“Organizing together we are strong”

WE DID IT!!

To my neighbors in Elmont and Valley Stream, you may wonder why I have been so passionate about redistricting and the Census? In the 2010-2011 Census and redistricting cycle, I can not tell you the discouragement and anger I felt after working hard to understand the Census and redistricting process; To have Elmont and Valley Stream cracked, packed, then thrown in Queens. I realized I knew nothing about either one. I felt the need to learn everything I could for the next redistricting cycle because I never want anyone to feel like they have been abused without knowing what the abuse was. Our system did that to those who worked hard and encouraged each other to get involved in redistricting, Census, and community work. This time I made sure to fight for our district even if I was alone, and sometimes I did find myself alone testifying, knocking on doors, on the phone, or in a meeting ringing the bell. Don’t put Elmont and Valley Stream in Queens; keep Elmont and Valley Stream together for many reasons mentioned in testimonies and written documents. When we drove five and half hours to Bath, NY, to ring the bell one more time for Elmont and Valley Stream, the judge and Special Master Cerva heard us. No map is perfect; where one group is happy, others are not; I’m sorry for that. However, this is our system, and we must never stop fighting for our communities. Let us continue to educate, learn, and love our communities. A special thank you to Elmont Cultural Center members, especially Stan, Cassandra, and Dr. Fils-Aime (who drove to Bath with me). To supporters, Haitian American Families of Long Island. And to all the redistricting coalition partners led by NYCET, Onwards.

The result of our work. Analyzed by NYCT Census Equity Fund. In the New York Community Fund. This was crucial to our redistricting wprk.

Here we go again! But we won't stop fighting for fair maps!

This first State and Congressional mapping are over, now for the local Legislature and Town. The work continues. We thank our great state coalition partners.

New state senate map to unite Elmont

No longer split between district 7, district 9

These maps below show the timeline of how got to where we are today

Now let's get ready for redistricting.

Make Redistricting Independent

States should adopt independent citizen commissions to draw maps or add other safeguards to prevent partisan bias in the redistricting process, and Congress should pass legislation requiring them to do so for federal maps.

Every decade, states draw new district maps for congressional and state legislative races. Politicians often use this power to give their party an unfair advantage by drawing maps in which favor their own parties — a scheme known as gerrymandering.

2020 Census

Redistricting

By Rachel Holliday Smith on November 9, 2021 5:44 pm

Because Proposal 1 failed to pass, New York has even less time to finish the redrawing of its political district based on 2020 census population figures.

The Independent Redistricting Commission currently has until Jan. 1 to submit maps to the legislature for congressional, state Senate and Assembly districts.

If the maps are rejected, a second set must be submitted by Feb. 28.

Why do these deadlines matter? Because candidates running for office in those districts that still need to be drawn need to get their signature-gathering process started by late February or early March to get on the ballot for next year’s June primary.

In other words: Redistricting might run smack into New York’s primary … and then we’re in a pickle, according to Jeff Wice, a New York Law School professor and redistricting expert.

“The legislature may need to consider changes in the spring primary calendar if the commission needs to submit a second set of maps in February 2022,” he said after Proposal 1, which would have pushed the timetable up by two weeks, failed.

Our last push to be counted in the 2020 Census!

In the neighborhood for a final push to be counted in the Census	Out in force for a final push to be counted in the Census

	The Census joined us at our last push to be counted.	September 30th deadline to be counted
One of our many postcards to remind our neighbors the importance of being counted in the Census.	Making those final calls to be counted!	Mapping out our 2020 Census work