2 Not Upset by Reapportionment Plan : Finn, Bernardi Council Districts Change

The reapportionment plan tentatively approved by the Los Angeles City Council this week changes council district lines slightly in the East San Fernando Valley, but no one seems to be complaining.

The plan takes most of Mission Hills out of Councilman Howard Finn’s 1st District in the northeast Valley and moves it into Councilman Ernani Bernardi’s 7th District in the mid-Valley. In exchange, Finn, who already represents most of Sun Valley, gets the rest of it and more of North Hollywood from Bernardi.

The change--the only one in the Valley--didn’t draw any complaints from either councilman because it doesn’t appear to affect their political fortunes. The reapportionment controversy has centered on a change that moves Michael Woo, the council’s only Asian, out of his Hollywood base of support into a heavily Latino district.

Split Neighborhoods

The East Valley changes were in response to a specific complaint made by the U.S. Justice Department lawsuit that accused the City Council of diluting Latino voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act. The lawsuit cited the splitting of heavily Latino neighborhoods in North Hollywood and Sun Valley between the 1st and 7th districts.

The new plan, said its author, Councilman Richard Alatorre, would place Finn in a 51% minority district (40% Latino, 8% black, and 3% Asian). The district is now 51% white. Although he disagrees in principle with the concept of redistricting based on ethnicity, Finn said he has “no problem” with the changes.

The plan must come back to the council for final approval next week. It then will go to Mayor Tom Bradley. It also must be approved by U.S. District Judge James M. Ideman.