Common Cause NY Statement on Special Master Mann’s Proposed Congressional Map

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Susan Lerner

March 6, 2012

212-691-6421

Common Cause NY Statement on Special Master Mann’s Proposed Congressional Map

“Common Cause NY is pleased to see that the Special Master included many of our suggestions to accomplish in days what the Legislature could not do in months: produce a fair map which prioritizes communities of interest and reflects the regional make-up of New York State. Judge Mann’s proposal is a vast improvement over the self-serving interests of the Legislature, and reflects many of Common Cause’s core principles in its design. If there was any doubt about the Court’s effectiveness and ability to draw lines in the public interest, that question has been laid to rest.”

Upstate

Overall Judge Mann drew a map which keeps regions whole and unites communities of interest. The proposal adopts virtually identically Common Cause’s Reform Districts 25 (Rochester) and 26 (Buffalo).

NY 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, & 21 closely follow the structure of the Common Cause Reform Map for the North Bronx and Westchester, the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Capitol Region and North Country.

New York City

Like the Common Cause Reform Map, the Special Master’s proposals for NY 6 and 14 demonstrate how Hispanic and Asian representation can both be improved in Queens. In North Manhattan and the Bronx, it appears that the Special Master’s proposal builds on the cores of existing districts.

NY 6 is very similar to Common Cause’s Asian influence district, which keeps Flushing and Elmhurst together.

NY14 spans North Queens and the East Bronx, similar to the Common Cause Reform District of this area (Reform CD 5) and has 45% Hispanic VAP.

NY 8 combines the Rockaways with Gregory Meeks’ district, as does the Common Cause proposal.

NY 13 is similar to the existing Rangel district, although Judge Mann’s proposal is majority Hispanic (52%).

Long Island

Judge Mann, like Common Cause, recognized that Long Island communities identify according to North Shore/South Shore and appropriately drew lines that reflect that reality, virtually duplicating the suggested Common Cause NY reform districts for Long Island.