Editorials

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will hold its last redistricting public hearing next Tuesday, before adopting the final plan setting the county’s new boundaries. 

The hearing will take place at at 11 a.m. at the Board Chambers, on 1221 Oak St., Fifth Floor, Oakland. It will be the last opportunity for community members and organizations to give their input on the 20 redistricting alternatives submitted for review. 

Every 10 years, when the U.S. Census information is released, supervisors must draw new borders to equalize the population of each district in the county. The new demographic data shows that district Five, which includes Berkeley, must grow by about 30, 000 people. The district is likely to expand to the south, moving farther into Oakland. 

This year, supervisors intensified their effort to make the process as open and inclusive as possible. Since April, 14 public hearings were held and the county set up a web site designed to receive and diffuse public comments on the proposed redistricting plans. 

At Tuesday’s hearing, supervisors will select one of the existing alternatives or create a new one. The final redistricting plan must be adopted by August 15. 

For Additional information on the redistricting process visit the Alameda County web site at: http://www.co.alameda.ca.us and click on “Redistricting.”