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• Marcia
  November 11, 2021
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• Kelle
  November 11, 2021
  I have lived in Hastings-on Hudson for 15 years, prior to that Yonkers for 10, and prior to that Riverdale for 7, so I have been a constituent in US CD16 for a long time. I listened to the recording of the meeting with live comments and must say that I disagree with the testimony regarding Hastings and community connection to Riverdale and the north Bronx. I know a couple of people from Westchester testified, a few from Hastings, that they have more of a connection to the Bronx than further north in Westchester, but I believe that is primarily from a need to keep US CD16 together for the benefit of political community, not actual living community. I now work in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, in my retirement. My entire life, as well as my neighbors, most of us Seniors, is extremely connected to the Rivertowns with our Senior bus service, grocery stores, medical services, etc. I believe the Rivertowns are a community within themselves and we have much more in common than with the North Bronx, which I love but no longer have any connection to. Please consider the map that Suzanne Berger presented for USCD 17 with all the Rivertowns included in one district, from Greystone area of Yonkers to Poughkeepsie. I definitely feel the village of Hastings on Hudson belongs with the district, CD 17, she represented. Thank you for your consideration. Kelle Kerr
  
• Carlos
  November 11, 2021
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  Hello, my name is Yarimar Bonilla, I am the Executive Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College and this is my colleague Carlos Vargas-Ramos, our Director of Development, and the author of a research report on the redistricting process which we are submitting along with our testimony today. We are here to comment on the consequences of the proposed redistricting plans on Congressional Representation for Latinos and to ask you to reject both draft plans as we contend that both of these plans are bad for Latinos. The Letters plan significantly dilutes the Latino Population in the following ways: ● First, current District 14, representing heavily Hispanic neighborhoods in the Bronx and Queens, would be redrawn into the proposed “R” District, which would include the Riverdale neighborhood resulting in a reduction from a 49% Hispanic district to a 47% Hispanic district. ● In addition, District 13, representing Upper Manhattan and sections of the Western Bronx, would be redrawn into a proposed District “Q” reducing the Hispanic population from 53% to 51%. ● Lastly, District 7, representing areas of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, would be redrawn into a proposed District “K” drastically reducing the Hispanic population from 38% to 26%. The Names plan is even more catastrophic: ● Fist, it dilutes the Hispanic population in District 13, which includes Harlem, Washington Heights and parts of the Bronx, and which is currently 53% Hispanic by merging it with District 12 in the Upper East Side and parts of the 10th district in the Upper West Side, which are only 14% and 13% Hispanic, respectively. ● This would result in a new “Northern Manhattan District” that would be only 25% Hispanic -- as opposed to the currently 53% Hispanic, District 13 -- which elected a Hispanic Congressman in 2016 (Adriano Espaillat) ● In addition, the Names plan eliminates District 14 altogether, a congressional district that is 49% Hispanic and which since 2018 has sent a Hispanic member to the House of Representatives (Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez). Ironically, these draft plans reduce Hispanic political representation and dilute Latino political power at a moment when the Hispanic population has increased by 15.5 percent across the state (or by 531,000 people)—becoming the ethnic group with the highest total population growth in the past decade. Indeed, it was the growth of the Hispanic (and Asian) population that prevented the state from losing more congressional seats in the recent apportionment process. Collectively, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Asians contributed 1,041,000 persons to the state’s population, in contrast to the non-Hispanic white population which declined by 705,000 people. Further, the Names plan eliminates a district from highly Hispanic New York City, even though there has not been NO population decline in the city or that district. On the contrary, the population in New York City increased by 629,000 people. The only places with population losses in the state are the counties of upstate New York, which are majority non-Hispanic White. We thus feel that the Names plan is directly targeting Hispanic voters in what can only be seen as an effort at dilution and retrogression. Indeed, the machinations evident in the Names plan betray an insidious attempt to hinder the political aspirations and political will of the Hispanic population of New York by undermining with technical artifices the expressed wishes of Hispanic voters. It is important to note that this is the first redistricting process carried out since the Supreme Court struck down section 4B of the 1965 voting rights act in 2013. This section required pre-clearance before implementing any changes to electoral laws or practices in jurisdictions with a history of racial and ethnic disenfranchisement. Until the recent ruling, Bronx, Kings, and New York counties were all under the scrutiny of the U.S. Justice Department to guard against the diluting and undermining of minority voting power. Both of the current draft plans dilute Hispanic voting power, but the proposed Names plan goes a step further by engineering practices and institutional constraints that undermine and reverse notable advantages in Hispanic empowerment, all of which would have come under scrutiny in a pre-clearance process. In the absence of a formal pre-clearance process we must thus be exceedingly vigilant to prevent the return of discriminatory traditions historically present in NY state’s governing institutions. We urge the Independent Redistricting Commission to pay attention to alternative maps being produced by groups like LatinoJustice-PRLDEF, and to take those ideas with them back to the drawing board in order to produce plans that are fair to all segments of the state’s population and which safeguard the interest of the Hispanic population in New York State and New York City.
  
• Nina
  November 11, 2021
  I am college-educated and cannot figure out which map will even be voted on tomorrow. I have to get to work and don't have more time to put into this. The important thing is this: Vote to protect majority (i.e. Democratic Party) rule in New York state! I live in the Elmira area and have never had a state representative who reflects my views. Do NOT make districts that skew the state even further to the right! Thank you. Sincerely, Nina A. Kolesar
  
• Philip
  November 10, 2021
  As a Bronx resident of NY Senate District 34, I would like to see Pelham Manor removed from the district. I do not see how the wealthy residents of Pelham Manor in Westchester County can have similar interests with people who live in the Bronx. I have seen that Pelham has avoided many of the requests the Bronx faces (such as zoning changes) so they should not be in the district. It feels they are protected due to their wealth.
  
• Matthew
  November 10, 2021
  I imagine you all are aware, but just in case you’re not, there is a supercomputer at UIUC that can generate literally millions of maps for people to evaluate that take into account fair redistricting. https://las.illinois.edu/news/2016-09-23/supercomputing-solution-gerrymandering
  
• Paul
  November 10, 2021
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  Attached is my testimony from 11/10 hearing, including specifics for reconfiguring "Letters" draft for Assembly District 75.
  
• Marjorie
  November 10, 2021
  Chinatown, NY should not be divided into two separate voting zones. We have come a long way to unite with one vision, one goal as a United front. We need to have a clear vision as one in order to reach a goal that is positive and clear for our community. Please do not divide us.
  
• Rev. Mark
  November 10, 2021
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• Benja
  November 10, 2021
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• Veronica
  November 10, 2021
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• Mark
  November 10, 2021
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• David
  November 10, 2021
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  Hello Commissioners, I am a Hunter College student. I am also a partner at a finance firm in the city. I was born poor, Mexican-American and queer. You have the power to help us grow toward our potential. Extremism and distractions are our obstacles. Sharing seems to be a resource multiplier that we don't take advantage of. Your help is invaluable. Thank you, David Topete dgtopete@gmail.com 347-665-4305
  
• Kathy
  November 10, 2021
  Commissioner Martin asked my neighbor Louise Bloomfield a question at the hearing Monday after her testimony. He asked if, as a resident of Saugerties, she would prefer to be included in a district centered in Albany or a more rural district stretching far to our north. These are not the only options. The counties of Ulster, Greene, Dutchess and Columbia have a total population of 587, 263 which is a great start to the required number for a Congressional district. With these counties as the core of a district, the Mid Hudson region would have real representation in a fairly compact district. These counties constitute a community of interest with similar environments and concerns.
  
• June
  November 10, 2021
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