`Textbook filthy, partisan gerrymandering’
Cambridge controversy lands in New York Times
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, January 31, 2022
By Ken Tingley
If you get a chance to look at the shapes of the voting districts in the state of New York you will find a Rorschach-shaped outline that makes little sense. Unless you study voting trends.
All politics is local and that starts with the state Legislature task every 10 years - based on the last census - of rejiggering those district shapes in favor of the party in power. Ten years ago, because the Republicans and Democrats in New York split power in the Legislature, the court was tasked with esigning the voting districts.
Since then, the voters put in place a state constitutional amendment that demands an independent commission design districts that are fair to all. Guess what, the independent commission turned out to be pretty partisan and finally threw in the towel a couple weeks ago because it couldn’t agree on a plan.
So that means the Democratic-controlled Legislature will create and approve legislative districts that will benefit its party.
Democratic leaders in Albany told the New York Times that the redrawn districts were not “politically motivated,” which may be the most blatant lie since “the dog ate my homework.”
It appears the new district will give the Democrats an advantage to win three more Congressional seats in the next election while eliminating another Republican seat.
This is not the spirit of America and not anything close to the equal representation that the founders were hoping to achieve.
But here is the rub. Other more Republican-inclined states have been doing the same for their own benefit. Where once the changes were a subtle wink and a nod, they are now engaging in a bare-knuckled bloodbath right in the open to remove as many Democratic seats as possible from their states.
The redistricting process is already being contested in court in North Carolina, Alabama and Ohio by Democrats. Republicans have hinted they will do the same here in New York.
Nick Langworthy, the chairman of the New York Republican Party, told the New York Times this was a “textbook filthy, partisan gerrymandering.” Of course the follow up question is how would you describe the process in North Carolina, Alabama and Ohio?
What may be worse is that the whole deal may get done this week without the benefit of one public hearing, and that’s not right.
On its merits, it’s hard to disagree with Langworthy. The question is how do we feel about it? We can’t complain about Republicans in Alabama if we approve of what Democrats in New York are doing. The independent commission is the route all states need to be following, but how do you get there when the inmates (politicians) are running the asylum.
The new redistricting means that Glens Falls and Queensbury will be traded from Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s district to Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko’s district, perhaps for a village to be named later.
Considering Queensbury and Glens Falls’ size and suburban nature, that may be a better fit than being part of the Adirondack Park North Country. But we all know, that is not why it was done. It was became those two entities have become less Republican.
It is the latest skirmish in our divided country that just proves that power-hungry politicians will do anything to maintain an edge. And that goes for north parties.
Small town, big newspaper
The little town of Cambridge got to air its latest controversy in the New York Times on Sunday with the story, “Facing a ban, school district fights to keep `Indian’ nickname.”
The story was essentially a recap of the town’s ongoing back and forth on whether the high school should keep its “Indian” mascot. The story, by Corey Kilgannon, accurately portrays what has happened until now. Local residents won’t learn anything new. What it especially didn’t address was whether this much time, money and energy should have been wasted on such a silly subject.
It does include such tasty details as a pile of manure that was left on the lawn of one person in favor of changing the mascot.
But it does provide a balanced portrayal of how both sides feel about the issue.
She also gets redistricted out of her Glens Falls and Watertown offices, leaving only Plattsburgh in the new district.
I agree with Catherine below.