New York State Independent Redistricting Commission

Anna
January 24, 2023
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Colin
January 24, 2023
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Please read my attached letter on potentially creating an I-87 Corridor District that consolidates many suburbs and exurbs in the northern Capital Region that share many commonalities and similar interests. At Dave’s Redistricting App, I have created a map of a hypothetical I-87 Corridor District. In Saratoga County, the district would include the City of Saratoga Springs, as well as the Towns of Malta, Saratoga, Wilton, Northumberland, Moreau and part of Greenfield. In Warren County, the district would include the City of Glens Falls and the Town of Queensbury. You may view the map at https://davesredistricting.org/join/a683077b-da72-43e6-a16a-387ac56193ea Thank You, Colin Neal Saratoga Springs, NY

Meredith
January 24, 2023
The Beacon City School District Board of Education thanks the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission for the opportunity to provide comment on the proposed redistricting of Beacon from its current 104th legislative district. We oppose this change because it will separate Beacon from nearby communities, with populations that more closely resemble our school district. The demographics of our current legislative district very closely mirror the demographics of our school district, and offer us natural partners in advocating for our students’ needs. Most of the school districts in the proposed legislative district are wealthier and less diverse. The demographics we share with the Newburgh and Poughkeepsie school districts make us part of a “community of interest,” and it is important to keep this community intact to better serve our student body. The proposed change will put Beacon at the northernmost point in the new legislative district. We will almost certainly be the lone Title I school district, in an area that becomes increasingly wealthy and less demographically diverse as you travel south. An elected official in this new district may not be connected to the needs of our students if the majority of the school districts in their boundaries do not share our challenges. Case in point: Dutchess County Community College recently decided to charge tuition to our students taking DCC courses at our high school. While this was a shock to our district and the rest of Dutchess County, further research showed that districts south of Beacon fold this extra cost into their budgets without any trouble. We hope you will reconsider this proposal and allow the Beacon City School District to remain in its current legislative district, so that we can continue to be part of a cohesive community that effectively advocates for and meets the needs of our students.

Christine M
January 24, 2023
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Jennifer
January 24, 2023
I am opposed to the redistricting of Tompkins County which currently is wholly contained within District 125 and is represented by Anna Kelles. The proposed revision would leave a corridor from Tompkins County to the City of Cortland in District 125 , which is a vastly different community that doesn’t represent the current districting. I urge the committee to retain the current district.

Ellen
January 24, 2023
As a resident of the town of niskayuna, I do not want to see our town split between 2 assembly districts. The town is not large and would be a disservice to the residents and how a representative would advocate for them when combined with other larger communities.

Michael
January 24, 2023
Please maintain the territorial integrity of our current 125th District. In this regard, my position is in agreement with that of my New York State Assembly Representative, Anna Kelles. Thanks for your kind attention, Michael M. Cooper Pó Box 854. Ithaca, NY 14851

Mara
January 23, 2023
January 23, 2023 Mara Alper Ithaca, NY 14850 Attention: Submissions Independent Redistricting Commission 250 Broadway, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10007 Dear Chair Jenkins and Commission Members, Thank you for your work on the Independent Redistricting Commission to create fair and equitable districts in New York that keep communities of interest together. Towards this goal I am writing because of my concern that the new draft map has left out three essential towns that belong in the 125th district. Those towns are Hartford, Virgil, and Lapee. These communities’ geographic areas and economic development are highly correlated to the City of Cortland, which is to remain in the 125th District. These more rural areas need or will at least greatly benefit from the improvements that The City of Cortland and Cortland County continue to make. Keeping these towns connected to the economic hub of Cortland County, which includes Greek Peak Mountain Resort as well as Tompkins Cortland Community College, will allow those populations to benefit from both services and economic opportunities which may be taken away otherwise. A significant number of the children in Hartford and Virgil attend the 125th Assembly school District. Schools by definition are communities of common interest. Dividing each of these school districts into multiple assembly districts will create unnecessary financial and administrative difficulties for both the school districts and families. Staying within the 125th District maintains continuity of representation that has existed for decades, and secures the economic and educational needs of the residents of both Virgil and Hartford. Thank for your attention to these important matters. We urge you to maintain the current integrity of the 125th District. Sincerely, Mara Alper

Joel
January 23, 2023
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I strongly urge you to scrap the draft plan for Assembly District 36 and not create a two-borough district that would combine parts of Manhattan's east side with parts of Queens. Please read the attached letter.

Elizabeth
January 23, 2023
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John
January 23, 2023
I would like to comment in regard to the proposed New York State Assembly redistricting maps which are currently under review and public comment. Specifically, regarding the 108th Assembly District. According to the current proposal, the City of Rensselaer and Town/Village of Waterford are being replaced by expanding the district eastward to Brunswick and West Sand Lake. Replacing Rensselaer and Waterford with these communities is not a good fit since these new communities are not communities of interest when we look at the history of the 108th (formerly the 106th) Assembly District. This would result in communities of interest being removed from the district. The 108th district is known as "The River" district that dates back over 40 years. It was represented by Neil Kelleher Sr. It was then represented by Michael McNulty and Ron Canestrari. All individuals were from the Hudson River adjacent communities of Troy, Green Island, and Cohoes. At the same time, the communities of Waterford and Rensselaer have been very actively involved with the other communities since they belong to either RiverSpark (which is an Urban Cultural Park) or the Albany Pool Communities. We are all close neighbors who are engaged in many shared service agreements with many families who consider the various communities within the 108th to be an important part of their own communities. They routinely travel or move between the communities. Please reconsider the proposed maps and keep the current 108th Assembly District map as it currently stands. Thank you in advance for your consideration on this matter and for the service to our state.

Isabel
January 23, 2023
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Please read the attached letter regarding Redistricting comments. Thank you so much! Isabel Rachlin 249 Troy Rd Ithaca, NY 14850

Brandon
January 23, 2023
I am a Town Councilman from the Town of Chester, NY as well as the Co-Chair of the Chester Democratic Committee. It is a bi-partisan issue to have our town not split in the redistricting of the Assembly map. Our town is about 13K in population and our voice is stronger at the state level when we are represented by one assembly member. Splitting us up would be a disservice to our town. The people, government officials and I are completely against your current version of the map and request that the Town and Village of Chester are included together in one Assembly district.

Patrick
January 23, 2023
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Please see attached thoughts. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Public Comments Return to Archived Submissions Page