Page 280 - Demo

Page 12 PHOENIX April 11, 1974|pjSf#T5iTF3lEditorialsReapportionment AgainThe sins committed in the name of equality never cease to amaze us. This time it%u2019s in the political sphere, and the victims will be the residents of our part of Brooklyn-all of them, black, white, brown, etc. The Federal Government has decided that Brooklyn%u2019s political districts have been drawn to the disadvantage of the Borough%u2019s black residents and has ordered a special reapportionment to redress this wrong. The matter will come before the same State Legislature that drew the lines in 1971 that were the voting districts in the 1972 elections.Our part of Brooklyn has seen a number of upheavals through reapportionment in the past decade. Switching assembly districts, congressional districts, state senate districts and counci I manic districts has been a regular way of life in local politics. The momentary advantages gained by the Regulars over the Reformers and the Republicans over the Democrats are largely obscured by the damage done the entire electoral process by a constant shuffling of elected representatives.The issues in the air as this reapportionment is ordered are varied and complex. The Republicans are gleeful at the opportunity to make at least one Congressional district safe for the GOP in Brooklyn, and hopefully pick up another Assembly and Senate seat. The Regulars see a great opportunity to squeeze out one or more Reform legislators. The blacks (who brought the court suit that started the whole thing) are certain to gain at someone%u2019s expense. The Puerto Ricans say it%u2019s at their expense. The Women%u2019s Caucus which met in Brooklyn Heights on April 3, issued stern warnings that it had better not be at the expense of elected women representatives.So what happens next? Is Brooklyn joined to Staten Island, Queens or Manhattan? Does Shirley Chisholm or Sam Wright become the Congressman for Brooklyn Heights? Can Vincent Riccio make his Assembly seat really secure? Is Carol Bellamy a sacrifice to an %u201c equalized%u201d district foranew black State Senator? Is John Rooney in or out? What happens to Hugh Carey%u2019s seat? Can Mr. Mangano make his district safe? Whither Councilman Richmond? The unfortunate fact is that reapportionment always seems to revolve around the personalities of the reapportioned.The same state legislature that created the current legislative districts will again tackle the job with new criteria in mind. But we are pessimistic that the result will beany more equitable than it was the first time, even though it might satisfy the standards ordered by the U.S. Justice Department. It%u2019s almost become a cliche, but we%u2019II say it anyway: those who live in lines should not drawthem. It took the City Council multiple tries until it came up with a remotely acceptable plan last year, and then it was too late and this year we elect counci I men all over again-at a multi-million-dollarcost. There%u2019s no reason the state legislature will do its redistricting any different than it did last time, even though the final result may meet the letter of the law. We think this limited redistricting task would bean excellent time to try out the independent commission approach-to let im partial, unaffected men and women draw lines based on rational, not personal, standards. This course is the only one that is going to satisfy the people in this day of pessimism concerning politics.But, further, we disagree with the Justice Department about the need for this redistricting, particularly as it carries out the need for greater equality for blacks and other minorities in political participation in this Borough. The biggest single stumbling block to fair, impartial and equal elections in Brooklyn has been the New York City Board of Elections, and its regulations which discouraged registration to vote and participation in the political process. This redistricting order seems to obscure this reality. Peopleare denied equality because they are denied the opportunity and often the right to register to vote. It is ironic that registration figures were the basis for the Federal ruling, but that the remedy was redistricting. Registration will continue to be a problem, long after this reshuffling of lines. We are indignant that no one is talking about this.%u00ab*%u2022%u00bb%u2022>:.