We demand the gerrymandered Senate redistricting map proposed for Senate District 7 NOT be ratified. 

The redistricting plan moves San Leandro and abutting unincorporated communities (Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Hayward Acres, and San Lorenzo) - all communities comprised of a vast majority communities of color - out of their historical California Senate voting districts to a majority White Senate District dominated by Walnut Creek and Orinda in Contra Costa County. The proposed Senate District 7 map has been gerrymandered to dilute the votes cast by people of color by ripping apart our county and communities, placing our majority people of color voters into a larger district with non-contiguous communities dominated by White voters with whom we are not a shared community of interest. We implore you to intervene and not allow this injustice to go forward.

The redistricting plan is not lawfully justified. The proposed composition of District 7 violates criteria for redistricting set by the California Constitution. 

• The District is not contiguous nor geographically compact, and it unjustifiably splinters our Assembly Districts. This plan is designed to dilute our political power.
• The District divides neighborhoods from all communities of interest. This plan blocks us from building political power to effectively address pressing issues with our true neighbors with whom we share public services, public school access, emergency services, public transit, and common environmental concerns related to Bay access, sea level rise, and flooding. 
• The District violates the Voting Rights Act and obstructs equal opportunity for communities of color to elect representatives of their choice. San Leandro and the abutting unincorporated communities are among the most integrated and diverse in the State. Our communities are in transition, with great gains building representation among historically disenfranchised communities to ensure Black, LatinX, and Asian American, and Pacific Islander members of our community are not obstructed in participating in the political process. The proposed redistricting plan sets back racial equity by generations. 

The outcome of this redistricting plan is clear. Our communities - communities with a majority of people of color -  will be disempowered in the political process. 

If this attack on voting rights is tolerated in California, the most diverse state in our country, it will set a chilling precedent nationwide. We implore you to do the right thing by communities of color both here and across the country. Do not set back equity. Refuse to ratify the District 7 map. Allow us to vote alongside our true neighboring communities within our county.