SEAFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A proposed new Congressional district may imply main adjustments on Lengthy Island.
The traces have been drawn and a few voters are indignant, CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Tuesday.
You may the see the Bronx and Westchester from Nassau, however voters don’t all the time see eye to eye.
“We don’t want the Bronx and Rye, New York. They do not know what Lengthy Island does,” one voter mentioned.
But voters from Suffolk by way of Nassau, Queens and now elements of the Bronx and Westchester are being lumped right into a newly drawn third Congressional District.
“Whoever represents this district going ahead goes to want both a ship or a bridge,” former Congressman Steve Israel mentioned.
READ MORE: See Proposed 2022 Redistricting Maps
READ MORE: See 2012 Congressional Redistricting Maps
The seat was as soon as held by Israel, who mentioned redistricting has all the time been weaponized.
“In crimson states once they take out Democrats, that requires blue states to say okay we’re going to settle that rating,” Israel mentioned.
The drastic change is leaving candidates working for the open seat within the new so-called “Sound Shore” district that crosses the Lengthy Island Sound.
“My concern is making certain that they get satisfactory and truthful illustration,” mentioned Melanie D’Arrigo, a candidate within the third Congressional District.
“The those who stay within the Bronx don’t actually have a vested curiosity right here,” a voter mentioned.
Gerrymandering is a authorized option to alter districts to at least one occasion’s benefit. It’s a very heated now due to the shut battle to manage the Home.
“The Republicans are doing this in states they management,” political analyst Mike Dawidziak mentioned.
Dawidziak mentioned it’s a disgrace the first Congressional District will meander from East Finish farms to dense Nassau.
“It’s one of many true swing districts in america and for the very first time it’s being gerrymandered to provide the Democrats a greater probability to win it,” Dawidziak mentioned.
FLASHBACK: Congressional Redistricting All But Finalized
Lengthy Island’s 2nd Congressional District will lean additional proper. Its former congressman, Peter King, mentioned he hopes the entire map can be overturned in court docket.
“It’s onerous to fulfill the respectable wants of your constituents, when there are such a lot of completely different various pursuits, conflicting pursuits, communities that don’t have anything to do with one another,” King mentioned.
Many different states have impartial commissions, not lawmakers, draw the traces. New York did as nicely, and it held dozens of public hearings, however resulted in a impasse. So, the state Legislature will vote on the brand new map this week.
The brand new map offers 22 of New York’s 26 congressional districts a Democratic enrollment benefit.
