When redistricting divides, veterans, communities pay the price

During the recent hearing on ACA 8 in the California State Assembly Elections Committee, tensions flared as lawmakers debated California's future congressional districts. The arguments weren't confined to opposing testimony, they unfolded among committee members themselves. Assemblymember David Tangipa and Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo pressed the committee chair with pointed questions. Over the course of the hearing, buzzwords like "democracy" and "transparency" were repeated time and again. One central question emerged: Who drew the proposed maps? Despite repeated requests for clarity, no clear answer was provided. That lack of transparency has now led to Proposition 50 and the new congressional map. While the proposal impacts the entire state, its consequences are especially significant for Placer County. Placer County proudly lives by the slogan: "Where We Honor Our Veterans." South Placer – including Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and Granite Bay – has long been one of the most robust veteran communities in Northern California. Under the proposed map, however, these communities would no longer stand together. Roseville would be drawn into one district, Lincoln into another and Granite Bay into yet another. What has been a united voice for veterans would be split across multiple congressional lines. As a 2024 candidate for Roseville City Council District 5, I had countless conversations with local veterans and their families. Over and over, I heard the same message: They were pleased with their current representation and believed their service was being respected. That unified trust is now in jeopardy. This is not about partisan politics. It is about community trust. When neighborhoods are divided by new lines, residents lose confidence in the process. Veterans and their families who deserve clarity and consistent representation are left scattered across districts. The same holds true for small businesses, which form the backbone of our local economy. Fragmented representation creates uncertainty, complicates advocacy and risks slowing the growth of the very enterprises that keep Placer County strong. The consequences are real. Splitting South Placer's veteran population weakens its ability to speak with one voice on critical issues such as healthcare, housing, employment and community support. It undermines the promise our county has lived by: to honor our veterans not just in words but in action. One of the most striking parts of the ACA 8 hearing was the frequent use of the word "democracy." Yet the term itself left many in the public confused. We live in a constitutional republic, one that utilizes democratic processes to elect representation. Proposition 50 does not strengthen that process, it undermines it. Rather than voters choosing their representatives, this measure feels like the Legislature choosing its voters. That runs counter to the very system Californians voted for when they created the independent citizens' redistricting commission – a system meant to take power out of the hands of politicians and return it to the people. At its heart, redistricting should be about people, not politics. It should strengthen representation, not fracture it. Proposition 50's proposed congressional map does the opposite. It divides one of California's strongest veteran counties and erodes the trust of those who have already given so much in service to our nation. Placer County deserves better. Veterans, families and businesses deserve to remain united under representation that reflects the strength of our community. Because when the lines divide us, everyone loses. But when we stand together honoring service, supporting families and strengthening our bonds as neighbors, we all win!