1 --------------------------------------------------X 2 CITY OF NEW YORK 2022-2023 DISTRICTING COMMISSION 3 BRONX PUBLIC HEARING 4 --------------------------------------------------X 5 149th Street, 2nd Floor 6 Bronx, New York 7 DATE: July 6, 2022 TIME: 4:05 p.m. 8 9 10 PUBLIC HEARING in the above-referenced 11 matter, held at the above-mentioned time and 12 location, transcribed by Sabrina Brown Stewart, a 13 Notary Public of the State of New York. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 LH REPORTING SERVICES, INC. Computer-Aided Transcription (718)526-7100 2 1 A P P E A R A N C E S: 2 COMMISSIONERS: 3 DENNIS M. WALCOTT, Chair 4 YOVAN SAMUEL COLLADO 5 HON. MARILYN D. GO 6 KEVIN JOHN HANRATTY 7 LISA SORIN 8 MONSIGNOR KEVIN SULLIVAN 9 MAF MISBAH UDDIN 10 MARC WURZEL 11 12 SENIOR STAFF: 13 ALI RASOULINEJAD, Chief of Staff 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon to all 2 of you. It's a pleasure to welcome you to 3 the Bronx and Hostos Community College. I 4 want to thank our host today and also to 5 those in the room. I know that there was an 6 original posting of the other building and 7 now we are here and we have signage up, all 8 passing out flyer at the other building for 9 individuals who want to come and participate. 10 And also, I want to bid greetings to 11 our virtual audience as well. We will try to 12 maintain the same process that we've done 13 before in having in-person and virtual. And 14 if we don't have one, we'll go to the other 15 and stay with the other until we have all 16 people testify. 17 My name is Dennis Walcott and I'm one 18 of the Commissioners. And I'll ask Ali to 19 read the roll. 20 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Okay. New York City 21 Districting Commission Public Hearing of 22 July 6th. 23 Chair Walcott? 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Here. 25 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 4 1 Collado? 2 COMMISSIONER COLLADO: Here. 3 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner Go? 4 COMMISSIONER GO: Here. 5 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 6 Hanratty? 7 COMMISSIONER HANRATTY: Here. 8 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner Mateo? 9 (No response). 10 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 11 Schneps? 12 (No response). 13 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner Wong? 14 (No response). 15 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 16 Sullivan? 17 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Here. 18 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner Uddin? 19 COMMISSIONER UDDIN: Present. 20 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 21 Schnall? 22 (No response). 23 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 24 Johnson? 25 (No response). 5 1 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 2 Kirschenbaum? 3 (No response). 4 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner Wurzel? 5 COMMISSIONER WURZEL: Here. 6 MR. RASOULINEJAD: Commissioner 7 Porcher? 8 (No response). 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: And we know during the 10 hearing we'll have others joining us 11 virtually or possibly in person as well. And 12 so, as they join us, we'll make sure that 13 their attendance is counted as well. 14 With that being said, we want to jump 15 straight into it. And I'd like to call the 16 Councilman Shaun Abreu to the microphone. 17 Councilman, it's a pleasure to see you, 18 sir. 19 MR. ABREU: Good evening, 20 Commissioners. I am Councilman Shaun Abreu 21 from District 7 in Upper Manhattan. 22 District 7 is my home through -- I grew up on 23 161st and Fort Washington Avenue. I attended 24 Columbia University in Morningside Heights, 25 and today I live in Manhattan Valley. My 6 1 family is spread from Washington Heights all 2 the way down to the Upper West Side, so I 3 feel at home everywhere and I don't want to 4 give up any part of my home. 5 Like so many District 7 residents who 6 have testified at these public hearings, I am 7 here today to voice for a districting outcome 8 that maintains the integrity of District 7. 9 This means there are two steps I'm urging the 10 Commission to take; keep the 150s and 160s 11 and Washington Heights as part of District 7 12 and assure them Washington Heights will 13 continue to have representation from two 14 members of the City Council as it's been for 15 decades. 16 Do not allow Broadway to split 17 District 7 with the southern end of the 18 district. Washington Heights has always been 19 represented by two councils districts. This 20 not only protects the voice of the slightly 21 marginalized community, but also resorts in 22 coordination and cooperation between the two 23 districts, ultimately increasing funding for 24 programs that serve constituents across the 25 district lines. 7 1 If large portions of Washington Heights 2 were to be cut entirely from District 7, the 3 poverty and needs in District 7 would 4 increase dramatically, all while the voice 5 and influence of the people in the southern 6 part of the district decline. 7 District 7 is a beautiful mosaic, split 8 almost equally between black, Latino and 9 white people. Not for nothing, each of these 10 communities have had equal voice electing 11 their House members over the last decade, 12 finding unity in who they select to represent 13 them. 14 Removing large portions of the 150s and 15 160s, which fundamentally dismantles the 16 balance and deny representation to the 17 districts here. On the southern end of the 18 district, it does not make sense to divide 19 neighbors on either side of Broadway. Both 20 sides of the street are already united in 21 every way, except on the New York City 22 Council. 23 I, myself, live in Manhattan Valley. I 24 still go to Absolute Bagels on 108th and 25 Broadway and Metro Diner on 100th and 8 1 Broadway, same as I did when I was a kid, 2 same as when I was a student at Columbia. I 3 still go to Riverside Park, all along with 4 the kids at the schools right along the 5 border of District 7 and District 6. These 6 institutions just west of Broadway feel very 7 much as part of District 7 as the area just 8 east of there. 9 Eventually, my family moved to the 10 Upper West Side. I went to Crossroads Middle 11 School on 109th. Every day after school, I'd 12 go with my friends to play and hang out at 13 Riverside Park, which is in District 6, not 14 District 7. I think it's time for that to 15 change. 16 While expansion of West Broadway is 17 likely inevitable for District 7, it is 18 crucial that the Harlem vote not be diluted 19 as well. For that reason, my hope is that 20 District 7 will at least -- (audio 21 malfunction) -- city college. Thank you. I 22 will also be submitting what I've said here 23 today. 24 Thank you so much. 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, 9 1 Councilperson. Thank you for coming out and 2 testifying. 3 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Chair, his 4 taste in bagel warrants a special note. 5 MR. ABREU: Absolute Bagels on both 6 sides of Broadway, go over there. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Both sides of Broadway 8 go for the same bagel. That's a great 9 comedy, I tell you. 10 Thank you, Monsignor and thank you, 11 Councilperson. Much appreciated. 12 Next, we'll have a virtual testimony. 13 MODERATOR: Althea Stevens. 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: Althea Stevens? 15 MS. STEVENS: I'm here. Could you guys 16 give me two minutes? Could the next person 17 go and I'll come right back? I'm sorry. Is 18 that possible? 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: Say that again. I'm 20 sorry. I couldn't hear you. 21 MS. STEVENS: I was asking could the 22 next person go and then you could call me 23 next? 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Sure. Not a -- 25 MS. STEVENS: Thank you -- 10 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Not a problem at all. 2 MS. STEVENS: Thank you so much. 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: Next person. 4 MODERATOR: We have Valerie West. 5 CHAIR WALCOTT: Valerie West? I see -- 6 are you there? 7 MS. WEST: I'm here. 8 CHAIR WALCOTT: There you go. Okay. 9 Valerie West, I think you're muted. 10 MS. WEST: Are you hearing me? 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Now we can, yes. 12 MS. WEST: Okay. Good evening. 13 Greetings to the New York City Districting 14 Commission. My name is Valerie L. West, and 15 I'm the district leader in the 31st Assembly 16 District Part A. 17 The 31st Council District is part of my 18 representation. It is very important to keep 19 the council district as a whole. This 20 includes Arverne, Arverne By The Sea, 21 Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Rosedale, 22 Laurelton and Springfield Gardens. 23 Last year, the State Legislature and 24 Congressional seats went through a 25 redistricting process, and we saw results in 11 1 the last primary election, which was a 2 disaster that caused a lot of people not to 3 vote. They were displaced to other sites far 4 away from their homes and their regular 5 voting area. 6 We do not want that to happen with the 7 31st Council District. The 31st Council 8 District was drawn up in 1980 and has worked 9 well for all. I believe that our chosen 10 council members has the total amount of 11 voters in her district, and we do not want to 12 change that. 13 We have had many disasters, such as 14 Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Ida and COVID. 15 And this incredible diverse neighborhood 16 worked closely together to overcome all 17 obstacles. We do not want to be separated. 18 It is important that the 31st Council 19 District stay as it is at present. 20 Much work has already been done, even 21 by our present council member, regarding the 22 JFK redevelopment project. JFK is a big 23 economic driver in the 31st Council District 24 and should remain in the district. We in the 25 Rockaways encounter all the health and 12 1 hazardous problems from JFK, so it is 2 important that we reap some of the benefits 3 of having JFK Airport in the 31st Council 4 District. 5 I encourage the Commission to take heed 6 of my request as they continue their 7 districting process. 8 Thank you very much. 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you very much 10 for your testimony. 11 Glana Lina (phonetic), is it? 12 MR. LINER: Good afternoon. My name is 13 Sloan Liner (phonetic). 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: Sloan. 15 MR. LINER: I'm a resident of the Upper 16 West Side, and I'm here to testify regarding 17 the growth of District 7. 18 Because District 7 needs to grow, I 19 request that the Commission expands the 20 district west of Broadway and south of 109th 21 Street, to the extent necessary. I live on 22 109th Street between Riverside and Broadway, 23 right on the border between District 7 and 24 District 6. 25 The communities on each side of 13 1 Broadway showed the same interest and needs. 2 We shop at the same stores, worship together 3 and volunteer together. The district line 4 currently separating us is entirely 5 artificial. Residents on both sides of 6 Broadway make equal use of Riverside Park. 7 My husband and I have been active 8 volunteers in Riverside Park for 27 years. 9 Our assigned site is actually just outside 10 the current southern boundary, but would be 11 included in the proposed expanded District 7. 12 Commercial corridor between 100th and 13 96th along Columbus Avenue runs through Park 14 West Village in District 7 and serves many of 15 the constituents in the adjacent parts of 16 District 6. Residents on both sides of 17 Broadway are invested in the success of this 18 commercial corridor. We shop there and we 19 work there. 20 Residents on either side of Broadway 21 take the 1 train and use the same exit off 22 the West Side Highway to get home. We face 23 the same sanitation issues, as evidenced by 24 our shared commitment to cleaning up Broadway 25 Mall and advocating for more composting. 14 1 We're joined in our efforts to pursue 2 many shared projects, including the Park to 3 Park open streets that spans the entire 4 West Side down 103rd Street. We're all 5 threatened by overdevelopment in the rise of 6 super tall luxury buildings. 7 West 96th Street has historically been 8 a major west to east boundary. And as the 9 Upper West Side developed after World War II, 10 it served as a divider for real estate 11 activity. I remember how local realtors 12 defined the good part of the area as below 13 96th Street in the 1980s and 1990s. The 14 expanded districts proposed boundary would 15 more fully relate to the way the neighborhood 16 evolved when it was excluded from the more 17 valued real estate below 96th Street. 18 Finally, I'm also requesting that the 19 Commission ensure that the entirety of the 20 towers on River Park Complex on west 110th 21 Street be incorporated into District 7. 22 Currently, just one building is in 23 District 7, while the other is in District 9, 24 a split that does not serve the neighborhood 25 well. 15 1 Thank you for the opportunity to 2 testify and support the proposed expansion of 3 District 7. 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 5 testimony as well. Much appreciated. 6 Next, virtual. 7 MODERATOR: We have Althea Stevens. 8 CHAIR WALCOTT: Althea Stevens? 9 MS. STEVENS: Hello? 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can hear you. 11 MS. STEVENS: Good afternoon. I'm 12 council member Althea Stevens of District 16 13 in the West Bronx. It is the honor of my 14 life to be the council member and represent 15 the people of this great district. 16 I'm here today to amplify the need to 17 keep communities together and make sure it's 18 more of a cohesive and complete district. 19 High Bridge is one of the neighborhoods that 20 was divided in the last redistricting. So, 21 when we're thinking about the expansion that 22 is needed in D16, I would love to see the 23 unification of that community. 24 I'm currently working very closely with 25 the current council member, but I do believe 16 1 that unifying this district will greatly 2 benefit the district. However, with all the 3 uncertainty with the assembly district, the 4 State lines, I am requesting that we do try 5 to keep the rest of the district as much as 6 intact as possible. 7 So many people feel disenfranchised and 8 unable to really understand who their 9 representatives are because of all of the 10 changes with Congressional assembly and State 11 lines. It is important that we are working 12 to keep our communities together, so that we 13 are able to bring resources -- we are able to 14 bring resources and necessary funding that is 15 needed for the community. 16 So, when thinking about redistricting, 17 we must think about what is best to ensure 18 that our communities remain together and are 19 able to receive the proper support from their 20 prospective elected officials. 21 Lastly, when thinking about expansions 22 also looking at -- how do we make sure that 23 the Harlem River work with that? They're 24 doing so much work to make sure that they 25 have accessible waterfront access, that we're 17 1 all working together to unify that work, and 2 so thinking about redistricting expansion and 3 bringing them all together, so we can do that 4 work together. 5 Thank you and a pleasure having me 6 speak today. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you, Council 8 Member for joining us in your testimony. 9 Next in-person, William Stanford, Jr., 10 the Five Borough Man, Mr. X. 11 MR. STANFORD: I just want inform the 12 executive director and the Chair who passed 13 as master P off address (inaudible) program, 14 also addressing this on the website. In case 15 you didn't know, that's not very slick. 16 That's a bad sign posting -- posted outside, 17 you post this on the website today, early 18 today. So, that's why any of us could have 19 come to that building first and this one 20 second; that's not very slick. 21 You changed the name of the website 22 before. In the future when you hold public 23 hearing, please start them after 6 p.m., not 24 before when people are still working because 25 if you do, this is what might happen. This 18 1 is what happened in Brooklyn. Okay? 2 City Council Districts 7 and 10, this 3 (inaudible) 10th Avenue, Broadway Avenue to 4 18th Street, Brushton, from 10th Avenue to 5 Amsterdam Avenue, District 10, across 6 District 7, 218th Street, 196th Street, 7 West 19th Street, District 7, East Nassau 8 Avenue, District 6, if I could see through 9 the map. 10 At least the portion that start by 11 Brooklyn Avenue, (inaudible), above 218th 12 Street, going over the bridge, that folder 13 District 7. District 16, 149th Street to the 14 south, (inaudible) Street to the north, 15 Deegan Expressway to the west, past Third 16 Avenue to the east. Past East Third Avenue, 17 that's all District 17. 18 Washington starts at Third Avenue to 19 the west, Bruckner Expressway to the east, 20 132nd Street to the south, and possibly Hunts 21 Point Avenue to the north. I'd consider 22 doing that. It may be better off. 'Cause 23 I've stated before, you should do it by the 24 bus or -- that's the best way to draw the 25 maps. At lease with the maps, we'll know 19 1 who's representing us. The choice is yours. 2 And please, in the future, you start 3 your programs after 6 p.m. and don't give us 4 two addresses because now you force us to 5 dance like a Rockette. I'm too big to dance 6 like a Rockette. I don't wear size four. I 7 got my sweet sizes 44 by 34, 48 by 30. 8 Anything under 44 won't cut it for me or my 9 body. 10 Thank you. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, sir. 12 Next, virtual. 13 MODERATOR: We have Bernadette Ferrara. 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: Sorry. I didn't hear 15 you. 16 MODERATOR: Bernadette Ferrara, but she 17 may have left. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: Is Bernadette Ferrara 19 available? 20 MODERATOR: She's muted. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: She's muted? 22 MS. FERRARA: There we go. 23 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. Welcome. 24 MS. FERRARA: I was trying to give you 25 the "hi" sign. I wasn't able to unmute. 