Ex-downtown councilmember lambasts "Unity" redistricting plan as discriminatory, unwieldy
David Pandori, former central San Jose councilmember, recently wrote a letter to the SJ City Council daylighting the divisive and unworkable nature of the labor-backed gerrymander proposal for San Jose. The full text of Pandori's letter follows.
Mayor and Councilmembers:
Like most things that are false and fraudulent, the self-proclaimed “Unity” map attempts to cover-up what it actually is – divisive and discriminatory.
The “Unity” map divides historic downtown neighborhoods, interconnected downtown streets and splits the downtown business district. It dilutes downtown neighborhood voices by stripping them away from fellow downtown neighborhoods and combining them with neighborhoods outside the downtown that share different interests and concerns.
The “Unity” map splits neighborhoods so that it can achieve apparent discriminatory purposes. The map targets the removal of the Hyde Park, Vendome, Rosemary Gardens and Downtown Core neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods share a common demographic -- they have higher "Other" populations compared to other downtown neighborhoods that were not targeted. Removing downtown neighborhoods from the downtown district because of the racial composition of the neighborhood undermines the fundamental rights of all San Jose residents and the integrity of city government. No neighborhood should be targeted for different treatment because of race. The downtown council district has a long and continuous history of being a diverse district and has had diverse representation on the city council and city commissions.
Removing these neighborhoods was unnecessary for equalizing the overall population among the proposed council districts. In fact, targeting these neighborhoods has had the opposite effect. The removal of these neighborhoods contributed to District 3 being the least populated of the 10 council districts. This fact further demonstrates the apparent discriminatory purpose of the "Unity" map.
District elections were approved by San Jose voters in 1978 with the purpose of ensuring that all neighborhoods in San Jose were represented. Prior to district elections, political representation tended to be dominated by the highest voter turnout areas in San Jose, particularly the Willow Glen area. Since the advent of district elections, all neighborhoods have an elected representative on the council and the city council has become more diverse both geographically and racially.
The Unity Map turns back the clock on the progress achieved by district elections by targeting four downtown neighborhoods for removal and diluting them with neighborhoods in Willow Glen. These neighborhoods have historically had unequal political voices. Moreover, they have different interests and needs. And in those instances where there is a common regional interest, such as airport environmental impacts, downtown neighbors will now have a diminished voice with only one councilmember who has a substantial interest in advocating for them.
Day to day quality of life concerns will become more complicated to address with the Unity map. Common downtown public safety issues will now required the involvement of two councilmembers. Dealing with traffic issues on downtown streets will be more inefficient and confusing, with two councilmembers now involved with ongoing traffic issues on downtown’s street grid with neither councilmember responsible for the entire problem or solution. Development politics will also involve two councilmembers – one on one side of First Street and another one on the other side of First Street with more confusing boundaries in the downtown business district.
I have been a downtown resident for almost 40 years. I have gotten to know the diverse neighborhood within the district as a resident, a former councilmember and a deputy district attorney who has prosecuted criminal cases in San Jose. I have come to learn about the common challenges downtown neighborhoods face. More than any other district of San Jose, downtown neighborhoods share interconnected challenges affecting the quality of life. The Unity Map draws a line that divides and dilutes these neighborhoods.
Ironically, support for the “Unity” map itself has been divisive. It received a bare majority vote to pass it along to the city council only because of the powerful political interests that backed it. Yet something as important as the political boundaries that will impact the voices of neighborhood residents for the next decade should not rest on such a divisive vote. This controversial map should not have been passed forward to the city council for consideration.
Please reject the divisive and discriminatory “Unity” map and honor the spirit, goals and achievements established with the approval of district elections.
Thank you.
David Pandori
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