Orange County Redistricting Crisis-Univision/Orange TV – Video and commentary from Zoraida Rios-Andino – Florida

On Wednesday 4/27/11, the Orange County Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) held its second meeting. Univision reported on this meeting (see Univision link below). After the Univision story, I have been personally bombarded with emails, phone calls, and questioned in person on what this whole situation is about. I will briefly explain. On March 16, 2011, Rico Piccard, President of Frente Unido 436 wrote an “Editorial Pueblerino” at which time he informed the community about 15 individuals who were selected for the Orange County Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC). 3 were appointed by Mayor Jacobs and the Commissioners appointed 2 each (15 total). These individuals were selected to review and propose the new District (Boundaries) for the 6 Commissioner Districts in Orange County.This is a very important committee and the process can take months to complete. Redistricting is done every 10 years after the Census is completed. The problem with this very influential Committee is that no Puerto Ricans were selected in a County where almost a quarter of the residents are Hispanic and primarily of Puerto Rican descent. Many are very offended by this as Puerto Ricans are United States citizens who have contributed greatly to the development of Orange County. We have brought Universities, Banks, Medical Plazas, and every type of business imaginable not to mention a very dedicated workforce throughout the County. We also contribute millions of dollars in taxes and as such feel that Puerto Ricans should not have been excluded from this process. It is imperative that we take part in how these Districts are designed so that in the future Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics can have a fair chance for running for a Commissioners seat with a sizable Boricua/Hispanic representation and not diluted Boricua/Hispanic Districts as is the case now. As a result of Rico’s Editorial Pueblerino of 3/16/11, Community leader, Dennis Freytes, called on the Puerto Rican Community to attend the next County Commissioner’s Meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 and let our concerns about this redistricting committee issue be known to the Mayor and County Commissioners. I have sent emails with Orange TV videos of the 3/22/11 Commissioners meeting as well as the Redistricting Advisory Committee meeting held on April 7, 2011. Rico Piccard and myself participated in the Public Comment segment of both these meetings.  Last week Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Rico Piccard and myself let our opinions on this issue be known again to the Redistricting Advisory Committee (see video on 4/27/11 meeting on link below). Representatives of other groups have voiced their concerns to the Committee as well.  District 4 Commissioner, Jennifer Thompson, has been criticized on this issue because of remarks she made about why she did not select Hispanics from her District. However, the fact of the matter is that the Mayor and the rest of the Commissioners are all guilty of excluding and disenfranchising the Puerto Rican community on this very important  matter. Frente Unido 436 encourages the community to stay on top of this issue. We welcome the entire Community to attend these Redistricting meetings and voice their concerns and suggestions as well.  The final outcome of this redistricting process will have a tremendous impact on the political future of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic community in Orange County and our ability to be at the table and make decisions on how hundreds of millions of dollars are appropriated in our community.   There are two links below. One is on the Univision story of 4/27/11 and the other is the Orange TV video of 4/27/11. Our presentations to the RAC meeting of 4/27/11 were done toward the end of the meeting. For those of you who live outside of Orange County I strongly recommend you investigate the redistricting process currently taking place in your community. It can make a difference on whether or not a Puerto Rican/ Hispanic can have a legitimate chance of winning for public office. If anyone has any questions on this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to your support and participation in this very important matter, I remain,

Respectfully,

Zoraida Rios-Andino, Vice President

Frente Unido 436

National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, Member