20 1 Good afternoon. Good afternoon -- 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon. 3 MS. FERRARA: -- Commissioners. My 4 name is Bernadette Ferrara, born, raised, 5 educated and still living in Van Nest, a 6 diverse community in the East Bronx. Since 7 2008, I've served on Community Board 11 8 representing Van Nest, and am a founding 9 member and current president of the Van Nest 10 Neighborhood Alliance, formed in 2010. 11 Today, I speak as a lifelong resident 12 of Van Nest who has seen and experienced its 13 many changes. Van Nest's major community 14 goals include a community center, a middle 15 school, youth programs, senior programs and 16 more senior housing. Since 2010, Van Nest 17 has been divided with two City Council 18 members, two State Assembly members and two 19 State senators. 20 One would think having two pools of 21 fundings from each would benefit Van Nest, 22 but no matter how many discussions, meetings 23 and walk-throughs, these major goals have 24 never been initiated or funded by any of our 25 many elected officials. Van Nest sits on the 21 1 fringe of both City Council District 15, City 2 Council District 13. 3 With half of Van Nest being only a 4 small portion of both, Van Nest has been the 5 low man on the totem pole, making it 6 difficult to grab for crumbs with our major 7 goals kept on the back burners. For example, 8 three other civic associations in the heart 9 of City Council District 13 have received 10 large donation checks over the years. Van 11 Nest Neighborhood Alliance is an active 12 501(c)(3) in its 12th years and has yet to 13 receive its first. 14 For the Van Nest community to move 15 forward and work towards receiving necessary 16 funding to achieve our goals, it must not be 17 split in half. We are asking the Commission 18 to consider these two items: Number one, the 19 area of Van Nest currently and City Council 20 District 15 needs to be united with the other 21 half of City of Van Nest currently in City 22 Council District 13. 23 The Van Nest community aligns with the 24 fabric of low density community issues 25 present in Community Board 11 and in the 49th 22 1 Precinct, which are both located in City 2 Council District 13. Please see my attached 3 maps. 4 And number two, please unite the full 5 neighborhood of Van Nest, Morris Park, Pelham 6 Parkway, the majority of Bronx Park East and 7 the majority of Allerton in City Council 8 District 13. These communities currently all 9 work together in Community Board 11 and with 10 the 49th Precinct on common community 11 problems and events. Please also see those 12 maps attached. 13 I truly appreciate the Commission for 14 holding this final public hearing to receive 15 additional community input for the new New 16 York City Council District lines. Thank you 17 and please look at the maps that I have 18 attached. One is of Van Nest, our borders. 19 One is of Van Nest split in half and the 20 other is a map that was made with the proper 21 amount of voters for the new City Council 22 District 13 that fully includes Van Nest. 23 Thank you very much. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 25 testimony. 23 1 And just point of clarification: This 2 is not the last public hearing. We have one 3 tomorrow in Staten Island as well. So, just 4 for the audience, we are set for tomorrow in 5 Staten Island and Staten Island Borough Hall. 6 So, with that being said, next 7 in-person is Donald Dixon, is it? Did I say 8 it correctly? 9 MR. DIXON: You said it correctly. I'm 10 not ready yet. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Not ready yet. Okay. 12 Go to virtual. Not a problem. Take your 13 time, sir. 14 Next on virtual. 15 MODERATOR: We have Amanda Farías. 16 MS. FARÍAS: Hi, can everyone hear me? 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can. Welcome. 18 MS. FARÍAS: Hi, everyone. My name is 19 Council Member Amanda Farías. I represent 20 the 18th Councilmanic District in the New 21 York City Council. As of now, this district 22 consists of Castle Hill, Clason Point, 23 Harding Park, Parkchester, Unionport and 24 Soundview. 25 Redistricting is critical to democracy 24 1 as it allows us to reevaluate how our 2 communities have grown and where our local 3 communities and economies are thriving. 4 Additionally, it enables us to determine if 5 communities need resources or reinvestments 6 as neighborhoods may be shifting. 7 A large amount of my district is 8 bordered by three bodies of water; the 9 East River, the Bronx River and Westchester 10 Creek/Hutchinson River. We are also bordered 11 by massive traffic thruways; the Cross Bronx, 12 Bruckner, Sheridan Expressways and the Bronx 13 River, Hutchinson River Parkway. 14 District 18 is a unique community 15 because of the consequences of Robert Moses 16 era, transit infrastructure, as well as the 17 incredible natural landscape we have on three 18 sides of the district. Clason Point, Harding 19 Park and Soundview are waterfront communities 20 that share the difficulties that come with 21 being adjacent to a shoreline. 22 In recent years, these neighborhoods 23 have seen increased resiliency efforts and 24 new transit infrastructure, including a new 25 ferry landing, the Soundview stop at Clason 25 1 Point Park. 2 Harding Park is a community composed 3 largely of home and co-op owners, which 4 brings a uniqueness to the area. Harding 5 Park is also locally known as Little Puerto 6 Rico, kept by the local homeowners 7 association, shows off one-story homes in 8 bright island colors with generations living 9 within households. 10 Neighboring Harding Park is Shorehaven, 11 a private community with amenities, such as 12 full-time security, private playgrounds and 13 event spaces. The Shorehaven community is 14 home to home-owning families, seniors who are 15 lifelong residents and young renters. 16 Shorehaven and Harding Park have a very 17 familial relationship. And oftentimes those 18 in Clason Point, Castle Hill, Soundview and 19 Parkchester come to visit family and partake 20 in the community block parties and barbecues. 21 I know that as a little girl growing up 22 in Soundview, my cousins, friends and I were 23 always hanging out in Harding Park with 24 family. These communities have a long 25 history of interconnectivity that has 26 1 afforded the larger Latinx and black 2 community members the opportunity to build 3 generational wealth. It is because of this 4 history that these communities deserve to be 5 kept together under the same district borders 6 and representation. 7 Castle Hill and Soundview share many of 8 the same attributes and struggles. The 9 population makeup is similar and housing, 10 health and transit conditions are all in need 11 of improvement. These neighborhoods have 12 both suffered from rapid divestment in the 13 1970s due to racism, growing poverty rates, 14 and citywide fiscal crisis. Much of the 15 white non-Hispanic population left, which 16 meant the majority of the neighborhood became 17 populated by working class, Latinx and 18 African-Americans. 19 Castle Hill and Soundview are home to 20 numerous different NYCHA complexes; Castle 21 Hill, Monroe, Sonia Sotomayor, Soundview, 22 Bronx River, Sack Wern and Clason Point 23 Garden Houses. Castle Hill and Soundview 24 have the same demographics, go to the same 25 grocery stores, play at the same parks, and 27 1 even go to the same schools. 2 The way these communities have come 3 together to combat disparities and challenges 4 shows why it's necessary to keep both of 5 these communities in the confines of Council 6 District 18. District 18 is a black and 7 brown community with predominantly Puerto 8 Rican, Dominican, black African-American 9 families living here. But in recent years, 10 there has been a boom in Asian immigrants, 11 especially in Parkchester, which is reflected 12 in the 2020 census data. 13 The Bengali Bangladeshi community in 14 Parkchester, Unionport and the edge of Castle 15 Hill is one of the largest in the northeast. 16 This community has created a new cultural hub 17 on Starling Avenue that is centered around 18 serving their fellow immigrant neighbors by 19 creating a culturally relevant and 20 language-inclusive community center. This is 21 directly connected to the Parkchester borders 22 and needs to be considered while drafting new 23 lines. 24 The diversity of District 18 is what 25 makes it so unique and it's what binds all of 28 1 us. Though we have different immigrant 2 communities coming from the Caribbean, Puerto 3 Rico and the Dominican Republic and now 4 Bangladesh, the entire community is able to 5 bond and be neighbors through shared 6 experience. 7 While many may have come to the Bronx 8 to be close to their families and friends, 9 they have made it their homes because of the 10 new community and chosen family they have 11 made here. I'm extremely proud to not only 12 represent such a unique part of 13 New York City, but also to be a product of 14 the culturally rich and family-centered 15 communities we have in Council District 18. 16 Thank you to the New York City 17 Redistricting Commission for convening all of 18 us here today and to everyone testifying 19 today for listening to one another and 20 advocating for your communities. I'm looking 21 forward to the next several weeks, hosting 22 some larger convening within my own community 23 to include their input as much as possible, 24 and ways to ensure that our communities 25 continue to thrive and grow together 29 1 throughout this process. 2 Thank you so much. 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you, Council 4 Member as well. And thank you for your 5 testimony. Much appreciated. 6 Next, in-person is -- Mr. Dixon, you're 7 available? Thank you, Donald. 8 MR. DIXON: My name is Donald Dixon -- 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: Can you just speak a 10 little louder into the -- yeah, that's fine. 11 MR. DIXON: My name is Don Dixon, MD. 12 District 9 and City Council 7, previously 13 with District Council 5, also school board -- 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: If you could just angle 15 the mic a little -- there you go. Right 16 there, so that way we can hear you. 17 MR. DIXON: School Board District 5, 6, 18 7 and 8. I belong to a group called 19 (inaudible). Since 2015, we've been trying 20 to advocate to have more libraries throughout 21 the public schools in those districts that I 22 mentioned, the school districts. We don't 23 have any libraries in those schools, you 24 know, and when you (inaudible) -- now they're 25 called media sessions. 30 1 When you have sessions you have to 2 suggest that they stay at home, having the 3 kids go home and play with their computers 4 but not have a media session to guide them is 5 one of the deficiencies. 6 So, we've been trying to advocate since 7 2015 to get more libraries in public schools 8 in the borough, just School Board District 5, 9 6, 7, and 8, they have a deficiency with 10 libraries in those schools. We've been 11 talking to our previous City Council person. 12 Now, its lines -- we have to start having 13 conversations with the new person in 14 District 7 that's within the district. 15 So, addressing problems with the 16 schools is important, you know. I'm a 17 graduate of a Boys High School in 1966, you 18 know. The year that I got out of high 19 school, we had seven kids go to Ivy League 20 schools, and I'm (inaudible) medicine 21 Columbia University. Many of my friends from 22 my '66 done similar things. 23 I know the school board in Public 24 School 125, 123rd Street at one point, which 25 used to serve Grant Houses. It was a sign of 31 1 what we call (inaudible), Lauren Ritz, which 2 was the national middle school chess 3 champion, you know, because we've had changes 4 in City Council and (inaudible), you know, we 5 no longer had the advocacy of working with 6 City Council. 7 District School Board 7, they used to 8 have a program, a robotics in middle schools, 9 you know. That school has since lost that 10 robotics boost and also the School Board 5 11 have robotics program. That's not fair, you 12 know, and trying to get the New York City 13 Council person involved with that, involved 14 in all advocacies that will keep switching 15 districts and parents don't know who to talk 16 to. 17 Thank you for your time. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 19 testimony as well. 20 And we've been joined in person by 21 Commission Member Lisa Sorin. Welcome. 22 COMMISSIONER SORIN: Thank you so much. 23 Love the idea of seeing all my Bronxites here 24 to testify today. 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: And I'm not sure if any 32 1 Commission members have joined virtually yet, 2 but I know others confirmed as well, so when 3 they join, we will announce them. 4 Next virtual testimony, please. 5 MODERATOR: We have Andrea M. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Andrea Hem (phonetic), 7 did you say? 8 MODERATOR: Andrea M. 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: M. Okay. 10 MS. MCCLOUD: Good afternoon. Can you 11 hear me? 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can hear you. 13 MS. MCCLOUD: Hello? 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: We can hear you. 15 MS. MCCLOUD: Okay. Thank you. 16 Thank you for having this public 17 hearing. I want to say that my name is 18 Andrea M., Andrea McCloud, and I reside in 19 the Soundview section of the Bronx, which is 20 the 10473 zip code. 21 And what councilwoman, Ms. Fa -- I hope 22 I got her name correct -- Farías, had end up 23 speaking of. Yes, our area is extremely 24 diverse and I happen to love the area because 25 it is ever-changing. We have a mixture of 33 1 NYCHA, private homes, condos, things of that 2 nature. And we also have an ever-changing 3 mall, the first Bronx ShopRite in the area 4 and a ferry. One of the things I do not like 5 because of the redistricting is now I'm not 6 able to vote directly across the street from 7 where I normally vote from. 8 Now, of course, I'm a younger person. 9 I'm thinking of the senior citizens who are 10 in my building who most certainly are not 11 pleased that now they have to walk all the 12 way over to Sotomayor, which is at 13 1000 Rosedale Avenue. But aside from that, 14 the former representation that we had was 15 Representative Torres. And now, I believe we 16 have Ms. Althea Stevens, who had an 17 opportunity to speak, as well as we've moved 18 from this -- excuse me, Senator Sepúlveda to 19 Ms. Biaggi. 20 Now, the problem that I have is, I'd 21 like to know why wasn't the redistricting 22 done in a proper form of including zip codes? 23 For example, Ms. Stevens covers the area of 24 Claremont, Claremont Village, Morrison 25 section. All of those areas are 104, 105, 34 1 10 -- excuse me, 104, 5, 6. That's a huge 2 jump to move over all the way to 73. And 3 then -- so, that's the problem I happen to 4 have. 5 And also, there's another area -- 6 there's someone else moving from the district 7 of 32 -- excuse me, Senatorial District 32, 8 which would be Sepúlveda, to Senatorial 9 District 34, which is covered by a 10 Ms. Alessandra Biaggi. Now, based on 11 Ms. Biaggi's background, at least she's 12 changing, someone is becoming a little 13 socialistic, and that has a lot to do with -- 14 one, defunding the police and some other 15 platforms I don't necessarily agree with. 16 So, I think when it comes to the 17 redistricting, redistricting should be 18 involved in terms of a zip code. If -- as I 19 said before, if you're in 45, 46, you most 20 certainly could miss a jump to 66, 67, 68 so 21 on and so forth, as opposed to coming all the 22 way up to 73. Because those particular areas 23 are a little different, and I don't 24 necessarily see that this area would benefit 25 from the knowledge of previous 35 1 representation. 2 Our area is expanding, and it's a good 3 thing and a bad thing. For example, one of 4 the things that we happen to have is, we 5 happen to have too many shelters open to us, 6 as opposed, for example, Riverdale. I 7 believe now our area has between eight to ten 8 shelters. 9 Now, we're always told it's become 10 predominantly because majority of the people 11 formerly lived in this area, as opposed to 12 other areas. I find that kind of hard to 13 believe. And even if that is so, I think 14 there should be an even distribution of 15 shelters. And that may not necessarily be a 16 representation based off some of the 17 politicians who are at hand. 18 So, that's my highest concern right 19 now, is what I just mentioned, the area that 20 incorporates the diversity in terms of the 21 people, the diversity in terms of the 22 housing, but most certainly the problem that 23 we have in terms of sheltering; that's 24 something that I definitely am weighing heavy 25 on and I hope that in the future, in the 36 1 extreme future, that this redistricting will 2 include zip codes closer to -- that is 3 relevant to the particular politician at 4 hand. 5 So, thank you again for listening, and 6 I look forward to a reply and continuing to 7 listen to others who are speaking as well. 8 Have a fantastic evening. 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you and the 10 same to you. And thank you for your 11 testimony. 12 But we are also joined virtually by 13 Commissioner Johnson, so welcome as well. 14 And next, we'll have another virtual 15 testimony and then -- 16 MODERATOR: We have on Ronald Myers. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ronald Myers? 18 (No response). 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ronald Myers? 20 MODERATOR: I think he may have left. 21 Jasmine Cordero. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Jasmine Cordero? 23 MS. CORDERO: Hello, yes. My name is 24 Jasmine Cordero and I will be speaking on 25 behalf of District 17. 37 1 District 17 is an area that -- it's a 2 district, rather, that needs to be much 3 smaller. Currently, this district represents 4 Port Morris where the average rent for a 5 building is 2,100 a month. This district 6 cannot understand and fund the needs of Hunts 7 Point residents who are dealing with poverty, 8 when it's trying to sustain Port Morris, 9 which again, has apartment buildings for 10 2,100 a month. 11 This district needs to be smaller by 12 excluding Port Morris Avenue. This community 13 will be better understood and taken care of 14 financially if it is not in competition with 15 Port Morris, that has extremely high rents. 