This email originates from Bette Meyer, who facilitated last week's forum on Cleveland City Council's political redistricting.
Also, see this link for attachments that represent the handouts for the meeting:
http://realneo.us/content/3-4-09-council-redistricting-meeting-handouts-... [1]
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To residents of Cleveland interested in Council re-districting:
Below is the compilation of the discussion group report-outs from the Community Meeting held March 4, at Applewood Center. Among the 200 persons present, there was strong consensus on the five major themes:
Since that meeting, some Councilpersons have been shown tentative maps of their proposed new ward. Councilman Cummins was not shown a map, but given a verbal description of the lines which are being proposed, dividing the current Ward 15 into sections to be given to four different Wards.
Based on the sketchy pieces that are being parceled out, it appears that the new ward boundaries may violate all of the principles listed above. Several neighborhoods are divided; there is still no public communication of the proposal nor opportunity for input; and the proposal appears to protect certain Councilpersons rather than attending to the concerns of the neighborhoods. In addition, although there has been no public release of the numbers on which the plan is based – there is at least a question as to whether the Federal “one person; one vote” provision will be met, in that the areas of the City which experienced significant population loss are not the same ones which are being divided or combined with other wards.
We have met with the Plain Dealer, and expect that they will put more of this on the public record. Councilman Cummins has made a “public records request” to secure the population data on which the proposal is based. It is not yet known when Council will receive the full proposal – but perhaps later this week. Council vote on this could be anytime between now and April 1. Councilman Kelley told the March 4 meeting that there would be a Council Committee scheduled to review the plan; but that date has not been set. We will notify you when we know anything further.
Please, NOW – send your questions/concerns to both the Clerk of Council and to the media, asking them to make the plan public and allow opportunity for public comment and input. Let Council know we are watching.
Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of our community,
Bette S. Meyer
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FINDINGS:
Near West Side City Council Wards Community Meeting: Redistricting 3.04.09
Public Input and Overall Findings
(200+ attendees; 8 break-out groups yielded these consensus issues)
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND/or CDC MUST BE WHOLLY WITHIN ONE WARD:
RESIDENTS WANT OPEN COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ISSUE:
KEEP RE-DISTRICTING APOLITICAL and LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES:
BASE NUMBER & LOCATION OF WARDS ON ACCURATE POPULATION NUMBERS:
ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT:
RELATED ISSUES:
Links:
[1] http://realneo.us/content/3-4-09-council-redistricting-meeting-handouts-evening