This letter was submitted in consideration for the Dec. 2nd meeting of the County of San Diego Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). It is not related to the City of San Diego redistricting process, or the San Diego City Council District 6 race.
Dear Mr. Chair,
As redistricting deliberations continue [regarding proposed changes to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors district boundaries], we the undersigned residents of Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos would like to urge the County of San Diego Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to include Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos with the coastal area of our county, and not with rural East County. As neighborhoods, we have far more in common with neighboring communities like Carmel Valley and University City than with rural, inland communities like Julian and Jamul.
As two of the most populous communities in the northern tier of the City of San Diego, Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos are invariably defined by our proximity to the coast, and our long-term connection with the city itself, including jobs and economic centers, cultural opportunities and expression, and the diverse array of ethnicities and languages spoken among our neighbors and communities.
In our humble opinion, these factors demonstrate a clear relation and connection with a coastal-based supervisor district, along with the clear geographic matter of Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos being fully located along the west side of Interstate 15 – as considerable a dividing line as any between the influence of our county’s coastal and inland communities.
As the IRC considers various map iterations to satisfy criteria expressed in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and population needs identified in the most recent U.S. Census data, we ask that commissioners move forward with a map selection that keeps our communities included as part of a coastal supervisor district – not an inland one.
Furthermore, as active and engaged citizens involved in dozens of neighborhood organizations, we ask that you not only consider our request, but the long-term implications of an ill-advised shift to inland leadership for our communities. Our concerns are more than reasonable, logical, and equitable, as well as effective given the long-term historical precedent of our coastal-based representation with the County of San Diego.
Please let us know how we may further illuminate these points before the commission.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,
Tommy Hough, Mira Mesa
Octavio Aguilar, Rancho Peñasquitos
Jack and Lisa Canning, Mira Mesa
Lester and Jennifer Dronick, Mira Mesa
Kaanchan S. Farkiya, Mira Mesa
Greg Hoxsie, Mira Mesa
Ria Otero, Mira Mesa
Dr. Darshana Patel, Rancho Peñasquitos
Joan Raphael, Mira Mesa
Mike Sakasegawa, Mira Mesa
Mudita Tiwary, Rancho Peñasquitos
Dr. Elizabeth Yoe, Mira Mesa