Submissions

Public Comments Return to Archived Submissions Page

  • Fran
    October 26, 2021
    Followed is my testimony as a resident of the Northeast Bronx, I am extremely concerned that there are plans to remove my community from NY-16. We are geographically more connected to Westchester County than other areas of the Bronx. It is imperative that our community of interest remain together. We are a diverse district, socio-economically & ethnically. The optics of removing us from the district appears to minimize the black and brown voter. This is gerrymandering.
  • Robert
    October 26, 2021
    Dear Fellow New Yorkers: I would vote for the congressional letter plan, as it appears to me to be more geographically true. The New York State Senate and Assembly Districts seem to isolate the poor. As a former Rochester City School District Phys. Ed. Teacher I would like to see the city slivered into the various towns, not to diminish their representation but to bring a sense and bring a commitment to the poor; rather than the donut hole and the rich donut we currently are experiencing. I could be wrong, it has happened to me a time or two, but our fellow New Yorkers who are poor and living in the cities are living in HELL! Thank you for your time and consideration of my viewpoints. Excelsior! Bob Menz Webster, NY 585 613-6416
  • Philip
    October 26, 2021
    View File

  • Lourdes
    October 26, 2021
    Followed is my testimony as a resident of New Rochelle, I am extremely concerned that there are plans to segment NY-16.   It is imperative that there is equity across the district and we keep communities of interest together.  We are the example of a diverse district, socio-economically and ethnically. The optics of removing us from the district appears to minimize the black and brown voter. This is gerrymandering. Do not allow this to happen in New York as attempts are being made throughtout our nation to silence legitimate voters.
  • Marianne
    October 26, 2021
    Following is my testimony as a resident of New Rochelle and of Congressional District 16. I am alarmed to learn of plans to segment NY 16. We MUST have equity across the district and we MUST keep communities of interest together (e.g.: housing, employment, health care, policing). We are a prime example of a diverse district, socioeconomically and ethnically. Removing us from the district appears to minimize the Black and Brown voters. This IS Gerrymandering!
  • Robert
    October 26, 2021
    View File

