Ballot Initiative Would Split California into Fractals

It’s a surreal response to a surreal proposal: How many different ways can California be divided?

2 minute read

April 1, 2014, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


An artist named Bear Republic has a question for Tim Draper, the Silicon Valley businessman behind an effort to qualify an initiative for the statewide ballot that would split California into six separate states: “How can California be broken if it’s more than the sum of its parts?”

“When I first encountered the proposed ballot initiative to sever California into six separate states, I believed myself to have encountered a manner of absurdity usually reserved for April Fool’s Day,” explains Republic.

Draper’s proposal would split California into six (i.e., Silicon Valley, West California, North California, South California, Jefferson, and Central California), and although Republic says that Draper’s initiative stands a “Pinkberry’s chance in Palm Springs” of approval by voters, he decided to respond with his own project to change the public’s perspective of California.

Republic, who attended several of California’s best architecture schools but never managed to graduate, created what he calls “an avant-garde political and artistic project"—a ballot initiative that would require all visualizations (e.g., maps and infographics) of California to be rendered as a unique set of fractals, reflecting what Republic calls “the infinite and perpetually evolving manifestations of the idea-state of California.”

Republic has already begun collecting signatures, and he plans on attending both weekends of Coachella, which he believes should just about cover the 504,760 signatures required to qualify the initiative for the statewide ballot.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in Planetizen April 1st Edition

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business