Public Comments Return to Archived Submissions Page
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Michele
January 5, 2023
I vehemently object to the NYIRC's new Map for the NYS Assembly which divided the Town of Amherst into two with each part of another Assembly District. The NYIRC's map dilutes and eliminates any role for the Town in NYS government because the two districts are gerrymandered solely to shift power away from the current Democratic majority town to be a minority Democratic faction in two Republican-leaning districts. The NYIRC's Map is purely political and disgraceful. Amherst is large enough to have its own Assembly member representing its interests in Albany. Under the Constitutional standards, Amherst consists of contiguous territory and is as compact in form as practicable. Having the Town represented by one Assembly member means that the 146th Assembly District Member can advocate for the Town of Amherst residents. The NYIRC's new map violates the prohibition on drawing lines to discourage competition and for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties. The NYIRC's change is purely political: Dividing Amherst takes the Town of Amherst, which voted for Biden 60% in the 2020 vote to a District won by Trump. This leaves the Amherst sections of the two new Districts with no commonality as seen in recent election cycles. Amherst has eight communities within it with common interests (Village of Williamsville and multiple hamlets or neighborhoods). The current lines for the 146th Assembly District keep those neighborhoods together. Similar to the Assembly-drawn map, the current 146th Assembly District conforms to the allowable population deviation. But the NYIRC's new map ignores the core of the existing district and the pre-existing political subdivision. The NYIRC's map targets Amherst's Asian community that I believe make up about 13% of the population and the NYIRC's splitting Amherst into two new Assembly districts dilutes the Asian community's vote to around 9 % and 7 %. Leave the 146th Assembly District with Assembly lines coterminous with the Town of Amherst's boundary lines!
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Jerome
January 5, 2023
I vehemently object to the NYIRC's new Map for the NYS Assembly which divided the Town of Amherst into two with each part of another Assembly District. The NYIRC's map dilutes and eliminates any role for the Town in NYS government because the two districts are gerrymandered solely to shift power away from the current Democratic majority town to be a minority Democratic faction in two Republican-leaning districts. The NYIRC's Map is purely political and disgraceful. Amherst is large enough to have its own Assembly member representing its interests in Albany. Under the Constitutional standards, Amherst consists of contiguous territory and is as compact in form as practicable. Having the Town represented by one Assembly member means that the 146th Assembly District Member can advocate for the Town of Amherst residents. The NYIRC's new map violates the prohibition on drawing lines to discourage competition and for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties. The NYIRC's change is purely political: Dividing Amherst takes the Town of Amherst, which voted for Biden 60% in the 2020 vote to a District won by Trump. This leaves the Amherst sections of the two new Districts with no commonality as seen in recent election cycles. Amherst has eight communities within it with common interests (Village of Williamsville and multiple hamlets or neighborhoods). The current lines for the 146th Assembly District keep those neighborhoods together. Similar to the Assembly-drawn map, the current 146th Assembly District conforms to the allowable population deviation. But the NYIRC's new map ignores the core of the existing district and the pre-existing political subdivision. The NYIRC's map targets Amherst's Asian community that I believe make up about 13% of the population and the NYIRC's splitting Amherst into two new Assembly districts dilutes the Asian community's vote to around 9 % and 7 %. Leave the 146th Assembly District with Assembly lines coterminous with the Town of Amherst's boundary lines! Sincerely, Jerome D. Schad 716-445-0842 jerome.schad91@gmail.com
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Mariana
January 5, 2023
The Town of Amherst is big enough to be its own district. Amherst has nothing in common with the rural towns being suggested. Please take my thoughts into consideration as an Amherst resident.
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Gary
January 4, 2023
As the Supervisor in West Seneca, I believe it is very important that the Assembly lines avoid splitting municipalities as much as possible. The current plan does a great job in keeping West Seneca and Hamburg intact. The only change I would suggest is to leave out the small portion of South Buffalo and include all of Lackawanna.
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Kurt
January 1, 2023
I believe the IRC needs to establish some principles to guide the issue of electoral districts. Let me suggest a few: 1. Redistricting should occur once every two national censuses. 2. Redistricting can not be done for the purpose of any political party's advantage. The redistricting authority must be filled with subject matter experts and be balanced between major parties 3. Districts should conform to natural and economic boundaries that also act to create communities of common interest. 4. The legislature can provide oversight to assure the principles are being followed but not be responsible for deciding the outcome. 5. Attention should be taken to protect the interests of vulnerable populations
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Todd
December 23, 2022
NY State districts should be modeled after the Federal system of representation as it is outlined in the US Constitution. Each county should be represented by one State Senator, Assembly seats/districts should be based on population. The current system of basing both houses on population is unfair to citizens who live in rural areas. The concentration of power in the highly populated urban centers alienates people from the rural areas, and denies them fair representation.
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Liam
December 14, 2022
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Hello, As a local youth/college student, 7th Generation Central New Yorker, and 7th Syracuse/Onondaga County West-Ender, this map stresses the need to very fairly preserve the identity of the Syracuse and Onondaga west end into a unified voice in the New York State Assembly. Please see the attached document with images of the two draft Onondaga County assembly maps I have created, as well as explanations of each map's merit. Thanks, Liam O'Connor Onondaga County
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Lennin
December 10, 2022
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https://davesredistricting.org/join/c5e6fd8e-3b6f-456b-9968-f292c627f4eb
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Alan
December 9, 2022
I support the inclusion of all and certainly the Northern part, of the Town of Bethlehem being in the new 109. It is closely linked with the City of Albany. I live in Glenmont and view myself as part of the City of Albany. Examples: We have family living in Albany, our religious institution is in Albany, we have numerous friends in Albany, we attend events in Albany, while now retired we used to work in Albany. My wife's family owned a business in Albany. My daughter attended a private elementary and Junior High School in Albany. Our business and personal interests are alined with Albany.
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Meryl
December 6, 2022
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Many organizations, public and party officials, may oppose the redistricting of communities in Manhattan's 73rd and 76th assembly districts to Queens, notably Sutton Place, Beekman and Mitchell Place, Turtle Bay, parts of east Midtown, Grand Central, Murray Hill and Roosevelt Island, etc. Any comments and/or testimony opposed to the IRC's redistricting that would move Manhattan communities to a Queens assembly district will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Meryl Brodsky, District Leader, 73rd AD, Part A
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Meryl
December 6, 2022
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Delia
December 6, 2022
I am against merging the East 61 Street and surrounding area district with Queens. Don’t break up neighborhoods. I am a longtime resident. Thank you.
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Lennin
December 2, 2022
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https://davesredistricting.org/join/c5e6fd8e-3b6f-456b-9968-f292c627f4eb
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Steven
December 2, 2022
I viewed Mr. Fell’s proposed Redistricting attempt and am already disgusted. He includes all of BPC, one of the most liberal residential and dense populations in NYC. That area bears absolutely no semblance to SI and should not be included. Try again, Fell!
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Steve
February 6, 2022
My wife and I have read about the proposed Congressional District Maps. We understand that the Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont, which have always been part of the same District, under the proposed plan will now be split up. We are very concerned that our ability to deal effectively with the issues in our communities and to have our municipalities' voices heard will be greatly diminished. We believe strongly that the Sound Shore communities should remain a part of the same district, and we ask that you reconsider the proposed remapping. The Sound Shore communities have many common concerns that are not shared by surrounding communities proposed as participants in the new district. We appreciate in advance your attention to this issue. Steve & Karen Bonaparte 44 Myrtle Blvd, Larchmont, NY 10538 (Town of Mamaroneck)