Arizona’s dynamic redistricting process experienced several developments this week.
Category Archives: Archive
CA Supreme Court rejects challenges to redistricting plans
On Wednesday, the California Supreme Court unanimously struck down two Republican challenges to the redistricting plans put forth by the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Continue Reading
Rose Fellow Doug Johnson on organizational change and elections
On October 17th, the Press-Enterprise ran an article titled “INLAND: State voting rights law reshapes local elections” on the recent changes in local government organization, along with the new census data, that are affecting local elections, citing Rose Fellow Doug Johnson. Continue Reading
Elections versus appointments of local county officials
Popular election of most government officials is an important feature of American democracy. The merits of electing versus appointing particular officials, especially on a localized level, are widely debated. Some argue that holding elections for those in non-representational positions such as County Clerk or Treasurer needlessly politicizes a position and deprioritizes the required quantitative skills. Others point to the need for transparency, contending that the appointment of office-holders by those within the government encourages bureaucratic cronyism. Elections can ensure that officials are attuned to the general population’s concerns and desires.
Continue ReadingOhio’s new redistricting map eliminates 3 districts, adds 1
On September 26, Republican Governor John Kasich signed into law Ohio’s new congressional redistricting plan. The plan, released on September 13, passed the Republican-controlled Assembly and Senate earlier in the week, but its ultimate approval will likely be in the hands of voters through a proposed ballot referendum in November 2012. Overall, the plan secures the Republicans’ gains in the 2010 election, with very few districts being competitive.
Contra Costa implements plans to deal with prison reform
On May 23, 2011 the California Supreme Court ordered the state to dramatically reduce the number of detainees in prisons on the basis of cruel and unusual punishment. As a result, between 37,000 to 46,000 inmates will be released in the coming years. In order to manage the influx of prisoners, the California legislature passed Bill AB 109, the Public Safety Realignment Bill, which took effect October 1, 2011. AB109 shifts responsibility for non-serious, non-violent, non-sexual offenders to counties. The challenging transition from state to local oversight is highlighted in Contra Costa County, where county officials are already facing difficulties. Continue Reading
The Rose's new offices: slideshow
Over the summer, the Rose Institute moved into its new offices, located on the fourth floor of the Kravis Building on CMC’s campus. We love the new space and are excited to share some photos of it with our readers.
New Maps, Big Changes for the Inland Empire
Rep. David Drier (R-San Dimas), Chairman of the House Rules Committee cruised to a double-digit victory in California’s 26th Congressional District last November, trouncing his opponents with relative ease. Rep. Jerry Lewis, (R-Redlands) crushed his challenger by nearly 30 points last fall. Yet, come November 2012, both Congressmen may very well be out of a job. How could two popular and powerful Congressmen with more than 70 years of Congressional experience between them be in such political danger? It’s not a shocking scandal, a shortage of campaign cash, or any drastic ideological shift. The answer is redistricting, an esoteric yet tremendously important political procedure that shakes each and every level of the American political system every ten years. And this time around, the Inland Empire sits squarely at the epicenter of a political earthquake.
Rose co-hosts 2011 Inland Empire Forecast Conference
On Thursday September 22nd, the Rose Institute co-hosted the 2011 CMC-UCLA Inland Empire Forecast Conference at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. This second annual event was co-sponsored by the UCLA Anderson Forecast and Claremont McKenna College’s Inland Empire Center, a collaborative effort between the Rose Institute and the Lowe Institute for Political Economy. The conference aims to provide business and government leaders in the Inland Empire with independent economic analysis of the region and was attended by several hundred people.
Contract Cities: An Alternative Model
By Nathan Falk ’14 Local governments are under tremendous pressure to deliver services to their constituents with ever shrinking budgets. Many have responded by asking, “Are there other ways to provide public services?” Some are turning to other government agencies and the private sector as cost-effective alternatives. These contracting partnerships take many forms, and while… Continue Reading