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Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918
PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2011
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR EXPRESSES CONCERN REGARDING FIRST DRAFT REDISTRICTING MAPS
LOS ANGELES, CA---The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region's (ANCA-WR) Elections Committee's 2011 Redistricting Task Force
expressed grave concern today regarding the first draft of legislative
district boundaries proposed by the Community Redistricting Commission
(CRC). The maps were released earlier today and can be viewed online
at http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/maps-first-drafts.html.
The CRC is the body responsible for drawing the new districts. It
released its first draft district maps today based on feedback it
received through public hearings and written testimony.
"We are disgusted with the first draft of the CRC's maps," said Garen
Yegparian who leads the ANCA-WR task force. "The core of our community
in the North Hollywood-Crescenta Valley-Glendale-Burbank-Hollywood
area has been unacceptably splintered among State Assembly, State
Senate, and Congressional Districts."
Yegparian also expressed concern with some of district lines which
split the Armenian communities in the greater Montebello area as well
as in Orange County. However, he noted, only a couple of the proposed
districts respected the testimony provided by the community in the
greater Los Angeles area.
California is home to the largest Armenian community in the United
States. The ANCA-WR task force has been working with local ANCAs
throughout the state to help raise awareness of the redistricting
process and how it impacts the Armenian community in California. Over
the past two months, Armenian Americans have attended public hearings
to educate public officials regarding the dynamics of the community.
"These preliminary maps demonstrate that we need to be more vocal in
educating the CRC about our community dynamics," remarked Yegparian.
"These are not the final maps. We can only change things for the
better through increased Armenian community participation in the
process."
Every 10 years, the State of California redraws its federal and state
legislative district boundaries to more accurately reflect the state's
residents' demographics and overall dynamics.
This year, the process is being led by a 14-member commission, the
CRC, as established by the Voters FIRST Act which was voted into law
by Californians in 2008. Previously, the State Legislature was
responsible for redistricting.
The CRC is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats, and 4 not
affiliated with either of those two parties but registered with
another party or as decline-to-state. The CRC must draw the district
lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create
districts of equal population that will provide fair representation
for all Californians.
The CRC must hold public hearings and accept public comment. After
hearing from the public and drawing the maps for the 80 State Assembly
districts, 40 State Senate districts, House of Representatives
districts, and four Board of Equalization districts, the CRC must vote
on the new maps to be used for the next decade.
To approve the new maps, the maps must receive nine `yes' votes from
the Commission - three `yes' votes from members registered with each of
the two largest parties, and three `yes' votes from the other members.
For more information about the CRC, how its work impacts the Armenian
community or how someone can get involved in the process, individuals
can contact the ANCA-WR at [email protected].
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, locals, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918
PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2011
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR EXPRESSES CONCERN REGARDING FIRST DRAFT REDISTRICTING MAPS
LOS ANGELES, CA---The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region's (ANCA-WR) Elections Committee's 2011 Redistricting Task Force
expressed grave concern today regarding the first draft of legislative
district boundaries proposed by the Community Redistricting Commission
(CRC). The maps were released earlier today and can be viewed online
at http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/maps-first-drafts.html.
The CRC is the body responsible for drawing the new districts. It
released its first draft district maps today based on feedback it
received through public hearings and written testimony.
"We are disgusted with the first draft of the CRC's maps," said Garen
Yegparian who leads the ANCA-WR task force. "The core of our community
in the North Hollywood-Crescenta Valley-Glendale-Burbank-Hollywood
area has been unacceptably splintered among State Assembly, State
Senate, and Congressional Districts."
Yegparian also expressed concern with some of district lines which
split the Armenian communities in the greater Montebello area as well
as in Orange County. However, he noted, only a couple of the proposed
districts respected the testimony provided by the community in the
greater Los Angeles area.
California is home to the largest Armenian community in the United
States. The ANCA-WR task force has been working with local ANCAs
throughout the state to help raise awareness of the redistricting
process and how it impacts the Armenian community in California. Over
the past two months, Armenian Americans have attended public hearings
to educate public officials regarding the dynamics of the community.
"These preliminary maps demonstrate that we need to be more vocal in
educating the CRC about our community dynamics," remarked Yegparian.
"These are not the final maps. We can only change things for the
better through increased Armenian community participation in the
process."
Every 10 years, the State of California redraws its federal and state
legislative district boundaries to more accurately reflect the state's
residents' demographics and overall dynamics.
This year, the process is being led by a 14-member commission, the
CRC, as established by the Voters FIRST Act which was voted into law
by Californians in 2008. Previously, the State Legislature was
responsible for redistricting.
The CRC is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats, and 4 not
affiliated with either of those two parties but registered with
another party or as decline-to-state. The CRC must draw the district
lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create
districts of equal population that will provide fair representation
for all Californians.
The CRC must hold public hearings and accept public comment. After
hearing from the public and drawing the maps for the 80 State Assembly
districts, 40 State Senate districts, House of Representatives
districts, and four Board of Equalization districts, the CRC must vote
on the new maps to be used for the next decade.
To approve the new maps, the maps must receive nine `yes' votes from
the Commission - three `yes' votes from members registered with each of
the two largest parties, and three `yes' votes from the other members.
For more information about the CRC, how its work impacts the Armenian
community or how someone can get involved in the process, individuals
can contact the ANCA-WR at [email protected].
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, locals, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.