The bi-partisan commission studying Suffolk County Legislature redistricting will hold a public hearing here on June 23 so Shelter Islanders can provide input.
The effort, triggered by the release of 2020 Census data, follows a vetoed plan by the outgoing Democratic majority in December to set a new map.
The commission (consisting of four Democrats and four Republicans) is holding 10 hearings; one in each of the county’s towns. The Shelter Island hearing takes place in Town Hall on Thursday, June 23 at 2 PM (see details for how to register below).
The goal is to get feedback on what the residents want in the new Legislative map. The commission has until August 1 to establish the new boundaries for the Legislature’s 18 districts.
Once the map is drawn up, there will be two additional public hearings (in the Happague Legislative Building on July 13 at 6 PM, and the Riverhead Legislative Building on July 27 at 6 PM) before the commission votes on July 30 to adopt.
Among the goals enumerated by the Legislature: ensure the map is fair, that each resident is adequately represented, and that four minority-majority districts are identified (up from the current two). The inclusion of additional minority-majority districts reflects the growth of minority populations, particularly in western Suffolk County, as indicated by the 2020 Census.
Follow this link to the resolution that outlines the goals of the program.
Members of the Commission
The county charter requires that half the commission members are former judges. Commissioners selected by Republicans are:
- Belinda Groneman, an aide Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley)
- Grant Lally, an attorney and founding chairman of the Long Island chapter of The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy
- The Hon. Howard Bergson, a former Suffolk County District Court judge
- The Hon. Emily Pines, a former Suffolk County Supreme Court justice
Those selected by Democrats are:
- Nancy Marr, president of the League of Women Voters of Brookhaven, who served on the previous Suffolk reapportionment commission
- Jamir Couch, of the Islip NAACP
- The Hon. Adam Halpern, former Suffolk District Court judge
- The Hon. John C. Bivona, Suffolk County Supreme Court justice
What does redistricting entail?
This map above shows the current Legislative Districts. When redistricting occurs, state law requires that:
- Districts are as nearly equal in population as is practicable, providing for a 3% margin of error
- Districts are not drawn to favor or disfavor incumbents or any particular party or candidate
- Districts are kept within towns, natural boundaries, and major roadways wherever possible
During their December redistricting effort, Democrats say they attempted to draw lines representing population changes while making districts more compact and less gerrymandered.
Republican legislators sued to say that the process failed to comport with the county charter. County Executive Steve Bellone vetoed his party’s plan, saying he didn’t believe it would survive legal challenges.
Instead, the Legislature agreed to extend mapping deadlines. But, if the commission fails to come up with new boundaries, the Republicans, who have a majority in the Legislature, may propose their own map.
How to address the commission
Members of the public may address the commission during the hearings or at any time in writing. You must register in advance if you choose to speak at a public hearing.
To register, contact [email protected], legislative aide to Presiding Officer Kevin McCafferty (R-Lindenhurst). Provide your name, address, and the public hearing you plan to attend.
For the Shelter Island hearing, you can also contact Judy Mehringer, secretary to the Supervisor, at [email protected].
Once registered, you may speak for no more than three minutes. You may relinquish your time to another registered speaker, but no individual may speak for more than six minutes.
To submit comments in writing, email [email protected] or send them by regular mail to the attention of the Clerk’s Office, Suffolk County Legislature, PO Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788. The deadline for written comments is June 29.
