Communities of interest are defined as a concentrated population which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Examples include areas in which the people share similar living standards, have similar cultures, use the same transportation facilities, have similar work opportunities, or have access to the same media. People can belong to multiple communities of interest.
A community of interest is not the same as a district, and identifying communities of interest in Oakland are the key building blocks the Redistricting Commission will use in developing the new district boundaries.
In describing a community of interest, we recommend you identify the following:
- The name of the community and it’s shared culture or characteristics.
- The geographic footprint of the community – for example, where they live, work, worship or recreate in the city.
- The relationship with city government and answering the following question: Why they should be protected in a single district to enhance their representative and electoral power?
If you have a longer definition or multiple definitions of your specific community of interest, you can submit your response to rluna@oaklandca.gov.