not actually increase power for minorities--it does the opposite. It is my
opinion that this proposal is in direct violation of the Voting Rights Act
and would cause any redistricting plan to be struck down in court-- resulting
in a panel of judges finalizing the redistricting process. I am also quite
confident that Governor Ventura would not sign such a bill.
Chris Allison
Gov. Ventura's Advisory Commission on Redistricting, appointed member & Green
Party of MN representative
Whittier - Ward 6
In a message dated 4/25/2001 8:12:44 AM Central Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I noticed the other day that the state Republicans proposed combining
Minneapolis and St. Paul in a single congressional district. Because the two
cities have too many people for a single district, Republicans apparently
lopped off some south and southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods.
It's all part of the game, of course - cram your opponents in a single
district so you have majorities in many more districts (six of eight, I
believe one newspaper said). I don't think this is going to fly, but you
never know...the (hopefully academic) question is, which Minneapolis
neighborhoods? I've been unable to find the Republicans' map on their state
party website or anywhere else, so if someone knows where a web version can
be found, send the link in.
There are some interesting philosophical questions ponder. Such as:
Minneapolis Republicans, do you support the state plan? If we have to
swallow one urban district, which neighborhoods in Minneapolis SHOULD go?
(You can make the case that despite their high DFL indexes, southwest
neighborhoods probably have more in common with the Republican Edinas of the
world demographically. Then again, maybe northwest Minneapolis belongs with
Robbinsdale & Crystal, etc.)
A big question: evaluating the GOP's claim that Minneapolis minorities would
do better in a "two-city" district because the minority population would be
higher (in the 40 percent range, I think). DFL state chair Mike Erlandson
made the point that minorities are better off with influence in two largely
urban districts. However, that does halve minority population in both
districts, and neither the Minneapolis 5th or St. Paul 4th has come close to
electing a non-white. For those who want to advance minority power and
representation, which would you rather have - the current set-up or the
GOP's option?
David Brauer
King Field - Ward 10
