Republican Restricting Plan Angers Queens Neighborhoods

Greek News posted an article about the Senate Republicans' redistricting proposal and the harsh criticism it has received from minority groups for being partisan and for ignoring the needs of minority communities.

This time the Republicans have really done it! Their redistricting plan for redistricting has angered all ethnic groups living in New York City and suburbs and received tons of criticism as partisan and racist. On Tuesday more than 100 people gathered in a disproportionately small room at the Queens Borough Hall, for a town hall meeting to discuss LATFOR’s (Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment) proposed redistricting lines.

 

One hundred people – among them Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, Democratic District leaders Costas Constantinidis, Federation of Hellenic Societies president Elias Tsekerides and civic leader George Stamatiades – testified, slamming the Republican plan.

 

“The goal of the Republicans is to deny democracy to millions of New Yorkers in communities of color for the benefit of 32 white Republicans”, Mike Gianaris said in his testimony.

[...]

Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) pointed out that minority areas outside the city like Hempstead in Nassau County and New Rochelle in Westchester County were split up into districts that were a majority of whites and Republicans.

 

“Today you are being called out,” Gianaris said to LATFOR’s members.

Read the full article here.