16 Thank you. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 18 testimony. 19 Next, virtual. 20 MODERATOR: Next, we have Kevin 21 Livingston. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Kevin Livingston. Is 23 Kevin Livingston there? 24 (No response). 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: We'll come back to 38 1 Kevin Livingston. 2 MODERATOR: Okay. Let's do Asha. 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm sorry? 4 MODERATOR: Asha. 5 CHAIR WALCOTT: Asha? 6 (No response). 7 MODERATOR: Justin -- oh, I see Kevin 8 Livingston is here, he says. 9 MR. LIVINGSTON: All right. Good 10 afternoon, everybody. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: And good afternoon to 12 you. 13 MR. LIVINGSTON: Good afternoon. Thank 14 you so much for having me. I'm Kevin 15 Livingston. I'll be talking about the 16 beautiful 31st District. 17 A little bit about me. I'm a lifelong 18 resident of Southeast Queens, in particular 19 Rosedale, Laurelton and family in Far 20 Rockaway. And when I think about the 21 31st District, one of the big things that 22 stands out to me is the family unit that we 23 have from Laurelton, Rosedale to our brothers 24 and sisters of Far Rockaway. 25 I speak about it from a personal level 39 1 because when the pandemic hit, we was able to 2 sustain the senior citizens with healthy food 3 and items from our families in Far Rockaway, 4 to bring to the main land of Southeast Queens 5 to assist our senior citizens. So, that's 6 just one way that I feel like, you know, the 7 31st District is one, right, we look out for 8 each other. 9 Secondly is JFK. JFK should absolutely 10 stay in the 31st Council District. We should 11 receive all the benefits from the airport 12 because we're the ones who are dealing with 13 the asthma issues that are coming from the 14 fumes in these airlines. 15 And then, let me just talk about it 16 from, just from a resident standpoint living 17 in Rosedale and have my sleep broken every 18 other hour with the airplanes flying so low 19 over my house, that I have to shut my window 20 down, so which will prevent me from getting 21 fresh air because I want to get some sleep. 22 These are some of the things that we 23 should stay and keep in the 31st Council 24 District. And I feel that we have an amazing 25 council member. We have amazing legislators 40 1 in this district that is moving this district 2 in the right direction. And I just hope that 3 you guys really consider keeping the 31st 4 together. 5 We are made of some beautiful black and 6 brown folks, and we also encompass our Jewish 7 brothers and sisters over in Far Rockaway and 8 in Laurelton. It is a beautiful district 9 that needs to stay together. And I work in 10 it. I raise a family in it. And I hope that 11 you guys keep this district together. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you very much, 13 Mr. Livingston. 14 Next, virtual. 15 MODERATOR: Justin Castro. 16 MR. CASTRO: Hi, good afternoon, 17 Commissioners of the New York City 18 Districting Commission, and thank you for the 19 opportunity to speak. My name is Justin 20 Castro. I live in Marble Hill, which is in 21 City Council District 10, just one block 22 inward from the northernmost boundary of 23 District 10, and just shy two blocks from the 24 end of the Marble Hill neighborhood in the 25 Bronx. 41 1 As a voter and resident in this area, I 2 appreciate the opportunity to share my 3 perspective on the new districts, on how the 4 new districts should be shaped for the next 5 ten years. I have lived in Marble Hill my 6 entire life. I was born at the Allen 7 Pavilion Hospital, right across the 225th 8 Street bridge. I'm civically engaged and 9 deeply committed to ensuring my community 10 gets the resources and representation it 11 needs. 12 The current council districts 13 representing our community are Districts 10, 14 11 and 14. Almost 90 percent of the district 15 is represented by District 10, which is a 16 district that has historically been a part of 17 Marble Hill's political identity, yet more 18 than a technical identity. 19 Many residents of Marble Hill have 20 strong ties in Manhattan, and I'm here to ask 21 that you unite Marble Hill into one council 22 district and that one council district is 23 District 10. While it can be argued that 24 having multiple council members can yield 25 more resources, just 10 percent of that 42 1 population is split in two different ways, 2 including a housing development. There's no 3 rhyme or reason for this configuration, other 4 than viewing these communities as dispensable 5 scraps to make up the population in 6 neighboring districts. 7 I would like the Marble Hill 8 neighborhood to be kept whole within 9 District 10, which would require the moving 10 of its boundaries ever so slightly to allow 11 our entire community to be heard. This -- 12 the Commission has this once in a decade 13 opportunity to fix this concern, and I hope 14 you do so when drafting your maps. 15 Thank you, once again, for taking the 16 time to listen to me and allowing me to be 17 part of this distinguished forum. Thank you. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 19 testimony. 20 Next, virtual. 21 MODERATOR: We have Mazeda Uddin. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Mazeda Uddin? You're 23 on mute, I think. We see you, but -- 24 MODERATOR: Mazeda, are you there? 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: She's there, but she's 43 1 muted 'cause we can see her from here. I see 2 the mute next to her name. 3 MS. UDDIN: Hello? 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Is that you -- yes. 5 MS. UDDIN: Hello? 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: No, that's someone 7 else, I think. That's her? Okay, I still 8 see the mute. 9 MS. UDDIN: Yes. Hello, are you -- I'm 10 okay? 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Is that Ms. Uddin? 12 MS. UDDIN: Yes. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm sorry. Yes. 14 MS. UDDIN: Okay. Dear Honorable 15 Redistricting Commissioner, good evening and 16 I hope all is well. My name is Mazeda Uddin 17 and former commissioner under 3 Speakers of 18 the Board of elections. Now I am the newly 19 elected district leader in Part B of Assembly 20 District 24, and have been both an owner and 21 resident of Parkchester apartments for the 22 past two decades, which is 20 years. 23 There are 12,000 apartments in 24 Parkchester, which is largest apartment 25 complex, condominium in America. Since from 44 1 1990 to 1999, there was a large influx of 2 Asian American population, specifically 3 South Asians in the Bronx, especially in the 4 Parkchester, Westchester Square and Castle 5 Hill areas by means of DV-1 and OP-1 lottery. 6 We are the highest English proficient 7 immigrants and we have made endless 8 contributions to make the Bronx and the 9 entire area as great as it is today. 10 As a mother of five beautiful children, 11 I started my activism journey many years ago 12 to introduce the Bengali language in New York 13 City and beyond. In addition, advocating 14 relentlessly for both Halal and Kosher foods 15 in New York City public school system. 16 Needless to say, my hard work, persistence 17 and advocacy have gotten both dreams of mine 18 accomplished today. 19 All five of my children graduated 20 P.S. 106 New York City public school, and 21 they always came back from school hungry 22 because there were never any halal options. 23 We can now say that change has came and this 24 is only the beginning. 25 Since 2006, I have been involved with 45 1 AALDEF, A-A-L-D-E-F, and I strongly support 2 the Asian American boundary or redistricting 3 lines that AALDEF submitted for our community 4 of the interest. Asian Americans are a 5 protected group under the Voting Rights Act. 6 And thus, the City Charter requires that our 7 community have fair and effective 8 representation before preserving our 9 communities of interest. 10 Thus, the Parkchester, Westchester 11 Square, and Castle Hill communities of 12 interest should not be divided and kept whole 13 within one City Council district. In 14 addition, Asian Americans are the fastest 15 growing ethnic group in the country, let 16 alone the entire city. The City Council 17 lines should reflect this growth and thus the 18 needs of the fastest growing community in the 19 greatest city in the world. 20 As a longtime AALDEF volunteer and 21 founder of the South Asian Fund For Education 22 Scholarship and Training, I urge you to 23 please keep Parkchester, Westchester Square 24 and Castle Hill together as a whole within 25 one City Council district. Then, and only 46 1 then, can my community truly rise. 2 Thank you. Be well and God bless. In 3 unity, Mazeda Uddin, in solidarity. My 4 daughter, who is a strict community member, 5 Jamilla Uddin. Thank you. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 7 testimony. 8 In person, is it Edwin Torres? 9 MR. TORRES: Hi, good afternoon. I'm 10 Edwin Torres. I'm here from Washington -- 11 from Hamilton heights. I grew up in Hamilton 12 Heights and I live there. I mean, I'm on the 13 community board, I'm also the president of 14 the Hamilton Heights Tenants Association and 15 a member of the Hamilton Heights Tenants 16 Association. 17 So, District 9, even though it is in 18 West Harlem, District 7's office is literally 19 across the street from my building. Yet, 20 many of my fellow neighbors, they get 21 confused 'cause they can see right across 22 from them, District 7, council member. They 23 think that's their council member but it's 24 not. It belongs to District 9. 25 To give you a geographic location, that 47 1 is down on the hill on 141st where you 2 have -- it is a pretty big hill for our 3 community. Many of our folks, sometimes when 4 they go to vote, the elderlies, they can't 5 make it back onto the hill. I have to 6 transport them in my car, so they would 7 prefer to be on the other side of town. 8 So, the Commission's number one 9 priority it states that it is to keep 10 communities together. Currently, 11 West Harlem, 110 and 155th, roughly west of 12 Morningside, St. Nicholas Park and Jackie 13 Robinson, is split between two separate 14 districts, District 7 and District 9, as I 15 said. 16 Washington Heights, North 155th, 17 South Inwood is split between 7 and 10. 18 District 10 has a large population deficit. 19 In order to fix District 10, population 20 deficit to meet the number one priority is to 21 keep communities together. Washington 22 Heights between 155th and 165th currently 23 it's in District 7 and it should be moved to 24 District 10. 25 By doing this, this will allow 48 1 West Harlem not to be split and tenants, 2 residents, would not be confused as to where 3 they vote. I think that keeping the, you 4 know, mantra of unifying communities, we 5 should be unifying these communities because 6 residents west of the hill, they just can't 7 vote. So, we are disenfranchising many, many 8 folks, especially the elderlies. 9 So, currently, we have two council 10 members that are split just by one block on 11 Amsterdam and we would like to see this 12 together. I'm here speaking for myself and 13 many of the other tenants that when we meet, 14 they get confused as to seeing the council 15 member across the street, yet they have to go 16 down that big hill -- that many of them do 17 not interact. Our lives, 99 percent of the 18 time, is north of the hill, and we would like 19 to see that change, so we can keep it 20 together. 21 Thank you. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 23 testimony. 24 Next, virtual. 25 MODERATOR: We have Corbina Bafford 49 1 (phonetic). 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: Can you say that name 3 again, please. 4 MODERATOR: Yes, I think we may have 5 lost her, though. 6 Corbina Bafford? 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: I don't hear a 8 response. 9 MODERATOR: Let's try Fulvia 10 Vargas-De Leon. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ms. De Leon? 12 MS. VARGAS-DE LEON: Hi, good 13 afternoon. 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon. 15 MS. VARGAS-DE LEON: Good afternoon, 16 Commissioners. Fulvia Vargas-De Leon on 17 behalf of Latino Justice PRLDEF, where I am 18 senior counsel. 19 For the Latino community, the Bronx 20 remains the center point of a thriving 21 demographic and is the only borough currently 22 with a Latino majority population. There are 23 currently eight wholly contained districts or 24 City Council Districts within the Bronx and 25 one additional district split between 50 1 East Harlem and the South Bronx. Out of 2 these nine districts, Latinos are currently 3 the majority in six districts and the 4 plurality in two. 5 We would argue that Latino voters have 6 demonstrated their ability to elect 7 candidates of their choice in the Bronx and 8 any changes must not ignore the progress or 9 intentionally dilute Latino voters' ability 10 to elect preferred candidates in the coming 11 decade. 12 It is no surprise at this time that 13 given high rents in Manhattan have caused 14 boroughs like the Bronx to see an influx of 15 Latino residents from its surrounding areas. 16 Through its multiple crossings and blurred 17 boundaries, Upper Manhattan and the Bronx are 18 communities of common interests and these 19 artificial boundaries do not represent real 20 divisions. 21 Instead, residents of the Bronx and 22 Upper Manhattan are united and share means of 23 transportation from home to work, places of 24 worship, shopping hubs and family and 25 friends. In the last decade, they have also 51 1 shared in voting for elected officials in 2 districts within both boroughs at both the 3 federal and state level. 4 We suggest District 11 no longer crack 5 the community of Wakefield and ask that they 6 unite the community of Bedford Park instead. 7 This district currently plurality Latino 8 should not avoid the growing Latino segments 9 of its surroundings by choosing to draw north 10 into Wakefield. Instead, we ask that the 11 district go south to 195th Street on its 12 easternmost border along Webster Avenue. 13 Further, we ask that your ranked 14 criteria of protecting communities of 15 interest be adhered to by uniting all of 16 Marble Hill in District 10. While Marble 17 Hill is politically part of the borough of 18 Manhattan, it's in every way a Bronx County 19 neighborhood. This community is currently 20 served by three different council members as 21 part of Bronx Community Board 8, has a Bronx 22 zip code of 10463 and is served by the 50th 23 police precinct in the Bronx. 24 This is, yet again, one of the wonders 25 of the political world in New York City, 52 1 where Marble Hill residents voices are 2 divided and their electoral strength 3 diminished. With just four blocks moved into 4 District 10, you can unite Marble Hill. We 5 suggest going north to 230th Street, west to 6 Johnson Avenue and east to Exterior Street. 7 Lastly, we ask that the Commission 8 follow the current border crossing of 9 East Harlem into the South Bronx. These 10 communities have similarities and economic, 11 social and residential infrastructure, and 12 both are impacted by new developments and 13 gentrification. 14 These communities can harness 15 collective power on issues of asthma and 16 clean air, criminal justice, educational 17 equity, public and senior housing for the 18 majority of their residents. While wholly 19 contained districts in the borough are 20 preferrable to ensure community 21 sociopolitical ties aren't broken, this 22 crossing has political and social ties that 23 predate this Commission, and we ask that you 24 respect and maintain this majority Latino 25 district. 53 1 As this Commission sets its dates for 2 local politics for the next decade, this 3 process shall fully account for and draw 4 districts that reflect the demographic growth 5 of the Latino community. We look forward to 6 the Commission's map release and further 7 engagement with the City's redistricting 8 process. 9 Thank you. 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: We lost a little bit of 11 what you said, but we got probably 98 to 12 99 percent of it. I know you'll be 13 submitting your testimony as well, so thank 14 you very much for your testimony. 15 Next, virtual. 16 MODERATOR: Next, we have Marisol 17 Duran. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: Marisol Duran? 19 (No response). 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: Marisol Duran? 21 (No response). 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Can we go to the next 23 one -- 24 MS. DURAN: Okay. Sorry. Can you hear 25 me? 54 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: That's okay. We can 2 hear you now. 3 MS. DURAN: Okay. Can you hear me? 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes. 5 MS. DURAN: Hi, good evening, 6 Commissioners. I come before you tonight as 7 a constituent of District 16. 8 Earlier, we heard my council member, 9 Ms. Stevens, speak. And just so that the 10 Commissioners are aware, I am a part of the 11 Crotona Park East. Many of us in 12 District 16, we do not identify as the 13 West Bronx. 14 And mainly, what I wanted to talk 15 tonight with the Commissioners is a big loss 16 that we saw in our public park. Crotona Park 17 is the largest park in the South Bronx. It 18 borders districts with 15, 16 and 17, and -- 19 15, District 15 and District 17, the council 20 members, they acknowledge that they share 21 responsibilities with Crotona Park. 22 However, many of us that live just 23 across the street from the park in 24 District 16, when we try to bring attention 25 and bring in improvements, we got ignored 55 1 because, as Ms. Stevens has indicated on her, 2 you know, social media platform, Crotona Park 3 is not in her district, even though we live 4 across the street from the park. 5 So, I'm hoping that with these new 6 districting, it could be taken into 7 consideration those of us who rely on the 8 park. We've gotten ignored because the 9 council members, they don't either prioritize 10 or collaborate for improvements with Crotona 11 Park. And last month, we actually lost some 12 parkland for nonpublic use. 13 So, for the Commissioners, I want you 14 to pay attention to Crotona Park. You know, 15 please, we need a voice because the park, we 16 should be preserving our green space and we 17 should be having improvements that we haven't 18 seen in many decades. 19 That's all the comments I have for 20 tonight. Thank you. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 22 testimony. 23 Next, virtual. 24 MODERATOR: Next, we have Barry 25 Weinberg. 56 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Barry Weinberg? 2 (No response). 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: Barry Weinberg? 4 (No response). 5 MODERATOR: Let's move on to Naida 6 Ryans. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Naida Ryans? 8 (No response). 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: Naida Ryans? 10 MS. RYANS: Yes, I'm here. Thank you 11 very much. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: Welcome. 13 MS. RYANS: Thank you. 14 So, my name is Naida Ryans. I am the 15 parent coordinator at P.S. 151 in Woodside, 16 Queens from District 30 in Queens. I'm 17 testifying on behalf of our school community 18 whom we serve from the Woodside housing, and 19 I thank you New York City Redistricting 20 Commission for allowing me to speak. 21 Redistricting the community to the 22 district representative that serves our 23 schools would be of great benefit to our 24 school population. As a voter and resident 25 of the school community, I greatly appreciate 57 1 the opportunity to testify and share my 2 thoughts on why I think it would be the best 3 to redistrict us to the district that our 4 councilwoman, like Tiffany Cabán, represents. 5 The current maps have affected our 6 school organization by not being able to 7 receive the necessary funding that could be 8 allotted to our school community for critical 9 resources that could be beneficial for our 10 families. 11 Their current representatives are that 12 lines -- that this line does not come into 13 our school community and see the work in 14 progress that we do for the students of our 15 population, also does not make attempts to 16 see what kinds of grants or resources that 17 their office can foresee to provide us, for 18 knowing that we served the community that 19 they represent, which is the same community 20 that we represent or serve. 21 I feel as well that since we serve 22 about almost 50 percent of Spanish-speaking 23 families that come to our school from this 24 community, it is important to have a 25 representative like the councilwoman of 58 1 Tiffany Cabán who understands the language 2 and needs of our population. 3 So, I thank you again for the 4 Commissioners for taking the time to listen 5 to my testimony. I hope that you will take 6 these suggestions into consideration in 7 redistricting the line of the Woodside 8 housing community for a better representation 9 that will bring the benefits that are 10 necessary for our school population of P.S. 11 151, the Mary D. Carter school. 12 Thank you very much for your time. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 14 testimony and have a good evening. 15 MS. RYANS: Thank you so much. 16 CHAIR WALCOTT: Next, virtual. 17 MODERATOR: Olivia Witley. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: Olivia Witman? 19 MODERATOR: Olivia Witley. 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm sorry. 21 (No response). 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: If not, we'll go back. 23 MODERATOR: Magdamary Marcano. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ms. Marcano? 25 MS. MARCANO: I am not here to testify. 59 1 Thank you very much for the opportunity. Not 2 at this time. Maybe tomorrow while you're at 3 Staten Island. I'll formulate something 4 tonight. 5 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. 6 MS. MARCANO: So, thank you very much 7 for the opportunity. 8 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for being 9 a part of it, no matter testimony today or 10 tomorrow. Thank you very much. 11 Next. 12 MODERATOR: And Roxanne Delgado. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Roxanne Delgado? 14 (No response). 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: Roxanne Delgado? 16 MODERATOR: We can come back. 17 Anthony Del Orbe. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: Anthony Del Orbe? 19 MR. DEL ORBE: Yes, good afternoon. 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon. 21 MR. DEL ORBE: Thank you for having me. 22 Thank you, everyone. I'm from Marble Hill, 23 zip code 10463, represented by three 24 different Council, District 10, 11, and 14. 25 I'm also a resident of the Marble Hill for 60 1 about 20 years this years or so, also a 2 neighbor of Justin Castro. 3 I'm also a founder of a nonprofit based 4 in Marble Hill, Kingdom of Heaven Empire, 5 Refreshing Planet Earth. Within the 6 nonprofit, we deal with the food program, 7 green spaces and mental health. Most of the 8 programs are established in the community of 9 Marble Hill, so we serve the community as a 10 whole. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Could you hold on one 12 second, sir. 13 Is it Magdamary? Could you put 14 yourself on mute 'cause you keep popping up 15 and we can hear you in the background. Okay. 16 Thank you very much. 17 I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir. 18 MR. DEL ORBE: Yes. So, we serve the 19 community as a whole from Exterior, which is 20 where it splits with District 14 and 30th. 21 They're a split with District 10. Basically, 22 I would like to advocate for the district 23 lines to be united as one and represented by 24 District 10, which is the councilwoman who's 25 representing the majority of Marble Hill at 61 1 the moment. 2 There is a lot of confusion, especially 3 at the Marble Hill Housing where one Council 4 represents three or four buildings and then 5 another one, one. And then the other Council 6 represents the rest of the development and 7 the rest of Marble Hill. So, it's just a 8 little portion which are represented by other 9 councilmen or women. 10 Basically, we would like for it to be 11 united. The community will benefit as well. 12 When it's time to also elect our elected 13 officials, the community is confused where 14 they got to go to vote, who is representing 15 them as well. Just to remove all the 16 confusion and to have people go to different 17 locations within Marble Hill to go and vote. 18 I think it would help a lot. 19 Thank you so much and enjoy. Thank 20 you. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, sir, for 22 your testimony. 23 Next, virtual. 24 MODERATOR: I'm going to try Barry 25 Weinberg again. 62 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Barry Weinberg? 2 MR. WEINBERG: Yes, hello. Can you 3 hear me? 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can. 5 MR. WEINBERG: Thank you. Apologies 6 for that. 7 I did want to start by thanking the 8 Commissioners, and the other members of the 9 public who've testified, for their time 10 today. My name is Barry Weinberg, and I've 11 lived in District 7 for the past 14 years. I 12 currently serve as chair of Manhattan 13 Community Board 9, which covers West Harlem. 14 I am here today to request that the 15 Commission meet its number one priority of 16 keeping neighborhoods and communities intact 17 by finally unifying West Harlem, defined as 18 the area between 110th and 155th Streets, 19 west of Jackie Robinson, St. Nicholas and 20 Morningside Park, intact. 21 This area is covered entirely in 22 Manhattan by Community Board 9, but currently 23 our district is split between District 7 and 24 a small portion east of Amsterdam Avenue is 25 in District 9. As a result, the areas east 63 1 of Amsterdam in District 9 often have their 2 needs ignored. The current and previous 3 office, district office for the District 7 4 council member is, in fact, across the street 5 from buildings on Amsterdam Avenue and 6 West 141st Street that are in District 9, 7 which confuses many people. This makes no 8 sense. 9 The parks that I mentioned exists also 10 because of a series of natural cliffs and 11 bluffs that cut off West Harlem from the rest 12 of Central Harlem, so our neighborhood is 13 primarily oriented and transited vertically. 14 There are only five crosstown streets that 15 connect us to areas east. 16 I would also add that it does not make 17 sense to split the neighborhood of Washington 18 Heights into two districts. The number one 19 stated priority of redistricting requirements 20 for the Commission is to "keep neighborhoods 21 and communities intact." Nowhere in the 22 priorities is "give communities additional 23 council seats by splitting them between 24 districts" listed. 25 Because fragmenting our communities 64 1 between districts undermines our 2 neighborhoods and communities. Fragmenting 3 does not empower our communities. 4 District 10 to the north of us has a serious 5 population deficit and it has been proposed 6 or discussed that Rangel Houses or Polo 7 Grounds be moved out of District 9 into 8 District 10. 9 This would not only keep Washington 10 Heights fragmented between 7 and 10, but it 11 would also fragment Central Harlem and 12 potentially undermine the maps confined to 13 the Voting Rights Act. The residents of 14 West Harlem District 9 are frequently 15 ignored, as I mentioned. 16 We have not had a council member from 17 District 9 attend the community board 18 meetings or even send a staff member, since 19 the departure of Inez Dickens. And 20 West Harlem is frequently left out of capital 21 projects for District 9. 22 So, I am requesting that the Commission 23 unify West Harlem, west of the parks into 24 District 7, one district. And if necessary, 25 to make the numbers balanced, move the 65 1 portion of Washington Heights that is 2 currently in District 7 to District 10, 3 thereby reunifying yet another neighborhood 4 and addressing District 10's population 5 deficit. 6 So, again, my request is that 7 West Harlem be unified under one council 8 district and that include all areas west 9 of -- you can think of it as St. Nicholas 10 Avenue or St. Nicholas and Jackie Robinson 11 and Morningside Park. But there should be a 12 fairly reasonable solid line that reflects 13 the natural bluffs that cut off West Harlem 14 from the rest of Central Harlem. 15 We attend, you know, the same schools. 16 We're covered by the same community boards. 17 We go to the same churches. It makes no 18 sense to split us between two different 19 council districts and leave some of us 20 without meaningful representation. 21 I thank the Commissioners for their 22 time today, and I appreciate the opportunity 23 to speak during this process. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 25 testimony. 66 1 In person we have -- is it Alabudi MD 2 (phonetic)? 3 MR. MD: Yes. 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes. 5 MR. MD: Good afternoon, everyone. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon. 7 MR. MD: So, this is MD Alabi 8 (phonetic). I'm from District 18. 9 District 18 from Parkchester. 10 So, we already have all these 11 streets -- Soundview, Castle Hill, Clason 12 Point and Parkchester. This is part of 13 East Tremont, so my request is to refer to 14 the Westchester Square, those that belong -- 15 especially if we're working on this side, 16 too, because it's South Asian, the population 17 are increasing in this area. 18 And this is the part -- if we can 19 include with this District 18, the 20 Westchester Square and Zerega, that will be 21 better for this community and we can work 22 together and improve our community. 23 Thank you. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 25 testimony. 67 1 Next, virtual. 2 MODERATOR: Earnestine Temple. 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: Earnestine Temple? 4 (No response). 5 CHAIR WALCOTT: Earnestine Temple? 6 (No response). 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: We'll move on to 8 another virtual, and then we'll come back to 9 Ms. Temple. 10 MODERATOR: Let's do Ahnaf Alam. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ahnaf Alam? 12 MR. ALAM: Hello, do you hear me? 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can. Welcome. 14 MR. ALAM: Hi. Good afternoon, all the 15 Commissioners. My name is Ahnaf Alam. I'm 16 the president of New American Youth Forum. 17 I'm living in Jamaica, zip code 11432, over 18 20 years. And this is the district heavily 19 with the South Asian population, including 20 Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and other 21 countries. 22 We speak same language, we value, you 23 know, same culture. But over the years, we 24 have politicians, you know, divide us small 25 groups and there is no way we can have our 68 1 representation over there. So, I'm asking 2 all of you, somehow you guys can create a 3 South Asian district while we can have our 4 voices to the underserved South Asian 5 community. 6 I appreciate your time and allowing me 7 to speak today. 8 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 9 testimony. 10 Next, virtual. 11 MODERATOR: We have Laurie Davis. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: Laurie Davis? 13 (No response). 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: Laurie Davis? 15 (No response). 16 CHAIR WALCOTT: Go to another virtual. 17 MODERATOR: Linda Dada. 18 CHAIR WALCOTT: Linda Dada? 19 (No response). 20 MODERATOR: Let's move on to Andrea 21 Augustus. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Andrea Augustus? 23 MS. AUGUSTUS: Hi there. Can you hear 24 me and see me well? 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can both hear 69 1 and see you. Welcome. 2 MS. AUGUSTUS: Awesome. Yeah, I don't 3 have anything specific to say about 4 districting today. I really just wanted to 5 be more involved in my local politics. 6 I'm in the Bronx, zip code 10458. I am 7 a teaching artist and recently -- I'm in 8 District 7, if that means anything to 9 anybody. Recently, my district had a 10 community resource fair, and it was okay, but 11 I feel like there should be more wellness 12 programming in my zip code in particular. 13 So, again, nothing specific in relation 14 to districting and zone lines, just any 15 access to resources and getting more local 16 leaders in our community resource fairs and 17 community centers and schools would be 18 awesome. 19 So, please feel free to connect with 20 me. I have a wellness company called Poetic 21 Black Gurl LLC. And I will put my 22 information in the Zoom. 23 Thank you so much for your time and 24 creating space for New Yorkers to talk about, 25 you know, what we want to see. Thank you. 70 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 2 testimony. Much appreciated. 3 Next. 4 MODERATOR: Next, we have Mary 5 Sweeting. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Mary Sweeting? 7 MS. SWEETING: Yes, good afternoon. My 8 name is -- 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: Good afternoon. 10 MS. SWEETING: -- Mary Sweeting. I 11 appreciate the opportunity to come before you 12 to talk about the concern that I have with 13 the redistricting lines being changed. 14 First and foremost, I'm a native New 15 Yorker, born and raised in Harlem. Lived in 16 the zip code of 10039, which encompass the 17 Polo Grounds on Eighth Avenue, which is now 18 named -- renamed to Frederick Douglass 19 Boulevard, going all the way down to 145th 20 Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. 21 I take exception to the fact that to do 22 the redistricting would take the line in such 23 a way that Central Harlem as I have known it 24 for all of my life -- and if I may add that I 25 am the mother of three children, also born 71 1 and raised in Harlem, the grandmother of ten 2 children, and three great-grands. I resided 3 in an area on 146th Street and Eighth Avenue, 4 where my parents owned the Trelawny Bakery 5 for many, many years. 6 For those that venture to go over to 7 Bradhurst Avenue to go into the Colonial 8 Pool, which is now Jackie Robinson Pool, 9 these were stationed areas that were there 10 which would have automatically been labeled 11 as landmarks. After residing in what was 12 called 2735 Eighth Avenue, I left from there 13 and moved into the Polo Grounds, which was 14 formerly a baseball field. Most people 15 remember that. 16 I moved in there under the leadership 17 at that time of Male Mensi (phonetic), who 18 afford me to have my first apartment in that 19 development, so I moved in there like in 20 1968. And I do feel that to take the area 21 geographically of what the Polo Grounds 22 stands for, coming all the way down to 23 145th Street again is almost like servicing 24 the head of the body of the jurisdiction of 25 where the land falls. 72 1 I am in opposition. The culture of the 2 community is already being damaged with so 3 many other things that are being changed. 4 Financially, we will not be looked at as an 5 area that's geographically flowing, so I take 6 exception to the lines that will cut into 7 removing the Polo Grounds from the district 8 as it currently exists, which is zip code of 9 10039 in what I call the village of Harlem, 10 which is Central Harlem. 11 Under the leadership of several of our 12 leaders right now, which happens to represent 13 us that look like us, there's a combination 14 of all types of people, especially within the 15 Assembly District and in the Councilmanic 16 District and in the Congressional District 17 and in the Senate District. 18 So, I object to anything that will 19 geographically change us in terms of our 20 culture. So, I stand on record saying, 21 please, do not do this. We have been 22 affected enough right now with all of the 23 other creations of things being moved in 24 terms of landmarks. I object. 25 So, please leave our district whole, so 73 1 that we continue to strive with our families 2 and be able to pass down the heritage that 3 they have been accustomed to living with. 4 So, I stand firm on saying that I am more 5 than three scores and ten in age and then 6 some, and I have resided in the whole village 7 of Harlem, 10039, and have moved and 8 currently reside in the Esplanade Gardens, 9 and I've never changed my zip code and I've 10 been able to have a cultural continuation of 11 the people here, even with the gentrification 12 that looms over our heads. 13 So, from Eighth Avenue and 146th to 14 155th Street and Polo Grounds back to 148th 15 Street and Esplanade Gardens, I stand on 16 record saying I believe I speak for a lot of 17 people, that please do not cut us up and 18 dissect the head of our area in that manner. 