Common Cause/NY, along with NYPIRG and Effective New York, awarded the Salvador Dali prize for most artistically drawn legislative district to the Splattered Bug of the Bronx, Senate District 34.
Reformers have long argued that the method by which the state draws legislative districts is undemocratic and in need of reform.
It is well known that an important factor in maintaining New York State’s political culture is the practice of allowing the majorities in both houses , the State Assembly and the State Senate, to draw their own district lines every ten years. In effect, this practice allows legislators to choose their voters, rather than the other way around.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed to the lines drawn by the majorities in 2012. As part of the 2012 agreement, the governor and the state’s legislative leaders also negotiated constitutional changes to the state’s redistricting process and that proposal will go to voters this November.
The New York Independent Redistricting Amendment is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would create an independent redistricting commission to establish state senate, assembly and congressional districts. The amendment would amend Sections 4 and 5 of the New York Constitution.
Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner argued, “The proposed constitutional amendment sets up a hyper-partisan, expensive and ineffective structure for redistricting. Ultimately this is not an independent process, and the voters lose.”
In a report released this past Monday, the three groups called on voters to reject the fatally flawed redistricting proposal which will be on the ballot this November.
CLICK HERE to read the report.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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