Yaroslavsky allies turn out to oppose altering his district

L.A. County supervisors brought out their closest allies Tuesday during a tense debate on whether to draw a second Latino-majority district on the five-member board.

Supporters of 3rd District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, a white Democrat from the Westside, argued that they have flourished under his leadership and have no desire for change, as proposed in redistricting plans backed by Supervisor Gloria Molina, who is Latina, and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is black.

"Simply put, the people of the 3rd District have worked very well for a very long time to further our many common goals. We strongly believe we should not be divided," said Stephen Resnick, president of the Westwood Neighborhood Council.

Ian Hunter, president of the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, voiced alarm at how the Latino plans would divide the Valley into areas represented by three supervisors instead of two. "There would be the potential for serious disruption in the Valley-wide mental health system of care,” he said.