Public Comments Return to Archived Submissions Page
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Barbara
February 7, 2023
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Jacob
February 7, 2023
There are a number of issues with the map, but the biggest for the 44th Assembly District is that the commission cuts Windsor Terrace into two Assembly Districts, by making the Prospect Expressway the dividing line, rather than the natural boundary of Green-Wood Cemetery. Additionally, the commission draws a dividing line at Dahill Road instead of Fort Hamilton Parkway, cutting out several blocks in Kensington which have been in the 44th AD for decades. I ask the commission to restore Green-Wood Cemetery along 20th Street to be the western border of the 44th AD, not the Prospect Expressway as in the draft plan, and Green-Wood Cemetery along McDonald Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway out to 39th Street as the Northern boundary between the 44th and 51st ADs. This is a shift of only a few blocks but it makes complete sense geographically. Without this change, the portions of Kensington and Windsor Terrace cut out of the 44th AD will be a small afterthought in the 51st AD, divided from that district by the hundreds of acres of Green-Wood Cemetery. In addition, this would divide the Schools zones of PS 130, PS154 among others. Keeping consistency in the school zones representation is an important factor to consider. The 51st AD contains most of the thriving neighborhoods of Sunset Park and Red Hook, and those neighborhoods historically dominate that district. The inevitable result of the draft plan is that the few blocks of Windsor Terrace and Kensington attached to the vast bulk of Sunset Park and Red Hook will be underserved. Beyond that, there are some blocks in Prospect Park South that they cut out, particularly Westminster Road to Rugby Road between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road, which could be restored by simply drawing the dividing line on Church Avenue rather than Albemarle Road. In addition, there are a number of blocks in Kensington and West Midwood that have been cut out, even though they have also been in the district for 30 years. I've highlighted the impacted area on the attached map. This neighborhood should remain as part of the 44th Assembly District.
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Leonard
February 7, 2023
Dear Commissioners, I write to express my strong opposition to the Comissioner's draft plan that would move Sutton Place, Roosevelt Island and other parts of the east side into Assembly District 36 in Queens. The draft proposal clearly violates several NYS Constitutional districting requirements. I strongly urge you to SCRAP the draft plan and not create a disastrous, inefficient, and ineffective two borough district. Respectfully Leonard Oppenheimer 60 Sutton Place South
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Jin
February 7, 2023
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Thank you for considering Roosevelt Island’s needs when determining the redistricting map for New York State’s Assembly. I strongly oppose the current proposal which removes Roosevelt Island from Manhattan’s District 76 and places it in Queens District 36.
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barry
February 7, 2023
I write to express my opposition to the commission draft plan that would move Sutton Place and other parts of the east side into Assembly District 36 in Queens. The draft violates several New York State Constitutional districting requirements. Sutton Place and the East Side face different issues regarding housing, tax policy, transportation and other issues then Queens. Sutton Place and the East Side are not Queens and Queens is not the East Side. Please. please don't create a two-borough district. Respectfully, Barry Fortus
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Virginia
February 7, 2023
February 7, 2023 Dear Commissioners, This comment concerns my opposition to the Commission’s draft plan that would merge neighborhoods in Assembly District #73 on Manhattan's East Side - starting at East 42nd Street north-bound into Queens Assembly District 36. Since 2017, I've resided in the Turtle Bay neighborhood only 2 city blocks from the United Nations Headquarters on 1st Avenue and across 1st Avenue facing the United Nations Headquarters, is my community's Dag Hammarskjold Plaza - a beautiful park that houses the lovely Katherine Hepburn Garden. Since the January 2020 pandemic, my Turtle Bay community has gone downhill with increased crime - - pharmacies, banks and 'mom & pop' shops robbed despite NYPD efforts to control it. There's a NYC homeless shelter at the Vanderbilt YMCA on East 47th Street & 2nd Avenue - a football field distance from Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, a Catholic Church and a school that has been occupied by many homeless folks who have not only harassed parents, their children and residents but also, have used the tree shaded Plaza as a toilet - even in daylight hours. Additionally, homeless folks loiter and panhandle in the Plaza making it an unpleasant visit for residents to sit on a park bench to relax, read a book or newspaper. Few, if any - even dog walkers are seldom there at night when it's dark. NYPD Pct. #17 does its best to maintain a civil environment but these issues have gone on for over 3 years with no end in sight. Then, there's the UN General Assembly every year for 2 weeks that brings together leaders of nations including President Biden, bringing traffic jams, loud blasting sirens, very limited parking spaces for residents, sidewalks congested with people and restaurants are filled with foreign dignitaries and their staff creating a situation that is full of problems for residents. Department of Sanitation pick-up times have been reduced - resulting in street corner trash receptacles overflowing with garbage spilled on sidewalks on 1st and 2nd Avenues in front of supermarkets, M-15 bus stops, restaurants in addition to table & chair setups on sidewalk coffee shops like Dunkin Donuts & Starbucks where residents enjoy watching people, socializing and sipping a hot cup of coffee. So, do Queens