By Tes Welborn, HANC Board
Every ten years, the boundaries of San Francisco's Supervisor Districts are redrawn to ensure that each district maintains approximately equal numbers of residents. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the redistricting process.
Why does Redistricting Matter? Redistricting directly impacts communities' access and ability to voice their goals, ideals, and objectives. This process helps ensure that Communities of Interest are kept intact and with meaningful representation to access funding for schools, hospitals, parks, community resources and services.
Because of all the population growth and housing approved in Districts 6 and 10, they have to reduce in size, and most other districts have to grow and/or change shape. And D5 is right in the middle of all these changes!
The Redistricting Task Force [RDTF] has the ultimate authority to create a city-wide map and we have the opportunity to influence the result. Their map must be finished by April 15.
Calvin Welch and others have been working with San Francisco Rising to develop a Community Unity Map. Because the boundaries of any given district affect other districts, SF Rising has been working with dozens of community organizations to identify and address issues, seeking a map for the whole city that large numbers of people can support. San Francisco Rising builds the political power of working-class communities and communities of color in San Francisco to lead the way for democratic governance that prioritizes racial, economic and environmental justice.
At our March meeting, Calvin Welch will give you information about Redistricting and why it is important for you, friends and family, and community to participate in the process.
To participate in the Redistricting process, contact the RDTF, https://sf.gov/public-body/2020-census-redistricting-task-force, by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., also by Facebook and Twitter. Get the meeting schedule. Then call in to make your testimony about what should be in and what can be out of District 5 and neighboring districts.
The next meeting focused on D5 is currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, at 5:30pm. You can attend any RDTF meeting to speak about D5 boundaries vis a vis an adjacent district (see the schedule on the RDTF website])or to speak at the end of the meeting in public comment. Meetings have been lasting about four to five hours, and may go longer during the actual mapping process.
Please join us at HANC on Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 pm to learn more about redistricting. Details about how to join our online meeting are in the adjacent article.