Submissions

Nancy

The east side of Manhattan (New York County) should be together as one district, not combined with Queens County. Manhattan people and Queens people cannot easily mingle (there is a river in between with only a tunnel - Manhattan people do not read more usually have cars) - Manhattan and Queens are viewed as very different neighborhoods with different lifestyles. Manhattan's representation would be diminished if it is combined with Queens.
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Micah

I work at the Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA), a nonprofit that serves AAPI immigrants, particularly South Asian and Middle Eastern communities. We support APA VOICE’s proposed changes to the IRC draft map for read more Assembly District 30 because the Asian American communities that CIANA serves in Jackson Heights, Woodside, and Elmhurst should not be separated politically. There is a significant South Asian community from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, as well as Nepal and Tibet, centered around 74th Street in Jackson Heights. Yet, the blocks north of 74th Street, particularly on Roosevelt Avenue and 37th Avenue, are not included in District 30, neither in the current map nor the IRC’s draft map. Additionally, many of the Tibetan and Nepali communities who live in Jackson Heights are not part of the district, whereas their neighbors in Woodside are. Each of these cultures are distinct but share many similarities. Their communities likewise face many of the same challenges on both sides of the district line: gentrification, which has caused many local small businesses to close after years of serving the community; decreased availability of affordable housing; rent increases that have priced out many long-time residents; and more. Impacted communities cannot get the relief, resources, and benefits they need to remedy these problems when they are not in the same district and cannot jointly speak out to the same district leaders. CBOs that serve them, like CIANA, cannot receive adequate funding from elected officials when their client populations are not significantly accounted for in a single district. APA VOICE’s proposed changes to the District 30 map offer a direct remedy: they expand the district’s coverage of Jackson Heights up to 79th Street on Roosevelt Avenue, 35th Road, and 35th Avenue to include more of the South Asian community; expand slightly to the northwest to include the bulk of Woodside’s Tibetan community, including the Tibetan Community Center, and lastly, eliminate the portion south of the Long Island Expressway in order to expand eastward to include more of Elmhurst and its diverse East Asian community. If approved, APA VOICE’s proposed map will bring together diverse AAPI communities into a single, unified District 30, thereby creating a stronger, louder voice to speak out against the threats to their communities. We hold power in numbers and we will not stand alone or be silenced. We hope the IRC will address our concerns through meaningful action.
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Reva

Looking at the current vs. planned map for the area that includes Kew Gardens Hills (unfortunately I'm not sure which district it's considered), it's kind of ridiculous the way little bits around the edges are being excluded from the rest of our read more community. It's unfair, and seriously diminishes the voice of those who are being excluded from the rest of our community.
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John

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. The City of Glens Falls in removed from 113rd and placed in the 114th AD. The City of Glens Falls is more similar to the areas in the current 113rd, than the rural communities of the 114th. The simple read more fact that the City lies within Warren County, which is mostly rural and mountainous, should not be used as justification for this move. Glens Falls is an urban community with needs more similar to those in the 113rd than the 114th. I urge the committee to review their current proposal and place Glens Falls back into the 113rd district. Thank you. John Reilly - Glens Falls resident
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Lloyd

Hersh

Please see attached written public comment.

