Submissions

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• Ronda
  November 29, 2021
  I live in Tompkins County. We are a bit like an island of Democrats in a sea of Republicans. The last time we were represented by a Democrat was when Maurice Hinchey was our Congressman. (That was more than 20 years ago.) He was from Saugerties in Ulster County. The IRC has repeatedly paired us with people along the southern tier TO THE WEST, ensuring that we will never be represented by a Democrat. I would like to see the map re-drawn so that we are in the same district as those in the east so that we have a better chance of being represented by individuals who actually understand us.
  
• Ann
  November 29, 2021
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  On behalf of the Cattaraugus County Legislature, attached please find legislation adopted urging preservation of the 57th Senate and 148th Assembly Districts.
  
• Alan
  November 29, 2021
  This adds to comments previously submitted, and it includes a link to a map graphic. As adjusted per my remarks, above, the core district I propose to be restored as closely as possible to that before the 2012 deletion and fragmentation of Schumer's former district, is largely coextensive with Community Board 14, as follows. CD14 Map | Brooklyn Community Board 14 https://www.cb14brooklyn.com/about/maps-2/ Again, see text of my remarks for proposed extensions to east and west, shifting the north line toward Bkln Coll, shifting the south line toward Ave U or the beach; and combining where needed with Sheepshead Bay to South, or Borough Park to West, rather than to Crown Hts or Staten Island.
  
