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From:S. D. Somavia
To:All Council Members
Cc:Districting
Subject:EXTERNAL - 6th Public Hearing on Districiting Maps (Agenda Item 8.2.)
Date:Friday, May 16, 2025 12:39:23 PM
RE: Selection of Districting Maps (Monday, May 19 Regular City Council Meeting, Agenda
Item 8.2)
Mayor and City Council Members:
Bottom Line Up Front: I encourage you to adopt Map D - JH05 Modified.
Rationale:
Both maps D & F meet CA's Fair Maps Act requirements
Relatively equal in population size
Contiguous
Easily identifiable and understandable lines, following city, natural, and man-
made boundaries
Compact
The final and key factor leading to my recommendation is to preserve and
protect Communities of Interest, which were collected, documented by Redistricting
Partners and published on the City's Districting website. The "Communities of Interest -
Citywide" section (Ref. ID 290886, 3/21/2025) contains specific characteristics and
details that I feel are of significance. While neither map D nor F mirror the citywide
communities of interest map entirely, it is my assessment that Map D best preserves
those defined communities of interest without risking vote dilution particularly as it
relates to Gilroy's east side (Ref. Map D, District 4 | Map F, Districts 6 & 4).
Thank you for your consideration.
Kind regards,
Shayne Somavia
Gilroy Resident