Scott Wilk writes that over the last two days the Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) has been reviewing the district maps for our region.  Here is the latest status: Congress – The map is unchanged from the last iteration and it continues to keep SCV whole. Assembly – SCV remains whole with the exception of Agua Dulce. Senate – The CRC has divided the City of Santa Clarita into two separate districts (maps attached).  The western part of the city is linked to the SFV and east Ventura County.  The remaining section is in a Senate District that stretches through Antelope Valley all the way to Victorville!  The CRC will review these districts again next week.

In Other News…

Gabino Aguirre’s Secret Political Past – The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the 14-member independent panel of average citizens, was created to end partisan gerrymandering and draw political boundaries in an open process, without the influence of special interests. An investigation reveals that at least one commissioner, Dr. Gabino Aguirre, has made multiple political campaign contributions to Democratic candidates — contributions that were previously undisclosed to the Commission; a long history of political activism in support of Latino causes; and an extensive web of connections to a special interest group that has submitted its own redistricting proposals to the commission.  Cal Watchdog

Congratulations Speaker Perez – But Watch Out For That Referendum – Congratulations are in order to Assembly Speaker John Perez. The Redistricting Commission has now delivered the 54th seat necessary for Speaker Perez to achieve two-thirds Democratic rule in the Assembly.  Fox and Hounds Daily

Dan Walters: California redistricting panel may be failing – Could California’s noble experiment in redrawing legislative and congressional districts be collapsing?  Sacramento Bee

Excluding the public: The Commission is going dark – Running out of time, beset by rebellious consultants, and manipulated by partisans, the Citizens Redistricting Commission has decided to exclude citizens from the process.  Fox and Hounds Daily

Redistricting commission holds off on publishing maps – The California Citizens Redistricting Commission – made up of five Democrats, five Republicans and four registered with neither party – opted to forgo the publication of the second drafts of the maps. California Watch