RSS 2.0 FeedMarch 24, 2011, Weekly editorial
Power to the people
Guest Editorial: In New York State, legislators choose their voters before we are asked to choose them in the voting booth. How does this happen? Every 10 years, after the census figures are established, Assembly and Senate district lines are drawn by the legislators to maximize favorable results for both parties.
Rather than adhere to boundaries that are contiguous with communities, they examine changes in population patterns such as ethnicity, religion, race and other similar factors, and then redraw the boundaries to assure that incumbents will be re-elected. Some of these district boundaries have blatantly contorted shapes.
We can change this politically controlled system by taking the power away from the legislators and putting it in the hands of a truly independent redistricting commission. The legislature could create such a commission immediately. Instead, the Senate has passed legislation that proposes a constitutional amendment that would create the commission but it would not be effective until 2022.
We can do away with a system where legislators cherry-pick voters. Call your state legislators and insist that they support a truly independent redistricting commission to take effect now.
Barbara Epstein, President
Polly Nager, Advocacy Director
League of Women Voters
Town of Hempstead East