  • Francine
    October 26, 2021
    To: Independent Redistricting Commission I was pleased with the outcome of the latest Congressional election. The 16th Congressional District elected Jamaal Bowman to be its representative. I would like him to remain. I am asking that you please do not remove Congressman Bowman from the Co-op City district and please do not remove Co-op City from the 16th Congressional District. Congressman Bowman has been present and very attentive to the needs of our community. The former representative did not even live in New York and we did not see him very often. But, Congressman Bowman has often visited our organizations, churches, building associations, etc. He has many of the same interests as the residents of Co-op City. It would be a big disappointment if we could no longer work together with Congressman Bowman in order to reach our goals. I urge you to allow the district to remain as is. Thank you. Francine Jones
  • Adam
    October 26, 2021
    The guiding principle at all levels must be voting equitability: the principle that every vote counts for exactly the same value (or as close to exactly as possible). The principle is independent of partisan considerations as well as 'race-to-the-bottom' arguments such as we have to gerrymander because some other state is gerrymandering. The six districts furthest away from the average population per district are: 23 (-10.7%), 22 (-10.3%), 19 (-10.1%), 21 (-9.3%), 24 (-7.7%), and 27 (-7.3%) (i.e. these districts are currently over-represented). The 'Letters' plan does an adequate job of combining these districts to adjoining areas, except for 21, which appears to be more or less as before (the 'Names' plan re-districts a portion of the lakeside area of 21, and perhaps his should be done in the 'Letters' plan, if possible). The 'Names' plan seeks to address the same population deficit-over-representation by creating a district called something like 'JeffersonUlster' which stretches all the way from the Lake to the Catskills. This seems ill-advised since the representational interests of Catskill area residents are likely to be quite different from lakeside residents. // On the other side of the equitability range (under-representation), there are 3 New York City districts with populations exceeding the district averages: 12 (+4.5%), 10 (+3.5%), and 8 (+3.5%). It is difficult for me to see the proposed maps in these areas but I suggest that these districts should be redistricted in such a way as to create more equitable representation for these citizens, who are currently being under-represented, If this requires the creation of a new district, so be it. While this comment applies to the Congressional redistricting, the same approach is appropriate for the State Assembly and State Senate redistricting.
  • Dwayne
    October 26, 2021
    Good afternoon I am a resident of the Northeast Bronx for the past 15 years.I am very concerned that there are plans to segment NY-16. As a young man who attended school in the northeast Bronx catholic school system I witnessed first hand the diversity between myself and my classmates as we worked together collectively towards academic success. Now as a Registered Nurse who services the communities that are proposed to be affected it will have a affect on the equity across the board. Coop city, Mt. Vernon, Yonkers New Rochelle are a prime example of a diverse socio- economically and ethnicity. The optics of removing us from the district appears to minimize the voting voice of the black and brown voter. This is gerrymandering
  • KEVIN
    October 26, 2021
    My name is Kevin B. Geraghty, Town of Warrensburg Supervisor. I am disappointed to see in one version of the district the our County, Warren County, would be split with two different Senators. It make absolutely no sense to do this. Keeping the North country the same as it is now is imperative. The Adirondack issues need to have one voice and that voice is Senator Dan Stec. Do not reinvent the wheel here. Keep our district the same. Thank you for listening.
  • erica
    October 26, 2021
    As a resident of New Rochelle, I am extremely concerned that there are plans to segment NY-16.   It is imperative that there is equity across the district and we keep communities of interest together.  We are the example of a diverse district, socio-economically & ethnically. The optics of removing us from the district appears to minimize the black and brown voter. This is gerrymandering.
  • Vincine
    October 26, 2021
    I prefer the 'Name' plans in all cases.
  • Amber
    October 25, 2021
    This is my testimony as a constituent of NY-16. I do not want my vote gerrymandered, nor do I think it is conducive for the NY-16 to redistrict. I have lived in NY-16 for the entirety of my life and have not had a representative that I felt uplifted my values until this last congressional election. NY-16 is a special district because of our proximity. Many of my peers, including myself, in NY-16, would live, go to school, work, and do our extracurriculars throughout the district. This causes all of our constituents to have a vested interest in the Northeast Bronx, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, and Yonkers regarding healthcare, infrastructure, education, after-school, and community safety, etc. The community members and voters of this area are now being silenced. Redistricting the area would silence the uniqueness of the district that I call home. The potential redistricting of my neighborhood makes me wonder if my voice and contributions to my community matter to NY state government officials or if the state prefers to continue utilizing the oppressor's tools to further marginalize and devalue BIPOC community members. Redistricting NY-16 will only benefit the establishment while hurting the very fabric of NY-16. Not redistricting NY-16 will show a commitment to community, diversity and aid in correcting the wrongs of America's racist and classist past. Don't divide NY-16, and don't silence our voices. I am adamantly against the redistricting of NY-16.
  • Loretta
    October 25, 2021
    I, a constituent of Congressional District 16 overwhelmingly oppose redistricting. It is my testimony that we have for much too long been void of having our voices heard and responded to. We, here in the Northeast Bronx and our neighbors in Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle share similar interests and priorities such as safety, public transportation, after school care, all aspects of Seniors' care, education, wholesome recreation, infrastructure, and the list goes on. No attempts aimed at weakening our voice are acceptable.
  • Joanna
    October 25, 2021
    Joanna-October 25,2021 The Southern Tier's economy and culture has nothing in common with Buffalo, Niagara Falls;nor, too, with other urban,suburban entities. Farming/Agriculture, food processing, some manufacturing and, many small businesses, are our way of life;and, too, our culture. Therefore, we propose to separate, not only, from Buffalo, Niagara Falls;but, also, from Downstate, and become a separate Province of the Southern Tier.