The Redistricting Commission considered amendments to the draft map boundaries at the regular meeting on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

After more than nine hours, during which the commissioners heard public comment and considered almost 80 amendments, Grace Yoo entered the following Closing Public Comment:

Commissioners: You certainly showed your commitment, diligence and endurance this evening having spent nearly 9 hours plowing through 80 adjustments.

Unfortunately, I can’t help but be cynical as to tonight’s true intentions and motive. I can’t help but question why the technical map drawing in real-time was not provided. Was it to keep the commissioners actions and all their ripple effects hidden so they didn’t know what they were agreeing to so that any conflict can be resolved by only a few people instead of the full commission?

The lack of transparency in this entire process has been disheartening. And tonight’s action of not providing real-time map changes with population adjustments visible for everyone to see and understand and make informed decisions is not surprising as informed decisions are not welcome. Decisions made in a vacuum on the other hand are welcome because it creates opportunities for issues to arise that will be settled by less than the full commission.

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