• Alan
  November 29, 2021
  THIS SUMMARIZES MY ORAL REMARKS ON PART 2 OF THE 11/16 BROOKLYN HEARING. ALAN S. FINTZ, ESQ. 1271 E 32 St, Brooklyn, NY 11210 718 986 4735 asfintz@gmail.com; Good evening. First let me thank you for your very obvious attention to many your jobs. I've been to hearings before panels that seem to be sleepwalking, and you really seem to be focusing on details. That's very encouraging, and also a shame that some of our best government now seems to be at the most local level. My name is Alan Fintz. I've been an attorney 40 years, a resident Brooklyn all my life - except for a decade of Elementary & High School in Queens, and college & Law School in New Jersey - and at my current Midwood home 30 years now. I've served over 20 years on the board of my synagogue, a decade on the Brooklyn Transit Advisory Committee and several years, president of a local local Democratic Club. I'm here mostly for what you might call "Going Back to the Future." But I think at heart it's a reasonable request to undo an error that occurred a decade ago, when our local congressman - who held a very important seat nationally, once held by the likes of Emmanuel Celler, Elizabeth Holtzman and Chuck Schumer - due to some misbehavior, ended up having to resign. The trouble is that he resigned at a very inopportune time for our neighborhood: just between the census and reapportionment of 2010-22. Because redistricting was not completed by the legislature before primary petitioning would start, there was a court Declaration of new districts in March 2012 (at a time when the person who took over his seat in a special election was not interested in seeking a full term within new lines he deemed non-competitive Since then, four-a decade, our neighborhood has been carved up into pieces. Why? Because we became a non-incumbent seat just as the lines were about to be drawn and the state had to give up a seat, and they decided to take ours because the seat was now vacant. I understand this was no one's fault but his, but I think the district has suffered long enough as a result of that historical accident. On the merits, if you look at the population of the Midwood section of Brooklyn - south of Brooklyn College roughly between Flatbush Avenue and McDonald Avenue and South to about Avenue U, or some variation on that - it is a very identifiable Jewish neighborhood, bound ip by dozens of shuls, yeshivahs, civic associations, ambulance corps and shopping districts - recognized not only locally, citywide or statewide but nationally and internationally. this is recognized as one of the preeminent Jewish neighborhoods in the nation. And of course there are many other ethnic groups within these boundaries who have been well represented by public servants like Chuck Schumer and Marty Markowitz. The neighborhood produced the likes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Bernie Sanders. It's a place that's produced a lot of very conscientious public servants. My point is that we should undo the error that ended up carving up this District into pieces 10 years ago. The neighborhood that has been represented by these three excellent Congressman for a century, should not be relegated to the dustbin of History. We may not be able to recreate exactly what was there, but we should be making it competitive enough that people who live here and want to join in coalitions with other ethnicities and minorities within and adjoining the district, have a chance of running. As it stands right now, there really isn't very much of a chance. I'm not speaking in opposition to anyone in a neighboring District, but I just think it's clear that - but for the resignation at this particular time and circumstance. no one would question that the century-old essentially Jewish Centered District in Brooklyn would deserve to continue as an identifiable District in an our state map. We should not perpetuate the mistake of the occupant as of 2011 for another 10 years. In particular: We should be able to widen the boundaries Westward from Coney Island Ave closer to Ocean Parkway or McDonald Ave, Eastward from Nostrand Ave toward Flatbush Ave Move the upper boundary lower toward Brooklyn College and move a southerly boundary toward Ave U or for the beach. This would be as opposed to the current situation where our district is, after having been carved up, like into the trunk of a tree, where the crown of the tree stands roughly in the neighborhood where we're meeting tonight, Crown Hts. What had been the heart of our district is now a residue of its former self, and that would not have happened but for the resignation at the critical moment between the census and reapportionment in 2011 We paid enough of a price. After a decade I think that mistake should be undone, by making it roughly competitive for someone who lives there to think of running again without it being seen as some quixotic gesture even to try because it was an historical error. The neighborhood's included are roughly Midwood, the Westerly portions of East Flatbush, Madison, Marine Park, perhaps portions of Sheepshead Bay perhaps portions of Kensington, and if the commission sees fit, some part of the reconstruction of this core district could include areas within Boro Park on the west of McDonald Ave.. Much of this district is overlasps or is coterminous with the current boundaries of community board 14, except for the portions I would include west of Coney Island Avenue, south of Kings Highway, East of Nostrand Avenue and parts that I would removed from this district North of Brooklyn College. One would not have to create boundaries that excluded incumbents in those seats. (I've heard comments from earlier witness is commending the work of Hakeem Jeffries, and I would lend my voice to that view..) Simply make the district competitive enough that someone choosing to run there could consider it and not be laughed out of town for the idea. While there might be reasons to seek adjustments of your proposed boundaries for state senate and assembly districts, I confine my remarks here to the congressional district, simply because it is the only one where the result was clearly attributable to the mistakes made by the occupant who resigned in 2011 when reapportionment indicated New York state had to reduce its delegation by "X" number of seats, and they said "here's an easy spot not held by an incumbent." That would not have happened otherwise. Unification with Boro Park to the west or Sheepshead Bay to the South would make more sense than any scheme attempting to connect this neighborhood to Staten Island or to the neighborhoods to the north There should be room to do some rebalancing without upsetting the overall scheme of the existing District pattern. So while it might be fair given the reasons for the seat having been fragmented in 2012 to restore the condition before that error, I don't expect that to be possible. Just some adjustment. As a matter of equity, since our neighborhood was growing rapidly in population at the time the State lost numbers relative to the nation as a whole, it would have been unthinkable to suggest that District to be removed due to a Statewide population drop, would be one growing as rapidly as Midwood, and again this only happened as a result of the conduct leading to the resignation in 2011. In terms of identifying a core community of interest, if you view the neighborhood as a body, then the B & Q subway line would be its spine, and the shopping districts of Aves J, M, Kings Highway, and U, would comprise some of the vertebrae and ribs of a body. I I believe that the original District under Schumer did run as far south as the beach. Again, they made us a non- recognizable entity after they carved us up. A conjunction to the south or west would make more sense than what we have now, because someone considering a run does not have a district that bears any relationship to the neighborhood he or she lives in. Thank you, Alan S. Fintz
  
