FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2022

 

THE DISTRICTING COMMISSION PUBLISHES PROCESS PRIMER AND RELEASES 2022 FIVE PERCENT DEVIATION GUIDE   

Tues., June 21st – The Districting Commission today published NYC DISTRICTING COMMISSION 101, A PrimerThe Commission is responsible for drawing new City Council maps. The 16-page primer explains this process, from the U.S. Constitution, to the U.S. Census, to the Charter of the City of New York. 

 

The Primer also includes the 2022 FIVE PERCENT DEVIATION GUIDE Commission mapmakers are using to draw the new 51 City Council maps. 

 

The city’s population grew by 630,000 people since the last 2010 Census for a new total of 8.8 million people under the current census. Under the one-person, one-vote doctrine of the U.S. Constitution the 51 City Council maps must be redrawn with a new average population of 172,631 residents each. 

 

The Five Percent Deviation Guide shows current deviation of each of the 51 City Council districts from the new average. For example, one district has a 20.3 percent deviation, while another has a negative 10 percent deviation.  

 

“We’ve had so much interest from the public at our hearings we decided to do more outreach,” said Commission Chair Dennis Walcott. “Over time, we hope that the primer and deviation guide become tools to encourage New Yorkers to engage in the process, including and especially, submitting their own testimony about the drawing of the 51 new City Council maps.” 

 

The primer is available for download. 

 

Meanwhile, the Commission is scheduled to hold its next Public Hearing on Monday, June 27th, from four p.m. to seven p.m., at York College , 94-22 Guy Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, Queens. A Zoom connection will be posted on the website before the meeting. 

 

The Commission’s website is www.nyc.gov/districtingPublic testimony can be submitted by email to publictestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov or by mail: 253 Broadway, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10007. The Commission can be followed on Twitter at @districtingNYC. 

 

DISTRICTING COMMISSION CALENDAR 

Public Hearings (4p.m. to 7 p.m) 

May 26 Manhattan - Pace University

June 27 Queens – York College, CUNY 

June 29 Brooklyn – City Tech College, CUNY 

July 6 Bronx – Hostos Community College, CUNY 

July 7 Staten Island - Borough Hall 

Commission votes on Council maps 

July 15th 

Public Hearings 

August 15, 16, 17, 18 & 22 

Commission votes on Council maps 

September 22

Commission submits plan to City Council 

September 22