By John C. O'Connell
Redistricting is required by law after every federal census, and is designed to equalize the population in each Nassau county legislative district at about 70,000 people. Redistricting is also done to assure that minorities are given a fair chance to elect candidates of their choosing, and are not forced by district lines into districts with such large white majorities that their votes are diluted, effectively barring them from fair electoral participation.
As well as equalizing districts' populations, redistricting changes the boundary lines of districts whose minority populations have fallen below a number that would enable them to elect a candidate of their choice.
The redistricting plan considered on Thursday night was developed by the five Democrat-appointed members of the Temporary Redistricting Commission and approved by the 10 Democrats in the Legislature. The plan reconfigures all 19 current districts, even though, opponents said, only two of them, District 2 and District 14, had population shifts that legally required changes in their district lines.
Republicans charged that the other districts were changed to make it easier for Democrats to win re-election in their current districts and improve their chances of defeating incumbent Republicans in legislative elections in November.
Several Franklin Square and Elmont residents attended the hearing to protest the new map, that "moves" Franklin Square, now in District 3 represented by Legislator John Ciotti, to District 8 represented by Vincent Muscarella. Ciotti would gain some of western Valley Stream and keep Elmont.
"The 2nd and the 14th [districts] had the deviations, but all 19 districts were changed. Why is that?" Ciotti asked. "If the 3rd had no need for correction, why was 50 percent of it eliminated?" he asked.
Frank Cutolo, a former president of the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the plan. "To break these lines is not a good thing to do," he said. "We don't want to see it change. We have good representation now. I mean if it's not broken, don't try to fix it. Why are you wasting all this money?" Cutolo said.
"William Ost, a 45-year resident of Elmont, also opposed the redistricting plan. "We're very proud of John Ciotti and we want to keep him [as our representative]."
Another Elmont man, Chet Collins, said he spoke for several civic associations, also spoke against the change. "Dividing Elmont along racial lines is not what we want. When the current situation changes, we'd be in a quagmire. The Legislature should reconsider this decision that seems already to have been made," Collins said.
Another Franklin Square man was angry. He said he thought the new district would have a bad effect on youth programs. "You guys aren't looking out for the kids," he said. To the Democrat legislators he said, "You are walking around eating your sandwiches and your candy bars. You've made your mind up. Do what you want, I think you're nuts."
Dorothy Griffin, Franklin Square fire commissioner, spoke of the close relationship Elmont and Franklin Square have. "John Ciotti has been a great legislator. You have a done deal here. Talk to the people. They don't like any of you. Search your hearts. You are going to get people very angry at you."
Ciotti said that the redistricting plan had already been decided by the Democrats.
"Why we are here tonight is beyond me," Ciotti said. "We've all heard about Republicans being in lock-step. What would you call this?"
Republican Muscarella opposed the plan, saying to Democrats that "having the right to do something doesn't make it right."
Democrats defended their actions, saying their redistricting plan was completely legal and that the Republican members of the Temporary Redistricting Commission had refused to participate.
Republican legislative sources said Republicans may file a lawsuit against the action, explaining that while only 7,500 people needed to be redistricted to achieve compliance with the law, the Democrats redistricted more than 287,000 people in all 19 districts for political gain, using the law as cover.
At a hearing before the vote, supporters applauded the plan for assuring fair and constitutional representation for minorities, and others protested the plan for its effect on their communities.
Representatives from the incorporated and unincorporated villages spoke against the redistricting because the Democrats' map splits several villages into multiple legislative districts.
Valley Stream Village Justice Robert Bogle testified that courts have recognized the importance of keeping municipalities and communities together for purposes of representation, citing late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall's decision that "boundary lines of local communities should be respected and be given high consideration."
Residents of East Meadow complained that the Democratic plan reduces their representation by including all of East Meadow in one district, whereas they now have two representatives.
Within minutes of the close of the hearing, Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs called for a vote and the matter passed.
