Local Leaders Make Final Plea to Keep Area Together
At the final redistricting public meeting, the commission hears from people all over the city.
Photos
Lisa Sarkin carried a 20-pound box of 107 emails to the Los Angeles City Hall to give the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission on the last chance she has to offer public comment.
“The people of Studio City have been trying to give their input and I don’t believe that your commission has seen this,” she said, giving stacks of 21 copies to each of the people charged with revising the city districts and presenting them to the City Council.
“This is a travesty, please fix it,” said Sarkin, the vice president of the Studio City Neighborhood Council.
In a recent draft of the district lines, all of Studio City was put in Council District 2. However, the latest draft, which lops Toluca Lake off and puts it back in Council District 4, also takes part of Studio City with it.
In fact, 98 percent of Studio City is in District 2, and 2 percent (an estimated 677 people) will be in District 4.
In their latest redesign, 29 of the 95 Neighborhood Councils are divided into two or more districts. Two districts (the Downtown and the Van Nuys Neighborhood Councils) are divided between three districts, like Studio City was for the past 10 years.
Of the 27 neighborhoods divided between two districts, only Studio City has as small a section as 2 percent left in another district. Some are more evenly divided, or split in half between districts.
Sarkin and others protested Toluca Lake’s claim that they want to be connected to another district, and wanted to fight against Universal Studios expansion.
“Universal is across the street from Studio City,” she said.
A group of local activists, including Judy Price, Irene DeBlasio, Miki Henderson, Lana Shackelford also attended the meeting downtown, which was also televised live. Bob Anderson of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, asked that Sherman Oaks remain in tact either in Council District 4 or 5.
Peter Hartz of the Toluca Lake Homeowner's Association and Steve Hampar of the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce were both in attendance last night and spoke during public comment in favor of the new CD 4.
Irene DeBlasio said, “Stop chipping away at us. Put us all whole in Council District 2.”
The commission must rework the borders to get it ready to submit to the City Council on March 1. The city council must pass it by July 1.
Also see:
* What Parts of Studio City Will Be Lost in the New District? [PHOTOs]
* Studio City to Be Split Up? Here's What You Can Do to Prevent It
* How Was Toluca Lake Able to Get What They Wanted at the Expense of Other Communities?
* Studio City to Be Split Up? Here's What You Can Do to Prevent It
* Toluca Lake Leader: The Community Wants to Stay in CD4 and Should
* Irene DeBlasio Writes 'Keep Studio City One!'
* New Redistricting Draft Map Puts Toluca Lake Back in CD4
* Why It Doesn't Make Sense for Toluca Lake to Leave the New District 2
* City Council Redistricting Plan Puts Neighborhood Groups at Odds
* Redistricting Commission to Discuss Potential Changes to Draft Map
Elke Heitmeyer
8:06 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Slight correction: Bob Anderson is a member of Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. We have been fighting valiantly to keep the small section of Sherman Oaks between Beverly Glen Blvd. and the 405 in the same district as the rest of Sherman Oaks. Like Studio City, Sherman Oaks should be kept whole in one district, to give us the strongest voice possible in city hall!
Mike Szymanski
9:30 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
He did mention SoHa a lot, of course, correction made!
Irene DeBlasio
9:01 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
It was a long and contentious afternoon, evening and night. So proud of all our Valley fighters. It gave me a great idea for starting a new business:
'Cartographers R US'
Mike Szymanski
9:35 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I only mentioned people who came up to me or whom I heard on the podium, or whom I recognized, so if you were there, please COMMENT! Were any Tolucans there?
Irene DeBlasio
9:44 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
At least two Tolucans spoke about how grateful they are to be in CD4. (Why shouldn't they be?)
Bob Peppermuller
11:04 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Dear Editor:
I want you to drop Toluca Lake off the mast head.
Since they don't want to be part of the rest of the SE Valley there is no sense having them on the mast head. Link them with Hollywood where they seem to feel more at home.
Craig Clough
12:10 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Ha, ha. Nice suggestion, Bob. But I will continue to cover the news of Toluca Lake whether they are in CD2, CD4, CD 12 or wherever. I do not believe the leaders arguing for Toluca Lake to stay in CD4 believe they are not part of the SE Valley, only that their interests in regard to action at the City Council level are better served in CD4. It is their right to want to simply stick with the leadership of the person they actually elected.