Attorney general to probe whether Los Angeles redistricts along racial lines

From Washington Examiner:

The Los Angeles City Council is now under investigation by the California attorney general for its redistricting policies that came into question with a taped racist rant by three members who wanted to dilute the black vote. 

While fallout was swift as council President Nury Martinez and labor leader Ron Herrera lost their positions this week after the tape went viral, seeking to carve out geographical districts by race has been a longstanding problem in Los Angeles, officials said. 

One way to solve the issue is for the courts to become involved. The government watchdog Judicial Watch has filed numerous gerrymandering lawsuits where judges sometimes make the decisions as to which redistricting maps are valid. 

“The racial spoil system is not good for democratic process,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “Politicians want to pick their voters — I only want you to vote for me and not the others. It can’t be that way. They have to respect the commissions.” 

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