After a heated and contentious public hearing on Monday, May 9, the Nassau County Legislature is poised to vote to adopt the redistricting map at its Monday, May 16 meeting.
The intention here, under the guise of preserving "one-man-one-vote," especially in the 2nd Legislative District, where racial minorities and the majority, is to shift population around, eliminate one of the districts, now represented by a popular Democrat, David Denenberg, and create a new District 19, designed to emerge as a third minority/majority district, but one where the Republicans think they will be able to elect their own minority candidate. The calculation is to reach 13 out of 19 seats on the Legislature (as it is, the two minority Legislators, both democrats, have virtually no power because this body is not interested in compromise).
In fact, 544,000 people, or 44% of Nassau County's 1.3 million population, would be shifted to a different district - a scale of shift that is unparalleled. In fact, in 2003, during the last reapportionment (under the Democratic Majority), only 50,000 voters were shifted. Nonetheless, the Republican legislators constantly attacked the Democrats for being "brutal" when they had the reins.
Republican Francis X. Becker, Jr. (LD 6), declared angrily that Valley Stream, East Rockaway and Rockville Center were "split by Democrats in the last redistricting. So it depends on who is doing the gerrymandering" He actually admitted what the Republicans were doing was gerrymandering.
This is all being orchestrated by County Attorney John Ciampoli, who was brought in by County Executive Ed Mangano expressly for his considerable experience (which he boasted of during the late-night public hearing) reapportioning districts.
John Ciampoli made his bones as a political operative for the Republican party. As Counsel for the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Albany, he was tasked with disenfranchising potential Democratic voters such as college students at Bard and Vassar and poorer people who may have moved residences in order to shift the balance to Republican candidates.
But during a public hearing lasting 14 hours and only winding up shortly before midnight, Ciampoli, speaking in velvet tones, presented himself as the noble knight protecting minority voting rights, preserving the cherished principle of "one man-one vote," and the County's guardian against a lawsuit which he contended would be imminent if the County did not address reapportionment.
He cited Sec 112 of the county's charter, which requires that six months after receiving the Census data, the Legislature describe a plan for reapportionment.
That's six months, not six weeks, as Ciampoli and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt are trying to do.
But the "race card" itself is a red-herring, designed to give cover and somehow avoid the smell test of gerrymandering when the plan comes to court, as the Republicans acknowledge is likely. This isn't about preserving or creating minority representation - because even two or three minority members of the board would have no power to actually do anything. It is about carving out a Republican majority for generations. And how goes Nassau County may well go New York State and even the Congress and White House.
On April 25, just two weeks after unveiling the "map" for re-districting, prepared in secret by Ciampoli and two consultants he hired on his own without the Legislature's knowledge or authorization, Schmitt called for one solitary public hearing, on May 9, at 10 a.m. Ostensibly, you are supposed to believe that Ciampoli only began work on the new map on April 15, after being entreated by Schmitt to save the County from a Constitutional catastrophe. That would be just 10 days to create a plan that shifts nearly half of the population into new districts, as described and defined in a 200-page bill.
Despite the fact the meeting was held when most people are at work and in a room with a capacity of only 251, huge contingents from Great Neck, Hempstead and the 2nd District turned out, filled the room, and during an extremely contentious hearing (at one point, police were called to threaten arrest after one man raised the specter of White Hoods and voter suppression), 150 people stood up to oppose the plan, including a few self-declared Republicans. (After 8 hours of public statements, there was only one statement of support, in the form of a letter which Schmitt read into the record).
While most of the speakers accused the Republicans of engineering districts that would "pack" and "crack" to dilute or weaken minority power, and otherwise gerrymander districts to weaken Democrats, what no one noted was that the aim was also to "pack" and "crack" Jewish votes. Besides Great Neck being severed in two, the plan is also to split the Five Towns (2 1/2 Towns), with Woodmere, Inwood and half of Cedarhurst put into a newly created "minority-influenced district" together with parts of Elmont and Valley Stream, leaving Hewlett, Lawrence and the rest of Cedarhurst in the district now represented by Republican Howard J. Kopel.
No one mentioned this. Apparently the fact that Jews are a mere 1% of the population doesn't warrant consideration as a minority worthy of protection in terms of representation. But Jews are targeted as a political and financial base for Democrats. The Republican scheme - manifest across the country - is to weaken whatever source of Democratic influence there is. In Wisconsin and Indiana, it means going after public unions; in Michigan, it means empowering the governor to dissolve villages and install his own "manager"; in Florida, it is a new law making it harder to register and to vote. The reapportionment tactic was used very successfully by Tom DeLay in Texas, helping to turn a Democratic state into a Republican stronghold, which rippled into giving Republicans control of Congress, as well, in 2003.
