New lines draw veto threat

Times Union wrote an editorial that talks about the release of the new state legislative districts, which have drawn heavy criticism from Senate Democrats and could potentially be vetoed by Governor Cuomo.

New state legislative districts were unveiled Thursday amid a fusillade of criticism — including an unprecedented veto threat by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo's verdict came in a terse statement a few hours after the lines, which must be redrawn every 10 years to conform to the new federal Census, arrived at 2 p.m.

"At first glance, these lines are simply unacceptable and would be vetoed by the governor," said spokesman Josh Vlasto. "We need a better process and product."

[...]

As first reported by the New York Daily News, three pairs of incumbent Democratic senators now reside in the same districts: Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery, both of Brooklyn; Mike Gianaris and Jose Peralta; and Toby Ann Stavisky and Tony Avella in Queens.

"You have six Democrats sharing districts and zero Republicans. ... It's hard to make any rational argument that that's not targeted at me," said Gianaris, who also chairs the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

Read the full article here.