Census data 2020 is already having a broad impact on issues such as redistricting of electoral districts in New York, as happened this year in the redefinition of voter boundaries at the state level, which ended up generating confusion and criticism prior to the primary elections. These changes had an impact on the fight for the seats in the Albany Legislature and the seats in Congress.
And ahead of the municipal elections of 2020, the commission in charge of drawing new political limits to the districts of the City Council is already putting pencil and metrics to the new models, but the initial sketches are already causing some concerns.
This was evidenced in recent weeks, in the midst of the open process that was closed on 15 August with a public comment hearing, where communities and political leaders spoke out on the lines proposed last July by the New York City District Commission.
The first to speak was the president of the Municipal Council, Adrienne Adams, who after learning about the redesigned models revealed several concerns, and clarified that ue is the District Commission of the City of New York the entity that must hear the comments of the communities, and then the legislative entity will vote on the final redesign.
“The Council is deeply committed to the maintaining the integrity of the New York City District Commission, and it is critical that an independent process be allowed to proceed subject to the guidelines and protections set forth in the Charter. There are important fundamental principles that must be prioritized in this process, but the first set of preliminary maps seems to violate them and does not guarantee the adequate representation of certain groups of New Yorkers”, assured the political leader.
In particular, the President of the Council highlighted that maintaining three districts that remain complete in Staten Island is inconsistent with population changes and creates a problem of maldistribution, which forces irrational changes in the districts of other counties.
“This appears to be a driving factor in the Commission’s draft district boundaries undermining protections for historically marginalized communities of color and for communities of interest, as provided by the Voting Rights Act and the New York City Charter,” added Adams.
“In particular, the preliminary maps historically divide Latino communities in Sunset Park and Re d Hook, diluting their voices in various districts. Communities of interest in South Brooklyn that have historically held together would be separated. The Filipino and Tibetan communities in western Queens would also be divided into multiple districts.”
In her analysis, the head of the municipal legislative body warned that it is essential that the new City Council District lines keep communities together and uphold the principles that were established to protect and empower historically marginalized communities of color.
Critics of the first draft further warn that in southeastern Queens, preliminary maps threaten to significantly dilute the impact of black voters by leaving them in a new district as a minority
The Ombudsman, Jumaane Williams has also raised his voice making his concerns felt with the preliminary redesigns that would affect some communities during the next 10 years, so he asked the Commission in charge to draw lines that and ensure fair and accurate representation for all New Yorkers.
Williams cited particular concern for waterfront communities from Red Hook to Coney Island, which have been substantially reconfigured, while warning that several neighborhoods of Manhattan have been integrated into a district that primarily serves Queens.
He also noted that the new maps leave several blocks in Harlem in the East Harlem City Council district, separating them from the rest of the black community, and warned that Staten Island should not remain untouched, despite of demographic disparity.
“If changes are not considered in these districts, then the Commission would be dividing the communities of interest”, assured the Ombudsman. “We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to draw lines. We must use it to ensure fair and accurate representation for all New Yorkers. This should also prioritize people who have experienced the greatest marginalization of this process in the past.”
Asher Ross, Senior Strategist at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), assured that although in the first round of maps proposed by the New York City District Commission for the City Council there are “great achievements for Latino representation” in New York City, particularly in the potential creation of a District 11, with a Latino majority in the Bronx, there are concerns that should be reviewed .
“The new lines proposed districts would divide the historically connected Latino communities of Red Hook and Sunset Park, formerly connected in the District 38 of the Council, who have benefited from strong Latino representation in the past,” Ross assured. “This change would eliminate District 44 as a plural minority district and instead divide the Latinos in two districts with large white pluralities.”
The strategist added that other Latino communities that would be divided under the proposed district lines include Woodside, which is divided by the District 26 proposed, and Ridgewood, which would be divided at the intersection of the proposed Districts 32, 34 Y 37.
“These maps are not yet final, and the New York Immigration Coalition will continue to mobilize with our member organizations and communities to ensure that immigrant voices are heard and recognized in the review process of the New York City District Commission,” Ross warned.
