Redrawing the boundaries happens every 10 years following the U.S. Census, and helps preserve the voting power of residents by balancing population between the five districts. But supervisors opted to do more than that, taking extra steps to consider racial balance in each district and prioritize boundaries that don't split cities into more than one district.
The map that ultimately prevailed on Nov. 16, dubbed the "yellow" or "unity" map, took steps to meet both those objectives, but it also faced significant criticism. Residents opposed to the yellow map contested it was drawn with political motivations in mind and amount to gerrymandering, with the south county district losing Los Gatos and Almaden Valley.
The yellow map will with only minor changes ahead of the state-mandated redistricting process. District 5, which includes Mountain View and Palo Alto, will no longer include any part of Sunnyvale. Instead, the district will creep farther south past Saratoga to include Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and part of San Jose.
The map won out against numerous other options, including one proposed by county Supervisor Joe Simitian that sought minimal changes over today's boundaries.
Another hearing on the proposed redistricting map is expected on Dec. 7, followed shortly thereafter with final approval.
— Kevin Forestieri
Burglars steal $50K in jewelry heist
Three people took an estimated $50,000 in gold and silver from a downtown Palo Alto jewelry store in a brazen smash-and-grab burglary early Thursday morning, police Lt. Con Maloney said.
The burglars smashed a glass front door at De Novo Fine Contemporary Jewelry at 250 University Ave. at about 12:50 a.m. on Nov. 18. A nearby security guard heard the commotion and called the police. Two people entered the store while a third person waited in a getaway car on Ramona Street.
Once inside, the burglars smashed three large jewelry cases and stole bracelets, earrings, rings and necklaces. They fled in what appeared to be a light blue minivan of an unknown make and model, Maloney said. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle and its passengers, Maloney said.
Police have obtained video of the heist. Investigators don't know the gender of the two burglars.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.
— Sue Dremann
This story contains 423 words.
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