residents have the very same problems and gripes in their backyard? I doubt it because Manhattan and Queens neighborhoods which do not embrace the same city culture, have different issues to address, fix them and improve their quality of life. Then, in addition to the Manhattan and Queens communities different issues, consideration must be given to affordable housing, cost for rental apartments, their tax policy, public transportation, open city spaces - especially in Manhattan with more office buildings, hotels and the list goes on. In closing, the draft proposal would create many difficulties for residents who have different needs and troubles to get fixed with the help from elected representatives and city agencies. This is a bad plan that needs to be shelved permanently so Manhattan and Queens residents can address their separate issues in a tough City to improve their quality of life, their children's education and live in a safe environment. I respectfully request you to disapprove the draft plan and not create a two-borough district. Regards, Virginia Hess 349 East 49th Street, Apt. #4A New York, NY 10017 cell # 917-215-7307
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Albert
February 7, 2023
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Thank you for uniting RICHMOND HILL, OZONE PARK & SOUTH OZONE PARK as a solid, compact, contiguous community of interests, as per Map "AL." Your bipartisan consensus is compelling, and confirms that this community should finally, after decades of fighting and begging, be finally given a seat at the table, a voice and its piece of the great American dream! It is the only community that has NO representation at any level of government! Dismantle this apartheid system which treats us unfairly! Thank you! See testimony.
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Sarah
February 6, 2023
Hard to believe the same absolutely absurd previously proposed district boundaries for NYC's Upper East Side/Roosevelt Island have risen from the dead and are now back in NYS's proposed redistricting plan!! Warm as our feelings are for our across-the-river neighbors in Queens and support them, we - as does Roosevelt Island - have different concerns and needs... Queens' needs that should not be diluted. Most sincerely, Sarah Woodside Gallagher
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Catherine
February 6, 2023
Not only are Turtle Bay and Queens very different geographically but Turtle Bay faces very unique challenges with the presence of the UN, Crossing the borough boundary also feels like gerrymandering to create one district where once there were two distinct districts.
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triada
February 6, 2023
Dear NY IRC: I am deeply disturbed at your proposed redistricting plans for Carroll Gardens Brooklyn! I am a resident here for 30 years and a member of the Gowanus Canal Citizens Advisory Group for over ten years. I feel your proposed redistricting would adversely affect Carroll Gardens! The proposed map would place much of Carroll Gardens in the 44th AD chopping our neighborhood in two! There are too many issues which unite us and this proposed division would undermine our ability to work together as a community. The map also divides commercial corridors, severs the north side of President from the rest of the historic district and other things. PLEASE RECONSIDER your plans and this map!! It is not a good plan for those of us who live here whatsoever. Triada Samaras
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Hilda C.
February 6, 2023
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Please review the attached letter and send a confirmation E-mail that you have received it. Thank you, Hilda C. Thomas 718-615-1371
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Natalie
February 6, 2023
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Opposition to commission's draft plan to move Sutton Place and Roosevelt Island into Assembly District 36. This violates districting requirements. Please scrap this draft plan. Thank you
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Sally
February 6, 2023
Dear Commissioners, I write to express my strong opposition to the Commission's draft plan that would move Sutton Place, Roosevelt Island and other parts of the east side into Assembly District 36 in Queens. The draft proposal clearly violates several New York State Constitutional districting requirements. Specifically, the draft (1) is not contiguous and compact; (2) falls to consider pre-existing political subdivisions and communities of interest; and (3) defies citizens' reasonable expectations of rational line-drawing. The various communities of interest on both sides of the East River face different issues regarding housing, tax policy, transportation, open space and other matters. The draft proposal would create practical difficulties in the provision of governmental services. Even the location of an Assembly District Office is complicated by this irrational two-borough district plan. and my neighbors successfully beat back a similar proposal involving city council districts this past summer. While the law and the process may be different, the essential concepts of good government and rational line-drawing remain the same. strongly urge you to scrap the draft plan and not create a two-borough district. Respectfully, Sally Baker NYC 10022
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William
February 6, 2023
For over a hundred years, North Brooklyn has provided industrial wealth to the USA. It will take another hundred years to clean our waters and earth. We need the AD50 assembly person to be from Brooklyn, 100% committed to our environmental cries. North Brooklyn is surrounded by industrial polluted water. The new AD, will be queens based and not focus on Brooklyn urgent environmental issues.
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Caitlin
February 6, 2023
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Suggested Changes to the IRC’s Proposed Map of AD107 - Improved Compactness, Contiguity and Community of Interest Groupings This link allows for various cartographic export file types. Proposed Map: https://districtr.org/plan/167579