UPDATE: Despite residents objections and on Valentine's Day, the Town approved the unfair and potentially illegal maps. See link at bottom of the post for more.
ORIGINAL POST
Despite requests from its residents, the Town of Hempstead is not willing to redraw it's proposed redistricting maps. By law, it's required to review these every Census year. To make matters worse, the Town leaders have not been very transparent in their dealings with their residents and only when pressured did they agree to hold public hearings...BUT, without offering them on Zoom...Holding some of these during the days when folks are working...and, TODAY: VALENTINE'S DAY...Holding an evening meeting.
Address: 1 Washington St. Hempstead, NY 11550
Time: Rally @ 6:30 PM - Public meeting to follow
Parking: Plenty available around the building and across the street. Check sign to see when the meters need to be fed. (see Dylan below)
C'mon, have a HEART!!!
“The league (of Women Voters) takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.”
--Source: LI Herald -Jan. 12, 2023 (see link below)
Let's tell these officials how we feel - See "VOTE WITH OUR FEET" below for action steps.
Hempstead Town Hall 1 Washington St. Hempstead NY 11550
Readers: Gene Pitney's 1961 classic "Town Without Pity" has been MODIFIED TO FIT THE "SCREAMS"...of its outraged residents...
Isn’t it a pity what a town with one party can do
[Verse 1]
When we’re black, brown in this Hempstead Town
And without a voice, it makes us frown Why do people hurt us so? Only those without a voice could know What a town with one party can do If we stop to ask for our fair share People talk about how bad we are Ours is not an easy age We're like tigers in a cage What a town with one party can do
[Chorus}
We folks have problems
Many problems
We need our own elected leaders
Why don't they help us?
Try to help us
Before another ten years passes…Oust these bleeders!
[REDRAW THE LINES!!!]
[Verse 2]
Replace their lying lips - with pink slips
Draw fair lines to include, not exclude How can we make fairness alive? How can anything grow and thrive? When these little minds divide us in two? What a town with one party can do [Outro]
If we can’t replace their lying jive?
How can anything grow and thrive?
When these little minds divide us in two?
What a town with one party can do
No, it isn't very pretty what a town with one party Can do
New town redistricting long way from finish - LI Herald West Hempstead (Jan. 12, 2023) - Ana Borruto/Herald (2-minute read)
From this article:
The latest redistricting map for Hempstead town elected officials reveals little change to what a number of people asked for ahead of the revision last month. Their desire is to see a better chance of creating a more diverse town council by creating ‘minority-majority’ districts.
Also from the article:
The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color.
As a town where 40 percent (Correction: 2020 Census data reports 47%) of its residents are people of color represented by a council that is mostly white, Moskowitz added that the latest map proposals show this intention has not changed in Hempstead.
The 2020 census revealed a 12 percent drop in the town’s white, non-Hispanic population, according to supporters of the minority-majority district concept. At the same time, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 32 percent, while the Black population increased by 4 percent.
“The league takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.”
VOTE WITH OUR FEET
Petition Tell Supervisor Clavin to Stop Racial Discrimination in the Town of Hempstead (iPetitions.com)
Write to your local newspaper
Contact your elected officials
Town of Hempstead - follow the links for emails and phone numbers
Contact your local civic association
--Currently, there isn't ONE place to find links to these...so, you'll need to ask friends and family for the name of your local association and find their contact info online.
NOTE: On the Town of North Hempstead's official page they offer a list of all their civic and community support associations.
C'mon, Town of Hempstead, let's do the same!!!
Involve your circles of friends, co-workers...