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AnnMarie
November 21, 2021
Gordon Heights has 3 EDs, and as a result of the the 2011 redistricting, two are in Assembly District 4 (EDs 137 and 200), and one is in Assembly District 3 (ED 192). Splitting up this community of interest forces the community to appeal to two sets of Assembly people and dilutes the voice of the community. This is wrong and it is not legal - Gordon Heights is a predominantly African-American community and this qualifies as a “community of interest” under the law. Breaking up this “community of interest” is wrong and needs to be fixed. Reuniting Gordon Heights in AD 4 would restore the integrity of the community. Gordon Heights has historically suffered from a lack of resources and attention: Gordon Heights has 4 zip codes, making extremely hard to collect health, housing, crime and demographic data Gordon Heights developed without an incorporated village, so that no fire department of the four zip codes would serve this community, and had to petition for a fire department charter 1947 Community services for this community of interest were based upon property taxes, without commercial zoning to support a fire department and ambulance services AD 4 is 4.1% smaller than the average population for an AD (129,147 vs. 134,675, a 5,528 person difference). AD 4 needs to grow, and reuniting Gordon Heights in AD 4 is the right way to achieve this goal, along with EDs 218 and 275 both border Granny Road on the southern border of AD 4 and should also be included in AD 4 AD 3 has 128,374 people, and is 4.7% smaller than the average AD (128,374 vs. 134,675). However, AD 1 abuts the eastern border of AD 3, and is very large with 151,053 people, making it 12.2% larger than the average AD. AD 3 should be expanded into AD 1 as AD 4 expands by making Gordon Heights whole again
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David
November 21, 2021
I am a community board member and resident of Rockaway Beach, Queens 11693. I am writing to express a strong belief that the Rockaway Peninsula possesses unique characteristics for which it must be districted together instead of divided. Thank you for your consideration.
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Cynthia
November 21, 2021
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Elise-Ann
November 21, 2021
Hello. I have lived in Cortlandt for close to 16 years. Our most immediate community consists of Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Montrose, Buchanan and Verplanck. However, our community extends and is inclusive of the connecting towns up and down the Hudson River, including Peekskill, Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Mt. Pleasant, Irvington, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, and Yonkers. This region consists of citizens across the spectrum of economic backgrounds, professions/work history, religions, cultures, and nationalities, just to name a few. Ours is a natural grouping of towns that is connected by our proximity to the Hudson River. Please consider this as the redistricting work continues. Thank you for your time, attention, and efforts.
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Joan
November 21, 2021
Senate: In order to best and most fairly support the research and economic interests of the region I ask that you unify Brookhaven National Lab with Stony Brook University in Senate District 1. It makes best sense to have one representative to whom we can petition and hold accountable for our regional needs. Congress: The current proposed Congressional District 1 map splits the town of Coram into two separate districts. the proposal SPLITS the constituency of Brookhaven NAACP in HALF. This 'cracking' of this culturally important Community of Color SPLITS their voice- and weakens them, which is BAD. I am asking that BROOKHAVEN township REMAIN united in congressional district 1.
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Joan
November 21, 2021
I ask that ALL of the Comsewogue School District be United in Senate District 1. It is currently cracked with a portion in SD2. The educational, economic and election interests of this culturally Diverse school district will be fairly served if residents are unified in SD1.
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Jane
November 20, 2021
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Lillie M.
November 20, 2021
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Christina
November 20, 2021
Dear Commission members, Although I am not a resident of this particular area of Long Island, I became aware of this issue a few years ago while volunteering with people from there. The voters in Gordon Heights have seen their community power diminished by virtue of prior redistricting and you now have the opportunity to set things right. I propose to the Commission the following recommendations: 1.Maintain the Electoral Integrity of Gordon Heights Community of Interest. The EDs in Gordon Heights, including EDs 137, 192, and 200, must be kept in the same Assembly District, specifically AD 4. This would preserve this community of interest, and would re-join the Gordon Heights community with the African American and indigenous Setalcott community of Setauket-Laurel Hill in the northern part of AD 4. Keeping ED 192 separate from EDs 200 and 137 would continue the disenfranchisement voting strength of the African American community of Gordon Heights. Additionally, EDs 218 and 275 both border Granny Road on the southern border of AD 4 and should also be included in AD 4. 2. Expand AD 3 into AD 1. AD 1 has 151,053 people, making it 12.2% larger than the average AD (151,053 vs. 134,675). AD 3, by comparison, is 128,374 people, or 4.7% smaller than the average AD (128,374 vs. 134,675). AD 1 abuts the eastern border of AD 3, and given the large size disparity, AD 3 should be increased based upon the very large population in AD 1. The consequence of not fixing the problem of not allowing EDs 137, 192, and 200 to be a part of Gordon Heights in Assembly District 4 perpetuates a systematic disenfranchisement of a historic African American community. Righting this historical wrong, finally, would allow this community of interest that is Gordon Heights to be united, and to advocate and vote as a community to enjoy the full benefits and rights that come with an undiluted vote and a united voice. Allowing Gordon Heights to be in the same AD as the Setauket-Laurel Hill community in the northern portion of Brookhaven Town would restore these historically-linked communities and to amplify the voice of these communities of interest. I ask you to act upon this recommended plan to protect the equality of the vote to do the right thing by the residents of Gordon Heights. Thank you for your time and consideration of my request. Name: Christina Larkin Email: chrislarkin55@gmail.com Address:765 Cedarfield Dr. Phone: 631-477-8327 City: Greenport, NY Zip:
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Janet
November 20, 2021
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Nancy M.
