The most recent draft proposed by Republicans of New York State Senate legislative districts has not placated Governor Andrew Cuomo- who warns he will veto the map in its current iteration- and divided other political lobbies.
In its current draft, the re-districting plan would extend District 37, currently represented by retiring State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D), to parts of New Rochelle and Yonkers. Those areas are currently represented by State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins whose district boundaries would be affected as well.
Since Senator Oppenheimer announced her plans to step down for health reasons, several names have been mentioned as candidates for the seat including , Sam Terenzi of Port Chester, and declared current Assemblyman George Latimer.
Gov. Cuomo initially opposed any politician-driven plan for redistricting of the state senate, but have since softened in favor of a strategy to change the process through an amendment to the state constitution and accompanying laws to reduce the impact of party politics on the districting process.
Also a special master appointed by the federal court has released a proposal for US Senate districts with few changes to current boundaries. Current Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin recently announced his intent to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this November for the seat.
Renea- Bob Cohen is a candidate for the seat, he is not a potential candidate.
You write above: "Also a special master appointed by the federal court has released a proposal for US Senate districts with few changes to current boundaries." New York and every state has TWO Senate seats, regardless of population size. The census affects the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives (every state has a minimum of one seat in the House of Representatives, regardless of population). In the last census New York lost TWO Congressional seats, thus requiring new boundaries for each district to attempt to equalize the population in each district. The new Congressional District maps are the product of the Federal Courts' Special Master. Those maps totally reshape the Congressional Districts in your readership area, and therein lies a major story for you.
Mr. Cohen is a declared candidate - he announced last week. Ms.Diane DiDonato Roth, Town Councilwoman from North Castle, and Sam Terenzi have also expressed their interest. Mr. Cohen and Ms. Roth are registered Republicans, seeking their party's nomination; Mr. Terenzi is a registered Conservative who has expressed interest in his party, and the GOP lines. I am a Democrat. I intend to vote "no" on the bill, which includes Senate and Assembly lines - both of which were the product of partisan gerrymandering. This will put me at odds with Speaker Silver and most of my fellow Assembly Democrats, as well as Senate Republicans, who benefit from the plan. Many of us took a pledge from Ed Koch in 2010, to vote only for INDEPENDENT redistricting, which we did not get. It was the right pledge in 2010; a "no" vote in 2012 is the right answer to that pledge.
I know you can't vote in NR matters, but your voice does carry, yet you were silent. Seems like you're sitting on the fence and choosing whichever fits best that day.
1) As the first Democrat ever in charge in redistricting in 30 years, I made sure no two Republicans were placed in the same district, nor was any incumbent Republican drawn out of their district (not so in prior years when Republicans did that to Democrats with impunity - see 1983); 2) Every Republican was consulted BEFORE the plan was devised and their input was taken into account; 3) Two independent citizens were put on the redistricting committee to ensure fairness; 4) Towns and villages unnecessarily divided in past years were combined into one district: Scarsdale, Mam'k Town, Mam'k Village; communities with multiple divisions were combined into a lesser # of districts: Harrison, White Plains; 5) The Journal News and the League of Women Voters complimented the plan; the final vote gained bi-partisan support from some Republicans as well as Democrats; I try to avoid getting involved in local issues - I didn't comment on last year's County redistricting any more than I did New Rochelle's. But I have blasted my own party - Assembly Democrats - in this year's state plan. so I'm hardly a partisan shill. As a Republican, you like a plan that makes a Republican Senator more likely; a Democrat would like a Democratic City Council. I want an independent process - and let the chips fall where it may on Ds and Rs.
What goes around comes around, meaning Democrats gerrymander districts just as much as Republicans do. What I find strange is now that its the Republican's turn to draw favorable line you don't like it and think the system's flawed and should be changed. Just a little hypocritical on your part George.
The Independents out there can ready my blog posting about how I've been fair, and even-handed. You sell the "hypocrisy" line, and we'll see who the majority of people agree with.
Let's just hope the lines stay as they are and the Republicans retain control of the NYS Senate, otherwise George's Democratic friends in NYC will have nothing to stop them from passing 1 tax hike after another like they did when they controlled the NYS Senate in 2009 & 2010. Government needs to live within its means and not look for more ways to take in revenue and unfortunately George Latimer hasn't opposed too many tax increases during his career, like New Rochelle's desire to increase its utility tax a year ago. In order for New Rochelle to increase the gross receipts aka the utility tax, the city needs approval from the state. George was nice enough to co-sponsor that legislation. And all I can say is, thank goodness the Republicans in the NYS Senate rejected it outright!
My career includes 20+ years in business as sales and marketing executive with a number of major corporations, including subsidaries of Nestle, ITT and on-site assignments at AT&T and Shearson Lehman. My governmental experience includes gaining support from voters in contested elections, which is how I won elections. By the way, the Republicans ruling the Senate that you so praise have voted for every tax increase - in fact, every State budget - from 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. There's a status quo record if there ever was one,
Let's rephrase the question here, have you ever proposed lowering taxes or spending? What about eliminating mandates? Have you ever proposed to eliminate any of those, like the Triborough Amendment? Any proposals for government reforms that might lower the costs? And so nobody forgets, you sponsored the legislation that ended the tax cap New Rochelle had in place. A true tax and spend liberal. Please run against Bob Cohen & give up your Assembly seat. I'm almost begging & daring you to run because I'm positive you'll lose and that's the only way to retire you from the NYS legislature. Otherwise, you'll hang on for years getting reelected by beating sub-par candidates. And back to the primary discussion here, gerrymandering, you oppose it when it doesn’t favor you and then you turn a blind eye and say its ok when the locals do it. You should really be consistent with your positions. BTW, having 4 private jobs over 20 years doesn't say much about your leadership or management skills.