Why I Voted No on Redistricting Every 10 years, following the census, New York must redraw the districts for our Members of Congress, State Senators and Assembly Members to reflect population and demographic changes. I have always supported a nonpartisan and fair redistricting process that would take the power to redraw districts out of the hands of the Legislature. This independent approach would end gerrymandering, one of the greatest causes of gridlock and dysfunction in Albany. However, tonight the hope for true reform was seriously threatened by a cynical act of the Legislature that was nothing more than politics as usual.
The redistricting deal the Legislature voted on continues the hyper-political process of allowing politicians to draw their own districts, choose their own voters and serve their own self-interests. This legislation saddles New Yorkers with another decade of dysfunction and to make matters worse, includes an amendment to the state constitution that kicks the can down the road to 2022, establishing a lawmaker-appointed 10-person panel that is anything but independent and preserves the worst elements of the current system.
The constitutional amendment is not worth the paper it's printed on. It's bad enough that it expressly allows the Legislature to outright reject new district lines. But to add insult to injury, this amendment would enshrine partisan politics into the state constitution. Change for appearance's sake is not real change and this clearly represents a step backwards. The whole purpose of a constitutional amendment should be to remove the Legislature completely from the redistricting process, not perpetuate its role.
New Yorkers want and deserve honest and fair government, which can only start with honest and fair districts, not backroom political deals. Continuing a system that allows politicians to pick their voters fundamentally undermines and endangers our democracy. I voted no because we deserve better. I urge Governor Cuomo to follow through with his pledge to veto this plan that allows legislators to continue to choose their own voters.