Amy

Mona

March 15, 2023 Attention: New York State Independent Redistricting Commission Dear Commissioners, As a longtime resident of the Town of Ramapo, I am also the Chair of the Town of Ramapo Democratic Committee and have spent many years read more working on behalf of this wonderful town that I am proud to call home. I am writing about the proposed assembly maps which plans to split the Town of Ramapo into three separate Assembly Districts. Unfortunately, history has shown us that diluting our community in this way has a lasting negative effect on Ramapo families. Having multiple Assembly members, each of whom represents a district that includes just a small portion of the Town of Ramapo, is not beneficial to the town and in fact puts us at a serious disadvantage. Arbitrarily splitting the town in this fashion deprives us of the opportunity to have a strong and substantive partnership with the State Assembly, the ripple effect of which is felt by our town and its residents on a regular basis. Without a true partner in the State Assembly, our extremely diverse town lacks a single representative who is attuned to their varied needs to be their voice in the State Assembly. The lack of a single representative inevitably creates a sense of confusion that compounds issues which may surface and need to be addressed accordingly. We ideally need an Assembly member who understands our town, our residents, and our needs, and who is solely dedicated to us and the issues that we face. The reality is that our town, with 148,000 residents, should largely be contained in one Assembly District, not divided into three different districts. We deserve to have proper and adequate representation, which would entail having someone who considers the Town of Ramapo to be their primary focus, and not simply an afterthought. I therefore respectfully urge you to take a close look at the town and take the time to better understand its needs relative to representation in the New York State Assembly. Dividing the Town of Ramapo in such a fragmented and haphazard manner is imprudent, and the Commission should take this opportunity to ensure that our town is treated in a responsible and evenhanded fashion. Thank you for your consideration of our town and the needs of its residents. Sincerely yours, Mona Montal Chair, Town of Ramapo Democratic Committee
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Judy

Hello Commissioners, The attached document coincides with my oral testimony on 2/28/23. I appreciated the opportunity to share my oral comments and now my written comments that convey my support for your proposed map for AD21 as well as ways to read more enhance this map. Best, Judy Griffin, Former Assemblywoman AD21
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Frank

I am submitting a statewide assembly plan that I have attempted to make as fair as possible. As a New Yorker, I wish to see a fair map passed and hope to provide useful feedback for the Redistricting Commission. Attached in the file is a link to the read more map, my reasoning for how I drew it, and links to download the shapefile and geojson of the map as well. Thank you all for your work.
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Frank

I am submitting a statewide assembly plan that I have attempted to make as fair as possible. As a New Yorker, I wish to see a fair map passed and hope to provide useful feedback for the Redistricting Commission. Attached in the file are a link to read more the map, my reasoning for how I drew it, and links to download the shapefile and geojson of the map as well. Thank you all for your work.
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Katherine

My name is Katherine Walsh; I am born/raised here in Sunset Park. I am also on my local Community Board 7 Brooklyn and serve as the Transportation Chair. I testified to the New York State Redistricting Commission virtually on Feb 15th. You can go to read more the website and choose “Part 3” 1:58 to view the recording of the testimony. I submit testimony today on behalf of myself and my community. I request that you keep us in Assembly District 51 (Sunset Park) specifically the streets between 56th street and 54th street between 4th and 6th avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn together in the existing 2022 Assembly District Map. . The proposed map cuts out this section and moves into a new Assembly District 49th. Do not move us in Assembly District 49th. I ask you to please respond to what community members are asking for. Keep us in Assembly District 51.
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Tyler

Public housing developments have been left aside in the redistricting process, though are viewed by many as communities of interest. This map unifies New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments, creating nine unified districts: District 37 read more (Queens and Roosevelt Island), Districts 55 and 56 (Brooklyn alone), District 65 (Manhattan and Brooklyn), District 68 (Manhattan and the Bronx), District 69 (Manhattan alone), and District 79, 80, and 85 (the Bronx alone). The map is best viewed with NYCHA Developments overlaid; that view is available online at https://bit.ly/3J8DTmM, with options to download in any file format. The plan also has many other benefits (common benefits, like district 49 being majority-Asian or district 51 being plurality-Hispanic, are not listed): -It has three majority-Hispanic districts in the Jackson Heights-Elmhurst-Corona region (34, 35, and 39) and one Asian-majority district there (30). -It has one plurality-Hispanic and one majority-Hispanic district in the Ridgewood-Cypress Hills-Woodhaven region (38 and 54, respectively). -It has two majority-Asian districts in eastern Queens (25 and 40) and two plurality-Asian districts there (24 and 27). -It only puts Roosevelt Island — no mainland Manhattan — in a district with Queens (37). -It keeps intact Hasidic neighborhoods in Williamsburg and Borough Park in districts 50 and 48, respectively. -With district 65 becoming a NYCHA-unified district, it ends the packing of minority communities in Lower Manhattan within one district; Chinatown would now be in district 61. Both districts 61 and 65 are majority-minority. -District 75 would be a new majority-minority district. -Manhattan-grounded districts 68, 71, and 72 are plurality-Hispanic. -The Bronx would have two majority-Black districts (80 and 83). The map does not include redrawn parts of southern Brooklyn and southern Queens or Staten Island, as there is no significant public housing that would require unification and no surrounding districts that are required to exemplify the plan's feasibility.
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Camille

