Comment

Comment by Bill Lewis on September 29, 2011 at 7:44am

If you will not be able to attend any of the public hearings, please email your letter in Support of Logical and Compact Districts to the AACC at ArgyleACC@joimail.com so that we can add it to the public record. Please Include Name and Address. 2011-0554 ORD to Adopt & Enact Reapportionmt Plan re Jax City Council Dists & Residence Areas & Designating the Duval County School Bd Dists following the 2010 Census of the City as Required by Secs 5.02 (Reapportionmt of Council Districts and Residence Areas) & 13.03 (Apportionmt of School Bd Dists), City Charter; Amend Charter to Attach New Boundary Descriptions & Designate the 7 School Bd Dists. (Sidman) (Reapportionment Comm) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/13/11

Comment by CJ on September 29, 2011 at 7:26am

CM Jones got up Tuesday during the budget meeting and called Schellenbergs map "garbage", more than a few times.

The nerve of this man representing the community in anyway is a disgrace! His ignorance and bias knows no bounds.

 

 

Comment by Bill Lewis on September 29, 2011 at 6:56am

Here is the link to the Minutes of the September 22nd, 2011 City Council Redistricting Workshop

http://apps2.coj.net/City_Council_Public_Notices_Repository/2011092...

and the Video

http://media.coj.net/City_Council/Reapportionment%209-22-11.wmv

Here is the link to the Jax City Council Reapportionment "GERRYMANDERING" Committee website http://www.coj.net/City-Council/Council-Committees,-Boards---Commis...

Matt Schellenberg proposal: Mr. Schellenberg read the list of criteria adopted by the Redistricting Committee at the beginning of its work which included compactness, contiguity, minimizing river crossings (at least to start), and preserving communities of interest.  He also noted the common themes raised by the public at the four public hearings, including keeping the Argyle area together in one district and unifying the Durkeeville area in one district. He believes the proposed map labeled EDITS – Compact w/ Party 9/22/11 (Schellenberg plan) meets the original criteria and incorporates the changes the public requested in the public hearings.  Council Member Lumb indicated his approval of the plan.  Council Member Jones stated that the proposal favors compactness over representation of the minority community of interest and indicated his opposition. Council Member Lee stated that the speakers at the public hearings held thus far did not represent the full range of opinions she hears in the community and indicated her opposition to the plan.

Comment by Bill Lewis on September 29, 2011 at 6:36am

I attended the September 22nd, 2011 City Council Redistricting Workshop when CM Matt Schellenberg Presented the ONLY Logical and Compact Jacksonville City Council Redistricting Map.  I have uploaded it the Argyle Area Civic Council's Public DropBox Folder ( hold <CTRL><SHIFT><Minus> to view Properly )

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/43524045/2011%20Redistricting/RP_0922_Revis...

Tue 9/27/2011 4:02 PM

Mr. Lewis,

CM Schellenberg requested that I send you his map.  We finally received a PDF version yesterday evening.

Thank you,

Audrey Braman
Executive Council Assistant
The Honorable Matt Schellenberg
Council Member / District 6
(904) 630-1388
ABraman@COJ.net

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on September 28, 2011 at 7:24pm

Thanks Mike for posting the info on the redistricting.  I thought it applied to the state for all redistricting....oh well.  Too bad cause Matt's is the best plan and would take us away from dividing the city up based on race and would take the focus off that and maybe put it where it should be...........on community issues like area schools and other important issues, but I guess a good plan will get trumpted!

Comment by John Ray on September 28, 2011 at 7:09pm

East side - I've seen worse.  West side - that's what I was talking about.  Choose yer battles, west side, even north west quadrant looks toughest.  That's all for me, I live in Clay County.  Their 5 daily garbage pickup zones make a lot more sense than their county election district maps.

Comment by John H. Libby on September 28, 2011 at 6:54pm

Great post Mike! Don't get discouraged by Mike's or my post.  There has been a small group that has been very active in fighting to get a better plan out of the City Council.  They have made a real difference in the process.  Please attend tomorrow night's meeting if you can and let your voice be heard.  It does make a difference.  "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Comment by Michael "Mike" Yost on September 28, 2011 at 6:15pm

The Fair District Amendments 5 And 6 applied ONLY to State Legislative Districts and Congressional Districts in redistricting. There is no provision of law that affects any City Council, County Commission, School Board or Court Districts. Those would have to be passed by each entity where the District Boundaries are drawn and by the Authority who actually draws the maps.

 

These current maps proposed are going to meet a lot of scrutiny. There cannot be "retrogression" in TRUE minority-majority Districts in Single Member District plans. However, IF population has shrunk the current District boundaries, then there COULD be a minority access district drawn where the minority could form coalitions to elect candidates of their choice. See the SCOTUS Bartlett v. Strickland ruling. Without that taken into account, there COULD be Section 2 or 5 of the Voting Rights Act lawsuits brought in the State and possible Supreme Court of the U.S.

 

Even though you might NOT like this map, and I have studied EXTENSIVELY the laws, SCOTUS and other rulings, it is probably as close as you are going to get to one that WOULD pass legal challenges. I saw Matt S's map. It WAS a good one. However it probably would have been thrown out in a Court challenge. There was retrogression of 1 Minority-Majority District and that WOULD be a winnable case. Please see the Thornburg v. Gingles ruling of the SCOTUS that set the initial standards for VRA violations.

 

Redistricting is NEVER easy and NEVER going to make 100% of everyone happy. Sadly, it is just one of those things we just have to EXPRESS our opinions with, contact our representatives, and HOPE they do the right thing knowing we CAN challenge them in the Courts.

Comment by John H. Libby on September 28, 2011 at 4:28pm

The City's General Council has stated that Fair Districts does not apply to the City Council.  The two amendments approved last year were specific to the Congressional lines and to the State Senate and House lines.  They contained no mention of County Commission, School Board or City Council redistricting.  I have attended every public hearing held by the City Council and have spoken at all of them. 

Matt's plan, which was prepared by the Planning Department is an excellent plan.  The districts are compact, equal in population and does not take into account where any Councilman or School Board member lives.  So the political reality is there was no second for his plan in the Rules Committee meeting and the plan may have died there.  Second, the plan has three minority majority districts, while the city has had four for the last two decades. To decrease this number is what is called retrogression.  This would in all likelihood result in a lawsuit.

The proposed plan which you can view using the link above will probably result in litigation as well.  If there is a lawsuit, the cost to the city will approach a million dollars or more.  If the City loses the suit they have to pay for the plaintiff's legal fees as well.  This would result in a total legal bill of at least a couple of million dollars.  And who would pay?  You and me, the taxpayers.

While Matt's plan is the superior plan, it does not have the political support on the Council for passage.  The plan which the Council will consider tomorrow night has enough votes for adoption at the next Council meeting.  But, if you can, please show up at City Hall tomorrow night and let your opinion be heard.  Many of our fellow citizens have done that and as a result, this plan is much better than the previous plans the Council was considering.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. 

Comment by Cindy Falco- Di Corrado on September 28, 2011 at 4:24pm

I have prior commitment but would like to know when the next meeting is held.

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