State Legislature Improved Congressional Maps But Could Have Gone Further

Today, the New York State Legislature voted to approve their plan for Congressional district maps that will be in effect for the next decade.

While the state Legislature has taken steps to reduce the splitting of minority communities of interest, the maps do not go far enough to represent all New Yorkers, including immigrant communities. 

Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition: “We commend the NYS Legislature for righting some of the wrongs from the Independent Redistricting Commission’s proposed maps that were released two weeks ago.

While we appreciate the NYS Legislature’s efforts to improve maps, they could have gone further. All communities deserve to see themselves reflected in New York’s Congressional maps. While these new maps took steps to restore Black communities of interest in the East Bronx and Westchester, they failed to keep a major Latino community of interest together in Corona, Queens; and they preserved a district in South Brooklyn and Staten Island that does not reflect the diversity there.

In a thriving democracy, it is imperative that all people are actively engaged to ensure that all voices are heard. Public hearings are a critical part of the redistricting process, but the Independent Redistricting Commission failed to include community input.

As a result, some will see their voting strength diluted, diminishing their ability to elect a candidate truly of their choice. Moving forward, the Commission must prioritize public input for any future redistricting process to rebuild trust in the State’s electoral system and ensure communities of interest remain whole.”

Context

Earlier this month, the Independent Redistricting Commission released its proposed congressional maps, which the state Legislature rejected. This rejection allowed the Democratic-led State Legislature to propose changes and create their own maps. Two years ago, New York went through multiple rounds of redistricting, including for U.S. Congress. These changes led to significant shifts in battleground congressional districts in New York favoring MAGA Republicans, ultimately helping to give them control of the House.

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations.

The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.

Photo credit: HWM.