City Council approves redistricting plan
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's new map of the city's 14 council districts received final approval from the council at Monday's meeting.
Eleven council members and Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young voted for the plan; Councilwoman Belinda Conaway, Councilman James B. Kraft and Councilman Carl Stokes opposed it.
Conaway and Kraft, who co-chaired the committee that oversaw the redistricting process, had complained that the new map diluted the power of black and Latino voters in some neighborhoods. Conaway and some civil rights leaders have threatened to sue over the map.
A mayoral spokesman refuted those allegations and said the plan could stand up to a legal challenge.
"Councilwoman Conaway is not an attorney," said spokesman Ryan O'Doherty. "The plan has been approved by the law department."
Critics of the plan, including residents of Upper Fells Point and Butcher's Hill -- neighborhoods that will be split among districts under the plan -- allege that Rawlings-Blake drew the map to favor her allies on the council.
O'Doherty said in an email that "politics were not the consideration" in the plan.
The city charter requires that a redistricting plan be approved by April 1. Voters will pick candidates in the fall council elections based on the new districts.
Comments
god forbid we restrict some of the power the conaway cancer holds over this city.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 29, 2011 12:03 AM
Councilwoman Conaway lives in Randallstown and her insane brother does not live in the district he represents. The Sun has yet to cover this story though...
Posted by: The Turth | March 29, 2011 1:48 AM
Why is this article so devoid of content? This is an important issue and is getting less space than a drug deal. Perhaps the New York Times will run a good local article on this.
Posted by: Carl | March 29, 2011 5:58 AM
I wish this process was removed from the hands of elected officials. I doubt that there would ever he enough of a shield from political influence but it should be done by an appointed committee or something.
Posted by: bawlmerian | March 29, 2011 6:58 AM
But, bawlmerian, who would appoint the committee? You have to do something to remove the influence of those in office over the redistricting.
Posted by: Cheap Jim | March 29, 2011 8:54 AM
This process is a scam. The mayor ignores intelligent arguments against her proposal. I'd rather she give away gift cards for the needy than mess with the integrity of my city.
Posted by: damo | March 29, 2011 9:51 AM
Why can't I find the MAP on the sun's website? I link back to articles cited in the blog, etc. Maybe's it's hard to find with the ads, etc.
Posted by: parent | March 29, 2011 10:10 AM
Thank you Stephanie for grouping lower Remington in with more economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of the 12th district, including several large public housing complexes on the eastside. This means that the type of government services that the district will receive and the attention given by the new council member will be hindered because of other neighborhoods having other larger, more pressing, constitution needs. It will be hell to get funding for community gardens or street clean-ups, or chasing out the riffraff or other middle-class concerns. Remington would be better served being, as a whole, in the 14th district. It said on the redistricting website that Remington would be reunited, however, the 28th Street council district divide still exists.
Posted by: M Riesner | March 29, 2011 11:02 AM
...Also it is kind of shady the redistricting from the 7th to the 12th district for Remington is being performed now given that there is a major development (25th Street Station) with some unpopular measures that still need council approval. That means people living closest to the development lost their representative on the city council, Belinda Conaway after she introduced all the bills for the Wal-Mart PUD. The only other council member other than Conaway that has had any say on the bill regarding the large shopping complex is Mary Pat Clark and that is why Remington should be included in the 14th district not the 12th.
Posted by: M Riesner | March 29, 2011 11:21 AM
I am thrilled to be back in Mary Pat's district as I was many years ago when I first lived in the city. She is a first rate council person. My only regret is that I can no longer vote against Belinda Conaway.
Posted by: City Redux | March 29, 2011 1:09 PM