#NCGA #Redistricting committee public comment happening now.
1st speaker addresses need to ensure Black and minority voters have opportunity to elect representatives of choice
1st speaker addresses need to ensure Black and minority voters have opportunity to elect representatives of choice
She directly addresses lawmakers false assertions about the case overturning #NCGA districts for racial gerrymandering “Covington”
Speaker correctly explains that Federal courts have NOT ruled that NC does not have racially polarized voting.
Speaker addresses how proposed #NCGA voting district s wil impact voters in Orange & Chatham county
Just a note that I am impressed by the detailed comments by the public - people have spent a lot of time learning about this complicated topic and looking at proposed maps.
There have been several comments about this #NCGA House district that adds part of deeply Republican Randolph County to left-leaning Chatham County & its possible impact on @NCHDLeader.
(I *believe* I have the correct snapshot of proposed NC House map; this is draft HBK-11)
ncleg.gov/documentsites/…
ncleg.gov/documentsites/…
Speaker (a @DavidsonAlums !) asks for bilingual #redistricting hearings to be inclusive of over the over 1 million Spanish-speaking North Carolinians.
Speaker says process is confusing and designed to discourage public participation.
She address concerns about the exclusion of racial data; that Black voters will be disadvantaged and Black incumbents are being targeted.
She address concerns about the exclusion of racial data; that Black voters will be disadvantaged and Black incumbents are being targeted.
Speaker says maps should be redrawn with a view toward racial equity & should encourage participation.
Speaker addresses NC's new congressional district & says new district should not be based on Tim Moore's county. Says new district should be added where there is under-representation & ensure minority voters have opportunity.
Laurel Volker of Wake County says we have had not had enough notice and time to evaluate draft #NCGA House & Senate maps.
She says they have created a false sense of urgency so we don't have enough time. NC doesn't have to hold primary in March, we've had May primaries in past
She says they have created a false sense of urgency so we don't have enough time. NC doesn't have to hold primary in March, we've had May primaries in past
Speaker notes that the draft #NCGA NC House & NC Senate #redistricting maps might not even be the ones they are working on, there could be more maps they are drafting now.
At least two speakers have addressed a desire to have a Congressional district that keeps NC's Sandhills counties together so that they have a representative in congress. This region generally included Ft. Bragg in Cumberland.
Several speakers address excessive splitting of NC's most populous counties, Mecklenburg & Wake, which both also have high % of minority voters.
Speaker says she had to leave work 4 hours early and drive hours to get to make a comment.
She says NC lawmakers assertion that they are not using partisan or racial data is a "complete farce" - it's obvious they know voting & racial data of different areas.
She says NC lawmakers assertion that they are not using partisan or racial data is a "complete farce" - it's obvious they know voting & racial data of different areas.
Speaker in Mecklenburg speaks to the #NCGA's adoption of criteria that purports to ignore race & partisan data & notes that they are using addresses of incumbents so seems more focused is on politicians than voters.
I would note that I am paraphrasing some of these comments. This hearing is being live-streamed & videos *should* be archived, so see the video for the word-for-word comments.
Speaker says proposed maps would reduce the number of minority and women representatives in the #NCGA.
Another speaker thanks the lawmakers who are wearing face masks (many are not).
Another speaker thanks the lawmakers who are wearing face masks (many are not).
Speaker has son with him, says his mom & grandma are at work this afternoon "like most people." Says that the #NCGA is making his job harder by making it difficult to participate in process.
Says people want representation, reps. who know their community & economic interests.
Says people want representation, reps. who know their community & economic interests.
Speaker notes that she had trouble downloading the draft maps in order to evaluate them & wanted more time to review NC House & NC Senate voting maps.
Joe McCarthy (NOT that Joe McCarthy) from Chatham County says he is a Republican & thinks #gerrymandering is inherently dishonest. He would like to see some kind of different redistricting process so neither party has control over process.
He is correct that there has been a long history of each political party #gerrymandering in North Carolina.
Gerrymandering has been an issue in NC since about the 1880s
Gerrymandering has been an issue in NC since about the 1880s
Speaker from Hispanics of the South, a conservative group to encourage Hispanic political participation; says Hispanic population is fastest growing group in NC. He criticizes Eric Holder & says his group doesn't speak for him.
Ron Osborn from Alamance County says he has been a Dem and has been a Republican. He says he wants representative of rural areas like his NOT to be paired with urban areas. He wants a rep who understands his community.
Everyone clapped for the farmer from Alamance County & NCGA committee chairs got MAD & banged gavel & said no reactions. (Audience has not been clapping or cheering otherwise)
Speaker addresses the challenges of finding maps on the NCLeg.gov website if you don't know where to look, and how hard it is for North Carolinians to find & evaluate all the draft maps.
Dr. Sandra Deagan - native born North Carolina from Chatham County. She also says that Chatham County should not be grouped with Randolph County b/c it would dilute political power of people in Chatham. Says it violates 1 person 1 vote if not all votes have power.
James, but you can call me Jim, former Hoke County Sheriff says he asks for more transparency & speaks to keeping Sandhills counties together.
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