New York State Independent Redistricting Commission

Sean
January 16, 2023
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Please see the attached letter which provides my thoughts. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

DUSTIN
January 16, 2023
I am writing to voice my objection to the NYIRC's new Map for the NYS Assembly which divided the Town of Amherst into two. Amherst is large enough to be its own assembly district with one member representing its interests. The demographics and needs of Amherst are different than those of the surrounding areas, and thus should be represented as a single and unique unit. Splitting the district in half dilutes the votes of the residents and doesn’t allow for proper representation. I believe this new map is drawn in a purely political way to shift the power away from the Democratics and dilute their votes into two Republican districts. The 146th assembly district should be left as-is allowing for a single representative.

Constance
January 15, 2023
TO: Members of the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission This is to let you know that I strongly oppose the proposed redistricting map for NY State’s Assembly which removes Roosevelt Island from Manhattan’s District 76 and places it in Queens District 36. New York State’s redistricting rules must meet the following requirements: Districts must consist of contiguous territory and shall be as compact in form as possible. Our Island’s contiguous territory is Manhattan, not Queens. By the state's regulations, contiguous means not crossing borders. Roosevelt Island is in the borough of Manhattan. We have a bridge to Queens that principally benefits people with cars. We have a tram to mainland Manhattan that benefits everyone and, at 3.5 minutes, is the shortest journey to either borough. The proposed change to our district is sprawling, not compact. The commission must take into account the maintenance of existing districts, pre-existing political subdivisions, and communities of interest. The proposed map severs Roosevelt Island from long established communities of interest, including school districts, political subdivisions, places of employment, and religious communities. As one example, the Roosevelt Island public school PS/IS 217 cannot accommodate all the school age children living on the island; the default school is Robert Wagner in the 76th Assembly District. The City Charter of New York City recognizes Roosevelt Island as a Manhattan community. Roosevelt Island has a unique form of governance by an unelected, State appointed Public Benefit Corporation, the Roosevelt Island Operation Corporation (RIOC). All of our local services are administered by RIOC, not by New York City. The Board of Directors for RIOC is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Because of this unique relationship with the State of NY in which our residents do not have a voting voice in their local government, it is imperative that we, a Manhattan community, have the combined efforts of our two Manhattan-based representatives—Senator and Assembly member—working together to provide us responsive governance by RIOC. Thank you for your attention. Constance A. Nathanson 531 Main St., Apt. 1014 New York, NY 10044

Constance
January 15, 2023
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Devjani
January 13, 2023
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By all logical considerations, Roosevelt Island should remain part of Manhattan. By assigning the island to Queens, the State will incur a large loss in funds.

Perry
January 13, 2023
I respectfully submit my objections to carving the towns of Ancram and Gallatin out of the newly redrawn Assembly district. Ancram and Gallatin should remain along with the rest of southern Columbia County, rather than added into an A.D. with Dutchess County. From a NYS perspective, Ancram and Gallatin are part of the Capitol Region, while Dutchess is part of the Hudson Valley region. Moving these two towns, while small, will disadvantage them in terms of any potential economic resources that might be made available from NYS. Thanks for the opportunity to voice my objection to this piece of the redistrcting plan. Perry Ascher 363 New Forge Road 1 Ancram, NY 12502 perry.ascher@gmail.com 518 851-2357

Joanne
January 12, 2023
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Resubmitting this. I am not sure earlier submission was in the correct format. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Sharon
January 12, 2023
I live in the Town of Guilderland. With your proposed plan our town would now be attached to the Hilltowns Schoharie, parts of Montgomery and Fulton Counties. Guilderland does not have common concerns with these communities. We are connected with the city of Albany and the Town of Colonie. We are bedroom communities for the State Capital. McKnownville and Westmere look like you are right in the city. Many of our residents work downtown in the Capitol, or for State agencies and the University of Albany. So to be factored in with the Hilltowns and these rural counties would do an injustice to both them and us

Jim
January 12, 2023
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Attached find my recommendations along with maps and street designations. I hope they prove helpful. Jim

Joanne
January 12, 2023
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Please see attached memo.