You may think that Ciampoli's Machiavellian tactics here in Nassau County are just local politics, but already, we have seen how replacing Democrat Craig Johnson with Republican Jack Martins returned the State Senate to Republican control.
"Nassau is the linchpin for the state," attorney Cynthia Kouril, of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council, commented to me. "They are destroying the [Democratic] party." Kouril, an expertise in election law, voter protection and fair elections who told the Legislature that Ciampoli "misrepresented the statute" in order to justify this rush to reapportion, added it is inconceivable for a reapportionment plan to affect 44 percent of voters. "You would have had to have a cataclysm" like a Hurricane Katrina uprooting entire communities, to warrant that scale of redistribution.
While Ciampoli kept reiterating his refrain that his plan complies with the Constitution, and satisfies the requirements of "compact" and "contiguous," Kourcil pointed to the map and the odd shapes of the newly drawn districts - a T-Rex, a telephone receiver - the fact that in one district, you would have to travel over water (no bridge) and through two other districts to get to the other side - as the very definition of gerrymandering. (Later, Republican Legislator Francis X Becker admitted as much.)
Ciampoli and Schmitt kept insisting that the census shifts mandated the County act immediately to change the boundaries.
No one actually disputed that the new census figures required reapportionment. The only point that was made, over and over, is that the county charter allows six months for this first step (of a three-step process), and that the process requires input from local communities, with consideration for alternate plans. That's what happened in 2001, when Democrat Judy Jacobs was in charge, with a final plan adopted in 2003 after a series of hearings and alternative plans with the result that 50,000 people were shifted, compared to 544,000 in this plan.
Ciampoli had pointed out that all around the state, counties had come up with new maps - but he failed to mention that each and every one, including Westchester, Rockland, Erie, Albany, had has many as 11 public hearings before adopting their new map.
After the public had cleared out, around 6 pm, the Legislature reconvened just after 8 pm. with Ciampoli now answering questions from the Legislators. None of the Republicans asked questions - reserving their comments to attacks on Democrats who did.
The Democrats attempted, with little success, to get at what process, what method was used to derive this map, when Ciampoli began the process and whether he had discussed reapportionment with the County Executive or Republican leadership at the county or state level.
Campoli conveyed the impression that the map and the 200-page legislation to define the new districts were accomplished in a mere three-weeks time, after the 2010 Census data was reported on April 1, but gave contradictory statements. At one point he said he had been working on the plan for a year, then he said he had been "thinking about it" and studying case law, but began the process of actually re-drawing maps on his own initiative, before receiving an official request from Schmitt, on April 15. He at first said he had no discussions with Republican leadership and then said he probably did "in passing."
But there were questions I wanted to ask, and I was disappointed that the Democrats didn't. For example, Ciampoli indicated that he relied on more than the census data - demographics, ages of people - and was fully well aware of voter registrations and voting patterns in terms of "making sure" the sanctity of the minority/majority districts were preserved. He knew exactly what proportion of a district voted for Obama, Schumer, Rice, Weitzman in 2008 and under the new plan. But no one asked how he applied that information to redrawing Great Neck, the Five Towns, and the other Democratically-controlled districts, particularly the district represented by David Denenberg, who is a particular target for elimination.
In fact, no one has explored the difference between population - which is what the Census is all about - and voter numbers at all.
Indeed, LD2 district is being split so that black sections are being sent to a predominantly white (and affluent) district, while a section that is Hispanic and known to have a large non-citizen (therefore non-voting) population is being kept in.
As Legislator Judi Bosworth pointed out in her questioning of Ciampoli, the shifts proposed by his map, changing from a north-south to an east-west configuration, seemed more calculated, than just trying to reach the ideal population of 70,637.
"Our District 10, has 70,502 population, when 70,637 is the target, so it is off by 135 people, which is 0.2% deviation. So for a point-2 deviation, you are changing almost half the district," she asserted.
"In District 11, where there is 72,724 population, the deviation is 3.2%, after redistricting. In fact, though the 10th actually was almost at ideal, after redistricting, there would now be difference of only 1,557 with a deviation of 2.2%, so it would be worse in the 10th, and the 11th would be only marginally better. So it is difficult to understand."
