December 13, 2021

Chairman Alicia Fernadez
Citizens Redistricting Commission
1130 K Street, Suite 101
Sacramento, CA 95814

[email protected]

Dear Madam Chairman:

The Carmichael Chamber of Commerce is respectfully writing to object to the Citizen Redistricting Commission’s last-minute Assembly maps of December 8, 2021, splitting the unincorporated City of Carmichael into two separate Assembly Districts. Carmichael is a community of interest (COI) that should not be divided. 

As the organization that represents the business and residents of Carmichael, we feel we have our pulse on the interests of Carmichael and its neighboring business communities. The Carmichael Community, over its history, has rejected annexation into the City of Sacramento and shares no shared values, no common law enforcement, no common school districts, and no common areas of social, economic, or ethnic interest. Therefore, Carmichael as a whole should be included in the same Assembly District as its closely related unincorporated neighbors of Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks, Gold River, and Orangevale.

The entire community of Carmichael shares the same School District (San Juan Unified School District) as its unincorporated neighbors in Fair Oaks, Gold River, Orangevale, Citrus Heights. Children from all parts of the school district take their children through Open Enrollment to schools in Carmichael.

The entire community of Carmichael shares the same Law Enforcement (Sacramento County Sheriff) as Fair Oaks, Gold River, Orangevale, and the City of Rancho Cordova (who contracts with the Sacramento County Sheriff).

The Carmichael Community also represents the following Communities of Interest that will dramatically be affected by this split.

Slavic Community of Interest in Carmichael – The Slavic community is well established in Carmichael and extends into Citrus Heights, Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, and Rancho Cordova. To separate the western portion of Carmichael would separate the Slavic Community who has many businesses, churches, and families located in Carmichael.

Carmichael Senior Citizen Community of Interest – Carmichael has the most significant senior citizen concentration in Sacramento County, with over 20 assisted living and senior housing facilities. This is much in common with Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, and Orangevale, which share large senior citizen populations. Dividing Carmichael would dilute the Carmichael Senior Citizens Community of Interest.

We believe that the current Legislative District map puts our community at a considerable disadvantage.  We feel our voice will be fractured, and this takes away our ability to truly ensure that elected officials represent the needs and concerns of solely our community.

We appreciate the Commission’s willingness to hear from the people and their community organizations. The Carmichael Chamber of Commerce respectfully requests the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission restore Carmichael as a whole Community of interest to an Assembly District.

If we can answer any questions, please feel free to contact us at 916.481.1002.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Julie DePrada-Schott

Carmichael Chamber Executive Director