• Steven
  November 28, 2021
  I want to thank the commission for giving me the time to testify: My name is Steven M. Polinsky. I am a member of the Jewish community of Central Queens. Currently, under the current maps, our community is divided between the 27th Assembly District and the 25th Assembly District. The neighborhoods of Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, and Hillcrest are divided. I am asking this commission to take into account the unification of Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, and Hillcrest so that Jewish representation is not diluted in this redistricting process. When this commission redraws the Assembly district lines, please incorporate all neighborhoods mentioned into one assembly district. The aforementioned neighborhoods in the south should be connected with College Point, Northern Whitestone, and Le Havre Cooperative in the north. Currently, the Jewish Community in Central Queens is split between 4 state senate districts. It does not allow for any conformity to representation in the State Senate. Your drafts have created a central Queens and Eastern Queens plan that incorporates parts of Kew Gardens Hills being split up again in three districts. Again, we need to be in one State Senate district. We are asking when you redraw your drafts that Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, and Hillcrest be drawn into a Central Queens district with the neighborhoods of Northern Forest Hills, Middle Village, Glendale, Maspeth, and Ridgewood. Also, Please consider the Eastern Queens map as well, where the neighborhoods I mentioned as a block be included with Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Little Neck Douglaston, Bayside, and Bay Terrace. Consider your guide eastward between the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway to the County Line, before heading strictly north. Please make every effort to keep Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, and Hillcrest together in both an Assembly District as well as one State Senate district. Thank you. Steven Polinsky
  
• Nick
  November 27, 2021
  As a somewhat conservative Rochestarian, I have a family and have lived in New York my whole life. I have become very skeptical of current government bodies’ ability to be impartial and fair with their democratic majorities. I urge you to be considerate and cautious of your redistributing to squelch any opposing views. Creating an unfair environment in this state will only encourage hardworking, family-oriented, taxpayers to leave New York State. I am one of many who are the verge of taking my family and tax dollars elsewhere, to a state that allows for fair representation without consistent partisan interference.
  
• Judith
  November 26, 2021
  Hello. Thank you for this opportunity to voice my opinion regarding redistricting affecting Suffolk County, NY. My name is Judith Black, I’m a resident of Shoreham, NY, I vote in Brookhaven ED 193. I do not live in Gordon Heights, but I believe that Gordon Heights, a historic community and a community of color and diversity, should be represented within one NY Assembly District – District 4. Gordon Heights was, effectively, disenfranchised by the 2011 redistricting which split the community into 2 Assembly Districts and 3 EDs. Currently two parts of Gordon Heights are in Assembly District 4 (ED 137 and ED 200), a third slice of Gordon Heights is in Assembly District 3 (Ed 192). This division denies cohesive political leadership for the community and thereby divides and weakens its representation. While there are issues of proportional numbers and population numbers to be considered when district lines are determined, I believe that recognition of Communities-of-Interest is a major factor in good governance and must be a major factor in decisions surrounding Gordon Heights and ED 4. For nearly a century Gordon Heights has functioned as one cohesive community; the community of Gordon Heights was first developed in the late 1920s; the Gordon Heights Fire Department was created in the late 1940s. Gordon Heights is a contiguous population with common social and economic interests; the voice of the Gordon Heights community will benefit from representation by a single legislator. I believe that Gordon Heights should be included within a single district, Assembly District 4, for purposes of fair and effective representation. I request that you consider redistricting the entirety of Gordon Heights into Assembly District 4 to return this historic Community-of-Interest to one Assembly District. Respectfully, Judith Black
  
• Wendy
  November 26, 2021
  All I ask is that every votes has a value equal to any other vote. I live close to the birthplace of the man who penned our pledge of allegiance to flag and country. I believe it when I say "...with liberty and justice for all." Sadly, right now, in instance after instance the will of the people is being ignored and the will of the rich and powerful is being heeded, destroying our country and too many lives. I just ask that you fix it fairly.
  
• Lawrence
  November 26, 2021
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• Pat
  November 24, 2021
  History: Utica and Syracuse have not shared a congressional district since 1799. At that time, the population of the entire country was less than the current population of New York. For 220 years, our regions have had separate congressional districts and this commission should respect this clear historical precedent that has been beneficial to our regions.
  
