Even before it is finalized, the new electoral map for San Francisco's 11 supervisorial districts is drawing threats of legal challenges.
The controversy could impact the November elections for the even-numbered seats on the Board of Supervisors.To the dismay of LGBTQ advocates, the proposed boundaries will cleave the Tenderloin apart from the South of Market neighborhood in separate districts, as the Bay Area Reporter first reported online April 10.
But it does preserve the residence of the lone LGBTQ member of the Board of Supervisors, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, in his current district where he is seeking a second and final four-year term this fall.The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force is obligated by the city's charter to deliver the new boundaries to the supervisors by April 15.
Whether it will do so prior to its deadline of 11:59 p.m. April 14 remains an open question.During their meeting that began Monday, April 11, and ran early into the morning April 12, several members of the nine-person panel had inquired of the city attorney's representative what would happen if they missed their deadline.