November 20, 2021
I propose to the Commission the following recommendations: Maintain the Electoral Integrity of Gordon Heights Community of Interest. The EDs in Gordon Heights, including EDs 137, 192, and 200, must be kept in the same Assembly District, specifically AD 4. This would preserve this community of interest, and would re-join the Gordon Heights community with the African American and indigenous Setalcott community of Setauket-Laurel Hill in the northern part of AD 4. Keeping ED 192 separate from EDs 200 and 137 would continue the disenfranchisement voting strength of the African American community of Gordon Heights. Additionally, EDs 218 and 275 both border Granny Road on the southern border of AD 4 and should also be included in AD 4. Expand AD 3 into AD 1. AD 1 has 151,053 people, making it 12.2% larger than the average AD (151,053 vs. 134,675). AD 3, by comparison, is 128,374 people, or 4.7% smaller than the average AD (128,374 vs. 134,675). AD 1 abuts the eastern border of AD 3, and given the large size disparity, AD 3 should be increased based upon the very large population in AD 1. The consequence of not fixing the problem of not allowing EDs 137, 192, and 200 to be a part of Gordon Heights in Assembly District 4 perpetuates a systematic disenfranchisement of a historic African American community. Righting this historical wrong, finally, would allow this community of interest that is Gordon Heights to be united, and to advocate and vote as a community to enjoy the full benefits and rights that come with an undiluted vote and a united voice. Allowing Gordon Heights to be in the same AD as the Setauket-Laurel Hill community in the northern portion of Brookhaven Town would restore these historically-linked communities and to amplify the voice of these communities of interest. I ask you to act upon this recommended plan to protect the equality of the vote to do the right thing by the residents of Gordon Heights. Thank you for your time and consideration of my request. Nancy M. Krody nandbkrody@aol.com 247 Christian Ave (631) 675-1538 Stony Brook, NY 11790 November 20, 2021
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Stephen
November 20, 2021
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Alisha
November 19, 2021
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Deborah
November 19, 2021
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As a follow up to my testimony on Tuesday 11/16, I have attached information including maps that speaks to the question asked by Dr. Flateau about Crown Heights North extending its boundary to the north side of Eastern Parkway. Thank You
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Elliot
November 19, 2021
I want to thank the commission for giving me the time to testify: My name is Elliot Rothman I am a member of the Jewish community and reside in Far Rockaway, NY which geographically speaking is at the eastern tip of the Rockaway Peninsula and is immediately adjacent to the Jewish incorporated Villages of Lawrence and the hamlet of Inwood in Nassau county. Which both encompass the same communities of interest. Currently, under the current maps assembly maps, both communities of interest included in Far Rockaway & Bayswater are connected. The current senatorial districts are divided as this one Jewish community currently has two representatives. I am asking this commission to take into account the unification of Far Rockaway, Bayswater and the connecting communities of interest in the neighboring neighborhoods in Nassau County so that the unique interests of these communities are Jewish not diluted in this redistricting process. These communities of interest are currently mapped out within the Far Rockaway community Erev. An erev is an area within which observant Jews can carry or push objects on the Sabbath, without violating a Jewish law that prohibits carrying anything except within the home. There is one erev that connects Rockaway residents and the bordering Nassau county residents. The current boundary lines run from the Nassau county line west to Beach 32nd street and within Nassau county from the Nassau County line including Inwood and Lawrence. The erev crosses the Nassau expressway along Seagirt Blvd into Rock Hall Road east till Meadow lane which at that point turns North to Central Ave and the LIRR railroad stop. Both Far Rockaway and Nassau county have access with public transportation by utilizing the LIRR and the Nassau county N31 and N32 bus routes. This connection allows for many communities of interest from within Far Rockaway to obtain employment within Nassau county as Far Rockaway has one of the highest unemployment rates within New York City and this can be a great opportunities to have the right representation focus on the transportation needs and employment needs of Rockaways residents. The Far Rockaway community stands firmly behind their incumbents of Assmeblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato and State Senator Joe Addabbo as they are very attentive to our needs. When this commission redraws the district lines, I ask that you please incorporate all neighborhoods mentioned into their assembly & senatorial districts. Currently, the Jewish Community in Far Rockaway & Bayswater are split between 2 state senate districts. It does not allow for any conformity to representation in the State Senate. Again, we need to be in one State Senate district. We are asking when you redraw your drafts that these communities of interest already connected by the Eruv be connected, while keeping the current elected officials Stacey Pheffer Amato & Joe Addabbo currently the representatives for the Far Rockaway community. The current congressional district combines both Rockaway jewish communites and parts of the neighboring Jewish communities in Nassau county. Please make every effort to keep these communities of interest unified. I want to thank the commission for their time in allowing my testimony.