The Chicago Tribune reports on its editorial page today (Saturday, December 17th) that there is one more map that is being held back. It is known in City Council as the "doomsday map."
Two maps have already been introduced in City Council known as the Latino Caucus map and the Black Caucus map. Both sides says their map is best and both sides present compelling cases. Yes, some individual aldermen get hurt in the process. Like the 1st Ward map with the crazy boundary lines. Not square, but squiggly. And the 2nd Ward boundary lines.
Both maps have some support, but neither has the required number of 41 (yet) votes. The Latino Caucus map has 16 sponsors and the Black Caucus map has 32 sponsors. That adds up to 48 sponsors.
It is noted that Alderman Toni Foulkes (15) and Alderman Nicholas Sposato (36) did not sign onto to either the Latino Caucus map or the Black Caucus map. Foulkes and Sposato both have issues with the maps, although they may support one of the maps. As I say, some individual aldermen get hurt in the process.
Back to the "doomsday map."
It simply divides the city into squares. Ward boundaries don't meander all over the place to sort voters into predictable majorities. We hear it achieves near-perfect division of the city population, so each ward has the same number of people. And we hear it is likely to produce a City Council that closely mirrors the racial demographics of the city.
What it doesn't do: Protect incumbents.
Now you know why aldermen call it the doomsday map.
Nice, neat squares. Aldermen would have to find which square they live in and run there and hope for the best. That would mean some hot competition. The last thing aldermen want is a map that disregards their home addresses.
The Chicago Tribune is calling for the "doomsday map" to be placed on the October ballot. Wow, what a concept. A ward map that meets all the requirements except one little one: it protects no one. Not incumbents. Not no one.
Evenly divided wards. In that case, Mayor Emanuel's grid system would not have been necessary.
The "doomsday map" introduced to the City Council: It will never happen.
That map, I feel, will never see the light of day. After all, we are talking about the Chicago City Council.
And human nature.
Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions, johnpresta@att.net.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon.
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