220226 0904 FW_ Please PrintFrom:Courtney Powers
To:Jeff Draper
Subject:FW: Please Print
Date:Saturday, February 26, 2022 9:03:53 AM
Attachments:QUESTIONS - Forum 3.docx
Courtney Powers
Recreation Supervisor
City of Cypress l Recreation & Community Services
(714) 229-6789
From: Arianna Barrios <Arianna@Communicationslab.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2022 8:59 AM
To: Courtney Powers <CPowers@cypressca.org>
Subject: Please Print
Thank you,
Arianna Barrios
Mobile 714-878-4864
QUESTIONS - EMAIL - CYPRESS CVRA
Hi my name is Harumi Lucak.
I live in the city of Cypress for over 20 years. I am a member of supposedly a minority group
(Asian), and I am very happy with at large election system.
All 5 city council members answer to each one of us residents, not just residents in their district. I
really like that all 5 members are accountable to run the city in its entirety, and not just a piece
of Cypress for each member.
This way it requires them to be more cohesive and requires each one to work united and as a
group. I want my vote to count for the entire city of Cypress, not a piece of Cypress. If I can have
a voice in voting for all 5 city council members, why would I want to settle for voting for just one
of them every 4 years?
If the city of Cypress go district, I will be losing 80% of my voting power. Why do I want to do
that? As a district, the city of Cypress will be divided, the city council members will all be split,
each one more concerned with their own piece corner, instead of as a whole.
I was told that the city of Cypress was sued because it's racist. Really? In my 20 something years
of living here, never once have I felt discriminated. Cypress is not a racist city. It's a very diverse
city, where every race live in harmony with each other.
Splitting into districts will destroy this harmony
This is a city I am very proud to be a part of, and I want to have a voice in the election of every
single representative of my city.
At large elections keep a city united; district elections divide the city. Please keep Cypress as at-
large election, and I would like to see the city of Cypress do whatever it can to keep it that way.
It's worth the fight.
Thank you
I feel that I need to voice my opinion on the districts. My biggest concern is that the mention of
doing district by the population of different races in certain areas should be put into a district. I
strongly oppose the districts to be selected that way. Since I now have become a minority
what's going to happen to me? How will I be represented? I've lived in the same neighborhood
since 1963. Racial demographics have greatly changed.
Since I became a widow, I don't even have my better half who was first generation Mexican to fit
in the demographics. He prefered to be classified as Mexican and not hispanic.
I would hate to see the district become ethnic neighborhoods. We don't need that. I was born
in New York. You had your Italian neighborhood, Polish neighborhood, Irish neighborhood,
Puerto Rican neighborhood, Jewish neighborhood, etc.
I like to believe that the people that live in the City of Cypress should be considered as a
community. Race should never have anything to do with anything in politics or what party you
belong to either. This is a city election of our Cypress community and is a non-party affiliation
election. It is a Cypress community election. And each person that is elected should be
representing the Cypress community. They should listen to what we have to say and always
consider what we are asking for or about different projects that affect all of us in this wonderful
community of Cypress.
We all need to stand by each other regardless of race, religion, or politics. One community
committed to reach out and care for one another. That's why I moved here in 1963 and raised
my children here. My husband Tony Nieto volunteered for years to help build this community to
where it is today. Don't spoil it by changing our neighborhoods into racial districts.
It looks like we really don't have a choice of districts or keeping the elections like they've been
for years. I always believe that if it's not broke, why fix it. All we need is a council who will take
the time to listen and react as a group. Learn to compromise and make if work for the benefit of
the city and making it even better. It's a wonderful community. Don't destroy it.
Respectfully,
Anne Nieto
5191 Canterbury Dr
Cypress, Ca.
We attended the 2/15 forum and have a few additional questions and comments.
Concerning the second difference between FVRA and CVRA: CVRA eliminates the “totality of the
circumstances” or “reasonableness” test. Can you explain what this means?
It appears to give the courts wide latitude in deciding for the plaintiffs in these lawsuits.
What unique strategy does our city attorney propose to prevail in court if a lawsuit is filed?
Given the fact that it is very difficult for a city to win in court what promises to be a lengthy and
expensive fight (Santa Monica has been fighting this suit since 2016 and has spent upwards of 10
million dollars thus far) and the fact that no California city thus far has won in court, it seems
prudent to plan for district-based elections.
More than 100 cities in CA have received a CVRA challenge and the vast majority have opted not
to fight an apparently futile battle.
We advocate immediate planning for district elections for Cypress City Council.
Respectfully,
Wayne & Gail Comeau
6473 Anguilla Ave Cypress 90630