The City Auditor is supposed to post applications for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission this Friday Jan 18th.  What is this commission? Its a group of citizens who are going to design the map that splits Austin into 10 districts
I (Mary Rudig, [email protected]) went to an  AGR (Austinites for Geographic Representation) meeting tonight and they feel those in charge down at city hall are already lining up their pool of applicants. It is a lottery system, but those who can fill the pool with the MOST applicants will still have a better chance of getting their applicants on the commission.  We need to mobilize.
Let me repeat that – we NEED to mobilize and get people signed up!
AGR have graciously agreed to send a speaker for our Jan 21st Town Hall meeting  to answer questions people might have on the application process for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
So we will hold the Town Hall from 7-9 and talk about 10-1 and what it means for our end of town.  We will turn the floor over to Ed English for the last 15 minutes, and he will answer questions on the applications process for the last 15 minutes.
If you have missed it, the Town Hall meeting is at St. Alberts, Metric Blvd. 7pm-9pm, in the Parish Hall.
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There are two other ways to get info on the redistricting if you cannot make our meeting on January 21st:
If you want to drive downtown and fight traffic: Austin Neighborhood Council will have their monthly meeting next Weds at the Electric Building on Barton Springs. The City Auditor will be there to answer questions about the application.
more info:  www.ancweb.org
also downtown: League of Women’s Voters will have a
Workshop Open to the Public on Feb 2nd.
This is not a meeting, its a workshop and people can come and go any time during the workshop. The idea is for people to drop in, get help with the application, or get their questions answered.
Here is their release;
Why should you apply to serve on the Citizens Redistricting Commission?
Members selected to serve on the Citizens Redistricting Commission will make history as the first citizen-initiated, independent entity to establish the boundaries of the 10 new Austin City Council districts. Citizens Redistricting Commissioners will reflect the diversity of Austin and empower the citizens of Austin to have a voice for how our one City government represents us all.
The League of Women Voters of the Austin Area is sponsoring an “Open, Nonpartisan Workshop on How to Apply for the Austin Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission” to provide information and support to those considering applying to serve on this commission.
Saturday, February 2
Carver Library, 1161 Angelina Street, 78702.  Map here.
12:30 to 4:30 pm
Come anytime during that period.
Free. Informal. Handouts.  Questions answered.  RSVPs not required.
Applications may be available from the City Auditor beginning Thursday, January
18.  Deadline for applications may be Friday, February 22.
For more information, send an email to any of these League members:
Eliza May at [email protected]
Frances McIntyre at  [email protected]
Jacklyn Williams at [email protected]