RSS 2.0 FeedMay 13, 2011, Cover Stories, Merrick Life
New legislative districts draw angry responses
Residents show support for their local politicians.
WE WANT DAVE! Residents came out in force to support Legislator Dave Denenberg when they learned about the redistricting plan. Photo by Ann Parry
An overflowing crowd of people turned up at the Nassau County Legislature on Monday for the only hearing on the proposed redistricting plan that will draw new legislative districts in Nassau County. Dozens of impassioned speakers showed up, many waiting five or six hours, to ask questions, air concerns and urge the legislature to take its time before instituting any changes.
“One hearing is not enough to understand the impact this will have,” said Lisa Tyson, a North Bellmore resident. “Look at all the people in this room. This [Nassau County] is the most segregated place in the country and this map only makes it worse,” she said.
Legislators, on both sides of the aisle, argued over the need to redraw legislative lines before the November 2011 elections.
The Republican Majority Leader Peter Schmitt and county Attorney John Ciampoli claim the county is obligated by its charter to redraw legislative districts within six months of the release of the U.S. Census data. The Census indicates there has been a population shift of “22.7%. It is my understanding that in excess of 10% you are discriminating and are in violation of the Constitution,” stated Mr. Ciampoli. “We must protect the one man, one vote. We must balance the districts.”
But many speakers said this new map diluted the minority vote, was politically motivated and that too many questions remained unaddressed said the map was a violation of the 1965 voting rights act; others called it a “mockery, unacceptable and absurd.”
The Democratic minority said the plan will move 44% of the population, about 576,000 people, into new legislative districts.
“This is a self-serving Republican plan. Mr. Schmitt claims to be a great protector of minorities, but villages are split in half, diluting minorities. There should be no misinterpretation of this action. Use a nonpartisan redistricting commission for 2013,” said Minority Leader Diane Yatauro.
The plan does call for a nonpartisan commission to convene and study the plan, but the new districts would already be in effect. The commission would be charged with making these temporary districts permanent in time for the 2013 elections.
Mr. Schmitt added that the legislature does not have the “discretion to ignore the law” and must put this plan into effect. The legislature will vote on it Monday, May 16, and, if approved, it will go into effect January 1, 2012.
However, on May 10 the Nassau Cunty Demorcratic legislative caucus filed a temporary restraining order in New York Supreme court before Judge Jaeger asking for a stay on the May 16 vote. “When it is adopted next week the legislators will go to the districts and tell them what happened,” said Mr. Schmitt.
Judy Leeman of Great Neck replied, “So you are telling me this is a fait accompli?”
Mr. Schmidt tried to backtrack. “I must do my job or I’d be in violation of the law,” he repeated.
The plan merges two Democratic districts that would eliminate a Democratic incumbent, splits up the Five Towns as well as Legislative District Three in Hempstead Village and creates a new 19th District on the western border of Nassau County. No Republican legislators would be forced out of their districts.
Locally, the plan proposes to move the 19th Legislative District from the Merrick-Bellmore area, where it is currently held by Democrat Legislator David Denenberg, to the western border of the county to create a “new minority district,” said Mr. Ciampoli. Legislator Denenberg’s district would lose south Wantagh into Republican Dennis Dunne’s district, and North Merrick and North Bellmore to Republican Norma Gonsalves’ district.
This would leave Legislator Denenberg with south Bellmore and Merrick, Freeport – north of Merrick Road, most of Baldwin and a bit of north Rockville Centre. This new district also eliminates one democratic district and pits two democratic incumbents – Legislators Dave Denenberg and Joe Scannell – against each other.
Most of the speakers from Bellmore and Merrick were not called until the mid to late afternoon. One speaker accused Majority Leader Peter Schmitt of “shuffling the cards so those in Dave’s district don’t get a chance to speak.” But Mr. Schmitt responded that he was only “pulling out those Democratic candidates who have come to posture. They will have to wait until the end,” he said.
But people were not deterred. Several women for Merrick and Bellmore held up a sign high over their heads. “We want Dave,” it said.
Several other speakers from Dave Denenberg’s district included Audrey Ciuffio, Jonathan Drake and Claudia Borecky. Others, who could no longer wait to speak, submitted letters or a statement including Karen Fetty, Florence Hoffman, Ben Weinman, Christine Kellor, Joe Kralovich, Tony Pellegrino and Diane McCoy.
But it was Carol Kramer of Merrick who best summed up the tenor of the audience from Mr. Denenberg’s district.
“Mr. Schmitt, I think we should give you a round of applause. You have succeeded in creating a climate of anger and hostility. You have demonstrated such disrespect to us. I won’t ask my question because, it doesn’t matter. I won’t get an answer. You have already made a decision,” said Ms. Kramer.
“But this remains – we want Dave Denenberg to be our legislator. Are you so afraid of his passion and his intelligence? It’s appalling,” she concluded.
