Manhattan judge orders state to redraw NYC's lone Republican Congressional district amNewYork

"A Manhattan judge ruled Thursday that the configuration of New York City's sole Republican-held Congressional district is unconstitutional, and the map must be redrawn. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled in favor of four residents of Staten Island's 11th Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Nicole Mallliotakis, concluding that the boundaries unlawfully dilute the voting power of Black and Latino residents."

"Petitioners have shown strong evidence of [a] racially polarized voting bloc, they have demonstrated a history of discrimination and they have shown that racial appeals are still made in political campaigns today, Pearlman wrote in the decision. The judge said the state's Independent Redistricting Commission will need to draw a new district by Feb. 6. Maliotakis responded that she intends to appeal the decision."

"Today's ruling is a victory for fair representation and for Staten Island's growing communities of color, wrote Chris Alexander, executive director of New York's NAACP in a statement. For too long, Black and Latino Staten Islanders have been packed into a congressional district that dilutes their voting strength and denies them a meaningful opportunity to elect a representative of their choice."

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled that New York City's 11th Congressional District configuration is unconstitutional because it unlawfully dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino residents. The judge concluded petitioners proved racially polarized voting, a history of discrimination, and continued use of racial appeals in campaigns. The state's Independent Redistricting Commission must redraw the district by Feb. 6. Representative Nicole Malliotakis intends to appeal. Plaintiffs, represented by Elias Law Group, proposed a map joining Staten Island with southern Manhattan instead of southern Brooklyn, transferring southern Brooklyn into the 10th District and extending the 11th into Lower Manhattan neighborhoods.

Read at www.amny.com