LA County opens redistricting to public comment

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More than five hundred people gathered in downtown Los Angeles to support or oppose proposals that would make significant changes to district voting lines.

One of the proposals called A-3 would not make significant changes to the district lines.

Mayor Josue Narrios believes that the proposal ignores the law and demographic shifts.

"The purpose of redistricting is to address the demographic shifts in our community. It's not a matter of whether we like our supervisor or not, it's a matter of law. Ignoring the law is a crime, pretending the law does not exist does not make the law go away. Our state legislator has accepted it, our congressional districts have gone through it -- my question is why does the majority in the LA Board of Supervisors choose to ignore what we have to do. The A-3 plan does not address redistricting.

The second proposal would establish a second Latino district in Los Angeles. Lakewood Vice Mayor Diane Dubois is concerned about race being a primary factor for representation.

"I guess I have to ask a question because there has been this assumption that Latinos must represent Latinos. I want to know if I lived in your district, Supervisor Molena, would you not represent me because I'm not a Latino? That's what's implied."

The Board of Supervisors is expected to reach a decision by Friday.

Reporting by Ellen Kaster & Alex Norwick.