New York State Independent Redistricting Commission

Richard
January 30, 2023
Independent Redistricting Commission: I write to you regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission’s (IRC) proposed maps for the New York State Assembly. The recently proposed map will remove the City of Middletown from the 100th Assembly District for the first time in over 40 years. This will upend decades of partnerships and collaborations that have been instrumental in reviving the Sullivan County economy and which have contributed to the economic and cultural revitalization of the City of Middletown. As you may be aware, the Mid-Hudson Valley has become an economic engine and tourism hub for New York State and our region- contributing to the redevelopment of Sullivan County in ways beyond measure. As you contemplate these proposed maps, we are concerned about the cultural, social, and economic impact such a change would have on our communities. Currently, Sullivan County is grouped together with similarly situated communities in the Mid-Hudson Valley Region. It benefits from that designation as it continues to be part of the regional tourism industry that supports local businesses and creates tax windfalls for our municipalities and schools. As presented, the maps would group Sullivan County with Delaware County, considered part of the Southern Tier. I have great concerns that such a grouping will inhibit Sullivan County from its continued growth and expansion- as Southern Tier communities have different priorities, needs, and focuses, than those in the Mid-Hudson Region. Sullivan County runs the very real risk of once again being the forgotten county. Sharing elected leadership in Albany has enabled communities in Sullivan County to foster relationships in Middletown and the greater Orange making possible the economic, social and cultural revitalization. I urge you to reconsider this proposed map and to keep the 100th Assembly District intact. Sincerely, Joseph Masi Alderman, 1st Ward City of Middletown

Richard
January 30, 2023
Independent Redistricting Commission: I write to you regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission’s (IRC) proposed maps for the New York State Assembly. The current configuration of the 100th Assembly District has been in place for over 4 decades. During this time the communities within the district, particularly Middletown and our neighbors in Sullivan County have seen the tremendous benefit of sharing elected leaders in Albany. Together our communities have grown and thrived- becoming a beacon in the Hudson Valley for what economic revitalization can mean to once-struggling communities. Sullivan County’s population influx in recent years has been a boom to our local economy. Many folks leaving the hustle and bustle of New York City and its boroughs have chosen the wide open space of Sullivan County to call home while still having easy access to the thriving medical, shopping, and entertainment available here in Orange County, particularly in Middletown. The set of circumstances has created the synergy necessary to support BOTH of our economies and development. You can imagine my shock and disappointment at the IRC’s proposed plan to remove separate Middletown and Sullivan County in the new iteration of the 100th Assembly District. Our success has in no small part been because of our shared leadership in Albany. It has allowed our communities to work together to establish plans for growth and revitalization. All while working with our leaders for funding and support in pursuit of our mutual goals and interests. Making these types of changes to the 100th Assembly District now will have a detrimental impact on our communities and our future success. I urge you to reconsider the proposed plans and develop an alternative that will maintain the 100th Assembly District and allow for our continued cooperation and growth. Sincerely, Dr. Paul K. Johnson Alderman, 3rd Ward City of Middletown

Alana
January 30, 2023
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Symra
January 30, 2023
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Robert
January 30, 2023
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Christina
January 30, 2023
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Attached please find a resolution in opposition to the plan adopted by the New Castle Town Board on January 24, 2023.

Richard
January 30, 2023
Independent Redistricting Commission: I write to you regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission’s (IRC) proposed maps for the New York State Assembly. I am concerned about the profound impact dismantling the current 100th Assembly District will have on our communities. Middletown has always played an important role in the success of Sullivan Counties’ resurgence. The communities in the 100th Assembly District have a shared sense of purpose that has been critical to our success. We have been unified in our efforts thanks to our shared leadership in Albany. As Sullivan County has seen a population boom in recent years, the residents, mainly coming from New York City, have found a perfect balance of quiet country living in Sullivan while only a stone’s throw away from the amenities they have grown to rely upon in Middletown- shopping, doctors and entertainment. Conversely, Middletown has grown reliant on residents of Sullivan County for its economic vitality. While Middletown has few options for new development, we have a strong business community that relies heavily on traffic from the surrounding areas- especially Sullivan County to support our thriving business and medical districts I urge you to reconsider the proposed redistricting maps and to keep the 100th Assembly District together to ensure our continued regional success. Sincerely, Jude A. Jean-Francois Alderman, 4th Ward City of Middletown

Richard
January 30, 2023
Independent Redistricting Commission: I write to you regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission’s (IRC) proposed maps for the New York State Assembly. I was disappointed to see that the IRC proposed separating the City of Middletown and the Town of Wallkill from Sullivan County in the current 100th Assembly District. This would be the first time in over 4 decades that these communities would not share representation in Albany. For the past 4 decades, our residents have grown accustomed to their leaders working in concert with Albany to ensure the economic, social, and cultural vitality of the region. The bond between Sullivan County and Middletown has become tantamount to the successful revitalization of our communities. While the immediate Middletown area may be located in Orange County, many people in Sullivan County go to Middletown to see their doctor, do their shopping, or visit loved ones. We are linked. Residents of Sullivan County rely on Middletown and the Town of Wallkill to provide essential services that are not readily available in Sullivan County. From the Crystal Run Medical Corridor to extensive shopping and entertainment our communities are inextricably linked. To separate their interests between Assembly Districts will have our once-connected communities competing for the limited resources available from Albany- to the detriment of our continued growth and development. A shared sense of purpose and cooperation is what has fostered one of the greatest economic resurgences in New York State. I urge you to reconsider the proposed maps to leave the 100th Assembly District intact. Sincerely, Kevin Witt Alderman, 1st Ward City of Middletown

