Pleasant Hill, California – Kevin Shenkman of the law firm Shenkman and Hughes has issued a notice of an impending lawsuit against the City of Pleasant Hill if they do not move to by-district elections.
The Pleasant Hill Community Alliance, a community group composed of residents and California Voting Rights advocates have been working tirelessly to ensure that the city’s district maps are drawn in a fair and equitable manner that accurately reflects the communities of interest within the city. However, their efforts have been met with resistance from the City Council, who have refused to take into account the input of residents and instead have instructed a demographer to create two maps that appear to be based only on councilmember input.
The draft maps look to protect incumbency, with jagged lines drawn around councilmembers’ homes and the homes of candidates from the 2022 City Council election. In addition, it appears that Councilmembers have instructed the demographer to diminish minority votes in East Pleasant Hill by creating only one minority majority coalition, when there could be two. The minority coalitions in Pleasant Hill which are largely composed of Asian, Latine, and mixed race residents.
The Pleasant Hill Community Alliance is deeply concerned about the City Council’s actions and the potential harm that could be done to the democratic process if these maps are adopted. They have called on the City Council to reconsider their approach and to work with the community to create district maps that accurately reflect the interests of all residents.
“We cannot stand by and allow the City Council to ignore the voices of the community and create district maps that are designed to protect their own interests,” said a spokesperson for the Pleasant Hill Community Alliance. “We will take all necessary action to ensure that the democratic process is upheld and that the voices of all residents are heard.”
The Pleasant Hill Community Alliance is urging residents to attend the next City Council meetings on May 1 at 7pm and May 6 at 2pm to voice their concerns about the proposed district maps. They are also calling on the City Council to work with the community to create district maps that accurately reflect the diversity of Pleasant Hill.
For more information, please contact the Pleasant Hill Community Alliance at [email protected].
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