The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission has unveiled its draft plans for new state Senate, state Assembly and congressional election districts following the 2020 Census, and has scheduled a series of public hearings this fall to get feedback on the new maps.
The New York State Constitution requires the Commission to hold 12 hearings in the cities of Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, and White Plains, as well as the counties of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, and Suffolk. The commission has scheduled two additional hearings — one in the North Country and one in the Southern Tier regions — to receive additional public feedback.
New York state is losing one congressional seat — dropping from 27 to 26 — based on a loss of population reflected in the latest Census data. If the Commission fails to pass a plan approved by at least seven of its members, it will turn over its proposed maps to the Legislature which has the option of adopting any plan it chooses, as long as the districts are contiguous and equal in population.
Details for the public hearings are:
Buffalo
Wednesday, October 20
4:00pm
Buffalo State College (SUNY)
Burchfield Penney Art Center
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222
Rochester
Thursday, October 21
4:00pm
Rochester EOC (SUNY UCAWD)
Multi-Purpose Room
161 Chestnut Street
Rochester, New York 14604
Southern Tier
Monday, October 25
4:00pm
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Innovative Technologies Complex
85 Murray Hill Road
Vestal, New York 13850
Syracuse
Tuesday, October 26
4:00pm
Syracuse University College of Law
Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom
Dineen Hall, 950 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, New York 13210
North Country
Wednesday, October 27
4:00pm
SUNY Plattsburgh
E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium
Hawkins Hall, 101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Albany
Monday, November 1
4:00pm
University at Albany (SUNY)
Page Hall – Downtown Campus
135 Western Avenue
Albany, New York 12203
White Plains
Monday, November 8
3:00pm
Haub School of Law at Pace University
Gerber Glass Moot Courtroom
78 North Broadway
White Plains, New York 10603
Bronx
Tuesday, November 9
3:00pm
BronxWorks
Gymnasium
1130 Grand Concourse
Bronx, New York 10456
Manhattan
Wednesday, November 10
3:00pm
Hunter College (CUNY)
Cafeteria
695 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10065
Staten Island
Monday, November 15
3:00pm
Catholic Charities of Staten Island
CYO Center at Mount Loretto
6541 Hylan Boulevard
Staten Island, New York 10309
Brooklyn
Tuesday, November 16
3:00pm
Medgar Evers College (CUNY)
Founders Auditorium
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11225
Queens
Wednesday, November 17
3:00pm
York College (CUNY)
Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center
94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
Jamaica, New York 11451
Nassau County
Monday, November 22
4:00pm
Nassau Community College (SUNY)
College Center Building – Multi-Purpose Room
1 Education Drive
Garden City, New York 11530
Suffolk County
Tuesday, November 23
4:00pm
Stony Brook University (SUNY)
Charles B. Wang Center
100 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, New York 11794
The Independent Redistricting Commission is composed of 10 members. Two are appointed by the New York State Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President, two are appointed by the New York State Senate Minority Leader, two are appointed by the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and two are appointed by the New York State Assembly Minority Leader. The final two members are then selected by these eight appointees. Neither can be enrolled as a Democrat or Republican in the past five years. Additionally, appointing authorities have consulted with organizations devoted to protecting the voting rights of minority and other voters concerning their appointments. The Commission members must be registered voters in New York State.
Further information regarding these hearings will be available on the Commission’s website, www.NYIRC.gov, in the coming days and weeks. Recordings of the hearings will be made available to the public following each hearing’s completion.
