Type:
Public StatementDate of Release or Mention:
Monday, October 18, 2021
Dear Commissioners,
We write to you today to voice our displeasure with the lack of transparency and uniformity in
the new redistricting process thus far, and to urge you again to open up your mapping negotiations to the public so New Yorkers can have their trust in the Commission restored.
When the League supported a Commission-led redistricting structure in 2014, we imagined a
balanced, bipartisan system that would carefully consider the public’s input into proposed maps. We
envisioned a process that was open and transparent,andwould depart from the old, highly partisan
Legislative led system. Unfortunately, thus far,that ideal outcome has not been achieved.
The League hasbeenworking tirelessly to ensure New Yorkers are participating in the
redistricting process –a right guaranteed to them by the 2014 amendment. We are showing the public how to analyze their proposed maps and present compelling public comments, but our work is now twice as hard because you have presented two competing sets of draft maps.
The average New Yorker is already overwhelmed by the complicated nuance of redistricting our
state and congressional district lines, asking them to analyze two sets of proposed maps only furthers that confusion. In addition, the introduction of two maps has disincentivized New Yorkers from participating in the process. Now instead of asking how they can get involved, the public wants to know why it matters because the process appears to be designed to fail.
The public deserves to have their trust in the redistricting process restored. We urge all
Commissioners to come together and work towards a single set of maps that are truly representative of the communities they are meant to serve. Carefully and thoughtfully consider the comments of New Yorkers who have alreadytestified and give great credence to those who will testify in the weeks to come. Finally, we urge you to open up your internal mapping negotiations to the public. Their trust will not be restored without first imbedding transparency in every part of the redistricting processgoing forward.
We write to you today to voice our displeasure with the lack of transparency and uniformity in
the new redistricting process thus far, and to urge you again to open up your mapping negotiations to the public so New Yorkers can have their trust in the Commission restored.
When the League supported a Commission-led redistricting structure in 2014, we imagined a
balanced, bipartisan system that would carefully consider the public’s input into proposed maps. We
envisioned a process that was open and transparent,andwould depart from the old, highly partisan
Legislative led system. Unfortunately, thus far,that ideal outcome has not been achieved.
The League hasbeenworking tirelessly to ensure New Yorkers are participating in the
redistricting process –a right guaranteed to them by the 2014 amendment. We are showing the public how to analyze their proposed maps and present compelling public comments, but our work is now twice as hard because you have presented two competing sets of draft maps.
The average New Yorker is already overwhelmed by the complicated nuance of redistricting our
state and congressional district lines, asking them to analyze two sets of proposed maps only furthers that confusion. In addition, the introduction of two maps has disincentivized New Yorkers from participating in the process. Now instead of asking how they can get involved, the public wants to know why it matters because the process appears to be designed to fail.
The public deserves to have their trust in the redistricting process restored. We urge all
Commissioners to come together and work towards a single set of maps that are truly representative of the communities they are meant to serve. Carefully and thoughtfully consider the comments of New Yorkers who have alreadytestified and give great credence to those who will testify in the weeks to come. Finally, we urge you to open up your internal mapping negotiations to the public. Their trust will not be restored without first imbedding transparency in every part of the redistricting processgoing forward.
To ignore our requests will be a great disservice to our volunteers who have worked to educate
the public, and to all New Yorkers who voted to create this Commission.
Albany*
Brookhaven
Broome and Tioga Counties
Buffalo Niagara
Cattaraugus and Allegany MAL
Central Nassau
Chautauqua
Cortland
Cooperstown
Hamptons, Shelter Island & the North Fork
Huntington
Mid-Hudson
LarchmontMamaroneck
Nassau County ILO
New Castle
New Rochelle
New York City
New York State
North East Westchester
Putnam
Rensselaer*
Rivertowns
Rockland
Rochester
Saratoga*
Scarsdale
Schenectady
Smithtown
Southwest Nassau
Suffolk County ILO
Syracuse
Tompkins
Utica
Westchester
*Capital Region based Leagues previouslysent a letter on this issue on behalf of the One Person One Vote Coalition.*
League to which this content belongs:
Utica-Rome Metropolitan Area