• Rachelle
  November 24, 2021
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  As requested by the IRC during my testimony on Wed 11/17, I am sharing a Google map of the Little Manila area accessible via this link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1YoFE1AsxUgvBC8dy4GrzY-UbWsdhLnGw&ll=40.74538682028493%2C-73.84862971494141&z=12. It was originally created by "Little Manila Queens" which we, NaFFAA-NY, also support. As a disclaimer to what is shared on this map, Little Manila may also be described as stretching along 37th Ave on the Northern border and Woodside Ave / 43rd Ave on the Southern border. To be more specific, I attached a photo of part of the google map and circled an area in purple to focus on. West border: 58th st  North border: Broadway East border: BQE South border: queens blvd Also, note that Little Manila is within the COI of Woodside that AALDEF already submitted.  https://www.representable.org/submission/9c9ab0d1-10f6-4c07-8675-0e6be689f405 Thank you for your time and consideration.
  
• Cynthia
  November 24, 2021
  I currently live in the Rochester, New York area. I think Rochester's Senatorial districts should continue to be divided as it now is and shared with Rochester's suburbs. I do not think Rochester should become one Senate district and it's suburbs comingled with other much more rural districts that are far away from the Greater Rochester area.
  
• Ekram
  November 24, 2021
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  The uploaded map is Percentage of Population with Arab Ancestry in Brooklyn with Current Assembly District
  
• Minewattie
  November 24, 2021
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  I have attached a Testimony and Map and testified Virtually on November 17, 2021, for Revising Redistricting Lines to join South Ozone Park, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill as one community of interest on Redistricting Draft Map P (As in Peter)-State Senate, and to remove Howard Beach from Draft Map P. I have included a recommended revised Map P. I have also testified to keep South Ozone Park, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill as one community of Interest as the Redistricting Draft AL Map (Assembly District) shows. Thank you.
  
• William
  November 24, 2021
  Rome Area Chamber of Commerce 139 W Dominick St Rome, NY 13440 November 23, 2021 Testimony to the Independent Redistricting Commission Independent Redistricting Commission 250 Broadway, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10007 The Rome Area Chamber of Commerce recommends no changes in the existing district: State Senate, District 47 State Assembly, District 119 House of Representatives, District 22 Cree/Wolfspeed is building a $1billion silicon carbide manufacturing facility on SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s 434-acre campus in Marcy, which is located between Rome and Utica, Oneida County’s two major cities. When completed, this state-of-the-art, automotive-qualified 200mm-capable power wafer fabrication facility will be the largest such silicon carbide facility in the world, employing more than 600 workers. In Utica, the $480 million, 702,000 sq. ft. Mohawk Valley Health System’s Wynn Hospital is under construction, which will be ten stories high with 373 beds and is already serving as a catalyst for the revitalization of the downtown area. Near the hospital, and under construction, is the Nexus Center - a 169,440 sq. ft. facility that will feature three multipurpose playing surfaces that can be utilized as ice sheets or turf which, along with the adjacent historic Adirondack Bank Center (formerly known as the Utica Memorial Auditorium), brings the total up to four surfaces for sports tournaments. Rome is home to Griffiss Business and Technology Park, a vibrant center where more than $700 million has been invested in roads, infrastructure and airfield improvements, demolition, renovations and new construction. There are more than 70 different employers and over 6,000 employees at Griffiss. The Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome was recently designated as the Quantum Information Science Research Center for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. It is now the only AFRL directorate currently conducting quantum research, serving as the Department of Defense’s premier research organization for discovery, development, and delivery of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces. These are just a few examples of what is being accomplished in Oneida County because of the cooperative working relationship that state and federal officials share with local officials and the regional business community – all working together in a united, cohesive effort – in the same electoral districts – notwithstanding political party differences. Oneida County is a diverse district, yet our residents share common interests and concerns. The Rome Chamber firmly believes that altering the districts would severely hinder our community’s ability to work cooperatively in a unified, productive fashion. Your support of our position not to change the election districts is respectfully requested. Respectfully, William K. Guglielmo President