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Though various community members lauded the redistricting proposal brought forth by 16-year-old Nick Rizzo, it was Elliott Cohen’s plan that received the unanimous approval of the Council. 

Rizzo thanked councilmember Polly Armstrong for his decision to get involved in the project. 

“I drew these plans with the sense of community building and bi-partisan negotiating I think she has tried to promote,” Rizzo said. 

But some members of the community and council referred to the plan as being too politically based, as it was drawn more in accordance with social demographics than seeking to strictly correct the previous undercounting. 

Rizzo’s proposal was also chosen as an option to further study in a 5-4 vote in perfect accordance to party lines. 

Cohen’s plan received unanimous support for all members of the Council. And it would take the numbers of district 7 where the majority of Unversity of California Berkeley students live and place them into district 8 — undercounted last time around, according to Cohen. 

This proposal will make it very difficult for students who are waging an effort to get representation on the City Council.