Gerald
January 30, 2023
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Warren
January 29, 2023
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Dear Commissioners, I have attached a Town of North Salem Town Board resolution discussing our request to stay in the 93rd Assembly District. North Salem has a small population of 5,300. We are blessed with a rural community, much of that is due to the Titicus and Muscoot Reservoirs and the NYC DEP land around them which protect these bodies of water, and also the 1000+ acre County Mt. Lakes Park. We understand that we are a rounding error in setting up districts and we wanted to ask that we be allowed to stay in Assembly District 93. The Town has a lot in common with the rest of the communities in Northeastern Westchester. We work on a number of things together with strong Intermunicipal Agreements and the Town Board resolution discusses some of them. Westchester and also Monroe County Towns are unique in the State and have different financial calendars and the way we run our municipalities compared to everyone else in the State of New York is different. We have found that having a common representative with the rest of the northeastern Westchester County community has always be important to our Town and has helped strengthen our common voice. I thank you for considering our request to stay in District 93. Supervisor Warren Lucas.

Pamela
January 29, 2023
It appears that the Redistricting proposal divides New City into ADs in 96, 97, and 98. I oppose this in the strongest terms. Not only does it divide and confuse our representation in Albany, but is very detrimental in that it groups us with communities in Orange County that have very different needs and characteristics from ours. This proposed redistricting essentially destroys the fair, well focused representation we have long enjoyed in our assembly district. As a lifelong (66 years) resident of New City I object to this attempt to fix something that isn’t broken and break something that works. It smacks of crass, blatant political maneuvering and must not be allowed to go forward.

carolyn
January 29, 2023
I am a Clarkstown, NY Resident Zip 10956. I am extremely disturbed by the news that on Monday January 30 , in White Plains I understand that the Independent Redistricting Committee is proposing redrawn Assembly lines (https://www.nyirc.gov/storage/plans/2022assm/assembly_plan.pdf map #8), which divides New City into ADs in 96, 97, and 98. Making McGowan and Brabenec Clarkstown Representatives. This needs to be shut down immediately. It - breaks up a town which is a community of interest and completely ignores the core of the existing district. - breaks clarkstown into 3 districts, when it has been and should be 1. -Puts parts of clarkstown way up into Orange County. - clarkstown is a town with shared interests and concerns and the way the map was drawn it will lead to diminished representation. - the panel should respect the decades long precedent of this town in redistricting. Please confirm you've received this and reject this plan!!! Carolyn Ray 475 S. Mountain Rd, New city 10956

valeria
January 29, 2023
Honorable Stefani Zinerman, in agreement, I love how you are always so willing to hear from the community, so here it is. (: My name is Valeria Sowell and although I live in Zone 42 of the given final Brooklyn map dated October 2022 which will again be revised based upon the calendar dates already lined up together with NYC last date to be heard according to print February 15, 2023, I would honestly like to see a corrected and logically workable map for parts of Bed-Stuy(where you reside and work and where I resided in the Eleanor Roosevelt Houses for 30years), Brownsville and ENY. Specifically, the following main streets with large and excessive modes of transportation like; Sutter Avenue, and Eastern Parkway in Zone 35; and Pacific Avenue in Zone 41 runs right into Zone 42, where I reside. Meaning, Number 1, the map needs to be reshaped in a rectangular way to cover Zones 35, 41 to 42, basically due to merging and overlapping each other. Number 2, Although, Zone 40 Census consists of largely ENY, small parts of Canarsie and Brownsville, which tallies a count of almost 100% of community participation with 63% Black, 3% Asian, 23% Latino and 9% Other signing off, and with Ages of 74% Black, 2% Asian, 28% Latino, 4%Other; either way, for argument sake, two congresspersons are needed. Number 3, With the influx of Zone 40 with Spring Creek/Gateway areas with Christian Cultural Center trailing in new construction, Zone 40 will be saturated geographically and demographically to the seams/over populated with little representation in nano minutes. Number 4, And now that Congressman Hakeem Jeffries have a dual role in Washington, DC whom covers the above area listed, these are reasons, all the more why you, Senator Stefani Zinerman, my favorite Senator needs to communicate why the redistricting map in questioned must be revised to address the needs of the community for adequate quality of life for both residents and businesses, alike. PS. If you can send me a copy of this txt with your thoughts. Thank you, Valeria Sowell

Dorothy
January 29, 2023
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I testified at the hearing in Albany on January 25 regarding the negative impact of proposed Assembly District 107 on Hudson in Columbia County. The text of my oral statement is attached.

Erica
January 29, 2023
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