Change needed in boundaries

Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)
May 5, 2006

If New York wants to change its staggering lack of new blood in state representation, it must overhaul the way legislative district boundaries are drawn.
The system, developed by majority leaders in the Senate and Assembly, ensures their parties' positions will remain -- even after Election Day.

District boundaries are odd-shaped, overlap county lines and often defy rhyme or reason. Unlike congressional districts, these are not directly based on population: State Senate districts vary in size from as few as 290,000 to as many as 320,000, while Assembly districts vary from 121,000 to 133,000 people. The only common thread seems to be protecting the status quo -- and it works. Since 1983, only 34 incumbents were defeated out of 2,500 state legislative elections.

District boundaries should not equate to job security. Good legislators should be returned to office on their own merits, not on a system that squashes challengers. But districts have been drawn to include such a significant majority of either party that it's almost impossible to defy the odds. The skewered partisan populations create an unfair advantage for the incumbent. The Supreme Court allows some flexibility in determining state legislative boundaries, but even if this practice is legal, it defies the spirit of voting.

Independent commission proposed

Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, D-Astoria, has proposed a solution. Assembly bill 6287 calls for creating an independent commission to draw up new boundaries. Redistricting will probably take place following the 2010 Census, but now is the time to develop how those boundaries will be established.

There is some legislative support for his proposal in both the House and Senate, but the real pressure can come from the state's next governor. Both Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates have said the system needs to change and whoever is elected should insist new boundaries be established by an independent commission.

Altering how district boundaries are drawn is part of a grassroots reform movement pressuring entrenched Albany politicians to change their ways. It seems politicians are actually listening. Budgets were passed on time for two years in a row, there is some transparency in Albany decision-making and the tradition of approving $200 million in member items without disclosing recipients is currently stalled.

But giving all candidates an equal chance to serve in Albany is critical for true reform. Having an independent commission establish legislative boundaries would ensure these districts are created to serve the people -- not the politicians.

ON THE WEB

For more information on redistricting and to see maps, visit www.nypirg.org

Author: Poughkeepsie Journal
Section: OPINION
Page: A10
Dateline: EDIT