19 Thank you for the time of listening to 20 me. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 22 testimony. 23 Next, virtual. And we're waiting for a 24 council member as well. So, at this point, 25 we're going to take a ten-minute break. So, 74 1 let us have a ten-minute break and then we'll 2 reconvene -- it's 5:25, so we'll reconvene at 3 5:35. Thank you. 4 (Whereupon, a short break was 5 taken.) 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Hello, we're about to 7 reconvene. I'll give you all a moment to set 8 up. Take your time. Take your time. 9 (Brief pause in proceedings.) 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Council Member Sanchez, 11 welcome. 12 MR. SANCHEZ: Thank you so much. 13 Good evening. My name is Pierina 14 Sanchez. I'm the City Council member 15 representing District 14 in northwest Bronx, 16 which encompasses the neighborhoods of 17 Kingsbridge, Fordham, University Heights, 18 Mount Hope and others, presently home to 19 about 170,000 people. 20 I want to thank the members of the 21 Commission and Chair Walcott for giving us 22 time to testify here today in the Bronx. 23 Since taking office this January and 24 opening a brick and mortar office in March, 25 we have welcomed in certain areas 2,000 75 1 constituents. I'd wager this rivals many of 2 my colleagues, and to break that down a bit: 3 30 people, or 1 percent, have come by e-mail, 4 450 people have come in by phone, and 1,400 5 people, or 70 percent, have come in person. 6 That's right, 1,400 individuals have come to 7 our office this year in person, during the 8 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 9 Allow me to place this in context. 10 First, the Bronx has the highest percentage 11 of residents without any broadband of any 12 borough. In our community, a digitally 13 divided community, it leaves those figures. 14 Next for 45 percent of Community Board 1, 15 language access is critical. 16 District 14 is over 70 percent Latinx, 17 including from the Dominican Republic, 18 largely Puerto Rico, Mexico and other 19 countries in central and South America. 20 20 percent are African and African-American 21 descent, 3 percent Asian and Pacific 22 Islanders. 23 In our district, 94 percent of 24 residents are renters. Our median worker 25 earns just $21,000 a year, that's versus 76 1 $37,000, in one. And a full 33 percent of 2 our families live under the federal poverty 3 line. These realities, of course, as you all 4 know and as we all know, are reflective of 5 decades of racial disinvestment, block access 6 to wealth and opportunities for people of 7 color. 8 Yet, despite these disinvestments, 9 District 14 has been cohesive, we've move 10 together. Over the last ten years, there's 11 been a dramatic increase in the Latinx and 12 African and black populations. These 13 communities share languages, places of 14 worship, like Our Lady of Angels, 15 Kingsbridge, Islamic Cultural Center, 16 Burnside, schools, small businesses that 17 offer community service products and 18 healthcare providers that provide culturally 19 appropriate care. 20 Drawing new council lines means to 21 ensure that the power we see is not -- 22 (disruptive noise) Latinx, African, 23 African-American communities. Communities 24 with common interests, protected common 25 interests. 77 1 In my first six months representing 2 this district, coupled with my life living in 3 it and being born and raised in it, I know 4 that across these districts are aspiration 5 goals for betterment and advancement. Our 6 neighbors are enjoying the district and they 7 have been fighting for the Kingsbridge Armory 8 to complete the Aqueduct Walk. 9 This largely immigrant district coming 10 from the Caribbean and elsewhere, we study 11 together at Bronx Community College, at 12 Lehman College. And so, the struggles are 13 also struggles that happen together. We 14 learn languages together. We have so much in 15 common. 16 Thus, as the Commission commences their 17 initial drawing of the New York City Council 18 Districts, it is critical that the lines are 19 drawn to ensure that the powers of these 20 communities, communities of interests are 21 not -- (technical difficulties). As you 22 deliberate, please take into account turnout 23 rates differ by race, ethnicity, geography 24 and income. 25 We have neighborhoods right next to us 78 1 in Riverdale, they're much, much bumpier and 2 we're very different. Lower turnout 3 demographics in communities of interest 4 cannot be paired with higher turnout rates 5 without diluting their power. Fairness must 6 be at the center of the redistricting 7 process. 8 Thank you so much for your service. 9 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you, Council 10 Member. Have a good evening. 11 Next, virtual. 12 MODERATOR: Roxanne Delgado. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Roxanne Delgado? 14 MS. DELGADO: Yes, Commission. Can you 15 hear me? 16 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can. Thank 17 you. 18 MS. DELGADO: Okay. Thank you so much. 19 Roxanne Delgado, founder of Friends of 20 Pelham Parkway, a social and environmental 21 justice group founded in 2017, one of the 22 only groups founded by a woman of color in 23 Community Board 11. 24 Pelham Parkway was the Congressional 25 District 14, but the north side was moved to 79 1 the 15th. Pelham Parkway was moved into the 2 33rd Senatorial District from the 34th. 3 Pelham Parkway is in City Council 13 where 4 Latinos make up at least 40 percent of the 5 district and the black and brown community is 6 the majority, yet we are the silent majority. 7 As I stated, Friends of Pelham Parkway 8 is the only group in Community Board 11 9 founded by a woman of color, because of the 10 systematic discrimination that originates 11 from Bronx Community Board 11, run by certain 12 members of the Morris Park Community 13 Association. 14 This goes beyond race, but these 15 members are proud right-wingers, Trump 16 supporters and running the show, despite the 17 fact that the district is overwhelmingly 18 Democrats. This board intentionally did 19 not -- 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: Can you hold on one 21 second for me. 22 MS. DELGADO: -- inform the community 23 of a planned homeless shelters in Bronx Park 24 East, yet are quite proactive when a facility 25 that they find undesirable is located in 80 1 Morris Park or in pockets of segregated areas 2 in District 13. 3 The Bronx Times covered Community Board 4 11 targeting a black woman-owned business, 5 Kirvens, who was constantly targeted by board 6 members till she did a press rally with the 7 now current Mayor Eric Adams. Pelham Parkway 8 NYCHA is located in District 13 and in 9 Community Board 11, yet the board does not 10 discuss them in meetings. In fact, the board 11 has a history of standing against affordable 12 housing. 13 The previous and current borough 14 president's office refuses to address the 15 systematic discrimination within the staff 16 and the executive board of Bronx Community 17 Board 11, as well as most of the community 18 groups in District 13 have boards that are 19 not reflective of the demographics of this 20 district, which has disempowered people of 21 color. 22 They don't want us to lead but to 23 follow. In fact, the community board has 24 often shut down women of color in meetings, 25 including myself, which sometimes may be the 81 1 reason why we have lower voter turnout here. 2 This is why I recommend Morris Park to be 3 moved into a neighboring City Council 4 District 15 or 18, so the silent majority can 5 finally speak and be heard. 6 I'm so sorry. I just wrote this at the 7 last minute. But we have a very serious 8 problem in the district, where the majority 9 is disempowered systematically and need a 10 changed. And hopefully you can redo the 11 lines where we can be empowered again. 12 Thank you so much. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you very much. 14 And no need to apologize at all. 15 And also for those who are on the 16 virtual side of the testimony, can you please 17 stay muted until you're ready and consider 18 those who are testifying. So, if you just 19 stay muted until you're called and then we 20 can go from there. Thank you very much. 21 Next in person -- is it Michael Brady? 22 MR. BRADY: Good evening, Chair Walcott 23 and redistricting Commissioners -- 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Just lift the 25 microphone a little, so that way -- there you 82 1 go. 2 MR. BRADY: How is that? 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: Perfect. Thank you. 4 MR. BRADY: All right. Good evening, 5 Chair Walcott and redistricting 6 Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity 7 to speak today. I'm Michael Brady, Chief 8 Executive Officer of the Third Avenue 9 Business Improvement District in Bruckner 10 Boulevard Commercial Corridor, located in 11 South Bronx. 12 Collectively this organization provides 13 a voice for approximately 1,200 Bronx 14 businesses. Third Avenue BID is the Bronx's 15 oldest BID, maps one of the busiest 16 transportation centers, bringing over 350,000 17 individuals daily. In addition to leading 18 this BID, our organization has managed the 19 Bruckner Boulevard Commercial Corridor for 20 (inaudible) located to our south on the 21 Harlem River Waterfront for the past 22 six years. 23 In addition to those positions, I'm a 24 member of the Board of Corrections, Bronx 25 Chamber of Commerce and the New York City 83 1 Hospitality Alliance, South Bronx small 2 business owner and 20-year South Bronx 3 resident. 4 Let me preface my testimony by stating 5 directly that the Bronx does care about 6 redistricting. We realize the impact and the 7 importance the process has on our 8 communities. It may not be evidenced from 9 the light feedback received by the Commission 10 via the web or twitter, but our people are 11 firmly committed to the process in ensuring 12 that the Bronx receives equitable 13 representation from City Council. 14 Equally, many Bronx residents work two, 15 three, four jobs. Notice I didn't say one 16 job. So, breaking away for a hearing or a 17 meeting, it's extraordinarily difficult. 18 This is not just the case for this 19 Commission, but with all of the governments 20 in the City of New York. 21 While the redistricting primer that was 22 released by this Commission is helpful, it 23 does not account for the information to be 24 easily received. There are broad assumptions 25 that regular day-to-day folks knows what a 84 1 City Council is, knows the purpose of 2 government, and highlights the deep fractures 3 of our civic education system. 4 Additionally, the released primer does 5 not account for language accessibility, which 6 neglects a significant portion of our 7 population. Any document, primer or 8 otherwise, should be available in multiple 9 languages and disseminated not just over the 10 internet, but widely available via community 11 centers, senior centers and community-based 12 organizations, especially in areas where we 13 have limited to no -- that is correct, no 14 internet connectivity or accessible 15 technology. 16 As we continue to move forward in this 17 process, I would encourage the Commission to 18 explore and implement new ways to reach 19 communities. And we even encourage street 20 teams and door-knocking and -- (technical 21 difficulties) of our communities, onto the 22 process. 23 The Bronx has shared its southernmost 24 district with Manhattan for too long. It is 25 time for the Council to see this current 85 1 split between East Harlem and South Bronx and 2 for a unified South Bronx Councils to be 3 established. When we present noncontiguous 4 lines based on population trends in a 5 5 percent deviation, it may looks like it 6 works on paper, and the attorneys and the map 7 drawers who could sit at their base in 8 California, will tell us it works, but in 9 actuality, those services -- when you provide 10 services for one of those areas, whether it's 11 separated by borough lines, former or 12 otherwise, the other area is not adequately 13 serviced. 14 You see, you can't serve two gods, as 15 our Monsignor will tell you. You cannot 16 adequately and fairly serve two stated areas 17 with their regional ethnic and community 18 chair. The Bronx will no longer stand to 19 bear the brunt of redistricting for our 20 friends and colleagues in other boroughs, 21 like Staten Island. It is not fair and it is 22 not the spirit of our City Charter. I'll 23 wrap it up. 24 Over the course -- 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: Finish your whole 86 1 testimony. Give your whole testimony. 2 MR. BRADY: Over the course of the next 3 two weeks, you'll receive significant 4 feedback on the draft maps that you'll 5 present. I encourage you to consider that a 6 community such as ours that has long been 7 disenfranchised deserves a dedicated voice in 8 the City Council. A voice that can fairly 9 and adequately advocate for all our 10 residents. 11 During the next round of hearings, know 12 that we will have our own suggestions for the 13 Council maps, including whether to expand or 14 contract geographic areas based on population 15 trends and community context. In the 16 meantime, I would suggest that the Commission 17 and the speaker of the City Council implement 18 community training sessions, using Council 19 Member Sanchez's session that she just gave 20 two days ago as a model. 21 These sessions are vital and break down 22 very difficult information to digestible 23 bias, just as commissioners need to be 24 trained to understand this process, so too do 25 our communities, many of which do not even 87 1 know that this process is taking place. 2 During a time when businesses, 3 neighborhoods and communities are under 4 constant threat as a result of inflation, 5 rising gas prices, failing consumer spending, 6 regulations, lack of public spaces, quality 7 of life -- the list goes on and on and on. 8 We cannot afford to gloss over outreach and 9 authentic engagement. We must use every 10 opportunity to realistically engage and 11 educate our communities to activate our civic 12 voice. 13 It's my hope that this freeze 14 conversation today continue a dialogue that 15 invests in our people as much as we invest in 16 our places. Thank you. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 18 testimony. 19 Next, virtual. 20 MODERATOR: Linda Dada. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: Linda Dada? 22 MS. DADA: Good afternoon. I'm here. 23 I'm sorry. One moment. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: No need to apologize. 25 MS. DADA: Hi, good afternoon. I'm 88 1 currently a constituent of Queens Community 2 Board 12. And during the years of like 2003 3 and 2004, we -- I moved into a neighborhood 4 where about 20 homes were built. 5 Unfortunately, these homes were built on a 6 sewer line that essentially is on private 7 property. So, for the last 16 years, myself 8 and, like I said, the other 20 homes that are 9 affected by this issue, we're all on the same 10 sewer line and we're affected by flooding in 11 our basements. 12 We have contacted DEP. We've contacted 13 3-1-1. We've got no results, really, and the 14 only solution at the moment is for us to pay 15 thousands of dollars for a private sewage 16 company to help us assess the situation. 17 I'm sorry. One moment. I just want to 18 read something to you guys. Forgive me. I'm 19 so sorry. 20 The houses on 107th Avenue and 106th 21 Avenue are connected to a narrow pipe on 22 private land. The narrow pipe then connects 23 to the sewer, to the main city sewer line. 24 Due to this design, we have frequent backups 25 that basically flood basements. 89 1 Since the houses were built, DEP has, 2 you know, collected sewer payments from us 3 through the water bill. And at the same 4 time, we're now responsible for cleaning and 5 maintaining those sewer lines on our own. If 6 we don't, then basically our homes would 7 always be flooded. Whenever we do contact 8 DEP, they refuse to assist with the cleaning. 9 Basically, we're just asking that the 10 City reevaluates the situation because, 11 basically, I found out today that the DDC is 12 actually going to be starting an initiative 13 where they're working on fixing the sewer 14 lines in Jamaica and in St. Albans. But in 15 our neighborhood, we were never told about 16 this. So, we don't really know how to go 17 about doing anything different from what 18 we've tried. We're just not getting any 19 results, and it is costing us thousands of 20 dollars. 21 We literally live like we're in a 22 third-world nation, but we live in the 23 greatest city the world. And, you know, many 24 of us are just at the point now where we 25 don't no longer know what to do, and we don't 90 1 want to lose our homes to this flooding, you 2 know. 3 When these homes were built, the City 4 had to basically approve contracts to 5 basically say that they can build these 6 homes. And when we now are faced with the 7 problem because the main sewer line is on 8 private property, they don't want to help us. 9 Thank you. 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 11 testimony. Now, what you were just saying, 12 is that for our written testimony? 13 MS. DADA: Can you say that again. I'm 14 so sorry. 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: Is that part of your 16 written testimony? 17 MS. DADA: Have I submitted a written 18 testimony? 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: What you just talked 20 about, is that part of a written testimony? 21 MS. DADA: No. No. No. I haven't 22 submitted a written testimony. I didn't -- 23 this is my first time ever joining a public 24 hearing. So, I didn't know. I can submit a 25 public -- I mean a written testimony. 91 1 Is that what I should do? 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, if you could do 3 that, that way in addition to what we've been 4 reporting, we would have your written 5 testimony as well. 6 MS. DADA: Okay. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: We'll have something in 8 writing. 9 MS. DADA: Definitely. I will. And 10 should I also send it to the councilwoman or 11 is it just going to the public hearing 12 department? 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: This is just to us, and 14 so just send it to the districting committee 15 and Commission. 16 SPEAKER: Publictestimony@redistrict -- 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Publictestimony -- 18 SPEAKER: @redistricting.nyc.gov. 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: @redistricting 20 committee.nyc.gov. 21 SPEAKER: Publictestimony@redistricting 22 -- 23 CHAIR WALCOTT: @redistricting. 24 SPEAKER: .nyc.gov. 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: .nyc.gov. 92 1 MS. DADA: Okay. Thank you. Thank you 2 very much. 3 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you. 4 Next in person is Dayano -- is it 5 Romano? 6 SPEAKER: Polado (phonetic). 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. I'm sorry. 8 SPEAKER: I don't have nothing 9 prepared. 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: No, that's okay. 11 SPEAKER: This is my first time here. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: Welcome. 13 SPEAKER: Thank you. My name is Solato 14 Polado (phonetic). I own a house at 174th 15 (inaudible) Avenue. I don't know if you guys 16 are aware, but there's construction being 17 done by this guy where I live in this area, 18 in that street, and the one-way street that 19 belong to the 44th Precinct. 20 Months ago, I have been like trying to 21 call 3-1-1 and complain in regards to the 22 garbage from homes and a lot of stuff have 23 been going there. And, you know, they didn't 24 check them yet. So, this particular company 25 has been buying like people's houses around 93 1 there and doing constructions, like five 2 times a week, seven times a week. And 3 supposedly he's posted outside, he takes 4 photo of the houses. 5 And the main issue that I have here is 6 on Thursday at like around two o'clock -- I'm 7 a police officers. I have been living there 8 since 2012. And I was sleeping because I was 9 tired, and I heard an explosion, kind of like 10 an explosion to me, and it was boom, like 11 really bad. The whole collapsed of part of 12 his property into the side of my house. 13 I can listen to the people like 14 screaming, you know. There's people that 15 work for him, he never like knocked on my 16 door. I have everything on video. I have 17 pictures. And he didn't have that -- how did 18 you say that? The small -- the part of the 19 safety job, you know. And then that's going 20 to make me very upset because further down, 21 like one person have the land, I believe it's 22 like 15, 16, number one of his construction, 23 he put that safety for that house. 24 And then further all the way down, like 25 before 172, he has another construction 94 1 there. And he didn't do the safety. He 2 didn't do the safety of the house next to me. 3 He never sent me a letter saying that he's 4 going to start with construction and I know 5 that he doesn't have to ask permission, but, 6 you know, I pay taxes, too. 7 And my main thing is that I'm renting 8 the 1st floor. It was hit at that time when 9 this happened. My mom lives on the first 10 floor, and she's handicapped and has to stay 11 from the third floor. And then, you know, he 12 says to me that all of the permission that he 13 has, it's not like quite sure from the 14 Department of Buildings. 15 We get letter saying that he had 16 insurance, that he got around insurance. And 17 I called 9-1-1 and FDNY show up, the 18 Buildings Department shows, you know, and 19 start the construction. And then, we had 20 like a mandatory -- that he have to put in 21 the whole thing for my insurance company to 22 go in and then, you know, check if it's 23 safety for me to be there. 24 They put a partial back area on that 25 side, so we cannot go in. But, you know, the 95 1 thing is like he doesn't care. He didn't 2 show up on Friday -- he show up on Friday. 3 On Saturday, he didn't show up. Sunday, he 4 didn't show up. The inspector from the 5 Buildings Department showed up. I'm going to 6 the store and I said, "What's going on?" And 7 then, he said that he's going to issue 8 another summon. 9 But at the end, I only see the 10 Buildings Department as the one with the 11 violation that they fix whatever they have to 12 fix. And to me, it's unfair. Because, you 13 know, the same way that he's trying to buy my 14 house at that test, I think it's him. 15 Because why you offer me this buying my house 16 and then two weeks after, this happened to 17 me? 18 It's like you pushing me. You trying 19 to pushing me, like to get me annoyed like to 20 sell it to you. I'm not selling my house 21 because no one can push me out of there. And 22 then, I'm upset because the neighbors say he 23 want officer to live in the City. I'm done 24 doing that. I've been doing that for 25 16 years. I've been a police officer for 96 1 16 years living in the City. 2 So -- but I don't know what, you know, 3 what else to do. They're working now, but 4 they're taking their time. They're supposed 5 to fix the back because the back can collapse 6 in my backyard. And they just doing the 7 front. Why you're doing the front in the 8 meantime? Do the back. It's more dangerous 9 for me. I live there. And on top of that, 10 1480, it's a daycare and she have damage, 11 also. 12 Thank you so much. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 14 testimony. And we have a couple of folks who 15 are part of the Commission who are from the 16 Bronx, so they may be able to give you some 17 guidance as far as different points to 18 contact. 19 Next is virtual. 20 MODERATOR: We have Earnestine. 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: Earnestine? 22 MS. TEMPLE: Yes, can you hear me? 23 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes. Can you say your 24 full name, please. 25 MS. TEMPLE: I'm sorry? 97 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Can you say your full 2 name, Earnestine -- 3 MS. TEMPLE: Oh, Earnestine Bell 4 Temple. 5 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. Thank you very 6 much. You're on. 7 MS. TEMPLE: Thank you, Commission. 8 Thank you, Elected Officials. I am an Harlem 9 resident, and I'm speaking on behalf of 10 remaining the district line, City Council 11 lines be unchanged. Washington Heights is a 12 wonderful cultural community with its 13 residents. Harlem is the same. 14 My community board is 9 and my district 15 is 7. We share so many ideas, but real 16 estate and who represents us with what has 17 just happened in the primary, June 23rd, 18 June 28th, you can see what happens when 19 things are changed without notification and 20 constant marketing. This would be an example 21 of what would happen in the City Council if 22 the proposal goes through and its 23 redistricting. 24 Barry Weinberg made it very clear. 25 Thank you. And also my neighbor who lives in 98 1 Esplanade Gardens. We suffered and still 2 suffering COVID. So, people are getting back 3 on their feet, coming out, going to meetings 4 and communicating. We're not there yet. 5 We also have a primary coming up 6 August 23rd, Congressional and Senate, in our 7 communities. So, we've got a lot of learning 8 and understanding and identifying our local 9 elected officials and how they can best 10 service us. 11 Please consider what has happened 12 June 28th with people going to polling sites 13 that were wrong, through no fault of their 14 own, just bad marketing. And some feel it 15 was voters suppression. I want you to please 16 put all of the testimonies together, review 17 it, mark it so that we as constituents know 18 who represents us. 19 And in the case of Harlem, Washington 20 Heights, and further Manhattan, let things 21 remain the same. Thank you. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 23 testimony. 24 Next, virtual. 25 MODERATOR: Joshua Clennon. 99 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Joshua Clennon? 2 MR. CLENNON: Hi, good evening. Thank 3 you for allowing me to testify today. My 4 name is Joshua Clennon. I'm born and raised 5 right here in Harlem, 140th Street and 6 St. Nicholas. I've been someone who've 7 worked in housing, affordable housing within 8 this community and served on Community 9 Board 10. 10 I'm here today to give testimony to 11 preserve the historical and cultural 12 integrity of the 9th City Council District, 13 which encompasses the historically rich and 14 world-renowned neighborhood that we 15 endearingly know as the Village of Harlem. 16 Harlem is bounded by the Hudson River 17 on the Harlem River and 155th Street on the 18 north, 5th Avenue on the east, Morningside 19 Park on the west, and Central Park North on 20 the south. The 9th Council District is the 21 only district in Manhattan with a plurality 22 of African-American voters. 23 From Polo Grounds to Central Park 24 North, the residents of Central Harlem share 25 unique interests, culture and history that 100 1 cannot be divided. The Harlem community is 2 united in opposition to dividing any portion 3 of the existing district into a new district, 4 which would reduce or threaten the plurality 5 of African-American voters and further 6 marginalize a community that's still 7 grappling with the ramifications of 8 historically underinvestment and the 9 redlining of 1938. 10 So, I'm here today to continue to ask 11 this Commission to please preserve the 12 history and cultural integrity of the 9th 13 City Council District by preserving the 14 existing lines that are in place today. 15 Thank you. 16 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 17 testimony. 18 Next, virtual. 19 MODERATOR: Moire Davis. 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: Is it Mora Davis? 21 MS. DAVIS: Good afternoon. My name is 22 Moiré Davis, and I'm the board president at 23 Esplanade Gardens. 24 I'm here in opposition of the redrawing 25 of Central Harlem district lines by moving 101 1 the Polo Grounds houses area into Washington 2 Heights district. I listened to testimony of 3 others and one person spoke about Port 4 Wash -- Washington Heights and Harlem having 5 its own unique cultural contribution style 6 communities. But we're one Harlem, but we're 7 still a different community. 8 I just would like to highlight that the 9 Polo Grounds is really a historical part of 10 Harlem. The Polo Grounds used to be a 11 baseball field, where they played baseball 12 and football. It was home to our beloved 13 Yankees, Mets, New York Giants. And it is 14 really a rich part of our Harlem culture. 15 Additionally, right across the street 16 is the Rucker Park, which is also a very 17 famous park where some of the best known 18 talents in baseball have come from. I'm not 19 sure why the City or electives are trying to 20 play politics with our community, but it 21 feels as if Harlem has become a chop shop and 22 just being broken off and totally 23 disregarded. 24 So, as a community, we're very much 25 opposed to that and we really would like our 102 1 community to stay intact. There's a lot of 2 changes that everyone has had to endure and 3 embrace, but this is starting to get a little 4 ridiculous. And I hope I can be frank by 5 saying that it's ridiculous. Harlem is not a 6 chop shop. This is our home. The Polo 7 Grounds has been a part of Harlem forever. 8 Okay? 110th Street to 155th Street is known 9 as Harlem. 10 So, on that note, I would like to thank 11 you for the consideration. And I hope 12 everyone listens to the pleas of the 13 community because we live here and we do 14 matter. And thank you. 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 16 testimony. 17 Next, virtual. 18 MODERATOR: Alexis Saunders. 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: Alexis Saunders? 20 MS. SAUNDERS: Hi, can you hear me? 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, very clearly. 22 MS. SAUNDERS: Hi. I'm here with my 23 mom, Sandra Fisher, and she'll be the one 24 speaking. 25 MS. FISHER: Good afternoon, everyone. 103 1 My name is Sandra Fisher, and I'm currently a 2 county committee member. 3 I was raised around the corner from 4 where I live now, and born, and that's in 5 Harlem. As they used to call it upon the 6 hills "Sugar Hill." And I have witnessed all 7 the changes, all of the dismantling in 8 Harlem, as well as -- especially in this part 9 of West Harlem. 10 I have worked very hard with my 11 district leader, Gricel Ortiz-Thompson, to 12 get our polling place moved from down the 13 cliff to a place that is easier for seniors 14 and disabled individuals in Hamilton Heights. 15 And it really doesn't make any sense the 16 parts of West Harlem -- to move any parts of 17 West Harlem into a district that is 18 90 percent Central Harlem. 19 The council members of District 9 20 didn't even visit the area or know the 21 problems. I, too, was born and raised, as I 22 said, in Harlem upon the hill, and I felt and 23 seen the changes that are disastrous to me. 24 My children were born in this area. I don't 25 see -- we are currently in District 9 and we 104 1 should be in District 7, and it doesn't make 2 any sense. You keep -- they keep 3 redistricting lines, redistricting lines and 4 we find that we're in a place that we no 5 longer know, that we can no longer call home. 6 And if it was any other place, this 7 would not have been happening. We probably 8 wouldn't be having this meeting at this 9 certain time. But as we all know, this has 10 to cease. There was a time that -- when my 11 mother was good -- we could walk the street 12 and know who the assembly person was, or 13 their councilperson. They knew you by name. 14 Now, your councilperson might live up in the 15 Bronx. Who knows? 16 The way things is going, we have enough 17 things falling apart all over the world, all 18 over the country. And they just keep tearing 19 our little piece apart bit by bit and it has 20 to stop. And I'd like to give a shout-out 21 and say thank you to Barry Weinberg for his 22 piece that he's put in here, and he's been 23 here a while with us hanging in there and 24 helping a lot of us that did not know that 25 all of this was happening, the little piece 105 1 of it. But now they have a larger piece of 2 it. 3 And it would also help our children 4 that's going to have to deal with this to 5 start listening a little more. And for you 6 as Commission and our council members, please 7 listen to the people that put you in the 8 office and stop worrying about the other 9 stuff that really doesn't matter because it's 10 too much happening now. 11 I thank you. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you both for 13 your testimony and participation. 14 MS. SAUNDERS: Thank you. 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: Next, virtual. 16 MODERATOR: Joycilin Davis. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Joycilin Davis? 18 (No response). 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: Joycilin Davis? 20 MS. DAVIS: Okay. Now, you're hearing 21 me. Okay. 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we could hear you 23 now. Ms. Davis, we heard you for a second. 24 Are you there? 25 MS. DAVIS: Yes. I am Joycilin Davis. 106 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: So, Ms. Davis, if you 2 were talking before, we couldn't hear you. 3 Could you start from the beginning. 4 MS. DAVIS: Okay. I'm Joycilin Davis. 5 I'm calling on the behalf of the residents 6 and myself and the community at 106th and 7 107th Avenue in Queens, and the zip code is 8 11433. 9 We have had a problem been plaguing us 10 for years, and we are so frustrated with it, 11 with the sewer line. And it's a very small 12 pipe that they use to make -- to join over 22 13 houses. And because they put the sewer line 14 on a private property, we cannot get any help 15 from the City. So, we have to be paying 16 thousands and thousands of dollars for the 17 past years to be -- to be keeping our sewer 18 line clean. 19 And when it's full and overload, we 20 have a backup, the whole basement, everywhere 21 is pee and doo. And we cannot -- we are so 22 overwhelmed with this problem. So, we're 23 asking for help from the City, from the 24 government, Commissioner, we are pleaing to 25 you. 107 1 So, that's my problem and our problem. 2 All of us are so overwhelmed with it, so 3 we're asking for help. 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for your 5 testimony. While it doesn't fall directly in 6 our purview, we heard you and we will have it 7 officially in our recordings, and some of us 8 will follow-up with in different ways. 9 MS. DAVIS: Okay. Thank you so much. 10 Thanks. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: Next, virtual. 12 Thank you very much. 13 MODERATOR: Melanie Dawkins 14 (phonetics). 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: I couldn't hear the 16 first name. 17 MODERATOR: I think she may have left. 18 LeClair Glover. 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: LeClair Glover? 20 MS. GLOVER: Yes, hello. Can you hear 21 me? 22 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can. Welcome. 23 MS. GLOVER: Okay. Thank you so much 24 for allowing me to testify today. I am a 25 resident of Esplanade Gardens, and I'm here 108 1 today to register my opposition to the 2 proposed redrawing of Central Harlem district 3 lines by moving the Polo Grounds Houses area 4 into the Washington Heights district. 5 Harlem is a culturally rich area that 6 has had to fight to maintain cultural 7 identity. Ms. Davis just spoke about the 8 cultural significance of the Polo Grounds and 9 the Rucker Park area to our community. As a 10 child, I watched them take down that stadium 11 and constructing the current houses that are 12 there. My father used to go to the ball 13 games at that stadium, so it has a rich 14 history. 15 By changing these district lines, you 16 do a great disservice to the Harlem 17 community, robbing us of such a rich 18 historical essence. By moving these lines, 19 you will be changing the priorities of our 20 community by having non-Harlemites in 21 positions within our community's political 22 structure. 23 Moving those lines south will result in 24 further marginalization of the community with 25 people who would be more concerned with 109 1 allowing developers like this, to projects 2 that may not be in the best interest of the 3 community at large. I'm by no means against 4 progress, nor am I against diversity. But I 5 am against the possibility of the priorities 6 of an already marginalized people being 7 minimalized. Our economic political 8 representation, social and civil rights are 9 being threatened with this proposed redrawn. 