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When Tom Bradley was growing up, he lived in a poor area just south of downtown Los Angeles.
I bring up that biographical note because Bradley, now the mayor, may be called upon next year to save the old neighborhood from being dismembered by some very accomplished City Hall political surgeons.
The neighborhood is part of the 9th City Council District, represented by 90-year-old Gilbert Lindsay, who's paralyzed from a stroke, unable to speak and not expected to recover.
In just a few months, the City Council will draw new boundaries for its 15 districts. It's well known that redistricting brings out the worst in a politician, but with Lindsay hospitalized, some 9th District political activists fear it will be worse than usual.
They've told me they're afraid that council members may try to grab the commercial portion of the district-downtown, Little Tokyo and Chinatown-and divide it among themselves. "They can't wait to take the upper portion of the district," said Lois Medlock, president of the South East Central Homeowners Assn.
The districts of Gloria Molina, Bob Farrell, Nate Holden and Richard Alatorre...