Ciampoli argued that the overriding issue was to "protect town lines" - and reduce the number of cuts from 7 in the 2003 redistricting, to only 3.
Legislator Wayne Wink challenged Ciampoli on his justification of carving up districts in order to reduce the number of town "cuts," noting that throughout New Yor State, most townships have 10,000 to 15,000 population - akin to Long Island villages - but here in Nassau, 250,000 is the smallest township. "This is not matter of town lines being sacrosanct, because village lines are more closely akin to town on state level, when village lines being severed, but that apparently doesn’t merit consideration by town attorney."
Ciampoli replied, "Town lines are part of guidelines enshrined in state law; village lines don’t have the same deference, and accordingly I followed that hierarchy."
"It’s hard to believe that though you are now respecting the town line, because you have not only cut Great Neck Peninsula in half, but also divide villages, which is unthinkable," Bosworth retorted. Great Neck Plaza is just one-third square mile, but it is the downtown, the transportation and commercial hub for the entire Peninsula. Yet, under Ciampoli's plan, this tiny village is split along Middle Neck Road, the main shopping street and thoroughfare. "That is very problematic for the mayor and one could understand why."
Pleading for More Time, More Input
But that is the bigger point that all the opponents made during the course of this solitary public hearing:
"It might have been nice to see different choices, so with public input, we might have been able to avoid splitting Great Neck Plaza, Great Neck Estates and Thomaston in two, and splitting Lake Success off entirely. That's of great concern to my community. This is what happens when you don’t have the benefit of proper community involvement, or understand new boundaries, which from my perspective, don’t have any rhyme or reason."
She was being kind, suggesting it was just Ciampoli's lack of familiarity with the communities he was slicing and dicing, rather than a more politically strategic intention.
Consider, though, what diluting Great Neck's votes and our political clout that comes with being a unified community would mean: County Executive Ed Mangano would have been able to close the 6th Precinct and shut down Long Island Bus service (still a possibility with Mangano's plan to privatize the service), and Tom Suozzi would have been able to force us to shut down our waste treatment plant here and pipe our waste to Cedar Creek on the south shore.
Ciampoli, the Karl Rove of Nassau County politics, knows that Great Neck Peninsula is one of the most unified communities in the country and splitting Great Neck also dilutes one of the most significant power bases for the Democratic party left on Long Island.
Legislator Judi Bosworth stated, "Mr. Schmitt and the caucus are attempting to rush redistricting whereby more than half-million voters, 44% would be moved to new district. It’s plain wrong, most likely illegal, and should not be lauded by the county attorney who has a long history of voter suppression."
Meanwhile, Democrat Robert Troiano, Legislator for LD 2, with a sly smile at Vincent Muscarela, the Republican Legislator for LD 8, warned that he is in for a new world, should he pick up that portion of LD 2 that is presently virtually entirely minority.
Amazingly, with all the census data that Ciampoli said he used, he said he did not consider median income when drawing the new districts, and did not see any problem, whatsoever, in pulling out a portion of Old Westbury into LD2, the minority/majority district, or breaking off the Village of Hempstead, and putting it in the same district as Garden City.
Ciampoli tried to divert attention away from the process or underlying strategy used to create the new map, telling the lawmakers this was "irrelevant". The only thing that should is relevant, he claimed, was the map itself, that it comply with constitutional requirements and standards for "one-man-one-vote" so that the County not be subject to a lawsuit. He said the fact that the 2nd LD, now represented by Democrat Robert Troiano, had a 14% deviation (that is, 14 percent more population than the ideal number of 70,637), was sufficient "crisis" to warrant immediate action - not even waiting the allowed six months, as per the County charter.
Legislator Wayne Wink, though, pointed out the flaw in that argument, citing Supreme Court decisions which disregarded the "deviation" (by as much as 80% in Wyoming), in favor of an opportunity for public input and due consideration. He said that the case law all pointed to the fact that Sec 112 required only that the county demonstrate that it was acting to remedy the disparities in the districts; that the creation of a bipartisan commission to create the new lines in a deliberative way, would be sufficient to shield the county from a lawsuit. but more significantly, Sec 112 which Ciampoli and Schmitt keep citing as the imperative to adopt the new map now, without bipartisan or public input, allows for six months to act.
"This is intended to be a roadmap with public participation, with a bipartisan commission, and you are obviating that by denying public participation outside the 18 hours today...and you expect 7 days from now we will make this law," He called the public hearing "a charade" and then said Ciampoli's legal "counsel" was suspect.
