Redistricting shenanigans on grand display

There is a redistricting coup taking place inside local government by and for the agricultural community. In their fight for the Tuscan Water District, the aggies have plotted to strip urban Chico of fair voter representation by combining a large portion of North Chico neighborhoods with an ag district. Our three conservative male Supes are about to oblige them by proxy.

On November 9th, Supervisor Teeter introduced Map #69836 after Map A5 and three other legal and suitable maps, presented by the county’s paid consultants, were “disliked” by he, Kimmelshue and Connelly. Less than 30 seconds after appearing on the overhead projector, all three stated they “liked” Map #69836, never asking for a closer look to see any details. How did they know they liked it without any discussion or seeing the details? It simply doesn’t hold up to the smell test.

Teeter’s map splits Cohasset from Forest Ranch, divides Chico into 4 districts, Oroville into 3. This map doesn’t pass the mustard of the Voting Rights Act nor the Fair Maps Act. And it is contrary to the stated goals on the Butte County Redistricting page: Respect geographic integrity of neighborhoods and communities with minimal division; Draw lines that encourage geographic compactness.

Thankfully, our Chico Supervisors spoke up and Map A6 will be considered at your next meeting. Map A6 is the result of a transparent process including public input and discussion and it reflects the various aspects of what redistricting and representation is supposed to look like.

— Pam Stoesser, Chico