Laserfiche WebLink
7.A. - Page 11 of 36 Attachment B - Most Recent Community Feedback <br />From: MGR -Alex Khojikian <br />To: GRP -District Elections <br />Subject: FW: My Thoughts Regarding District Elections <br />Date: Monday, February 11, 2019 4:01:10 PM <br />From: EDWARD EVERETT <br />Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2019 1:17 PM <br />To: Council -Ian Bain <ibain@redwoodcity.org>, Council -Diane Howard <br /><DHoward@redwoodcity.org>; Council -Alicia Aguirre <aaguirre@redwoodcity.org>; Council -Janet <br />Borgens <jborgens@redwoodcity.org>; Council-Giselle Hale <ghale@redwoodcity.org>; Council - <br />Shelly Masur <smasur@redwoodcity.org>; Council -Diana Reddy <dreddy@redwoodcity.org> <br />Subject: My Thoughts Regarding District Elections <br />Dear Council Members <br />I haven't written an email to council since I retired 12+ years ago. This issue is <br />important enough that I am breaking my promise to stay out of RWC policy once I <br />retired. <br />I have tried to get educated on this issue and understand you are facing a possible <br />lawsuit in which most cities don't win if they fight it. <br />Here are my thoughts regarding this very important topic: <br />1. There are advantages and disadvantages to both at large and district elections. <br />I am sure you are aware of both the pros and cons of both so I won't insult you <br />by listing them. Neither is always the best way to go. The efficacy of district <br />elections is directly related to the larger size of cities and one system does not <br />fit all cities. <br />2. If there are advantages and disadvantages to both districts and at large then <br />why not try to capture the best of both world and prevent the worst of both <br />world. I strongly encourage you all to rethink an earlier decision, as I have been <br />told, which was not to look at mixing districts with at large. Having 4 districts <br />and 3 at large seats with the Mayor being appointed by the council, as happens <br />now, could well get you the best of both systems. This would provide the city <br />with better representative government of our minority populations without the <br />risk of parochial district thinking. <br />3. 1 understand time is of the essence and that you are facing a March 31 st <br />deadline. No deadline is sacrosanct even though attorneys like to make folks <br />believe they are. Even given a March 31 st deadline you still have time to <br />124 <br />