This Sacramento political analyst drew California’s redistricting map
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert. I’m Amelia Wu, the Bee’s state workers intern.
THE ARCHITECT BEHIND CALIFORNIA’S NEW MAP
Via Amelia Wu…
Paul Mitchell, the head of Redistricting Partners, is the architect behind the map voters will consider in the special November election.
With a $200 million campaign and increased news coverage, Mitchell explained that he’s observed an increased literacy with redistricting among the average person he may run into.
“It’s rather daunting the idea that the work is going to get a more serious review by the public than ever before,” he said.
A variety of factors goes into the map he draws, like keeping communities of interest together and following the Voting Rights Act.
Mitchell noted that while the initial redistricting map-drawing process is usually public, adapting the map has historically been less transparent. However, placing the proposed map on the ballot extends the time the public is involved with the process.
The Sacramento-based political data analyst also talked about practices he’s seen in counterproposals, such as “bacon slices” districts, or thin, narrow districts that divide cities, counties or neighborhoods.
However, Mitchell emphasizes that the maps themselves may not be the central focus of the upcoming ballot measure.
“This is not a redrawing ballot measure,” he said. “This is a pushback on not trying to rig the election ballot measure. The maps are not going to be center stage in this fight.”
ALEX PADILLA’S TRACE ACT
Via David Lightman…
It could get easier to trace people who go missing on federal land or U.S. territorial waters, thanks to Senate legislation passed last week.
The TRACE Act, sponsored by Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., would require the Justice Department to add a new category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems.
The change would have officials note cases where “a person went missing or was identified on federal land or U.S. territorial waters — including the specific location details of the incident,” a Padilla statement said.
The senator said that “people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,” making it harder for law enforcement to keep track of such people. The system is used by medical personnel, families, law enforcement and others to report and obtain information about people who go missing.
About 600,000 people are reported missing each year, and though most cases are resolved, thousands are not.
The federal government manages approximately 640 million acres of land, including national parks, national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands.
Padilla’s office said that “isolated or rugged terrain, limited cell coverage and underreporting make it especially difficult to track these cases. Yet there is no functional system to identify when someone has gone missing on public lands, making coordinated search-and-rescue operations even harder.”
The Senate passed the bill unanimously. It now goes to the House for further action.
A NEW JOBS PIPELINE
Via Amelia Wu…
The state’s community college system in collaboration with California GovOps, launched a new partnership to encourage careers in state government for students and alumni.
“California’s community colleges are at the forefront of workforce innovation, and their students bring the skills and dedication we need in public service,” said California Government Operation Secretary Nick Maduros in a statement.
With more than 2.1 million students enrolled in the California community colleges, the collaboration is designed to connect students to state government’s workforce needs, according to the release.
The effort aligns with the education system’s Vision 2030, which aims to create more access for Californians to opportunity. It is also part of a larger strategy and existing agreements with the Port of Los Angeles, Department of Aging and Institute for Local Government.
“Opening doors and making sure every Californian has access to real pathways to success is the promise of Vision 2030,” said Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges chancellor, in a statement.
The three-year initiative involves apprenticeship opportunities, expanding internships, and aligning college programs with careers in high demand. According to Anthony Cordova, vice chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, the governor’s goal is to have 500,000 apprentices by the end of the decade.
“Together, these MOUs build on how community colleges create direct pathways into careers, particularly for many of our first-generation college students who might not have had exposure into these fields, otherwise,” Cordova said.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It isn’t just a hot summer that’s leading to higher bills. We’re seeing all sorts of other factors driving up the costs that are actually going to drive more people into debt, including putting some into bankruptcy.”
— Rohit Chopra, former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director on President Donald Trump’s cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act
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