A more compact and contiguous 44th AD as referenced in my testimony.

Robert

Attached is a proposed revision of the map of Suffolk County. I attempted to keep it to just the Suffolk ADs, however, there were some small revisions to areas along the Nassau-Suffolk border to ensure the deviation was largely similar to the draft read more proposal. This map is designed to unify various communities of interest in Suffolk County, as well as also address some small administrative issues for the Board of Elections (Ghost EDs aka EDs with 0 population and odd shaped EDs). In addition, this map is designed to create similar districts to the County Legislative and Town Board (where applicable) districts exist. Finally, the map was designed to have as minimal crossing of town boundaries as necessary. A description of each district and purpose of the design is as follows: AD01 - A South Fork district. This incorporates the Hamptons along with Eastport (Brookhaven portion is tied to Southampton portion), the various Moriches (Center Moriches, East Moriches, and Moriches). The only odd communities included are Mastic, the Poospatuck Indian Reservation, and portions of Mastic Beach. They are included as they have been in past incarnations of AD01 and are there for population. In addition, the Poospatuck Reservation students attend Center Moriches Schools and there is also the presence of the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in this district. A potential alternative exists, which will be elaborated in AD02. This district largely overlaps with the County's 2nd district. AD02 - A North Fork District. This incorporates the North Fork communities of Southold and Riverhead, along with Shelter Island, with Eastern Brookhaven. Shelter Island is included to keep contiguity with the County Legislative map, which recently transferred the Town to the North Fork Legislative district from the South Fork district. The portions of Brookhaven that are included have similar socio-economics to the North Fork towns and are also predominately rural (Manorville and Calverton) or are areas that have ties to the North Fork (Shoreham and Wading River share a School District). The only potential outlier is Miller Place, which is slightly more developed then the other Brookhaven communities. This town could be provided to AD04, but AD02 would then need population. If Mastic is not desired to be in AD01, a potential alternative would be to shift Shelter Island and Southold to AD01 and have AD02 move into Mastic, Moriches, and Center Moriches. The shifts there are roughly even. As stated before, this is not advised as it creates less overlap between Legislative Districts. This district would overlap with the County's 1st and 6th districts, and the Town's 2nd (eastern) and 6th (northern) districts. AD03 - Largely the Tri-Hamlet community, along with the heart of Longwood School District. A largely working class community, this area also unifies the minority populations of Brookhaven in Gordon Heights and North Bellport. These two communities have often advocated to be together, and are together in the County Legislature and Town Board. The only outlier community is the Village of Bellport, a largely wealthy community. Its location prevents it from being located in another district, and it does possess ties to the North Bellport community. This district largely overlaps with the County's 7th and 3rd (western) districts, and the Town's 4th district. AD04 - A suburban middle-class commuter district. This district possesses large similar socio-economics in terms of family median income, ethnic breakdown, and similarity across school districts. Lake Grove is included as it possesses similar demographics to the other communities in this district and less with the Centereach-Selden area. This district largely overlaps with the County Legislature's 5th district, and also the Town of Brookhaven's 1st and 2nd districts. AD05 - A working class community district. This district is anchored by two hyphen communities of Centereach-Selden and Holbrook-Holtsville. Both communities are anchor communities in their respective school districts (Middle Country and Sachem). This district could be alternatively called the Middle Country/Sachem district. This district largely overlaps with the County's 4th district and Town's 3rd district. AD06 - This is a largely Hispanic community