Theo Oshiro, Co-Director Executive Director of Make the Road NY, highlighted the urgency for the redistricting process to ensure that communities receive adequate resources and representation, calling for it to be conducted in a manner that is transparent, fair, and reflective of geographic realities.
“We urge this body to ensure that people of color are represented in the process by respecting one person, one vote; refrain from drawing abusive lines, especially ‘cracking’ and ‘bundling’, respect political subdivisions and communities of interest, especially for underrepresented immigrant, Black, and Latino communities; ensure compactness and contiguity and prioritize citizen participation and transparency”, assured the activist.
“Immigrant communities and communities of color in Queens should stay together where possible. For example, given its large immigrant population, we believe that the core of Woodside should be kept within a district made up largely of immigrants and people of color,” Oshiro said. “Second, we believe that the District 32 should continue to be a district of Queens, given the significant population growth in Queens and the differences between the current district and the proposed one in areas of Manhattan”.
The activist also shared his opposition to Staten Island districts being left untouched, when population growth is slow there.
“While we have thousands of members on Staten Island and they think it’s important that they be well represented, we don’t think it makes sense for Staten Island. The insular districts will have smaller populations than other parts of New York City, particularly when it comes at the expense of Latino and immigrant populations in other parts of the city (such as Sunset Park),” added the immigrant community advocate. “We urge the Commission to reconsider its decision in this regard. We urge you to take seriously the contributions of community members and organizations, especially those in historically underrepresented communities.”
Rosalva Almazán, a member of Make the Road NY, called on the Commission of redesign to not ignore the voices that the communities have raised.
“I have lived in Queens for two decades and am proud to call Woodside home. I am a mother and a small businesswoman. I run my own beauty salon and am active in my community. As this commission considers new districts in Queens, it is very important that the voices of immigrant communities and communities of color are heard, and that we have the representation that we deserve,” said the Latina mother at the hearing on the issue in Harlem. “Immigrant communities and communities of color in Queens need to stick together whenever possible. For example, my community of Woodside has long been a place where immigrants like me come and settle. I think Woodside should stay largely within a district made up largely of immigrants and people of color.”
Redistricting data for the 2023
- 15 members of the board are the ones who draw up the new districts for the 51 future members of the Council
- The purpose of the redesign is to reflect the latest population data collected during the Census of 2020.
- The population of New York City increased by more than 600,000 people in the last 10 years
- Population of Asian New Yorkers 7.7% since 2020
- The Latino population increased 6.6% in the last decade
- The black population decreased by 4.5% from 2010
- A need for districting is to ensure fair representation of racial groups, keep neighborhoods and communities intact
- The difference between the least and most populated districts cannot be more than 5%
- The new map proposes changing boundaries in several districts such as creating a new seat in South Brooklyn that would empower the Asian population in the area.
- Planned keep the three Staten Island seats virtually unchanged, despite its low demographics
- 22 September is the deadline for the Commission to present the final map to the City Council
- Then the legislative body must approve it to be used for the municipal elections of 2023
- Maps must be sent to the City before February 7, 2023, when they will come into force
- Critics claim that in Brooklyn, the Coastal communities from Red Hook south to Coney Island would be highly affected, so it is suggested to keep those communities intact
- In Queens, the District 15, is crossing the East River into Manhattan and removing Roosevelt Island along with several dozen square blocks up to First Avenue from a Manhattan borough and transferring them to the borough of Queens.
- In the Harlem community of Manhattan, there are several blocks that are being removed from District 9 and transferred to District 9. ito 8 of East Harlem) affecting the power of black communities, so they ask that they remain intact within the district of Harlem
- Staten Island stays intact in the redesigns, which is not fair, since the population growth is -4%.
- The District Commission of the City of New York is the entity in charge of redrawing the electoral maps
Ideally, each Council district would include some 172,000 people
22 closed the period for receiving public comments about the initial sketches
Concerns about the lines demarcated in the first sketches