Media Center

The Commission drew new district maps for our congressional delegation, State Senate, State Assembly, and Board of Equalization over the course of roughly 150 livestreamed meetings, including meetings dedicated to every region of the state and meetings held in a wide variety of languages.

“A healthy and vibrant press is key to holding government accountable and ensuring an informed electorate,” said Jonathan Mehta Stein, Executive Director of California Common Cause. “As local journalism continues to decline, misinformation, disinformation, and political polarization is on the rise. This initiative will allow us to get back to governing based on facts, and with a news industry that’s inclusive of every voice in our state.”

The lack of an independent redistricting commission has opened the door to political interference hindering the community-driven process and has allowed the Board of Supervisors to choose a map that serves the status quo and insulates the incumbency of those already in power.

Today, Common Cause announced Jessica Hernandez-Beltran, 28, of Mecca, California as the first-place winner of the 2021 Artivism Contest. The competition was designed by the Common Cause Student Action Alliance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Common Cause and the passage of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Today California Common Cause issued a letter to the Los Angeles City Council, urging leaders to create an independent redistricting commission. The letter highlights that the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission (LACCRC)’s members are appointed by city council offices and the final district maps will be approved by the City Council. This dynamic has led to extreme political interference, hindering the community-driven process the commission was created to foster.

Mehta Stein will be one of 26 commissioners bringing their expertise to California 100, a new statewide initiative on long-term planning and visioning for California’s future.