New York is now among the last states in the nation to tackle the redistricting required as a result of the 2010 census. And the urgency is growing: the state’s Congressional primary is scheduled for June 26, and its legislative primary for Sept. 11.

SO FAR

State Assembly and Senate leaders proposed new legislative districts, but critics called the maps gerrymandered to protect incumbents, and unfair to minority groups. The proposal, by a legislative task force, would increase the size of the Senate to 63 members from 62, but that move is being challenged in state court.

At the same time, the number of Congressional districts in New York is being reduced to 27, from 29, as a result of the census; after Albany lawmakers were unable to agree on new Congressional districts, the leaders of the Legislature made separate proposals to a magistrate appointed by a panel of federal judges who are overseeing a redistricting lawsuit. The magistrate judge, Roanne L. Mann of Federal District Court in Brooklyn, released her own proposed Congressional district map on Monday.

THE LATEST

On Thursday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said negotiations were continuing on an amendment to the State Constitution to alter the redistricting process beginning after the 2020 census. As part of a broad redistricting compromise, legislative leaders would also change their proposed maps for the Senate and Assembly, which Mr. Cuomo had derided as “hyperpolitical” and “hyperpartisan” and promised to veto. “It’s in their control,” Mr. Cuomo, referring to the legislative leaders, said at a news conference. “They know what I’m looking for, and they’ll decide what they want to do.” Asked what specific improvements he would need to see to abandon his veto threat and sign the legislator-drawn maps into law, the governor responded, “I’ll know it when I see it.”

Several government watchdogs weighed in over the possible compromise. Former Mayor Edward I. Koch, who asked lawmakers during the last elections to pledge that they would support independent redistricting, held a conference call to urge the governor to stick to his promise to veto any maps drawn by the Legislature. But two good-government groups, Citizens Union and the League of Women Voters, released a statement urging the governor to focus his attention on negotiating a constitutional amendment. “A veto may win a redistricting battle,” they said, “but it will most assuredly lose the redistricting war.”

UP NEXT

Judge Mann is due to present a final proposal on Monday to the three-judge panel that is overseeing a lawsuit challenging the redistricting process. The judicial panel wants to put a Congressional map in place by March 20, when the petitioning period for prospective House candidates is scheduled to start.

(Source: NY Times)