Redistricting Rally [1 Attachment]
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fyi.? Did a little research and what you could do for redistricting as an alternative to going into ward 6 is pull from? Ward 5 which is connected to ward 7 as opposed to?to going into ward 6 just to get eastern HS (which i hear is considered quite the prize now since it has gotten that beautiful renovation), which appears to part of their goal. I don't even think eastern is inbounds for those districts.
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--- On Mon, 5/23/11, Brian Pate wrote:
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From: Brian Pate
Subject: [maury_elementary] Redistricting Rally [1 Attachment]
To: maury_elementary@...
Date: Monday, May 23, 2011, 1:01 AM
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Fellow Parents,
Attached please find information on a rally to oppose redistricting any part of Hill East into Wards 7 or 8. ?The rally will take place Tuesday at 5:45 beginning in Lincoln Park, ending at Eastern High.
I've seen several posts and received several e-mails asking, "What are the alternatives?" to redistricting part of Ward 6. ?There are at least two viable alternatives that the Council should consider:
??a) Do nothing. ?D.C. Code 1-1011.01(f) includes exceptions that allow greater than 10% population deviation if justified by rational policy based upon natural geography, neighborhood cohesiveness and respect for compact and contiguous districts. Case law supports such exceptions, and our situation certainly begs for an exemption based on natural geography and neighborhood cohesiveness.
??b) Take the necessary population from Ward 5. ?It's difficult to argue any particular relative merit to this option, however, the Council needs to look at the option in equal measure--something they do not appear to be doing. ?In the end game, our At-Large Council members need to assess (and we need to reinforce) a purely political calculation. ?Which Ward will be more apt to hold them accountable at the ballot box? ?I am inclined to think Ward 6 will have the longest memory.?
Failing selection of either of these options, we need to expose and make more difficult the over-politicizing of redistricting. ?The law does not require the Council to redistrict unpopulated parcels, such as Eastern High and Congressional Cemetery. ?These parcels add no population to the gaining Ward. ?The desire to add these parcels to another Ward can only be viewed as an effort to redistribute amenities and services from one Ward to another. ?Further, the tendency to use census tracts as the building blocks for redistricting is not required by law. ?It's easy, yes, but it leads to more invasive and disruptive redistricting. ?We need to let our At-Large Council members know that we are informed, won't be duped and will hold them accountable if they support overreaching redistricting plans. ?
I hope to see some of you on Tuesday!
Best,
Brian Pate
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