Jerome
January 11, 2023
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Attached is an electronic copy of my public comments to the Commission Members at Monday's hearing (1/9/23) in Buffalo, NY. I will supplement my comments with further submissions, but I want to make one comment about what the Vice-Chair emphasized in responding to speakers. He said that he was focused on the One-Person-One-Vote criteria in redistricting. I agree that the criteria is important, but if that is the only criteria used, they you can easily gerrymander all of NY because you can guarantee that each gerrymandered Assembly District meets that criteria while ignoring, as you now do as to the Town of Amherst, the political disenfranchisement of the residents of my Town to make it politically now a two-Assembly, Republican Majority districts to suppress the Democratic majority that exists in the Town. The Commission should adopt the Assembly maps of 2022. They were not upset by the Courts on substantive grounds and your Commission can, if it does its duty, remedy that process problem from 2022 by adopting the 2022 Maps that keep the Town of Amherst intact in one Assembly District. Jerome D. Schad

rita
January 10, 2023
Subject Line: Opposition to the State proposal for Redistricting Roosevelt Island To: Members of the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission 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. New York State’s redistricting rules require: Districts must consist of contiguous territory and shall be as compact in form as possible. Our Manhattan Island’s contiguous territory is Manhattan, not Queens. The proposed change to our district is sprawling, not compact. The commission must take into account the maintenance of existing districts, pre-existing political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, and communities of interest. Roosevelt Island is being severed from long established communities of interest. Our political subdivision is not being respected. The City Charter of New York City recognizes Roosevelt Island as a Manhattan community. The Constitution of New York State specifically provides two State legislators for each district, a Senator and an Assembly Member. Roosevelt Island, a Manhattan community, has a unique form of local governance. We are governed by an unelected, State appointed Public Benefit Corporation, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC). All of our local services are administered by RIOC, not by New York City. The Board of Directors for RIOC is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor of NY. Because of this unique relationship with the State of NY, in which our residents do not have a voting voice in their local government, it is imperative that we, a Manhattan community, have the combined efforts of both of our Manhattan based representatives, working together on our behalf, to provide us with responsive and fair dealing by RIOC. Rita Meed 531 Main St NY<NY 10044 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew
January 10, 2023
Opposition to the State proposal for Redistricting Roosevelt Island To: Members of the New York State Redistricting Commission: 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. New York State's redistricting rules require: Districts must consist of contiguous territory and shall be as compact in form as possible. a. Our Manhattan Island's contiguous territory is Manhattan, not Queens. b. The proposed change to our district is sprawling, not compact. The commission must take into account the maintenance of existing districts, pre-existing political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, and communities of interest. a. Roosevelt Island is being severed from long established communities of interest. Our political subdivision is not being respected. b. The City Charter of New York City recognizes Roosevelt Island as a Manhattan community. The Constitution of New York State specifically provides two State legislators for each district, a Senator and an Assembly Member. Roosevelt Island, a Manhattan community, has a unique form of local governance. We are governed by an unelected, State appointed Public Benefit Corporation, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC). All of our local services are administered by RIOC, not by New York City. Because of this unique relationship with the State of NY, in which our residents do not have a voting voice in their local government, it is imperative that we have the combined efforts of both Manhattan representatives, working together on our behalf, to provide responsive and fair dealing from RIOC. Our School District is #2 (Manhattan). Our Community Board is #8 (Manhattan). Our Police Precinct is #19 (Manhattan). Our City Council representative has been Manhattan-based ever since this community was created 55 years ago. Our working neighbors, especially the large number of United Nations delegates, commute to Manhattan by Tram, subway and ferry every day. We are Islanders but also, Manhattan islanders; it's how we define ourselves and our government at the City, State and Federal levels, must recognize that reality. Matthew M. Katz 625 Main Street, #433 New York, NY 10044

Bridget
January 10, 2023
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Jessica
January 10, 2023
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Pls refer to the attached letter

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