NY: Nassau County passes new legislative district map
After dozens of hearings, months of public input and several heated exchanges between Nassau County lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the final redistricting map proposal which will represent the 19 legislative districts for the next 10 years passed on Feb. 27.
11 Republicans of the majority voted for the map, while seven Democratic minority leaders voted in opposition — a disappointing, but inevitable end, to community members and Democratic officials who have been vocal on the partisan gerrymandering this map demonstrates.
“Tomorrow morning, students in Nassau County are going to wake up to a snow day, this legislative body is going to wake up to a lawsuit,” said Legislator Josh Lafazan, prior to the vote. “Our constituents lose tonight, and nobody wins.”
Before the evening vote, community members attended an afternoon hearing where many expressed their final pleas for the Nassau County Legislature to not approve the map.
Their concerns remain consistent: they claim the map fails to include five majority-minority districts, it violates state and federal voting laws, neglects to consider racial demographics and dilutes minority votes in communities such as Lakeview and Freeport.
https://www.liherald.com/stories/nassau-county-passes-new-legislative-district-map,166814
