Every 10 years, City Council district boundaries must be altered to reflect changes in population, and San Joseans have the opportunity to re-draw the lines -- at least they're supposed to.

Unfortunately, the process has taken a different turn this year. Neighborhood and community voices have been drowned out by political special interest groups hoping to slice and dice neighborhoods in order to manufacture election results for their preferred faction.

The so-called "Unity Map," tears through communities such as Downtown, Willow Glen, Blossom Valley, and many others in a seemingly gerrymandered map. Another map called the "Commission Map" is also under consideration, but is less mature than the other two and has critical neighborhood issues in several districts.

While this topic may seem mundane, it has far-reaching impacts on how neighborhoods and communities of interest engage in their democracy -- poorly drawn maps can divide communities and severely impact their ability to advocate to and vote for elected officials. They can also reduce efficiency and quality of service for all residents.