"Ever since the hearings to appoint you, we have heard time and again about voter suppression and voter intimidation you have participated in directly, that’s what taints this entire process," Wink said. "You, without any public input, shift 44% of entire population, 544,000 shifted under your tutelage, your guidance, with no public input, and based on your record on voter intimation in Yonkers, at Bard College, and all over the state, that is what has pre-ordained the outcome of these lines- your involvement in them, your history."
This prompted moans from the Republican side and a rebuke of Wink from John J. Ciotti (R-LD 3), who otherwise asked no other probing questions of the County Attorney.
Schmitt said he fully expected a lawsuit over the reapportionment map, and in fact, "That’s fine with me too."
This is the guy who justifies cuts in programs that benefit the poor, the elderly, children, disabled, and would happily see cuts to bus service because Nassau county is broke (another "crisis"), and yet has money to fritter away on a failed lawsuit to keep out NIFA, and now a reapportionment plan where the new districts look like a Rorschach test.
Ciampoli indicated that with his handy-dandy computer program, he could probably make amendments to the map PDQ ("I live to serve," he quipped in answer to a question from Legislator Kevan Abrahams). Schmitt, who during the hearing professed no understanding of the term "bloodsoaked" used by a Hempstead resident to reflect concern over loss of voting rights, also gave the barest hint that he might be open to making some changes in light of the virtually unanimous opposition expressed during the public hearing.
"Based on the outpouring of folks, it’s quite possible you will be taking a look at different avenue?" Abrahams said hopefully "It's quite possible," Schmitt replied, possibly more to end the hearing. "I am well aware I am taking my cue from tenor and tone of public comment – the Democrats comments, Great Neck, Uniondale. They are not too happy with what is proposed, I am aware."
But Schmitt also steeled himself, manifesting that wonderful (that is, obnoxious) machismo that Republicans are strutting around the country, saying d he fully expected a lawsuit over the reapportionment map, and in fact, "That’s fine with me too."
At points, the public hearing disintegrated into a shouting match, and the comments turned on Schmitt and the way he was handling the hearing.
"I am shocked and appalled at how you have addressed the public with no concern for our needs," declared Regis Thompson, NY Democratic club. "It shows me hatred, not love prevails on this committee… Your neighbors must be shocked you have taken off the sheets."
To which Presiding Officer Schmitt retorted, "if you are the best that the Hempstead Democratic Club can offer...." sparking a huge uproar. Two Hempstead men rallied to her side, Ramel Smith and Dennis Jones and police were summoned, threatening to arrest them, and escorted them out to the lobby. The situation cooled off and all three returned.
Later, Ramel Smith addressed the board from the podium saying, "My grandmother and grandfather were Gertude and Johnny Smith. In the 1960s, they were beaten by police with bolts at the bottom of their clubs. They fought for me to have a right to have my vote heard, as well as my mother and my son. You telling me today, to hell with my grandparents, mother, son."
More Highlights from the Hearing
Here are some highlights from the testimony at Monday's sole public hearing on the plan for reapportionment:
Minority Leader Diane Yatauro: "As I look out at huge crowd gathered, I am both encouraged and deeply angered – encouraged to see so many of constituents care so deeply about what is about to transpire, and are here to fight to stop this madness: cynical, hastily drawn map, in secret by couple of Republican operatives, Ciampoli at the direction of County Executive Ed Mangano and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, angry at so-called public hearing is held at the County seat rather than out in the community, and on a weekday morning, when most can’t attend because of work, angry because this hearing is nothing but a farce. The Republican caucus are going to hear you out, make some nice dip0lomatic phrases.
"The move of over 44% of the population, at the expense of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, ishurried in direct contradiction of the charter, but business as usual [for the Republicans]. This is how the self-serving Republican protection plan will play out.
"I know Schmitt will claim to be the great protector of minority, despite voting against their judges, commissioners and community interests… He would turn the Five Towns into 2 ½ towns, sever villages, dilute communities, and the rights of veterans, union workers...
"This will end up again, in court – that’s where we will fight. We want to use the right process – a nonpartisan redistricting commission, with hearings in the very communities that are affected and redraw the lines for 2013," Yatauro said.
County Attorney John Ciampoli: "This is a historic moment in this County’s history. It presents an opportunity for enfranchisement and empowerment, this is not a county subject to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, yet this legislature pursuant to your directive has chosen to create a new minority/majority district in the western end, and to level the playing field in that part of the county to choose a representative of their choice."
