As many in the community are aware, the city council districts for San Diego are in the process of being realigned. This is a process that happens every 10 years after the US Census.
However, this time around voters approved the expansion of the council from eight members to nine. Thus, not only will city council districts be adjusted to reflect the population changes of the census but also to accommodate an additional district.
Currently Tierrasanta is in a district that, roughly, includes the communities of Navajo, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Grantville, SDSU, Rolando, College area and other areas south of the Interstate 8 but east of Interstate 15.
Based on the criteria that the Redistricting Commission is required to follow and the fact that the census and the inclusion of a new district will require substantial realignment of city council districts, the Tierrasanta Community Council (the TCC) undertook to analyze Tierrasanta’s likely realignment based on the criteria the Redistricting Commission is required to follow. It should be noted that the analysis was undertaken by members of the TCC without outside professional support as the TCC is a voluntary community organization and does not have funds to hire outside professionals.
After analyzing the dynamics presented by the Commission, the TCC determined that the most logical district for Tierrasanta, roughly, was one encompassing Tierrasanta, Serra Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Claremont Mesa.
At its last monthly meeting on April 20, 2011, the Directors of the TCC approved the analysis by a 14-to-one vote and moved to present its analysis to the Redistricting Commission at the meeting of the Redistricting Commission at the Tierrasanta Recreational Center on April 27, 2011.
For more detail regarding this analysis, please see the TCC website.
At the meeting of the Redistricting Commission, a number of speakers from Tierrasanta and surrounding areas spoke in favor of a district which would encompass Tierrasanta and other communities bounded by I-8 to the south, I-15 to the west, Ted Williams Parkway to the north and the city limits of San Diego to the east.
An agenda item has been introduced for the next meeting of the TCC on May 18, 2011, asking the TCC to consider a resolution that while the TCC continues to support its analysis as presented to the Redistricting Commission as the most logical and likely of success pursuant to the guidelines mandated for the Redistricting Commission, the TCC is not opposed to a district which would encompass Tierrasanta and other communities bounded by I-8 to the south, I-15 to the west, Ted Williams Parkway to the north and the city limits of San Diego to the east if adopted by the Redistricting Commission.
As always, all members of the Tierrasanta community are welcomed and encouraged to attend the next meeting of the TCC to voice their views.
Scott L. Hasson is president of the Tierrasanta Community and Town Council.