Local Leagues of Women Voters will host community forums on proposals for Nassau County Redistricting in two areas that may be victim to some of the most extreme changes: the Five Towns, on February 11, and Great Neck on February 13.
The proposal being pushed by Republicans - who have the majority on the County Legislature so have the power to adopt the plan - would split the Five Towns among four legislative districts for the next 10 years.
The plan for Great Neck would slice off Kings Point, Saddle Rock and parts of the village of Great Neck, and attach them to a district which is separated by water.
The League will present a third map, created by The Nassau United Redistricting Coalition which they contend "is a fair, sensible, and non-partisan map," as well as the two maps which were created by the Republican and the Democratic commissioners of the Nassau County Temporary Advisory Districting Commission and presented to the Nassau County Legislature.
The Monday, February 11 meeting beginning at 7:30 pm, focused on the Five Towns, will take place at Hewlett Woodmere Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.
It is being organized by the League of Women Voters of SW Nassau. Nassau County Legislators Howard Kopel, Fran Becker, and Carrie Solages have been invited to join in the conversation.
The League of Women Voters of SW Nassau represents Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Elmont, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Malverne, Valley Stream and Woodmere. The SW Nassau County League is a local league and one of the five that form the League of Women Voters of Nassau County. The League provides information for voter registration and resources to aid citizens in government participation.
Meeting on Redistricting Great Neck
The meeting focused on Great Neck will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 7:30 pm at Great Neck House, 4 Arrandale Avenue, Great Neck.
Nassau County Legislators Judi Bosworth, Wayne Wink, and Richard Nicolello have all been invited to join in the conversation.
The proposed map by the Republican commissioners seems designed to divide and dilute the voting power of the Great Neck area. Legislative districts should keep neighbors together, respect existing community boundaries.
"Fair districts should keep neighbors together and respect existing community boundaries. They must also adhere to the Federal Voting Rights Act. Voting power is reshaped every decade when governments draw new legislative districts. Redistricting should protect and strengthen voting rights. The proposed map by the Republican commissioners seems designed to divide and dilute the voting power of the Five Towns and Great Neck. Legislative districts should keep neighbors together, respect existing community boundaries," the League stated.
The League has called upon the Nassau County Legislature to hold public hearings.
The rules committee failed to take up the redistricting map at its February 4 meeting, when it was expected.
Instead, a special meeting of the Rules Committee has been set for Monday, February 11, 10 am- when it is expected a map will be presented for their recommendation to the full Legislature, on Monday, February 25, when the legislature is likely to vote to adopt a redistricting map.
The County charter stipulates there must be a public hearing on the map prior to it being presented to the Legislature. There is suspicion that the Republicans will call the rules committee meeting on February 11 the public hearing.
There is a March 5 deadline for the Nassau County Legislature to adopt a redistricting map.
See also:
Redistricting Coalition presents nonpartisan map to Nassau County Legislature and slideshow
Republicans, Democrats propose dueling plans to redistrict Nassau County and slideshow
Republican plan to redistrict Nassau County lambasted as 'abomination' and slideshow
Nassau County GOP blindsides Dems: issue redistricting map, set Jan 3 hearing
Karen Rubin, Long Island Populist Examiner
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