement by members of the public -- minorities in particular -- and experienced line drawers alike," said William C. Velasquez Institute President Antonio Gonzalez. "While the California redistricting process is in dire need of reform, the initiative is a flawed ballot measure that contains numerous suspect provisions that taken in concert will potentially harm the state for the next 100 years."

"Over the past four decades, MALDEF has been involved in various statewide and local redistricting campaigns and has witnessed incumbent self-protection at the expense of the Latino community. We acknowledge the need for redistricting reform that guarantees the protections of the Voting Rights Act, a redistricting commission that reflects California's racial, ethnic and gender diversity and that ensures meaningful public participation. Unfortunately, the initiative does not guarantee these principles and we oppose it," said Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Counsel of MALDEF.

"Any proposal to reform redistricting in California must ensure that racial minorities have the ability to fully participate in every phase of the process and protect opportunities to elect candidates of their choice. This is crucial to our democracy. The structure and decision rules of the initiative raise questions about how this would play out," stated John Payton, LDF President and Director-Counsel. [MORE]