Valerie Fineman, Great Neck: "I appalled at what is being done here today… This redistricting is proposed with undue haste, rushing the allowed time available from the 6 months you have available…. It also demonstrates the blatant, unlawful, and illegal power grab…. This doesn’t represent the will of the people involved. The equal franchise is not represented by this plan, every community is hurt or divided by it. Time is needed to respond to local community needs and interests."
Louise Hochberg, Great Neck United Parent Teacher Council: "The County Attorney relies on Sec 112, but it is Sec 113 that tells us how to accomplish the redistricting mandated by 112: 113 says there shall be a temporary redistricting advisory commission established each legislative term in which the legislature is required to apportion the county legislative districts as a result of the federal decennial… You can’t pick and choose which sections of the charter you will follow and when you will follow… Why are you circumventing the bipartisan spirit in which our charter tells us to approach the redistricting issue?"
Naomi Feldheim, Reach Out America, Great Neck: "What you are doing is antithetical to the concept of community. You are not representing us, and we will remember in November… This is obfuscation of citizens rights. It’s a sham and a shame and we will not tolerate being treated this way, being disenfranchised this way and being robbed of our right to representation."
Elaine Smith, Uniondale: "I finally realized that you and your GOP team have no idea. This is a mockery, you are making a mockery out of the American dream, and you are stepping on the 1965 Voting Rights Act…. I am not going to let you turn us around. We are going to stay here until this is clearly resolved."
Lisa Tyson, Bellmore, director of Long Island Progressive Coalition: "Our coalition is dedicated to social, economic, racial justice. There is no question those issues are not being addressed by this board correctly. We do not want this to pass. One week's time is not enough to understand the impact of what your decisions are...This is like Karl Rove and weapons of mass destruction. This county is one of the most segregated in the country – this redistricting will continue to segregate the county – gives such a bad message to people of color that rules and civil rights don’t matter. To split Hempstead into 3 districts is ridiculous..."
Jimmy Kwan, UPTC, Great Neck: "I'm a naturalized citizen… This country, despite its current economic malaise continues to be a bright beacon to the world because of accessibility of the democratic process and abiding by the rule of law. What you are doing here today is breaching both of those principles. In county charter, sec 112 is accomplished by following 113 – forming a temporary bipartisan commission. No where in 112 does it state you have to do [reapportionmwent] immediately. You should have already convened that commission instead of doing the nonsense of the colorful maps .."
Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender: "This redistricting map presente one of worst gerrymandered district lines in the county – stand opposed.... My village is one of smallest in teh state, just one-third square mile, yet the districd lines cut it in half –. We had flat growth – only 297 people in 10 years, so this is not being drawn to apportion population. How many villages are split? Don’t repeat the mistakes of past redistricting – go back to the drawing board and keep Great Neck villages intact….We shouldn’t be combined with Port Washington because we are northern – two are distinct, developed separate and apart – We want a commission as first step as required by county charter, that would develop and present to legislation that is meaningful reform, to accomplish the population shifts and equitability you are looking for, and hold more hearings so public has opportunity to be heard. Why rush? People want a voice, and not be disenfranchised…."
Laurie Schultz, President of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset: "Ciampoli mentioned other counties undergoing redistricting – Westchester Albany – and declared the Nassau County charter as superior. What he has failed to mentio nis the process and procedures underway in these other counties since the winter – Westchester, the process was overseen by the League of Women Voters, the chairman of board of Westchester legislature and the board’s legislative committee and retained a demographer. In Albany County, a reapportionment commission included the two political parties and residents in such a proportion as to reasonably reflect the demographic composition of the county. In Nassau County, the method for drawing has not been superior. It has been completely flawed. This rush job redistricting process has had no public input or representation, no public hearings, no two-party input and no public discussion of its impact. Civic associations like ours work hard to buiild relationships with legislators and it is extremely upsetting to see these relationships trashed and discarded without public input. We strongly suggest you scrap this plan and form a commission reflective of the demographic distributions of the county."
Elizabeth Allen, Great Neck: "Barely 3 weeks have passed since you directed the county Attorney to come up with a plan. He must have had a brainstorm, that he could produce drawing of maps – we have not seen …. You are disenfranchising all of us. This shameful display of political manipulation has shocked and angered all. If the proposed redistributing is really about equitable voting, then you are off to a really, but revealing, bad start. You might as well recollect that the only reason Mangano is part of this process is that Suozzi ran afoul of his own constituents, allowing Mangano to succeed [by 400 votes]. A lot of political resentment that you have fired up – recent history ought to tell all of you that payback is something we know about."
Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall: "the County Attorney says districts should have common socioeconomic district, similar history, customs, mores, and the strength of minority community cannot be diluted, but the village of Hempstead would be part of Garden City, Garden City South, Stewart Manor, West Hampstead and Franklin Square, and Old Westbury. What kind of common values, other than we are all human beings, is that? The strength of our minority voters has been diluted, because the old 2 LD has 50% African-Caribbean, now cut to 38%, that’s dilution of our votes. The districts should be able to elect their own representative, but who would be? Mr. Muscarella? I see Terrace Avenue in village of Hempstead, now will be in your district – so Mr Muscarella, how would you address the immediate need of a mother who has not received child subsidy, and who should be called? You are splitting my village in 3 parts for representatives who don’t have a clue about the problems of Hempstead, and we’re not going to stand for that. The County is broke and we will go to lawsuits and you will lose."
Hempstead Town Board member Dorothy Goosby, a Democrat whose 1988 civil rights lawsuit upended the longtime at-large voting system in Long Island's largest town: "Your proposed action and this plan flies in the face of all those cases. It is not acceptable to take us back 30 years and disregard civil rights. – your proposal to redraw lines and split districts now rather than allow the process [of a bipartisan commission] is an abuse of your power, and a smack in the face for all the people you serve....You should be ashamed of what you have done; packing and cracking the black vote, diluting black voters voting strength and done so for your own political gain. Outrageous. Splitting communities like Hempstead, Westbury, Valley Stream, and the 5 towns, soon to be 2 towns, and not put minorities back to be voting majorities violates the Voting Rights Act.
Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman, with the Mayors of Kensington, Russell Gardens, Lake Success and Great Neck Plaza: "It is inconceivable to me that you could announce on April 25 that you will redistrict, in 14 days have a public hearing, and have a vote on it a week later. This is not the democratic process. It is inconceivable to me that with the demographic changes and population changes you have indicated that you could possibly redistrict 44% of the residents of this county and 576,000 residents. You kept talking about an 'adjustment' – that ‘s one hell of an adjustment. With respect to Great Neck peninsula, changes in population and demographics have been small . Great Neck Peninsula, with 9 villages, is a community with one Village Officials Association, one school district, one library association, one park district, one train station, we even have special intermunicipal agreements that serve the villages, school, parks in the event of an emergency. We are called the Great Neck Peninsula – given the demographic changes, you seek to cut 3 villages in half, cut off south half and attach to another piece. That is not an adjustment. I’ve heard many comments about ‘both sides of the aisle’ – we have lots of Democrats and Republicans in Great Neck Peninsula I don’t care about side of aisle, I care about our residents. You have to do this right, follow the process, get public input and come up with solution…"
Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin: "We have 40,000 residents of our community. We are one community, contiguous. We deserve one representative in the Nassau County Legislature or else our voices will be muted if not silenced."
Lake Success Mayor Ron Cooper: "The rush to judgment to effect redistricting without receiving input from people you serve brings into question what is really motivating this change in representation. This redistricting is politically motivated, sense of community that your action is no different. Your leadership is required to help right to ship and bring fiscal sanity to community while richest in nation, is on the brink of financial crisis. In a flawe3d redistricting plan, as exemplified by breaking cohesive community into two, does nothing to solve the problems that need your attention. Appoint a commission to study whether redistricting is justified and bring a thoughtful plan, in which the people you serve have participated
Russell Gardens Mayor Matthew Bloomfield: "Ciampoli says comments depend on who is doing the gerrymandering.... We are happy with Judi, she knows our community, please consider letting Judi represent our community… Rather than make this a rush to judgment, putting something in temporary for next year, let’s all work together, work according to the law, do it the right way and not rush to judgment."
Roger Clayman, Executive Director of Long Island Federation of Labor: "This issue of haste and deliberation. We are concerned about the election of minority candidates, men and women who reflect the make up of Nassau County, and the composition of our own diverse labor movement. If the Republican plan really protects the interest of minority districts, it should be discussed thoroughly so that everyone can be sure of it. One week is not time enough o get this right. We are concerned about the effect of plan on those representatives and legislators who stand up for working men and women and trade union movement, and we suspect this won’t go in the right way as far as they are concerned.... We are vry important that we have a representative democracy, that everyone can believe in, that you get back to us, stand up for working people and not move in direction of radical fringe."
