Broome Redistricting Done, State Fight Rages on Party Lines

The fight over the redrawing political districts in New York State is, as expected, being waged right along party lines but not so much on the local level in Broome County.

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The New York Independent Redistricting Committee is evenly split on approving one map drawn by Republicans and the other by the Democrats.  While the districts are supposed to be based on population and reflect the ethnic makeup of communities, both sides are accusing the other of playing with the lines to favor election of their party’s candidates. The dueling maps were released January 3.

The local redistricting committee for Broome legislative lines was to meet on its own map proposals January 4 but January 3, the chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Redistricting, Daniel Reynolds, sent a letter to the Chairwoman of the County Administration Committee, Cindy O’Brien, reporting the completion of the committee’s work and a formal recommendation on a legislative map.

Out of five proposed maps, draft map 3 was selected, carving out lines for 15 legislative districts.

The committee held its final meetings and public hearing on the proposed redistricting last week.

The final map proposal can be found at https://www.gobroomecounty.com/legis/ad-hoc-and-special-committee-documents .

Onondaga County has been at odds over redistricting with the county executive there vetoing a proposed map.

One of the area’s representatives to Washington is also weighing in on the contentious redistricting process in New York.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney January 3 released a statement about the Redistricting Commission meeting claiming the group failed their constitutional duty to draft a single, bipartisan map for the Congressional and State legislative districts.

The Republican, however, placed the blame on the lack of agreement squarely on the Democrats claiming the majority party in New York is advancing one-party rule and abusing power.