Gilroy's City Council is progressing towards district-based elections by narrowing down to two potential district maps, following legal threats under the California Voting Rights Act. Mayor Greg Bozzo emphasized the importance of public engagement in this process. With a deadline of May 27 to finalize the districts, the city aims to unify the predominantly Latino East Side, a major topic of discussion fueled by community organization CARAS. The council's decision reflects a response to public sentiment and concerns about representation, especially in light of potential costly legal repercussions.
No city has won a lawsuit against districting under the state election law, and some, including Santa Clara, have had to pay out millions in legal fees after attempting to fight it.
Connecting the East Side has been the central point of contention and the subject of widespread public comment over several months.
The maps represent two conceptions of Gilroy and two responses to the calls to keep the more Latino East Side of the city together.
We want to hear from you. We want to talk to you.
Collection
[
|
...
]