How Redistricting Affects Rochester
State lawmakers are now studying how proposed legislative redistricting affects them. One longtime state lawmaker from Rochester is so fired up, he may take legal action.
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"Currently I'm representing this area right here,” said Harry Bronson, (D).
But under New York's legislative redistricting, Bronson's 131st Assembly District not only shifts boundaries, but also gets a new number – the 138th.
"There's been a population shift in the Monroe County, Greater Rochester area. As a result of that, the lines have changed,” Bronson said.
"From a Monroe County perspective, I'm pleased with what I see, the initial drawings,” said Bill Reilich, (R), Assemblyman and Monroe County GOP chair.
Reilich says redistricting is tricky. Towns cannot be split. Numbers must add up.
"Obviously, whoever is drawing the lines is looking at following the law, and there's a lot of restrictions."
Local Assembly districts don't change much under the proposal. Senate districts are another story.
Monroe County would be represented in six different districts. The City of Rochester will be split among three.
That split outraged Democratic Assemblyman David Gantt, who tells YNN he is now seriously considering a lawsuit, saying the process discriminates against minority constituents.
Redistricting is mandated under the state constitution, and is done every 10 years. The process also breeds a word that's thrown around only about every 10 years: gerrymandering.
Reilich doesn't believe the law allows leaders to gain a political advantage through redistricting. Others, including Bronson, support independent, non-political redistricting.
"Certainly, when you have elected officials involved in it, they're elected officials and that's politics. You can’t ignore that, and that's why those of us who support an independent process are supporting that process,” said Bronson.
"From the Assembly perspective, I'm in the minority, I had no say, and the way they come out, they come out," said Reilich.
The process isn't over, and will include a series of public hearings, including one in Rochester February 15th.