Redistricting Donations
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Donations of any amount are appreciated for the Redistricting Legal Fund*. Any and all amounts will be accepted and donors will be listed in alphabetical order.
*Although Akin Gump and Bird Marella are providing pro bono legal services, incurred costs such as experts' fees and depositions are not. |
To donate to the Redistricting Legal Fund, please click on the "Donate" button below.
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All donations are tax-deductible and donors who give $25 or more will receive a donation receipt letter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact info@kacla.org or call (213) 365-5999.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact info@kacla.org or call (213) 365-5999.
Redistricting Recap (For redistricting media coverage, click here)
Redistricting is conducted once every ten years after the census and district lines are redrawn to reflect the changes in the population. In California, hearings are held throughout the state and KAC spoke at various public hearings to the State Redistricting Commission to ensure that Koreatown was kept in a single district on all levels to keep the special language needs and interests of the Koreatown residents intact.
Thanks to assistance from the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Redistricting (CAPAFR) and KAC’s active participation in the State Redistricting process, Koreatown was kept whole in five State Assembly districts, two State Senate districts, and two Federal House of Representatives districts, respectively. Los Angeles County kept Koreatown whole after the 2000 redistricting process and fortunately, Koreatown remained in a single County Supervisorial District after the 2011 redistricting process.
Thanks to assistance from the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Redistricting (CAPAFR) and KAC’s active participation in the State Redistricting process, Koreatown was kept whole in five State Assembly districts, two State Senate districts, and two Federal House of Representatives districts, respectively. Los Angeles County kept Koreatown whole after the 2000 redistricting process and fortunately, Koreatown remained in a single County Supervisorial District after the 2011 redistricting process.
Photo courtesy of Korea Times
The Korean American community benefited from being kept whole pursuant to the LAPD Olympic Station boundaries for the Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly and County districts. However, the Los Angeles City Redistricting Commission was riddled with highly irregular actions, starting with a lack of transparency during the redistricting process.
By splitting Koreatown into two districts, the City denied the Koreatown community the ability to vote collectively for a single City Council representative who would represent the community’s unique interests. The community still lacks many things, including public green space, government-funded senior centers, low income housing and road maintenance.
Five Koreatown residents sued the City of Los Angeles after thousands of requests to put Koreatown into one district were ignored. Two prestigious law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow P.C. represent the Koreatown plaintiffs. A second lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs in City Council Districts 8, 9, and 10.
The City Redistricting issue is far from over and the litigation is likely to last several years. KAC will ensure that the Korean American voice is not ignored and will continue to monitor the progress for the redistricting lawsuits.
By splitting Koreatown into two districts, the City denied the Koreatown community the ability to vote collectively for a single City Council representative who would represent the community’s unique interests. The community still lacks many things, including public green space, government-funded senior centers, low income housing and road maintenance.
Five Koreatown residents sued the City of Los Angeles after thousands of requests to put Koreatown into one district were ignored. Two prestigious law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow P.C. represent the Koreatown plaintiffs. A second lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs in City Council Districts 8, 9, and 10.
The City Redistricting issue is far from over and the litigation is likely to last several years. KAC will ensure that the Korean American voice is not ignored and will continue to monitor the progress for the redistricting lawsuits.
Redistricting Lawsuit Updates
October 2014: A decision made by a federal court rejected the lines drawn for a congressional district in Virginia because the lines had been drawn by "improperly packing African-Americans into a black-majority district to make adjacent districts safer for Republican incumbents."
This case's fact pattern are very similar to the Koreatown redistricting lawsuit facts and a Request for Judicial Notice, highlighting these facts, was submitted to the Judge on October 8, 2014.
This case's fact pattern are very similar to the Koreatown redistricting lawsuit facts and a Request for Judicial Notice, highlighting these facts, was submitted to the Judge on October 8, 2014.
On February 24, 2015, Judge Consuelo Marshall of the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued an opinion granting the City’s motion for summary judgment and dismissing the action. However, Judge Marshall left open the option for the plaintiffs to re-file certain claims in state court.
KAC is deeply disappointed with Judge Marshall's decision, given the uniquely strong evidence in this case that the City re-drew city council district lines based predominantly based on race. Given that evidence, we believe Judge Marshall should have allowed plaintiffs an opportunity to present their case at trial and required the City to explain its actions at that trial. The plaintiffs are presently conferring with their lawyers regarding next steps, including the possibility of an appeal.
KAC has continued to cover redistricting in Los Angeles as the lawsuit filed by 5 residents against the City of Los Angeles kicks back into gear. Both Korean and English media outlets have covered Koreatown's struggle to be unified and represented in one City Council district.
KAC is deeply disappointed with Judge Marshall's decision, given the uniquely strong evidence in this case that the City re-drew city council district lines based predominantly based on race. Given that evidence, we believe Judge Marshall should have allowed plaintiffs an opportunity to present their case at trial and required the City to explain its actions at that trial. The plaintiffs are presently conferring with their lawyers regarding next steps, including the possibility of an appeal.
KAC has continued to cover redistricting in Los Angeles as the lawsuit filed by 5 residents against the City of Los Angeles kicks back into gear. Both Korean and English media outlets have covered Koreatown's struggle to be unified and represented in one City Council district.
To keep up with the latest redistricting news, visit www.whokilledkoreatown.com