Indian Americans in Fremont Say Redistricting Saps Power

The city of Fremont and the Indian American community there are strongly urging the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to reconsider its initial decision to split the city into two congressional districts under state redistricting.

In the commission’s first draft released June 10, the northern half of Fremont, along with Newark, Union City, Hayward and San Leandro, would remain in the district currently represented by Pete Stark, D-Fremont. The district would extend across eastern Alameda County, including the Tri-Valley area, to Interstate 205.

The southern half of Fremont would be grouped with Milpitas and much of eastern San Jose in a predominantly Santa Clara County district, currently represented by Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose.

Fremont City Council member Anu Natarajan told India-West that she and other city council members are protesting the remapping because Fremont under the new plan wouldn’t “have a (member of Congress) to call our own.”

In addition, the Indian American community in Fremont would be “diluted in terms of its power,” she added.

San Jose City Council member Ash Kalra agrees with Natarajan. “The Indian Americans (in Fremont) and the city is rightly concerned about a dilution of power,” he told India-West. “The population shifts of Latinos and Asians (in the South Bay) doesn’t make drawing district lines any easier,” he added.

"We’re the fourth-largest city in the Bay Area,” Fremont Councilman Bill Harrison was quoted as saying at a redistricting commission hearing in Sacramento June 7. “We want our congressperson's full attention.” Many members of the Indian American community in Fremont also testified at the June 7 hearing.

According to 2010 Census data, Fremont has 38,711 Indian Americans, about 18.08 percent of the city’s total population (I-W, May 20). Fremont is the only city in Alameda County split into two congressional districts.

Redistricting occurs every 10 years using updated population data from the U.S. Census.

To address charges of gerrymandered districts, a 14-member independent commission, composed of Democrats, Republicans and independents (I-W, May 20), was created by a 2008 voter-approved ballot measure that took the power to redraw state boundaries away from legislators. The mandate was expanded to include congressional districts in November.

After working for months, the commission has redrawn the lines for the state’s 53 Congressional districts, 40 state Senate districts, 80 Assembly districts and four Board of Equalization seats.

In general, redrawn districts have received positive comments in newspaper and media editorials, but some groups, in particular Latinos, who claim their voting power is being diluted, have threatened to file lawsuits blocking the new districts.

The commission is scheduled to release a second draft of district maps July 1. It must certify new districts by August 15.