New Rochelle, NY, April 11, 2011 – The New Rochelle City Council’s just-released 2011 redistricting plan is “all wrong, from the get-go” stated Concerned New Rochelle Citizens’ Redistricting Committee (CNRCRC) chairman Mark McLean. After seeing the council’s map and the Mayor’s published statements in local media, the leader claimed that the entire document “ignores demographic changes, enshrines past inadequacies” following the release of the latest US Census data foe 2011.
After a panel of CNRCRC members studied the council’s own approved map and policy statements issued from Mayor Noam Bramson’s office, the ad hoc, independent group announced its opinion and offered delivery of its own outline of the six New Rochelle councilmanic districts within a week. McLean stated, “This map is incorrect and insufficient on numerous grounds; the published boundaries are: illogical, ignore population realities and not contiguous. Most important, they deprive minority interests of the rights enshrined in the United States Constitution’s First, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, the 1973 Voting Rights Act as confirmed in the 2003 decision and consent decree of the US District Court.”
The council’s map met none of the tests enunciated in the decision by Judge Charles Brieant in the prior case. McLean criticized the shape, size and nature of the populations of the various districts as proposed. “The map even attempts to divide election districts between different council districts, which statutes and common law prohibit in all but the most urgent circumstances.” Of even greater significance, according to the CNRCRC head, the published map ignores the enormous growth in population of New Rochelle, and the profound shift of “population mass towards the lower part of the city.” He concluded, “It is as if the council majority buried its head in the sand and refused to acknowledge the explosion of Spanish-speaking residents and the continuing prominence of minority group classes in the southern end of New Rochelle.”
CNRCRC members and attorneys have analyzed US Census Bureau data for the area and related maps showing the changing nature of the New Rochelle population. Several draft maps have been prepared and are being vetted in the next few days. While the council map has been released and the Republican version is expected any day, the citizens’ group hopes that the city’s legislative majority will allow time for the no less than three different versions of New Rochelle’s political map for the next ten years to pass muster with the public.
“I think it is significant that the 100% voluntary GReeNR initiative adopted in March by the council was under consideration for most of a year, and enjoyed the participation of hundreds of resident supporters and critics and even the formation of a citizen’s advisory committee; while the redistricting required by our federal Constitution has been under study and is being scheduled for up-or-down voting within a matter of just a few weeks!” according to McLean. “The citizens of New Rochelle, especially in light of our troubled history of political integration and minority inclusion, deserve a full and fair redistricting process,” he said. “Our ad hoc group was formed to protect the public and ensure that the political process required by the courts and statute are respected,” he claimed. “We linked up independent thinkers and unaffiliated voters, and also five Democrats and five Republicans in one group to say, “The integrity of the process must be balanced; it must be independent, and it must be fair.’ The council’s work product thus far does not meet these tests of legality and justice, to say the least.”
The redistricting as required by US law, must be completed by December 31 of this year. So, stated McLean, “What is the big hurry now? We have more than enough time to schedule weeks of public hearings, input sessions and conferences of different parties and experts, and still have the entire redistricting job done in less than one quarter of the time spent on the optional environmental initiative just completed. Let’s give the process the chance it deserves and we will come up with the best plan for all concerned.” Asked if he or members of his committee would be willing to work with the council on a compromise, McLean stated: “Anytime, anyplace. We will work with everyone, taking the best ideas from the majority and the Republicans, and suggesting the best results of our own research which is ongoing now, for inclusion in the best ultimate plan.”
The CNRCRC is open to all lawful residents of the City of New Rochelle interested in furthering its non-partisan and independent mission.
CONCERNED NEW ROCHELLE CITIZENS FOR REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE Dorothy Oliver, John Robbins, Joyce Furfaro, Margaret Godfrey, Juanita Ward, Laraine Karl, Leonard Paduano, Martin Sanchez, Mark McLean, Stephen Mayo, Ronald Tocci
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT; MARK MCLEAN 914-384-1895
Only Taxpaying citizens should have a voice
Illegals and those living in the projects shouldn’t really have a voice in the politics of New Rochelle. The rich North Enders pay for the poor southenders and westenders therefore it’s only right the north end has most of the say. Martin Sanchez has this dream that the poor will rise up and conquer the rich and take all of their money. Martin is a dreamer, but most of all Martin is a scammer. He’s been scamming his own people for many years now, haven’t you been Martin? Bob Cox has self appointed himself as the modern day New Rochelle Adolf Hitler. Talk of The Sound is his own version of Mein Kampf. He is using tough times to try and stir up the poor and underprivleged to come out and destroy the rich. Maybe this time he’s using blacks as his version of the jews. He posts a new black kid arrested in new rochelle hs every day on the site. Cox is another story in and of himself, constantly contradicting his beliefs and trying to find battles where ever they may exist. He’s trying to find issues. We’ll be back at a later time to make more comments. And one more thing sanchez, the only person who embarrassed the latino community in the martinez case was martinez and you. You probably supported this guy and now you’ve done nothing but betray him and the latino community. The 5 readers who click and click on this site constantly would love to hear your response.
ChesterRottenpot
Chester Rottenpot I proudly live in the southside of New Rochelle and am a lifelong taxpaying resident. I am far from as you say a “poor southender”. There is not one singe “rich northender” as you put it that has put food on my table, cars in my driveways or given me money to pay for various schooling for my children. Regardless what part of town that you live in you definitely are not in my class judging by your make believe poverty line as you cross into the south or west end of the city. I believe that you need to get out more and maybe meet the some of the people who broke their back to build a city instead of just have a home in it! Sorry to upset you but i do have the right to vote and exercise that right every election. Perhaps you should try taking your “king of the hill entitlement” attitude and seek a different more affluent town to live in?
The city’s finances are a train wreck waiting to happen
Your comments are as racist as could be. Everyone 18 & over is entitled to vote, maybe not if you’re a felon. I think women were the last to win the right to vote back in the 20’s. Perhaps you’re showing off you’re New Rochelle education, but most of your rant is totally inaccurate.
The only 1 destroying the rich in New Rochelle is Noam (i don’t know how to run anything) Bramson & the other Democrats on the city council who don’t have any original thoughts of their own. Has Bramson done anything to make our city better? The streets are still crumbing and so is most of our infrastructure. Has Bramson done anything to lower taxes? No No and another No. Bramson’s still pushing Echo Bay and that’s going to cost us all if they ever break ground over there. Where’s his leadership? I don’t see it anywhere. The city’s finances are a train wreck waiting to happen and I bet Bramson bolts from office long before the sh_t hits the fan.
Bob Cox on the other hand, through this website, has brought to light many of the shenanigans and corruption issues that happen on a daily basis at city hall and the board of education.
And I hate to break it to you chief, but there’s a whole lot more than 5 readers that check out this site on a daily basis.
Districts should be defined by common interest.
Race, political party, age or any other label should not be the criteria for the district lines. Common interest should be the only criteria. Common interests should be the determining factor. Small neighborhoods that have the same issues should be grouped into larger areas and then labeled a district. The partisanship is disgusting. Neighborhood associations and the residents of the city should make the districts, period.