A lack of Latino representation in Santa Cruz leads to a demand for change
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION)
A California nonprofit, the California Voting Rights Project, is fighting to change the lack of Latino representation on Santa Cruz’s City Council.
They're taking action by filing an official notice with the council, making them aware, they say, that the lack of diversity is a violation of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.
The Voting Rights Act aims at having a greater representation of underrepresented groups.
On Wednesday, leaders of the non-profit held a news conference in the courtyard of Santa Cruz City Hall.
The group proposes that the City of Santa Cruz change how it's council members are elected, moving from at-large elections to single-member districts.
CVRP says the current voting method has resulted in under-represented communities.
“A Latino can best represent the interest of the Latino community in Santa Cruz,” said Jeremy Levine.
According to Levine, and Lanny Ebenstein, organizers with the civil rights project, Santa Cruz has not had a Latino voted onto City Council since 2015. Latinos make up approximately 20 percent of the population.
Under a single-member district, they are proposing the city gets divided into six or seven districts.
Gaining the vote from one-sixth of the city, said Ebenstein, is much easier for a Latino candidate to raise money, than trying to earn votes from the entire city.