10 I sincerely ask that our community and 11 boundaries be respected and protected. It's 12 time for our elected officials to stop 13 playing politics using our own community as 14 pawns in a chess game. We're proud people 15 who deserve to have our boundaries respected 16 and protected. I implore you to leave 17 Central Harlem district lines as they are. 18 Thank you so much for the opportunity 19 to speak today. 20 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 21 testimony. 22 Next, virtual. 23 MODERATOR: Dr. Tawanna Gilford. 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Dr. Tawanna Gilford? 25 DR. GILFORD: Hello? 110 1 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes, we can hear you 2 now. 3 DR. GILFORD: I'd like to thank the 4 Commission for organizing the forum. I'd 5 like to wish everyone a good evening. I will 6 not be long. I'd like to just state on the 7 record that I oppose the redrawing of the 8 lines. 9 I'd like to just express and restate 10 the sentiments that was expressed by Joshua 11 Clennon and Earnestine Bell Temple. I also 12 share those same sentiments, and you ask the 13 Commission -- why now? And I'd like for you 14 all to consider that, and ask that you all 15 reconsider redrawing the lines. 16 We are not yet out of the pandemic, a 17 pandemic that has ravished our community. 18 Harlem, we were one of the hardest hit 19 communities in the City, and we are still 20 struggling to maintain our footing as we 21 regain our momentum. And we are trying to 22 rebuild in the best way forward. 23 We are facing up to a 5 percent 24 increase in rent, and we are struggling with 25 how to keep our livelihoods balanced, with 111 1 how to deal with the increase in pricing, 2 inflation, housing, food insecurities and so 3 forth and so on. 4 So, when you talk about redrawing our 5 lines, you are further adding to the 6 instability in this community, and we need to 7 ask -- why now? Can we wait? Is this 8 something that is of utmost urgency that we 9 need to further destabilize this community? 10 We have to think about the mental 11 health needs of this community and ask, will 12 redrawing this line help improve the mental 13 health stability of this community or will it 14 add on to the despair that people are 15 experiencing in this the community? 16 So, we have to think about what are 17 some of the things that we can table. What 18 are some things that we can maybe set aside 19 for the next two years as we stabilize our 20 people in this community, as we bring forth 21 more security, as we bring people to 22 wholeness and promote wellness in this 23 community, as we encourage and empower our 24 local elected officials and help them to gain 25 their footing and enrich them and fortify 112 1 them, so that they can be stronger and better 2 leaders as we move through this pandemic. 3 Because our leaders need to be 4 empowered and if we reshuffle the deck from 5 right up under them right now in this moment, 6 that's going to add more and more chaos to 7 this environmental. So, I implore you, 8 Commission, I beg you from the bottom of my 9 heart, please do not add further instability 10 to this community. 11 This is one less thing that we need to 12 add. Let's think about how do we protect and 13 preserve the emotional wellness and the 14 emotional wealth of this community. Let's 15 not add one more thing to destabilize this 16 community and interrupt the progress that 17 we've made since March of 2020. 18 Let's help build back our community. 19 Let's build back New York City bigger, better 20 and stronger. Let's not further interrupt 21 and break up the whole puzzle that we have. 22 We don't need to break it into 1,000 pieces 23 when we're trying to create a bigger, more 24 beautiful picture. 25 And that's all that I have for now. 113 1 Thank you. 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you very 3 much. 4 With the Commission's permission, just 5 for a point of information, I think, for the 6 public and those who are testifying, that it 7 is part of the Charter mandate that we go 8 through this process every ten-year, and not 9 necessarily with a goal of breaking anything 10 up. It's to take testimony and be fair and 11 factor that in, in our decision-making 12 process. 13 So, not just to you, but I also 14 remember someone who had testified earlier 15 about people may not be aware of what these 16 next steps are. And just for a point of 17 clarification, that it's part of a Charter 18 mandate based on the U.S. census and the 19 changing of the demographics and the 20 population in New York City. 21 So, those are the background reasons of 22 why we are going through this process and 23 then having the five-borough hearings to get 24 that input, and then we'll be going back out 25 again after the first map is shown, and then 114 1 going back out into the community again, so I 2 just wanted to clarify. 3 Yes, Judge. 4 DR. GILFORD: Thank you. Thank you for 5 clarifying that, so then I'll change my 6 language as well. 7 COMMISSIONER GO: It's not just a 8 Charter mandate. It's a mandate over the 9 U.S. Constitution, that the whole principle 10 of "one man, one vote" is embodied in our 11 census that's taken every ten years. It's to 12 make sure that our votes matter in a 13 meaningful way, the same way for all 14 citizens. 15 And that in New York City, we've had a 16 tremendous growth in population over the last 17 ten years, and there's been a shifting of the 18 population. And in order to preserve 19 districts that makes sense to the people of 20 New York, we have to formulate districts that 21 not only preserve communities of interests, 22 but even out the districts so that some 23 districts are not many thousand people more 24 or less than other districts. 25 You know, there's a little leeway. We 115 1 can't be depressed because we have to think 2 of the current, that there are interests that 3 are represented beyond shear numbers. But we 4 do want to make sure that all of our votes 5 make a difference. And the only way we can 6 do that is to do redistricting in accordance 7 with the census, and the City Charter only 8 reflects our commitment to the one person, 9 one vote principle. 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, Judge. 11 Next virtual testimony. 12 MODERATOR: We have Gale Brewer. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Council Member Brewer. 14 MS. BREWER: Thank you very much, 15 Chairman Walcott, and the entire Commission. 16 I am Gale Brewer. I represent the 6th 17 Council District and you probably know it 18 goes to 54th Street and 10th Avenue to above 19 Columbus Circle and then it goes all the way 20 up to 96th Street. 21 And the northern boundary on the 96th 22 Street side, it goes over from there up to 23 108th, 109th Street west of Broadway, that's 24 where it is now. And there's about 168,441 25 people; that was 2010. And now in 2020, as a 116 1 result of the census, there are 181,437, so 2 obviously, it is over. And I believe we 3 could have a maximum of 177,000. 4 As a former borough president, I could 5 handle many people, but I understand that's 6 the max. So, as you know, I was in the 7 Council from 2002 to 2013, six council 8 districts. And at that time, it ran from 9 96th Street to 54th Street, very clean. 96th 10 to 54th; Hudson River to Central Park. I 11 can't remember if Central Park was in it, but 12 it is in the district now, and I think it 13 makes sense to continue to have one person in 14 charge of the park. 15 I want to tell you why 96th Street down 16 to the 50s makes sense as a district. Number 17 one, the Upper West Side is considered to 18 include that area, from West 96th Street to 19 West 59th Street, park to river. 20 Number two, just as an example, two 21 examples -- one is Lincoln Center. Right 22 now, part of Lincoln Center as Jazz at 23 Lincoln Center, the Columbus Circle area is 24 now in the 3rd Council District, where as the 25 entire campus is up in the 60s. It makes 117 1 sense to keep them together. 2 Number two, there is a development in 3 the West 55th Street area called Harborview a 4 NYCHA development, and it is connected by 5 management to the development Amsterdam 6 Houses in West 64th Street. It makes sense 7 to keep them together. 8 We all know that the population in 9 Washington Heights has decreased, and so the 10 council districts in Northern Manhattan have 11 to be shifted southward, so I'm obviously 12 understanding of that. And I would hope that 13 the council district would go from 96th 14 Street all the way down to the 54th or 55th 15 Street, whichever works in terms of the 16 numbers. 17 I also want to just point out how -- 18 something that points out the activism of the 19 West Side. I must admit until I looked at 20 the numbers, I didn't realize. I know that I 21 get called about everything under the sun -- 22 birds flying out the window, somebody is 23 going to call me. 24 But in the 2021 primary election, 25 voters in the 6th Council District voted in 118 1 numbers that were nearly twice the turnout of 2 the highest turnout district in the Bronx. 3 And in Manhattan, in the 6th Council 4 District, they had the highest turnout by 5 11,000 votes. Just to give an example. We 6 had in the 6th Council District, 39,399 7 votes. And the next highest was in 8 District 3 with 28. And in the Bronx, it was 9 like 9,000, 8,000, things like that. So, you 10 can see, it's the most active of the entire 11 city. 12 So, I think that the district they go 13 from West 96th Street to West 55th or 54th 14 Street, Central Park over to the Hudson, 15 obviously, below the Park might be Broadway, 16 makes sense. I, of course, am happy to 17 represent the current district, one that I 18 represented previously or a combination of 19 both. But I understand the maximum number of 20 people, 177,000. 21 I hope I've outlined an area that 22 people who live on the Upper West Side will 23 feel represents their geographic interest. 24 It is -- looks like just an area, but it's 25 very compact with a lot of busy people who 119 1 like strong representation. I'm not sure 2 anybody else wants to represent them, but I 3 am delighted to. 4 Thank you very much, and I look forward 5 to seeing what we come out with in terms of 6 the maps. Thank you. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, Council 8 Member Brewer. 9 Next, virtual. 10 MODERATOR: I think that's all we have 11 for -- checking. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: That is it for the 13 virtual as well as in person. Even though we 14 advertised to 7:00, so we should stay until 15 7:00. And we -- yes, Monsignor, please. 16 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Could we have a 17 clarification? Because Council Member Brewer 18 said something that we have not been 19 operating -- the population variation, she 20 said the highest you could have was 177, but 21 we have been operating, at least, is that you 22 can't have more than 5 percent of the lowest 23 system. She was using 5 percent from the 24 mead. 25 I would like opinion accounts as to 120 1 what are the parameters. 2 SPEAKER: The deviations is from 3 5 percent from the lowest, it's 5 percent 4 from the mead, to 173 and change. It's not 5 always exact numbers. 6 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Okay. Did you 7 tell our mappers that? 8 SPEAKER: Who do you tell? There were 9 the deviation, deviations going from 10 5 percent below that to 5 percent above that, 11 so that our lowest is -- I'll get the figures 12 for you in just a sec. 13 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: That's not what 14 we talked about. 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: We'll clarify. 16 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: We were told if 17 one district was, let's say 4.2 percent 18 below, then no other district could be more 19 than 28 percent. 20 SPEAKER: Yeah, total variation has to 21 be within the 5 percent, correct. So, no 22 district could be 5 percent furthest from 23 where the lowest is. So, yes, you are 24 correct. 25 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Okay. Which is 121 1 different. 2 SPEAKER: Yes. From what she said. 3 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Okay. Okay. 4 So, I think the public may not be aware of 5 that. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. I mean -- 7 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Somebody is 8 educating us on where the council line is 9 because that has tremendous impact in -- if 10 you accommodate some of the testimony, we 11 can't accommodate the other parts of the 12 testimony. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. Duly noted. 14 COMMISSIONER GO: I'd like to add 15 something. 16 CHAIR WALCOTT: Sure, Judge. 17 COMMISSIONER GO: That's also due to 18 the recent State law that Governor Hochul -- 19 SPEAKER: Right, the Charter for 20 which in the state -- 21 CHAIR WALCOTT: 10 percent of 22 committee -- 23 COMMISSIONER GO: It's narrow. And 24 with congressional districts, the U.S. 25 Constitution is power to the T, the variation 122 1 is even smaller. We're talking about a 2 handful of people in congressional districts, 3 the difference is just a little -- which 4 makes it sometimes congressional districts 5 are very large with 70,000. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: You know, the 7 10 percent and 5 percent discussion, I know 8 we had at our first meeting, and I believe 9 Marc raised that. And then we, as you know, 10 had consultation with the Law Department, 11 where it reinforce the 5 percent rule. 12 And I think, again, I hear Monsignor 13 getting the information out and having 14 consistency of information. And a dense city 15 like New York has always embarked on a 16 challenge, so we will find a variety of means 17 to reinforce exactly what it means. 18 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: So, basically 19 the 5 percent, you cannot have any one 20 district that is more than 5 percent 21 different than any other district. So, the 22 medium or the mead is not as low. 23 SPEAKER: It is the start. That is to 24 say that is the amount up or down, 173. But 25 correct, yes. If most of the districts -- 123 1 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Margin set 2 either went up a little or the -- 3 SPEAKER: It affects all the districts. 4 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Okay. 5 SPEAKER: But also I'd like a point of 6 clarification, if the (inaudible) law came 7 in, our Charter system states 10 percent. 8 So, if she was referring to the Charter and 9 not looking at all of the laws from last 10 fall, that might be where her numbers came 11 from. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: I think that also goes 13 to Monsignor's point about just informing 14 people as they move forward -- as we move 15 forward. Because you may have a new, based 16 on the facts of what was in place. And I 17 think our current debate that took place on 18 our first day at the City Planning Office, 19 and what we still have to then reinforce with 20 the public, as well as with us, as far as 21 having that consistency of information. 22 One more? 23 MODERATOR: Yes, we have Michael 24 Beltzer. 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: Michael Beltzer? 124 1 MR. BELTZER: Good evening, 2 Commissioners. Thank you so much for taking 3 the time to really be thoughtful and 4 intentional with what you're doing here. 5 I am here to talk about Council 6 District 18. I believe it is one of the 7 better drawn district in the whole city. And 8 Council District 18 primarily falls within 9 the Southeast Bronx between the Bronx River, 10 the Long Island Sound, Westchester Creek and 11 East Tremont Avenue. This brings together a 12 district that is 98 percent black and brown 13 and that should stay. 14 I think it does a good job of bringing 15 together a lot of core constituencies, 16 especially in the Parkchester, Union Port and 17 Zerega area with the Bengali community, that 18 should not be broken up. And I think, you 19 know, basically, it's a very compact 20 district. It represents, you know, within 21 those borders, the census track is almost 22 exactly the amount of voters that -- people 23 that it takes to have a council district. 24 So, I don't think the boundaries should 25 move, if at all. But if they do, they should 125 1 try to stay within the areas bounded by -- to 2 the west, Bronx River; to the south, Long 3 Island Sound; to the east, Westchester Creek; 4 and to the north, East Tremont Avenue. 5 Thank you. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: And thank you for your 7 testimony. 8 Judge? 9 COMMISSIONER GO: I'd like to clarify a 10 little bit because the numbers on the 11 specific district maps that are on the 12 website are for the current districts based 13 on 2010 census data. So, my research and 14 looking at -- it's a wonderful site, but most 15 people don't know. It's 16 redistrictingandyou.org. So, I would 17 recommend that if you want to get 18 information, type in nyc.redistricting.org. 19 But Council District 18 is very much 20 overpopulated because it has over 181,000 21 people, and that's way above the mead 22 district. So, one way or the other, that 23 district has to be peeled back. And that's 24 why we are having these hearings to find out 25 what's important to the people and where the 126 1 communities have a concern. 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you, Judge. 3 MODERATOR: We have Hasna Happy. 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Hasna Happy? 5 MS. HAPPY: Good evening, everyone. I 6 am calling in regards to the houses on the 7 107th Avenue and 106th Road. There are 21 8 houses that are connected into one sewers 9 line and in private property. Each houses 10 are connected into a narrow pipe on private 11 land, and the sewers lines in my backyard, 12 which is private property. 13 And I don't have any privacy in my 14 backyard. I'm not able to use my backyard 15 because every time there is a rain, all the 16 houses are having backed up. They get 17 flooded, so the owners have to call the 18 private sewers company to come over and 19 clean, and it's happening very, very, 20 frequently. And it's costing the house 21 owners to clean the sewers. 