1 Kristina Santana
From: The Steven Takeshita Family <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 4:46 PM
To: Kristina Santana
Cc: Steven Takeshita
Subject: Please submit my attached comments for Public Comment for the Districting Meeting tonight,
Attachments: Diamond Bar Districting Meeting 03-15-2022.docx CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network.
Thank You,
Steven Takeshita Family
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March 15, 2022
City Staff,
Please distribute for Public Comment at the District Elections Meeting on March 15, 2022.
My name is Steven Takeshita, I live on Hawkood Road, Diamond Bar for over 38 years. I am not able to attend tonight’s meeting but wanted to provide my input. 1) From my understanding the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) is desirous to have a higher Latino City Council representation by making our At Large representation into a District Representation. 2) As mentioned by Staff, Carol Herrera was a City Council Member for over 24 years, the longest serving Council Member to date. Staff also stated that the Asian and Latino could have a greater influence by District Representation.
3) Staff also stated that “Asian Strongly Support Asian Candidates over others”.
My Rebuttal:
According to the LA Almanac, the Diamond Bar population by Race per the 2020 Census is as follows:
Race Population Percentage
American Indians
& Alaska Native 314 0.57%
Asian 32,855 59.66%
Hispanics 10,803 19.62%
White 8,117 14.74%
Blacks 1,799 3.27%
Hawaiian
and Pacific Islanders 89 0.16%
Others 4,213 7.65%
Two or more 5,641 10.24%
Hispanic Overlap
with other races 10,803 19.62%
1A) Our City Council has a membership of 3 Asians and 2 Whites. The Census accounts for the White population to be 8,117 and the Hispanic population to be 10,803. Our At Large Council Membership would enable for a Hispanic person to vote in more members of City Council of their beliefs, instead of one District Member, therefore, thinking that a District would empower the Hispanic Vote, is flawed.
1B) Thinking that a District would change a voter’s ability to place a person in office, when they already have the opportunity(when they have a majority) to voter a Hispanic in office, should equate to Councilmembers Lyons and Tye not be in office since the Whites are a minority to the Hispanic. The City At Large enables a voter to have a stronger Representation of their interest than a District by being able cast their vote for numerous representatives for a person’s beliefs.
2A) As mentioned, we had a Hispanic Representative, Councilwoman Herrera, we today are able to add even more representation by casting a vote for numerous representatives of a person’s choice.
3A) Staff also stated that “Asian Strongly Support Asian Candidates over others”. Once again, if you have beliefs Political or Cultural, you will tend to vote for a person with similar beliefs. That being said, Councilmembers Tye and Lyons are our most senior Representatives, being Open and Listening to your constituents will allow Political Office Holders to prevail.
This, I think indicates that we have a system that works. Even though our City is comprised of an Asian majority, we still have a balance representation.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.
Steven Takeshita