Press Release

Press Release

Coalition Of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Redistricting (CAPAFR)

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
September 10, 2001

CONTACT:
Kathay Feng
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
(213) 977-7500, ext. 212

CAPAFR Protests Gerrymandering That Cuts Asian Pacific Islander Communities Out of Political Future

LOS ANGELES – Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Redistricting (CAPAFR) has mounted a year long campaign to ensure that Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities are represented in the 2001 Redistricting process. The statewide coalition – with leaders from Sacramento, San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego – represents an unprecedented effort to unite these communities behind a common cause. CAPAFR aims to ensure that API communities are not divided by district lines and are placed into districts that share common interests.

Stated Kathay Feng, Esq., Project Director of Asian Pacific American Legal Center, “The most recent version of Assembly’s proposed redistricting maps released on September 10, 2001, represent a step backward for several communities. Specifically, the new configuration of Assembly District 23 dilutes the API population by ejecting both Evergreen (into the 28^th AD) and Berryessa (into the 24^th AD).”

She continued, “In Southern California, Los Angeles’ Koreatown community has been sliced into three different Assembly Districts, 46, 47, and 48. Where the original proposal tried to keep most of this important residential and business district together in the 46^th, the September 9^th Plan devastates the community. What this comes down to is whether our elected leadership is more responsive to local community concerns or the political aspirations of a few.”

To see the map, visit: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=7

CAPAFR and APALC will be organizing the community in a final important effort to ensure that the final plan voted on by the state legislature reflects the gains made for the API community.

Press Conference:
September 10, 2001, 3:30 pm.
300 S. Spring Street, Spring Street entrance.

The Assembly is led by Speaker Robert Hertzberg, who will be in the final decision making group that will present a final map to the legislature for vote. Speaker Hertzberg’s telephone number is: (916) 391-2040. The community looks to his leadership to ensure our voting rights are respected.

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