Redistricting Commission Comes to Queens Battleground

QUEENS, NY (09/06/2011)(readMedia)-- Tomorrow, the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) will hold its only public hearing in Queens prior to determining new district lines for federal and state elected office. In anticipation, Common Cause/NY will release original maps with comprehensive demographic and statistical data for Queens from the 2010 census on-line at: http://www.citizensredistrictny.org/blog/.

Queens is a battleground borough, which has seen explosive growth in its immigrant communities, with a 30% increase among Asians. Lines must be radically redrawn to adequately represent the changing landscape.

When: WEDNESDAY, September 7th @ 10:00 AM

Where: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11424

Who: Common Cause/NY, the public, legislators, community organizations and others

What: Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) Public Hearing

Background

Common Cause is a leader in redistricting reform around the nation. Common Cause California wrote and helped to pass the Voters First Initiative in California in 2008 which set up the first Citizens' Redistricting Commission in the U.S. which is currently in the process of drawing new political boundaries transparently and with public input. Common Cause Minnesota helped pass a referendum in Minneapolis that removes political parties from the redistricting process by having a judge appoint members of the redistricting commission. Common Cause strongly supported and helped pass the Fair Districts Florida initiatives in 2010 that set new rules for redrawing legislative and congressional lines which prohibit drawing districts to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party.

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