Wednesday, was supposed to mark a Big Step in the New York’s Process of Redrawing Senate, Assembly, and Congressional Districts, with the release of Proposed Maps from the Independent Redistricting Commission (NYIRC).
It’s unclear whether that step was Forward or Backward.
That’s because the 10-Member Panel, approved by Voters in 2014, and tasked with creating a Bipartisan Solution to Gerrymandered days of yore, said they could Not come to an Agreement.
So the Democratic Commissioners released One Set of Maps, and Republicans Proposed another Set of Maps.
It’s just the First step, and doesn’t mean they won’t reach across the Aisle in the near Future, but Deadlocked Preliminary discussions along Party Lines don’t offer much Reassurance.
And if they don’t Agree on something Lawmakers can Approve, the Democratic Supermajorities in the Legislature get to take Over, the very thing the Commission was supposed to Avoid in the First Place.
And if the Legislsture can't agree on the Maps, if then goes to the Court to Draw them.
That it goes to the Legislture, is a Big possibility, because neither Sets of Maps seem likely to satisfy most Incumbent State or Federal Lawmakers.
Even the Democratic Commissioners’ Proposal for Congressional Districts, thought to be a place the Party could try to pick up some House Seats, maybe Five Republicans, appears to create a Difficult situation. Then there is the problem to decide where the One Seat has to be Removed, were the Democratic Supermajorities would want to pick a Republican Seat.
The Commission is holding Public Hearings, in October and November, and certainly there are plenty of thoughts to be shared, if it is down for Constructive Criticism.
Like this Initial reaction about the Maps: “They don’t seem to be grounded in reality. There just seems to be weird stuff.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment