The Redistricting Game - [Don't play it in Burlington, but you can play it on-line here.]
The redistricting mapmakers can have more of an impact on an election than a campaign, more of an impact than a candidate. The mapmakers can have more of an impact on an election than the voters!
City Council has created a Redistricting Committee made up of 4 Councilors, the Mayor, and 7 ward representatives chosen by the NPAs. Each committee member has a vote. The goal of the committee is to redraw Burlington's city wards so that each Councilor represents roughly the same number of residents (based on figures from the most recent census). But before the committee begins its work, there is a problem. 
The problem is, the committee has unequal representation. Ward 4 and Ward 2 do not have Councilors on the Committee. Requests to create equal ward representation on the committee have been denied. Therefore, residents of Ward 4 and 2 are under-represented. We are seeking review of this decision before it taints the legitimacy of the committee's work.
A redistricting committee charged with equal representation that refuses to constitute itself with equal representation has a fatal flaw.
UPDATE: Ward Redistricting Committee Makeup
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| THE CENSUS NUMBERS W1-8780, W2-6106, W3-6076, W4-5081, W5-5817, W6-5156, W7-5401. |
Ben Truman, Ward 4, observes the city’s penchant for activism and civic engagement.
Let's keep it that way!
Let's keep it that way!
