Loomis Town Council votes to publicly oppose Prop 50

After more than an hour of contentious discussion, the Loomis Town Council voted 3-2 on Oct. 14 to publicly oppose Proposition 50. Proposition 50 passage would make temporary changes to California's Congressional District maps in response to redistricting measures taken by the state of Texas in August. The move would essentially redraw five California districts to favor Democrats in a duel dubbed the "gerrymandering arms race." At least five public agencies in Placer County have already adopted similar resolutions or actions, including Lincoln, Rocklin, the Dry Creek School District, Placer Union High School District and Placer District Attorney's Office, staff said. Others are considering similar resolutions. Prop 50 proposes to redraw Loomis' rural District 3 to extend south then west into Sacramento County, teaming Loomis, Auburn, Penryn and Granite Bay with Folsom, Fair Oaks, Rancho Cordova, Carmichael, Arden-Arcade, Rosemont, La Riviera and Florin, explained Town Attorney Frank Splendorio. "We will lose our voice," said Councilmember Amanda Cortez, citing State Senate Bill 330, forcing low-income housing. "We're already losing our land use control. ... Bit by bit, we are getting robbed of our local control." Mayor David Ring felt the non-partisan council should not take a stand on a clearly partisan issue. "This is 100-percent partisan." Cortez strongly argued that local control is non-partisan. After councilmembers voiced views, 10 or so people spoke from the floor and Zoom. "I respectfully ask you to oppose this costly and harmful proposal," said Eric Eisenhammer of the Placer County Taxpayers Association. "I don't believe this is an issue you can speak for the town, because you have no poll of what the town wants to do," said Planning Commissioner Jean Wilson. "California should not do anything in response to another state," said Roxy Rice. "The excuse of reacting to Texas is ridiculous." "This is a non-partisan town," said Cheryl Benson via Zoom. "Getting involved with politics is not fair to the community." "A yes vote on Proposition 50 is about as partisan as you could get," said Dave Wheeler. "A no vote ... is about the least partisan vote you could make because there's an independent committee." "I really want to focus on policy, not politics," said Mayor Pro Tempore Jan Clark-Crets. "We have to represent everybody in our town." "The citizens have already voted on this," added Cortez, regarding California's independent redistricting committee. "The California Democrat majority has already voted on this twice." The motion for a resolution opposing Prop 50 passed 3-2 with Cortez, Danny Cartwright and Stephanie Youngblood in favor. The special election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.