The SLO County Board of Supervisors has agreed to settle the redistricting lawsuit brought forward after the selection and implementation of what is known as the “Patten Map” in 2021. The County has set April 18 as the public hearing date for the adoption of a new map based on three previously considered maps commonly referred to as Map A, Map B, and the Chamber Map.
The SLO Chamber Board firmly believes that the Chamber map was the best map put forward in the original 2021 redistricting discussion. It kept communities of interest together and gave every district access to both incorporated and unincorporated areas to ensure every supervisor shared in the most important issues the county faces.
However, nearly 18-months later, the most important thing happening is the removal of the Patten map. The SLO Chamber fully supports that action taking place now, before the courts would have forced it, which they indicated was likely and would have cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars more than what has already been spent in litigation and settlement fees.
For the County to move forward in the most expeditious manner and spend its resources on the important work of housing, infrastructure and homelessness, the SLO Chamber recommends that the County re-adopt Map A, which was implemented after the 2010 census and used for the past decade of elections. Map A is a legally compliant map. It has already been litigated, and it survived a legal challenge.
Join us in supporting Map A. Email the Board of Supervisors by Monday, April 17 to share your support or attend the Board of Supervisors meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18 in the Board of Supervisors Chambers to give public comment.