Charlene Thompson, Baldwin: "I am a registered Republican for 25 years, a committee person, here today because I am deeply and gravely concerned about this process. It is almost making me embarrassed to say I am Republican. I applaud you for stating you are protecting our constitutional rights, but this timetable, I take issue with how going about it....You propose to say you are here to protect rights. I see dismantling of rights, and disenfranchisement of rights. As a Republican today, I make an appeal to my fellow Republiccans – I know how the Republican party works – longstanding machine, we are supposed to walk lock step. I would urge you today to use your independent judgment, to look at this for what it is, we will remember what happens here, and understand, not okay to follow blindly some times."
Robin Garrison, Westbury-New Castle, NAACP Youth –This whole redistricting reminds me of separate but equal. You have the power, and you are using it in unjust way. Be mindful that so-called 'you people,' we think, we vote, we participate ... For you to be so eager to fix it, it leaves this voter to think there is ulterior motives. …I spoke to a Republican elected official, who shared with me, 'We will diminish the minority participation by 50 percent,'. But of course I won’t divulge the name of the person."
Paula Blum, Executive Director of the Nassau County League of Women Voters: "I believe is being rushed in time for the 2011 election… It is not uncommon for people in power to remain in power by gerrymandering, by packing and splitting districts; computer software now enables a level of precision. Redistricting should not be done behind the scenes – it is too important to be done in haste. We support reform, including establishment of criteria for redrawing lines and requiring a fair and transparent process. The public should know by whom the lines are drawn; this information has not been made available. It should be by a duly authorized commission, independent, nonpartisan, and one not comprised of legislators or staff...This plan is to draw lines for 2011, and then again for 2013 – this in addition to legal problems, incurs additional costs on our already fiscally strapped county. I urge the County Legislature to keep the current lines for 2011, appoint a commission, and take the necessary time to deliberate."
Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, to Paula Blum: "So it is the opinion of the League that we should ignore the one-man, one vote?
Blum: "Absolutely not, but we don’t believe the legal opinion is necessarily accurate. There are other legal opinions..
Schmitt: "Thank you for your comments, we really missed them 8 years ago."
Delores Malloy, Uniondale: "I have concerns and outrage over this process, water down, dilute and ultimately strip minority communities to fully engage in the electoral process – backroom deals, underhanded politicking, you want to slice, dice, carve up our district and use the voting process as political chess game. We are aware, fully aware, of what you are attempting to do under the guise of what is best for the minority voter…. This has nothing to do with redistricting, but everything to do with weakening minority participation, divide and conquer, a power grab by the Republican party. We will not be quiet, lay down, roll over and play dead. We will remain vigilant, angry, in your face for as long as it takes. We will continue to be a thorn in your side. You have drawn a line in the sand, you have chosen to plot to scheme, to force, and then you tell us the process can’t wait. The process can wait. You know it’s wrong."
Ciampoli: "The charter directs we comply with legal requirements. I believe this map proposed accomplishes that, and I take great offense to the accusations that the plan was drawn with malevolent intent. Districts are compact, contiguous and constitutional."
Cynthia Kourcil Glen Cove, New York Democratic Lawyers Council: "There is a 'plain meaning' rule: when you can tell from plain language what the statue means, must follow the plain language. In point of fact, 112 says you are to describe the districts- a point that Judy Jacobs tried to make – and today I heard a very eloquent description of the districts, during Schmitt’s statements – he described and what wanted, and if your legislation did what that statement said, none of us would be here. The drawing of the lines are not authorized in 112; that is authorized in 113 by a bipartisan commission, its duties are prescribed. Only the commission, not the legislature or the attorney that has the authority to hire consultants to draw the line…
Schmitt reads a letter from Geraldine Barrows, Hempstead, In Troiano's district 2. "My district has grown at a faster pace than most – others gotten smaller, Unless this legislature acts, my vote won’t count as much as others. That is not fair: Why should my constitutional rights not count as much… I understand there are those who want to delay redistricting until next year. What does that do to my vote? That violates my rights. No policy trumps our constitutional right. I urge this body to act."
Abdul Hakim, Hempstead (Schmitt notes, used to be with Craig Johnson) "I am totally appalled This is total disrespect of the minority communities. I won’t sit here and let you defy that blood-soaked legislation."
Schmitt: "Explain to me what 'bloodsoaked' means."
Hakim: "People have died to have the right to vote... How is the splitting up communities- like Elmont, and joining them to portions of Five Towns, strengthen their ability to elect people of their choice?"