22 Since the houses were built, DEP has 23 been collecting sewer payments of more than 24 one and a half times the water bill since the 25 time. Same time frame, the responsibility of 127 1 cleaning and maintaining sewer backups has 2 fallen on the owners by hiring high cost 3 private companies. 4 When DEP is contacted about the sewer 5 problem, they refuse to do any cleaning. The 6 owners are under the impression that the 7 sewer payments are in the part of maintenance 8 of the sewer system. And due to that, too 9 many owners they want -- they're really fed 10 up. They want to sell their houses and leave 11 their community, and we need help with that. 12 Thank you. 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you. Can you 14 tell the cross streets. I heard one of them 15 say it's 107th Avenue. What is -- 16 MS. HAPPY: It's Ruscoe 107th Avenue 17 and 178th Street. I can give you my address. 18 It's 178 -- 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: No, don't give your 20 address. There's a lot of people listening. 21 But, I have a sense. It's 178th 106th 22 Avenue, 107th Avenue. 23 MS. HAPPY: It's 107th Avenue and 178th 24 Street. 25 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. Thank you. 128 1 MS. HAPPY: There is a -- I know there 2 is a plan to, you know -- about the sewer 3 issues, but our community is not in that map, 4 and we would like it to be in part of the 5 map. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: Okay. Thank you very 7 much for your testimony. 8 MS. HAPPY: Thank you so much. 9 MODERATOR: Chantel Jackson. 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Chantel Jackson? 11 MS. JACKSON: I didn't -- I didn't sign 12 up to speak. Hello? 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm sorry. 14 MS. JACKSON: Yeah, I didn't sign up to 15 speak. I'm actually just tuning in, so I 16 don't know where we are in the process. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Where we are in the 18 process. I mean, this is part of the public 19 hearings that we've been conducting in the 20 boroughs. Tomorrow will be in Staten Island. 21 And this is around proposed district lines 22 for the City Council. 23 And as indicated by several of the 24 commissioners, it's part of not just our 25 Charter responsibility, but based on 129 1 Constitution and based on the census and the 2 reflection of the data from the census on the 3 population shifts that are taking place in 4 New York City. 5 So, we're getting input from the public 6 as far as their feelings about that. 7 MS. JACKSON: Oh, I'm fully aware. I'm 8 the Assembly member for the 79th Assembly 9 District, so I'm -- 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm sorry. My apol -- 11 MS. JACKSON: I, unfortunately, know 12 how redistricting works because -- 13 CHAIR WALCOTT: I'm going to apologize 14 to you. I'm so sorry. 15 MS. JACKSON: -- of all that we've been 16 through. But I live in the 16th, which my 17 City Council member is Althea Stevens. And I 18 would love to see our district stay as close 19 to the same as possible, maintaining the 20 Concourse Village area. 21 And our Senate lines, one of the 22 Concourse Village complex was taken out and 23 split between two senators. I would hate to 24 see that happen with this development, 25 Concourse Village, when it comes to our City 130 1 Council lines. 2 So, I think that will be my only 3 feedback as of right now. 4 CHAIR WALCOTT: Well, thank you very 5 much. 6 And as indicated, tomorrow will be in 7 Staten Island. So, again, the public will 8 have an opportunity again to testify. And 9 thank you very much Assemblywoman. 10 Is there another virtual? 11 (No response). 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: That's it. Okay. So, 13 we'll wait until 7:00. 14 And just as a reminder that testimony 15 can be submitted to: 16 publictestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov or you 17 can call the Commission at (212)676-3090. 18 And tomorrow we'll be at Staten Island, 19 Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace and again 20 from 4:00 to 7:00. 21 Commissioners, anything? 22 Judge, I see you. 23 COMMISSIONER GO: Hi. I thank the 24 people for coming and testifying, online as 25 well as here. And we really do listen to 131 1 your -- what you proposed. However, it would 2 really be helpful for those of you who don't 3 give specific dimensions or specific borders 4 for the districts you're talking about, to 5 try to put that into either a map or just a 6 written description, so that we can be very 7 sure of what you're talking about. It never 8 hurts to be more specific, so we understand 9 and also that we reach the same understanding 10 of what you're trying to say. 11 CHAIR WALCOTT: And also, what I would 12 like to do is to see if our Bronx members, 13 since we're here in the Bronx, would like to 14 say a couple words as well. 15 Commissioner Sorin. 16 COMMISSIONER SORIN: Thank you so much 17 for that. 18 And I agree totally. I think what I'm 19 hearing tonight, other than some of our 20 elected officials, is a need for a better 21 understanding as to what we're doing. A lot 22 of people are addressing the old lines, and I 23 don't -- I'm kind of like in the middle of 24 understanding how to get the message across 25 properly to the constituents in the Bronx, 132 1 but we'll work through this. 2 I have one question. And as a 3 Commission, you would think I'd know this. 4 Once the draft lines are done, do we 5 get to come back out and have this 6 conversation -- 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes. 8 COMMISSIONER SORIN: -- with the 9 public? 10 CHAIR WALCOTT: Yes. 11 COMMISSIONER SORIN: So, that will give 12 us an opportunity to better explain, maybe 13 through the community boards. I just -- I 14 feel like some people understand it. But to 15 your point, Judge, they're also not being 16 specific. It's just a matter of wanting to 17 keep what's there, but also we need to look 18 at the bigger picture. 19 And I'm hoping that I could work 20 alongside everybody, so that the results are 21 exactly what the Bronx needs and that's 22 always my priority. 23 CHAIR WALCOTT: So, in response to your 24 question and your point, as our Executive 25 Director likes to call this, "1.0". 133 1 COMMISSIONER SORIN: Yes. 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: So, I think this is the 3 first step in a multi-step process. And I 4 think after we come out of this step, people 5 will have something more concrete in front of 6 them to react to. And I think that we'll 7 definitely hear from individuals who go -- 8 you didn't factor in this or factor in that. 9 I guess you could -- I think that will 10 be the next phase as part of our 11 responsibility to reconvene again and go into 12 all five boroughs. As you know, we decided 13 to stretch out the public hearing at the 14 front end, and that way we had, instead of 15 the one, we had, seems to be the thought, and 16 that way we got more input. 17 So, now they will have something more 18 concrete, and that concreteness will take 19 place based on the interpretation from the 20 Law Department on the 15th of July. And so, 21 we'll be coming back formerly with a report 22 to the City as far as the 1.0 recommendation 23 of -- 24 COMMISSIONER SORIN: I think the best 25 thing we did was holding these meetings in 134 1 all the boroughs. Because in listening, we 2 also have so many people who are joining the 3 conversation today that were from outer 4 boroughs. And I think that's a totally 5 positive message that is getting out there. 6 And I'd love to see more participation 7 within the borough moving forward to sharing 8 out the education and helping them guide 9 there. 10 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Could somebody 11 just read -- go through the process. And I 12 know this is the first, then it goes to the 13 City Council. Would you just go through what 14 the process is. 15 SPEAKER: Sure. After the first map 16 has been delivered, they're going to have -- 17 so, we have the first round of public 18 hearings now. We're going to come out with 19 the first draft map. All of this being set 20 and we're going to be having another 21 five-borough hearings, so I -- 22 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: I know I'm 23 being technical. 24 SPEAKER: Okay. 25 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: The drafts are 135 1 not to anybody, they are to the public? 2 SPEAKER: Correct. They are published 3 for the public's inspection and feedback. 4 And then after those series of 5 hearings, then that plan, once it's been 6 adjusted again for the public hearings, 7 that's the second draft. That's the one 8 (inaudible). 9 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Is there a 10 requirement as to what that first draft is 11 called? 12 SPEAKER: Called? I'm not clear 13 about -- 14 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Well, in terms 15 of communication -- 16 SPEAKER: Yeah. 17 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: I think calling 18 it a draft would be very reassuring for the 19 public. 20 SPEAKER: It's called a draft, the 21 first draft. 22 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Okay. Either 23 preliminary draft or first draft, just to -- 24 CHAIR WALCOTT: Let people know it's a 25 draft. 136 1 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Yeah, exactly. 2 CHAIR WALCOTT: All right. Let me go 3 to Commissioner Collado. 4 COMMISSIONER COLLADO: Yeah, certainly 5 agree with me fellow Commissioner Sorin. And 6 on that note, about the information to the 7 public, I would just like to encourage the 8 public to follow us on social media and check 9 out our website and find more information 10 about future hearing dates as well. 11 I'm happy to be home. Thank you for -- 12 the other Commissioners as well for making 13 their way out to the Bronx. 14 CHAIR WALCOTT: And just to follow up 15 and bring it to a closing. I think part of 16 what you and we hear right now is something 17 that's brand-new as far as this being 18 undertaken for this period of time. And so, 19 I think again, it's so important to get the 20 information out. To get the information out 21 in a consistent manner, because that's part 22 of the point that's being raised, as well as 23 making sure that the public has access to the 24 information in a variety of different ways. 25 So, that way whether it's through the 137 1 primer as we did through the draft point and 2 having that out and then again we will have 3 the responsibility of going back into the 4 public, all five boroughs to hold hearings 5 again, get more input. 6 And again, just as a primer, anyone has 7 an opportunity to testify, including elected 8 officials. And so, elected officials have 9 the ability as -- and tonight and today to 10 testify directly, and then there will be a 11 conversation. And there are a number of 12 organizing group as well as legal entities 13 that are working with different communities 14 and training communities. 15 And we've heard a lot of them and 16 they're always working trying to develop a 17 unity map as well. So, there's a variety of 18 stakeholders that are involved in trying to 19 broaden their own net. As far as the sharing 20 of the information, I think that's all part 21 of what's been going on in a very compressed 22 timer on top of that. 23 And so, we don't have -- we, the 24 Commission, don't have the flexibility to 25 just go on and on and on. We have the 138 1 ability to listen, get to the public and then 2 meet very specific time frames. Thus, the 3 July 15th date for the first draft. 4 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Can I say one 5 thing? I do think somehow in communication, 6 the Judge's point needs to be titled. 7 Because almost all of -- maybe I didn't pay 8 attention, but I didn't hear any -- I didn't 9 hear much testimony -- many of us talking 10 about one person, one vote. 11 I heard a lot about communities of 12 interest. I heard a lot about neighborhoods. 13 And as the Judge said, with certain 14 flexibility, but the first constraint is one 15 person, one vote. So, anybody who got to 16 say -- well, just keep it the same. Unless 17 they're right and the margin is not. 18 So, I do think the lead communication 19 has to be that primary constraint is trying 20 to get everybody to have people vote and then 21 all of the others. Because we didn't -- 22 unless I didn't -- I didn't hear that. 23 COMMISSIONER SORIN: I didn't either, 24 but I want to believe or I believe that the 25 issues that happened at the state level -- 139 1 COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN: Right. 2 COMMISSIONER SORIN: -- sort of put the 3 fear in everybody about this particular 4 thing. So, there are people just assume the 5 changes will happen and they're fearful, 6 right? So, fear of the unknown. 7 But I think, to your point, it's a 8 great way to address it. And to support my 9 colleague on the other end from the Bronx. 10 Thank you, Commissioners, for coming out to 11 our borough. 12 CHAIR WALCOTT: And we have one more 13 person for today. Yes, go ahead, virtual. 14 MODERATOR: We have Ruth McDaniels. 15 CHAIR WALCOTT: Say that again. 16 MODERATOR: Ruth McDaniels. 17 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ruth McDaniels? 18 (No response). 19 CHAIR WALCOTT: Ms. McDaniels? 20 MS. MCDANIELS: Yes, hello. How are 21 you. Thank you for this opportunity to give 22 testimony to District 9, the Village of 23 Harlem. 24 I am a long-term resident, and I am 25 really opposed to redistricting at this point 140 1 and going forward as well. I don't see the 2 reason why we would have to even consider 3 redistricting and losing the Polo Grounds, a 4 staple of the Harlem community with Rucker 5 Park and it being an entity that definitely 6 advise the people of that community and put 7 them with Washington Heights. Why would that 8 even be a consideration? 9 Washington Heights, it's not even on 10 that line. The D train stops at 145th Street 11 and then veers off. And the A line goes up 12 to Washington Heights. Why would they even 13 consider redistricting that and taking that 14 intricate part of your community and putting 15 it with another section and then 16 incorporating all the way down to 72nd 17 Street? 18 With that in place, we would lose the 19 culture of the community. It seems as if at 20 every step, the system is hellbent on trying 21 to destroy the Village of Harlem and its 22 culture. Its culture that's been there. The 23 culture that people travel from Europe and 24 all over to come see. Why is this? Why are 25 we still having this discussion? 141 1 I know it comes up every few years, but 2 at some point in time, they should know that 3 when you have a community with that rich a 4 history, it is imperative that it stays in 5 place. 6 CHAIR WALCOTT: So, let me first thank 7 you for your testimony. And two, I think 8 just going back to the conversation that was 9 held prior. 10 There are no decisions that have been 11 reached at all at this point. This is part 12 of the hearing process. And so, whatever 13 information out there like something is a 14 given, that is not the case at all. We are 15 just hearing their recommendations and 16 suggestions, and we've heard what you and 17 others had to say as well. 18 So, I just want to be very clear about 19 that part of it. This is just an input 20 process right now. And the output process, 21 the first step of the output will take place 22 on the 15th of August. 23 Commissioner. 24 COMMISSIONER UDDIN: Yes, good evening 25 to you all. Thank you, Mr. Chair. 142 1 As the Commissioners have mentioned, 2 the number one rule is the important part. 3 We are here because 700,000 people has 4 increased in the City of New York. We are 5 accommodating in all these 51 districts as it 6 is. Social media, when you talk, according 7 to my understanding and my knowledge, these 8 people do not have a Twitter account, they do 9 not have Facebook. They don't have the 10 WhatsApp. 11 What they have is the local 12 community-based newspapers. I represent, in 13 fact, the word Bangladesh was mentioned a few 14 times. I'm a Bangladeshi, one thing. There 15 are 24 local newspaper in our community in 16 five boroughs. Every Friday they come out 17 and they're distributed in the mosque free, 18 all of them are. By the time the day is 19 over, all issues are gone because people get 20 their information from those scripts. 21 We have seven electronic media, which 22 is called television now, but I think if we 23 can suggest -- or is it possible that we can 24 send some aid to those local newspaper? It's 25 very cheap because in one place dailies cost 143 1 30,000, but it will cost you $300 an issue. 2 I don't know if the Chair could 3 consider such an opportunity to bring more 4 community involvement. And these are the 5 people we want to serve. 6 Thank you. 7 CHAIR WALCOTT: Thank you for the 8 suggestion. While I can't comment on budget 9 right now, but I do reinforce your comment 10 about penetrating the community and 11 communities through their local papers, so 12 we're glad to explore that. I'm a big 13 believer in making sure we deal with the 14 maximum opportunity for community input and 15 also information (inaudible). 16 Thank you very much. And Staten Island 17 tomorrow. Staten Island, Borough Hall, Board 18 of 7, look forward to seeing you. 19 And thank you to the public for coming 20 out and for those who testified. And also to 21 the Commission members for attending. Very 22 engaging conversation and clarifying points 23 as well, so thank you. 24 (TIME NOTED: 7:01 p.m.) 25 144 1 C E R T I F I C A T E 2 3 STATE OF NEW YORK) 4 :SS 5 COUNTY OF QUEENS) 6 7 I, Sabrina Brown Stewart, a shorthand 8 reporter within and for the State of New York, do 9 hereby certify that the within is a true and 10 accurate transcript of the statement taken on 11 July 6, 2022. 12 I further certify that I am not related to 13 any of the parties to this action by blood or by 14 marriage, and that I am in no way interested in the 15 outcome of this matter. 16 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my 17 hand this 22nd day of August 2022. 18 19 20 _signature_ 21 22 23 24 25