district. This district # could be swapped with AD07 to create a greater consistency among the districts shifting from east to west. This district largely unifies the minority populations in Baywood, Brentwood, Central Islip, and North Bay Shore. They also share common school districts, and it keeps the lines similar to boundaries in the County Legislature's 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th districts and the Town of Islip's 1st Council district. AD07 - A coastal community district. It is anchored by downtown hamlets in Sayville, Islip, and Bay Shore, along with the Village of Patchogue. This district is also the primary district for Fire Island. This keeps the inhabited parts of Fire Island in one assembly district (The Babylon portion is the only portion with population that is placed in a different district due to history). This district largely coincides with districts 08 and 10 of the County, and Districts 2 and 4 of the Town of Islip. AD08 - This district is primarily the Town of Smithtown, plus communities that cross into the Town of Islip in the form of Hauppauge (Fully AD08) and Ronkonkoma (Part in AD08 and part in AD05). This is a largely middle-class community, with a sizable population that commutes to the city. This district is similar to the Commission's proposal, only removing the Brookhaven and Huntington portions. It overlaps perfectly with the County's 12th and 13th districts. AD09 - A new district that is largely similar to the Commission's proposal. The primary changes are shifting of Deer Park out of the district and Lindenhurst in. This creates a district that largely overlaps with County districts 11 and 14. In addition, it is similar to a largely coastal community that exists in the Town of Babylon and Islip. AD10 - This district was reshaped to a district to acknowledge the substantial Jewish populations in the district in Plainview and Dix Hills. It also largely unifies school districts like Old Bethpage-Plainview, Half Hollow Hills, and South Huntington. AD11 - This district was shifted to incorporate Deer Park, which has sizable minority populations (in fact, this district used to have a small pathway to connect a sizable minority population in Eastern Deer Park with the rest of district named after former Assemblyman Bob Sweeney). This district largely coincides with District 15 of the County Legislature. AD12 - A coastal community for Huntington and northern Oyster Bay. It would be considered a quintessential Gold Coast district. While efforts were made to keep this district almost entirely Suffolk, it made more sense to go into Nassau in this direction than splitting up the communities of Syosset and Woodbury, which belong with Jericho and other middle Oyster Bay communities. AD17- this district was removed from Suffolk to try and keep Suffolk at 12 ADs (roughly proportional to their population). In return, it moved northward to take in more of Bethpage. As a resident of Suffolk County, I hope this information was helpful. It would be great if the commission could consider some of the proposal and a goal to attempt to overlap the Assembly districts with the various lower and also higher levels of government that exist in Suffolk County and help eliminate small EDs in the County. Thank you, -Robert
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Uri

*corrected* I have attached my map here. It is a modified version of the nyirc map. The changes were primarily made in the buffalo and albany regions where I do not think the maps were drawn well in the first draft.

Uri

*corrected* I have attached my map here. It is a modified version of the nyirc map. The changes were primarily made in the buffalo and albany regions where I do not think the maps were drawn well in the first draft.

Uri

*corrected* I have attached my map here. It is a modified version of the nyirc map. The changes were primarily made in the buffalo and albany regions where I do not think the maps were drawn well in the first draft.

Amy

White Plains Meeting - Nov 8, 2021

Dustin

Syracuse Public Hearing Meeting - Jan 24, 2023

Dustin

Syracuse Meeting - Oct 26, 2021

Lloyd

New York County Public Hearing Meeting - Feb 7, 2023

Somia

Kings County Public Hearing Meeting - Feb 15, 2023

Orlando

Camille

Kings County Public Hearing Meeting - Feb 15, 2023

Salma

Kings County Public Hearing Meeting - Feb 15, 2023

Don