Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in a joint statement on Wednesday said, “The statutory deadline for the Independent Redistricting Commission to submit congressional and state legislative maps has passed. As per the New York State Constitution, it becomes the Legislature’s responsibility to consider fair maps that ensure all New Yorkers have equitable representation in their government. That is a duty we take very seriously. Given the expedited nature of the political calendar, we fully expect the Senate and Assembly to consider new fair maps in a timely manner. The plan is to vote on these maps next week.”

Spectrum News reports Democrats hold supermajority control of both the state Senate and Assembly, giving them an advantage in the redistricting process. Earlier this month, lawmakers voted to reject a set of competing maps drawn by Democratic and Republican-leaning members of the commission.

The commission itself was devised as a “reform” by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo through a constitutional amendment meant to remove the process from the state Legislature. Critics have long argued elected officials have used redistricting as a way to ensure incumbents are re-elected and parties in power can maximize their advantage by, in essence, choosing their voters.

Redistricting this year comes also as Democrats are facing an uphill battle to retain control of the House of Representatives. With the margins narrow, Democratic victories in key House districts in New York could potentially make a difference in who ultimately wins majority control of the chamber.

New York is expected to lose one seat in the House of Representatives due to its stagnant population growth compared to the rest of the nation.

Senate Democrats argue the 63rd seat was created solely for political purposes. They point to its placement in upstate New York as evidence that the extra seat was partisan, saying upstate is already mathematically overrepresented in the Senate so if an additional seat was created, it would logically be located in the more democratically favored New York City area.

However, the court case was not an argument of purpose, but of methods. Senate Democrats challenged the way Republicans used constitutional formulas to determine the necessary number of Senate seats. Democrats argued by combining two different accepted seat-counting methods, Senate Republicans were in violation of the law. Last week the court, however, gave the Legislature leeway in methodology and ruled in favor of the reapportionment plan and, as a result, the establishment of the 63rd district.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement last week through the justice department saying it does not interpose any objections to the establishment of a 63rd district or any other parts of the reapportionment plan approved last month by lawmakers and the Governor.  The letter goes on to note that the AG’s failure to object in no way precludes civil action against the expansion plan. Last week, several plaintiffs filed a civil suit against the plan in the New York State Court of Appeals. A group of senate democrats are among those opposing the plan and listed as plaintiffs in the case.

Camara says the Republican-drawn plan disadvantages the electoral representation of racial minorities in violation of the Voting Rights Act.   They’ve been voted into law, but the Department of Justice must now determine whether the redistricting maps comply with the VRA.

This letter mentions not only points to possible disadvantages, but also claims that districts downstate, where minorities are concentrated, are larger than predominately white upstate districts. It also questions the Republicans’ decision to place a 63rd Senate seat along the western and southern edges of the Capital Region.

Senate Democrats are already challenging the lines in court. They contend the decision to upsize the chamber to 63 seats was reached based on an unlawful interpretation of the State Constitution. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have always contended their redistricting plan complies with the tenets of the Voting Rights Act, as well as the federal and state constitutions.

The lawsuit would most likely be a re-filing of a case they brought forward last month, where they argued the Republican majority in the Senate improperly created a 63rd district based on an improper reading of the State Constitution. The new plan calls for the creation of a 63rd Senate District in upstate New York. Democrats argue it was created as a means for Republicans to continue to hold a majority in the Senate.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s alright with the Legislature voting in the dead of night while his office negotiated final details of bills they acted on — all without public scrutiny.

According to an article in Today’s Albany Times-Union, the Governor said most of the issues have been aired for months, if not years, such as casino and DNA database expansion, Tier VI Pension Reform and Redistricting. He said he had to go along with letting lawmakers do their work in the wee hours because that is the only way to shut things down and not allow protracted discussions and negotiations that don’t bring about a resolution.

He also said he did not feel compelled to veto the district lines drawn by the Legislature even though he pledged to do so if they were not independently created. He said he got what he could get and that was good — a constitutional amendment plan that could lead to permanent changes in the way future lines are drawn – starting as soon as 2022.

According to Jimmy Vielkind of Albany Times-Union, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached agreement with state lawmakers on pension restructuring, legalizing gambling and expanding the state’s DNA databank by using a promise to sign new legislative district maps as “glue” to hold all the other agreements together.

