Thread by @bensolis1

.@RedistrictingMI is back and one of the first commenters noted that the sheer number of maps put forward was untenable and that, in his opinion, each one is worse than the last. Said partisan fairness is a near-zero efficiency gap and is the best metric to use.

https://twitter.com/bensolis1/status/1450875019018518532

The same commenter added, "without a low efficiency gap, we don't have a democracy." The commenter following this one said that while these maps weren't intentional GOP gerrymanders, they only do slightly better on partisan fairness compared to the 2011 reapportionment.

Yet another commenter said that through bad VRA advice, the commission has created Detroit districts that Black residents who voted for Prop 2 could have never imagined, and that was not a compliment. He pointed to the AFL-CIO maps as those that should rise to the top.

Bit of a wildcard: A Latina woman said that she was actually quite comfortable with the Detroit districts on each map as drawn because they keep the Hispanic/Latino community together. So said another Latina woman. Both asked to not change any of the districts. @RedistrictingMI

Here's one for those opposed to the whole process in general: One woman said that this seems like a "snake and takeover" of Black power in Detroit and that the entire process as it is now crafted should be "killed." She was speaking about the Prop 2 process, not the comms, FYI.

Another striking comment. Man just said makeup of the commission has only two Black individuals (Kellom/Curry) and only one other person of color, Eid. He said that even if they vote in their favor and the others do not, they are outnumbered. ...

... That, he said, was the struggle for Black voters and their share of representation in elected statewide office, illustrating why Black Detroit vote strength should be protected and preserved.

Didn't expect to hear this tonight. A commenter who worked with @NotPoliticians said he believed they "goofed" by giving @RedistrictingMI such complex criteria to meet and balance, and that the endgame either way should be politically fair maps.

While on break, I want to say thanks to everyone following along tonight & to please also follow my brethren/sistren-in-arms, @clarajanehen @LaurenMGibbons & @SergioMarBel. I think its funny when people tag us all together b/c we've actually grown quite tight through this process

Interesting contrast going on here with the Latin/Hispanic community in Detroit. Several said they were comfortable with the maps as drawn, but some Latina woman spoke out and said they were wholly dissatisfied as the community was split between districts in SW Detroit.

Here's another one. A woman said that the Latin community of interest districts in the U.S. House and state Senate maps are fine, but the state House maps bust the COI. She said that COI should have a northern border at Tireman Ave and not beyond...

...with Ecorse, Lincoln Park and Melvindale drawn in as there is a tight-knit Latin/Hispanic community Downriver. Another woman following her agreed that she liked the U.S. House and Senate maps for the same reasons.

Here's the Detroit Latin/Hispanic COI being referenced. An aside: I really wish they would have had a robust COI discussion earlier to ferret out which ones were legit/not legit and with maps like these. All we saw were heat maps of frequently mentioned COIs via public comment.

In about five minutes, we will hit the 200th in-person public comment at this meeting. While people are pretty upset about these maps, commenters have certainly taken advantage of the process and have raised their voices/concerns en masse. @RedistrictingMI

Among other things, Detroit fixture Sam Riddel said the commission has "manifested" the highest levels of "White supremacy" and Black disenfranchisement with the creation of "these jive ass maps." Safe to say he's not happy with them.

Signing off now to file for tonight's @GongwerMichigan Report. I'll be on a short vacation through the week so be sure to follow us on the main account for any updates from additional hearings this week. @RedistrictingMI