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MONDAY, AUGUST 25-AUGUST 31, 2025
VOL. 11,
NO. 238
California GOP legislators say redistricting proposal violates state constitution
San Bernardino officials again pledge to fight councilwoman’s potential lawsuit
By City News Service
By Joe Taglieri
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redrawn congressional district map aimed at shifting five U.S. House seats to Democrats will go before California voters this November, a move some Republican state legislators — including Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach — said violates the state constitution. State lawmakers voted Thursday to put the newly proposed California congressional map — a direct counter to legislative redistricting efforts in Texas to increase the number of GOP House seats there — before voters in a Nov. 4 special election. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement shortly after the vote, “The People of California will be able to cast their vote for a congressional map. Direct democracy that gives us a fighting chance to STOP Donald Trump’s election rigging. Time to fight fire with fire.” Just before Thursday’s vote, California Republican legislators accused their Democratic counterparts in Sacramento of pushing a redistricting plan without proper oversight or notice to the public. During a Thursday morning news conference on the steps of the Capitol, Sen. Brian Jones, R-San Diego, called the efforts an “attack on democracy” and “nothing less than rigging the election.” The minority leader also accused Democrats of refusing to explain how the newly proposed maps were drawn. “Gerrymandering by politicians is never OK, whether in California, Texas or anywhere else. Our state should be the model for fair elections and not the model for rigged elections,” Jones said. “This is not about good government. It’s about rigging the system to protect Democrat power.”
Sen. Brian Jones speaks at a press conference Thursday.| Photo courtesy of @SenBrianJones / X
Proposition 50 — also known as the Election Rigging Response Act — is an attempt to negate the Texas legislature’s effort to flip five congressional districts to the GOP side through a redrawn map. That effort passed the Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday and is headed to the state’s Senate, where it’s expected to pass and move on to Gov. Greg
Abbott’s desk. California Democrats, led by Newsom, have called the Texas plan gerrymandering, and California’s counter-push has drawn national notice. The proposed California maps would similarly shift five seats to Democrats and override the state’s indepenSee Redistricting Page 08
joet@beaconmedianews.com dent redistricting commission that is typically responsible for drawing district maps. Newsom said in a statement earlier this week, “California and Californians have been uniquely targeted by the Trump Administration, and we are not going to sit idle while they command Texas and other states to rig the next election to keep power — pursuing more extreme and unpopular policies. This proposal would give Californians a choice to fight back — and bring much needed accountability and oversight to the Trump Administration.” Republicans filed a lawsuit to block the redistricting plan, but the California Supreme Court rejected the legal challenge on Wednesday. Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, who filed a citizens’ initiative earlier this week that called for a ban on elected office for state legislators who vote to approve the redistricting proposal, called the proposal a “seize of power from the citizens.” “What’s happening behind us in this building today is unconstitutional, it is wrong, it is illegal. It is also corrupt,” DeMaio said during Thursday’s gathering outside the Capitol. Strickland, who was one of several California GOP lawmakers who filed the emergency petition this week challenging the proposal, reiterated an argument in the Republicans’ legal filings that a 30-day public review period is required. He said the new district lines were “drawn behind closed doors” and would lead to predetermined elections down the line. “That means your voice
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an Bernardino officials again have denied City Councilwoman Treasure Ortiz’s allegations that police unlawfully targeted her in a politically motivated background check. In March, Ortiz filed a $2 million legal claim, alleging San Bernardino police used the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, or CLETS to investigate her for political purposes. “The city of San Bernardino rejects Councilmember Ortiz’s recent allegations against police Chief Darren Goodman,” according to a statement Mayor Helen read into the record at the public conclusion following a closedsession meeting to discuss the potential litigation. “These statements are false, inflammatory, and without evidence. “The Mayor and City Council unanimously stand firmly with our Police Department, “The CLETS action in question was lawful and compliant with (California Department of Justice) policy. See Councilwoman’s claim Page 02
SB County eases limits on homelessness data sharing; board OKs housing vouchers By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
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homelessness data-sharing agreement that loosens privacy restrictions is now in place in San Bernardino County, officials announced Thursday. Law enforcement officials and department leaders on the county’s homeless multidisciplinary team gathered Aug. 13 at the County Government Center in San Bernardino to sign the agreement, which resulted from Sheriff Shannon Dicus’ longtime advocacy and discussions held within the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee co-chaired by county Supervisors Joe Baca Jr. and Curt Hagman, officials said. The discussions led to the committee’s finding that enhanced data sharing by county departments is key to streamlining efforts and improving service delivery to people experiencing homelessness. “Many individuals facing homelessness often cycle through various public systems, such as emergency rooms and jails, before ever connecting with stable support,” Baca said in a statement. “By improving coordination and implementing data sharing, we can break these cycles and directly connect people experiencing homelessness with the services See Homelessness Page 31