The bills were then approved in a marathon, all-night session that included a walkout by Senate Democrats, who were frustrated with the Governor’s reversal on a promise to veto legislative districts drawn by lawmakers.

Labor unions also condemned the Tier VI pension proposal, even in its modified format. The latest version of pension reform will not include a defined-contribution option, like a 401(k), for most workers. The minimum retirement age rises to 63 from 62. Governor Cuomo had been pushing for the age to be 65.  And the “multiplier” for years of service used to calculate a final pension has been reduced.

Lawmakers also got the ball rolling on adding up to seven non-native American casinos around the state. And the group also expanded the state’s DNA databank to include samples from most every crime, excepting misdemeanor marijuana possession charges.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, lawmakers were still in Albany working on passing the agreements, including the Tier VI pension proposal.

JAMESTOWN – The president of the Jamestown City Council is calling on the Prendergast Library in Jamestown to get more feedback from the public before moving forward with current or planned changes. In a letter dated March 1, 2012, Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb addressed the entire Prendergast Library Board of Directors and requested that they schedule as a soon as possible another night-time forum with the public.

Rabb is advocating for the meeting because of the numerous concerns that have come to him from area residents. He says both taxpayers and library users continue to contact the members of City Council with their concerns about the library. In addition, Rabb says never has he had so many letters, phone calls, or messages. The council president added that while the Prendergast Library is an agency outside the operations of city government, it has the largest annual appropriation from the city budget.

The Council President said the meeting should be scheduled as soon as possible and publicized widely so it can guarantee the maximum public turnout. He also suggests the library use a neutral facilitator to make the most of the time.

Rabb added that the City Council has historically kept out of the day-to-day management of the library, but it cannot and will not ignore concerns expressed by numerous constituents. He said, “The library board needs to take control of a situation that is unfortunately spiraling out of control.”

Both library board president Tom Price or Library Executive Director Linda Mielke have respectfully declined to speak with WRFA on issues involving the library.

The next library board meeting will be on March 22 at 12:15 p.m. in the fireplace room of the library. It is open to the public.

RELATED CONTENT

• Greg Rabb’s Letter to Board – March 1, 2012

Audio from Impromptu Prendergast Library Forum on Feb. 28, 2012

• Prendergast Library Forum 02-28-2012 – Part One (Complete Audio)
• Prendergast Library Forum 02-28-2012 – Part Two (Complete Audio)

CITY MAN ARRESTED FOR DWI, GUN POSSESSION, AND SEVERAL OTHER CHARGES

JAMESTOWN – Authorities have arrested a city man on multiple charges Saturday night after he allegedly switched seats in his car with a female companion in an attempt to avoid a driving while intoxicated charge.

Adam Hale, 29, and his companion ended up facing charges of drug possession and criminal possession of a firearm after a series of events that began in Jamestown and ended in Falconer Saturday night.

State police said Hale, 29, was driving a car that sped away from a Jamestown police officer who tried to question him on Curtis Street. When the ca was later pulled over by State Police on North Work Street in Falconer, Hale was the passenger and 20 year old Malary Stenstrom was at the wheel.

Troopers said illegally obtained prescription drugs and a loaded handgun were also found in the car. Hale was charged with DWI and Stenstrom with obstructing governmental administration.  After Stenstrom allegedly struggled with police, she was additionally charged with resisting arrest.

CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING DEADLINE IS TUESDAY

[updated March 5, 2012 @ 11:55 a.m.]

ALBANY – Tomorrow March 12 is the deadline for new congressional lines to be in place for New York State, but it looks like it may take a little longer than that. The congressional lines that were drawn up by a state legislature commission to reflect New York’s 27 Congressional districts are currently being reviewed by a state judge. That’s in addition to the new State Senate and Assembly boundary lines, which are also being held up from being approved, complete with a threat by Governor Andrew Cuomo to veto  any partisan redistricting map that comes to his desk.

Late last week, Common Cause New York – an advocacy group in favor of independent redistricting – called on the governor to “hold fast” to his promise of a veto on any partisan redistricting plan. A spokesperson for the group said the maps proposed by Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans  remain “hyper-political” and “are drawn to protect the fortunes of incumbents.”

