County Committee Recommends Plan that Keeps Altadena Intact

A for the five-seat County Board of Supervisors recommended a plan that would keep Altadena in the 5th District, which is represented by County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

The committee had some plans submitted that split Altadena into two districts or moved it into the First District.

Each supervisor appointed two people to the 10-member Boundary Review Committee, and the Board of Supervisors will ultimately decide whether to approve the plan.

The committee decided on a plan, called 'A1' that very closely replicates the current districts, a move that led to a badly split committee where six members supported it, and four voted against it.

The alternative plan called 'S1'was supported by the minority, and involved creating two districts with a Latino population of more than 50 percent.  The plan would have moved more than 3 million residents from their current district, and was opposed by numerous city officials in the South Bay district who would have had their district effectively divided into two neighboring districts.

The plan that was approved results in one district with 63 percent Latino population and the rest with fewer than 35 percent.  Several lawyers testifying on behalf of 'S1' proponents argued the plan that was passed could be a violation of federal Voting Rights Act, though the lawyer hired by the county disagreed.

Representatives of Districts 3, 4, and 5, voted for the plan that passed, and Districts 1 and 2, with strong Latino and African-American populations, voted for the 'S1' plan which would have likely resulted in more Latino representation on the Board of Supervisors.

Both plans can be viewed at right.  For more on the redistricting outcome, check the site tomorrow.