By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Baltimore County Council introduced legislation, Bill 55-25, for a new redistricting plan during its legislative session on Aug. 4. The draft map includes two majority-Black districts encompassing the Randallstown and Woodlawn areas and unites the Essex, Middle River and waterfront communities into one district.
The impetus to alter the current map is partly the significant changes to Baltimore’s county population.
“Our demographics have changed. We are a more diverse county than ever. Our population has more than tripled since 1956,” said Michael P. Ertel, chair of the Baltimore County Council. “We recognized that expanding the council would be difficult. We also realized that it was overdue and a necessary and welcome step to keep moving the county forward in the right direction.”
The proposal comes after Baltimore County residents voted to increase the size of the county council from seven to nine seats in a ballot question last November. Subsequently, a redistricting commission was formed to recommend legislation that would revise the districts to ensure they are compact, connected and population-balanced, while respecting local geography and community boundaries.
However, the map put forward by the council differs from that of the redistricting commission’s. Referred to as the 2-2-5 map, the proposal from the commission called for two majority-Black districts on the west side of the county and two majority-minority, or BIPOC, districts— one on the east side and one on the west.
It also fractured the Woodlawn community into three different districts, which sparked public outrage. Ertel noted that the redistricting commission may have underestimated how complex the undertaking would be, but he said they still deserved credit and respect for their work.
“In creating the BIPOC districts on the west side, the commission’s map reduced the voting age populations of the majority-Black districts to relatively slim majorities. In addition, both BIPOC districts split up communities in both Woodlawn on the west side and in Essex and Middle River on the East side,” said Ertel. “We were not willing to sacrifice communities, as well as jeopardize the voting power of strong, established majority-African American districts in order to create BIPOC districts that look gerrymandered. We were not convinced it would actually result in better opportunities for minority candidates.”
The Baltimore County Council will hold two public hearings on the proposed redistricting bill on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 at the Baltimore County Historic Courthouse. The public can also submit written testimony to the county council via email at countycouncil@baltimorecountymd.gov.
The final vote on the new map is set for Sept. 15, giving the council ample time to meet its Oct. 1 deadline for redistricting.
“We have a map that’s being put forth, however, we’re not going to vote on it until next month. Feel free to continue to reach out if you have any questions or recommendations,” said Councilman Julian E. Jones (D-District 4). “We look forward to hearing from you.”
Great Job Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