Common Cause New York has released its own redistricting maps, which are drawn without any incumbent information and look “markedly different” from either party plan. The group accuses the senate and assembly of drawing the new lines behind closed doors, adding that open discussion on how the boundaries should be drawn is required.

CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST IS THIS FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce State Legislative Breakfast will be held Friday, March 9th at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club.   This annual event allows local business people to meet directly with State Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell. Registration will begin at 8:00am, followed by breakfast at 8:30.  The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber members or $20 for non-members. Cal the chamber 484-1101 for more information.

MAYVILLE – Taxpayers in Mayville, Westfield, Ripley and Brocton could save as much as $3,700,000 a year if a centralized school was created between those communities. That’s according to Roy McMaster, the municipal financial adviser and vice president of Capital Markets Advisors LLC, who spoke during the Chautauqua Lake School board’s workshop meeting last night.

According to today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, McMaster presented the board with enrollment, staffing and financial factors – along with incentive possibilities in creating a regional high school. The information is based on several broad assumptions, and officials were quick to point out that many steps still have to be taken.

State Senator Cathy Young recently proposed legislation for a regional high school – which was unanimously passed in the state Senate. A similar bill has not yet been voted on by the state Assembly.

YOUNG URGES GOVERNOR TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR RURAL SCHOOLS

ALBANY – Senator Young is continuing her effort to provide assistance to rural schools. The Olean republican is helping to spearhead an effort with other Senators who represent upstate districts, asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to give rural schools extra consideration in the upcoming state budget. Senator Young joined 14 of her colleagues in signing a formal letter, requesting a significant boost to rural school aid. Governor Cuomo will release his 2012-13 Executive Budget proposal on January 17.

In December, legislation supported by Senator Young and area Assemblymen Andrew Goodell and Joseph Giglio was passed and signed by the Governor, ensuring a four percent — or $800 million — education increase in the upcoming budget that will be distributed to school districts across the state based on an existing formula that gives poorer districts more dollars per student.

SENATE REPUBLICANS CRITICIZED FOR ADDING EXTRA UPSTATE SENATE SEAT IN REAPPORTIONMENT PROPOSAL

ALBANY – A Democratic member of the state task force charged with drawing new political lines for Senate and Assembly seats in Albany is calling the process “A farce and a waste of money.”

According to an article in Yesterday’s Albany Times Union, Sen. Martin Malave Dilan, D-Brooklyn, is claiming that state Senate Republicans acted quietly and unilaterally to add a seat in the chamber during a recent reapportionment meeting.  Dilan is accusing the GOP of doing its math “working backwards” to manufacture another seat in upstate New York where a Republican would have a chance at winning.

In addition, Dilan says that dispite 14 weeks of public hearings, not once did a member of the public request an additional seat be added to Senate, yet that is what the task force has set out to do.

Dilan and other senate democrats are now urging Gov. Cuomo to veto the lines that are presented by the task force. Cuomo has joined good-government groups in criticizing the reapportionment process, and vowed to veto “lines that are not drawn by an independent commission that are partisan.”

The task force is controlled by the Democrats who dominate the Assembly and Republicans who hold a slim majority in the Senate.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WNY ANNOUNCES 2012 CAMPAIGN GOAL

BUFFALO – Catholic Charities of Buffalo, one of Western New York’s largest human services agencies, will try to raise $10.6 million through its 2012 appeal. The announcement came yesterday from Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

The goal is about the same amount raised in 2011, when Catholic Charities was able to reverse a four-year slide in giving.

McKNIGHT TICKETS NOW ON SALE

JAMESTOWN – Tickets are now on sale for next month’s show in Jamestown featuring a multi-platinum selling R&B Singer.

“An Evening with Brian McKnight” will take place Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. McKnight has completed 13 albums with over 20 million albums sold throughout his career.  Born in Buffalo, he has played host to his own talk show: “The Brian McKnight Show” and was a major contestant in Donald Trump and NBC’s  “Celebrity Apprentice” television show.

Tickets start at $30. For more information, visit jamestownarena.com, or call the box office at 716.484.2624.

JCC HOSTS ADVISEMENT AND REGISTRATION SESSIONS THURSDAY, FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN – Advisement and registration for individuals who plan to enroll for the spring semester at Jamestown Community College’s Jamestown Campus will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on January 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 13.

Advisement and registration at the Cattaraugus County Campus will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on January 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 13.