Since the posting of the letter below, the issue was voted on by the Supervisors and settled in favor of our position. Topanga Animnal Rescue wishes to thank all the folks who took the time to write letters, call their supervisor, show up downtown and in general take an interest in the future of our amazing community. It is very encouraging to participate in our democratic process and see it working.
Topanga Animal Rescue and the LA Supervisor Redistricting Issue: (Sept. 6, 2011)
This letter was read by Ken Mazur before the County Board of Supervisors on September 6, 2011 at the open hearing concerning the County Redistricting plans.
My name is Ken Mazur. I live in the Third District. I am here representing Topanga Animal Rescue, a 501c3 that has been helping animals in Topanga for over 20 years. TAR sits on the LA County formed Topanga Emergency Management Task Force, and co-ordinates its activities and goals with other Topanga and Santa Monica Mountain organizations such as T-CEP, TASC and the Topanga Watershed Committee. As an animal rescue organization we receive calls from everyone, from folks virtually living in the creek beds to those on 25-acre ranches. Our work is in many ways representative of the culture and issues weaving the 3rd district into a practical and effective political entity. Rescue work brings us in contact with domestic farm animals, pets and wildlife. The continued sustainability of the coexistence of these three animal groups amidst a growing human population involves educational, environmental, transportation, disaster response, and land use issues. Our current Supervisor was elected by the people of our communities to help us address these common regional issues, to make government responsive to the challenges of our area in a way that is efficient and sensitive. We now have such a district, and a very appreciated representative government that is doing an excellent, creative and proactive job of meeting the challenges of our area. Topanga Animal Rescue strongly opposes the T1 & S2 maps which would deprive us of our rightfully elected representation and threaten the very substantial accomplishments of decades of dedicated, intelligent, responsive government. We ask you to preserve something which is working well. I urge the County Supervisors to support a map that would meet the Voting Rights Act requirements without reassigning 3.5 million people into districts with a Supervisor they did not vote for. Thank you,
Ken Mazur: Treasurer, webmaster, Topanga Animal Rescue