REPRESENTATION County redistricting could move Hahn
by Mark McDermott
The County of Los Angeles is nearing the end of a new redistricting process that will redraw the maps of its five Supervisorial districts. A final decision will be made on December 15 by the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission. Options under consideration could mean that the Beach Cities would lose the representation of District 4 Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Manhattan Beach Councilperson Richard Montgomery said losing Hahn would be a blow.
“Supervisor Hahn is a South Bay native who knows our issues and concerns and was recently reelected to serve for more years,” Montgomery wrote in a public comment submitted to the commission. “Do not make a mistake that we residents will have to live with.”
The commission, known as the CRC, on Monday narrowed the new Supervisorial District maps under consideration from five to two. Draft Map B would more closely adhere to the current District 4, which has a northern border at Santa Monica’s northern edge and stretches south to include all of Long Beach. This map would also include Torrance and all of the South Bay, meaning Hahn would retain local representation.
Draft Map F would begin in San Pedro and then stretch east to Whittier, excluding the Beach Cities from Hahn’s representation. The Beach Cities would become part of District 3 Supervisor Sheila Kiehl’s representation.
Montgomery, in an interview, said that this change in representation is illogical and likely harmful to local interests.
“All of the Beach Cities would lose a South Bay native supervisor for a one-year lame-duck supervisor who has never been to our cities and has zero knowledge of our concerns or our communities?” Montgomery said.
“Another idiotic step made by those who do not live or work in our district.”
Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand also expressed opposition.
“It wouldn’t be good, because Janice has been such a great champion for us,” Brand said.
“She’s been a great supervisor for the South Bay and we are hoping to retain her. I hope the commission does feel change is necessary just for the sake of change.”
Among the issues Hahn has been actively involved with are attempts to rid Redondo Beach of the AES power plant ,and spearheading the effort to return the original Bruce’s Beach parcels in Manhattan Beach to the Bruce family. The Supervisors, who formerly oversaw their own redistricting, will retain the decision of when to implement the results of the redistricting.
Hahn said she would be inclined to enact the change as quickly as possible, rather than endure a defacto lame duck status in the current district. She expressed support for the creation of the CRC, but hoped to retain her district, which she has served since 2016.
“The voters wanted this process to be transparent and independent instead of having the politicians draw the lines, so that is what is happening right now,” Hahn said. “Dividing up the county into five districts, however, seems outdated. Maybe it is time to look at expanding the Board of Supervisors to seven or nine supervisors, which would give better representation to the County’s 10 million residents.”
The CRC will conduct a special meeting November 29 via Zoom and a public hearing on Dec. 1. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. and can be viewed at redistricting.lacounty.gov/virtual-meetings/. ER