San Leandro holds public hearing on district-based elections and draft map feedback

San Leandro's City Council is actively engaging the community in discussions about the establishment of district-based elections set to begin in 2026. During a public hearing on December 16, 2024, city officials presented a draft map for the new districts and outlined the election sequence, which will remain unchanged from previous years.

The council emphasized the importance of public input in this process, encouraging residents to share their thoughts through various channels, including in-person hearings, farmer's market discussions, phone calls, and online submissions. The city has made efforts to ensure accessibility by providing information in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

A resident raised concerns about the adequacy of data shared by the city regarding population distribution across the proposed districts. They highlighted discrepancies in population numbers from previous elections, expressing a desire for fair representation and urging the council to take these concerns seriously.

The council's commitment to transparency and community involvement is evident as they prepare for the upcoming elections, with the next seats up for election including the mayor and districts 1, 3, and 5 in 2026. The discussions will continue in future meetings, ensuring that residents have ample opportunity to voice their opinions and influence the final decisions.