Special Meeting of Common Council to Discuss Redistricting

Ellen McCollister sent this message to the listserv. Thanks, Ellen!
 

Dear 3rd Ward Neighbors,
 

Common Council will soon be making some important decisions about redistricting. At the risk of causing your eyes to glaze over, I'd like to summarize what's happening.
 

As most of you know, the County and the City must redraw the legislative boundaries every ten years to reflect population changes from the most recent U.S. Census.

Ward populations, by law, cannot deviate by more than 10 percent. An ad hoc City Redistricting Committee, chaired by the 3rd Ward's Tom Frank, met throughout the fall and winter and held numerous public hearings. They have sent a "preferred" map and an "alternative" map to Common Council for consideration. If adopted, either one of these scenarios would have to go to referendum in the fall because they reduce the total number of Council seats from 10 to 8. 

Under the first scenario, called 4-5a, the City would go from 5 wards, 2 representatives per ward, to 4 wards, 2 reps per ward. The alternative scenario calls for 8 wards, 1 rep per ward. Under the 4-ward scenario (4-5a) the current 3rd Ward boundaries would expand to include the south side of upper State St but wouldn't be all that different from what they are now. (The 4-ward scenario also addresses a long-standing oddity in the City's Ward 1 boundaries, which currently stretch from West Hill, through part of the Flats, and over to South Hill.)
 

Under the 8-ward scenario, Belle Sherman/Bryant Park would be split. This second alternative, 8-3a, did not gain a lot of traction at our May 16 Government Performance and Accountability (GPA) committee. Most committee members felt that it's advantageous to have two representatives per ward with staggered terms. In addition, some of us felt that we didn't want to "balkanize" City neighborhoods. See both maps here.
 

In addition to the two recommended scenarios, Mayor Myrick has asked Common Council to revisit a scenario called 4-6. See that map here. This scenario would create the biggest change for Belle Sherman/Bryant Park (and our work load) because South Hill would be added to the current 3rd Ward. 

Finally, there is interest from some citizens in bringing forward a 12-Ward scenario. This has already been considered and rejected by the Redistricting Committee. I have already gone on record that I do not support this proposal. Among other things, in order to carve out balanced populations in 12 wards, this scenario would create a separate ward for Cornell's north campus freshman dorms (currently District 1 in Ward 3). Since you have to be freshman to live there, it's not clear how a candidate could be recruited who would be around to fulfill a 2-or 4-year Council term. 

Common Council will be reviewing these scenarios at a special meeting on Monday, June 4, at 7 p.m. I hope you'll take the time to review the maps. Please call me if you have any questions, 272-5936, or write to Common Council <council@cityofithaca.org> if you'd like to weigh in.
 

Ellen McCollister, Alderperson
City of Ithaca Third Ward
emccollister@cityofithaca.org
221 Bryant Ave
272-5936
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