Ciampoli, noting references to federally protected districts: "This is not a County that is subject to mandatory provisions of the Voting Rights Act, as are counties like Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Nonetheless, the Voting Rights Act is the gold standard to which we aspire. The words from the Presiding Officer were to preserve minority/majority districts and recognize emerging minority population.."
Jonathan Drake, Merrick (whose family fought in the American Revolution and described himself as a Republican): "I smell something very odd and strong and not good..."They came from era of Enlightenment. I don’t see much enlightenment here It was an Age of Reason, I don’t see things reasonable here. They have streets and avenues named after them because they did good things, not stupid things… You work for us, not for yourselves. [Dave Denenberg] works for 'We the People.' This redistricting– I smell something rotten).
Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli: "Town lines are part of the guidelines enshrined in state law; village lines don’t have the same deference, and accordingly, we followed that hierarchy."
Legislator Wayne Wink, Jr.: "Cuts in town lines, and why that’s significant – most townships in New York state have a population of 10,000-15,000 per township; in Nassau county, 250,000 is the smallest township. this is not matter of town lines being sacrosanct because village lines are more closely akin to town on state level, but when village lines being severed, that apparently doesn’t merit consideration by town attorney."
Dr. Mary Taylor, Hempstead, NAACP member: "We do not have sufficient information; we don’t even have an identifiable map [with streets marked] that lets us know who is going here or there. I am dismayed at the conduct, the disrespect, the condescending manner with which we’ve been addressed, the anger the dismay at this kind of proceeding at this point in our history – bload-soaked…. 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'.... It is blatant here today, we’re treading over paths with tears, blood of the slaughtered. There was a fight for equal rights, the right to vote."
Eldorado McNair asks, "What other alternatives were considered other than this community-busting alternative?"
Ciampoli responds, "I reject the characterization of this is a 'community-busting proposal.' It is driven by the principle of one-man-one-vote. This map was developed based on directives from the presiding officer; each district was looked at carefully, exceeded either of two historic plans by percentage of deviation… guided by existing legislative districts which had to be adjusted."
Vivianne Russell, North Hempstead Councilmember: "I am embarrassed as an elected official - this process is unfair, unjust to the people we serve..you are a disgrace;.. Are you going to take what yu heard today into consideration, before you make any decision? ...it can be perceived that your mind is already made up… you are to take the public comment into consideration before you make a vote. I ask the other legislators to take into consideration what you have heard and make a responsible decision, if possible, reserve decision..We are in a democratic society, and whether you like it or not, we need to follow a democratic process, and this is not a democratic process... What is the purpose for the rush? How can you make an informed decision with one public hearing, something that is typically done in six months – in 2-3 weeks you will make a decision that will impact communities for a decade."
Schmitt: "We were put on notice that we were in violation of constitution. The 14.5% deviation in LD 2 – must be corrected now…."
Russell: "The same way you made the map, you could have put a committee together to look at the information from the census and come up with a map that does correct the problem. We’re not asking you not to do anything, but we're asking you to do something that is fair and just for everyone, not for one political party. Enough politics."
Legislator Judy Jacobs, Presiding Officer during the 2001, 2003 reapportionment: "10 years ago, we decided to meet the requirements for Sec. 112 by adopting what was, 19-0, in order to move us to the final year with a full commission, all the meetings, all the working sessions, then in the following year, we voted the line so would be done in 2003. We certainly did not create a line in 2001, with knowledge that would have to create a whole new line for 2003. Eight years ago, the one map was voted along party lines but it was result of all the meetings, all the input, and a change of legislative district for 50,000 people versus half a million.. Nassau county continued to function in those 2 years while we waited for redistricting [without a lawsuit]. I haveno doubt we could function as we are and still survive."
Ciampoli: "Those facts then are not the facts today."
Stephen Anchin, Hewlett, Five Towns: "This is devastating to all our communal organizations. Why hasn't our own legislator Howard Kopel said anything? I don’t know where your voice is, I know you know this is not going to be a good thing for where we live – despite fact that part of the community will go into the so-called minority district, 52% minority. I don’t know how you can stand by and not defend your community. A lot of communities are being split. We’re being thrown to the roadside on the altar of minority-majority district. It amazes me – apparently you can only walk in lockstep with your party, just following orders and we know what kind of soldiers just followed orders and we would have thought you wouldn’t. We need you to defend our community and hope you will defend… You represent all the people in the Five Towns. We need you to vote no."
Karen Rubin, Long Island Populist Examiner
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© 2011 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com or email krubin723@aol.com.
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