Courtesy of East Harlem Preservation

In light of the NYC Districting Commission’s proposed new lines for District 8, splitting up Manhattan Valley and East Harlem, while extending even further into the Bronx, there is something that we as a district can do to express our concerns in a constructive manner – we can testify in front of the NYC Districting Commission or submit written testimony. Melissa testified before the NYC Districting Commission regarding the proposed draft map on October 4, 2012:

Good Evening. I am Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, and I represent Council District 8 on the City Council. This district currently includes El Barrio/East Harlem, Manhattan Valley, part of the Upper West Side and part of Mott Haven. I am here this evening to express the serious concerns I am hearing across my district about the Commission’s preliminary draft lines.

In the weeks since this proposal was released, I have studied the draft lines closely and have had countless meetings and conversations with members of my community as well as leaders around the city. At this time, I am prepared to state emphatically that these proposed district lines as presented are completely unacceptable to the communities I represent.

In looking at the proposed new district, and the rationale expressed by the Districting Commission, my constituents have expressed deep concerns for a number of reasons, and I share these concerns. First, the proposed lines divide up neighborhoods in a way that is unfair to those communities and does not reflect the realities on the ground. Second, the proposal moves pockets of the current District 8 that are solidly Latino into districts that do not necessarily share their cultural and neighborhood identity. Finally, the proposal to split the 8^th District evenly between the Bronx and Manhattan, allegedly done in the spirit or “borough equity,” actually marginalizes residents of Manhattan.

Click here for the remainder of the testimony.

If you are concerned about the future lines of District 8, which you can view here, we urge you to make your voice heard and submit written testimony to the Districting Commission. Every voice matters. 

Courtesy of East Harlem Preservation

• New City Council district lines could scramble South Bronx; Harlem politics eyed as factor in map changes (Daily News, 10/09/12)
• Temen división electoral antiguo barrio baricua de Nueva York (El Nuevo Dia, 10/08/12)
• East Harlem Residents Fear Loss of La Marqueta in Redistricting (DNAinfo, 10/05/12)
• Locals fear redistricting plan will split uptown communities (Columbia Spectator, 10/05/12)
• City Council Redistricting Could Divide Minority Communities (City & State, 10/04/12)
• Protesters Turn Out to City Council Redistricting Hearing (NY1, 10/04/12
• Temen que el Barrio se quede sin La Marqueta (El Diaro, 09/27/12)
• Plan to Reshape District 8 Causes Controversy (NY1, 09/25/12)
• With City Council Redistricting Looming, Activists Unveil “Unity Map” (NY1, 09/04/12)
• Minority Communities Ask to Not Be Split During City Council Redistricting (NY1, 08/23/12)
• NY1 Online: City Council Redistricting Chiefs State Their Goals (NY1, 08/08/12)