Detroit Districts (neighborhoods, to live in, versus)

[animatedmartian]

Rochelle Riley: Detroiters can weigh in on these 4 maps to redraw city council districts | Detroit Free Press | freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20120120/COL10/120120033/Rochelle-Riley-Detroiters-can-weigh-in-on-4-maps-to-redraw-city-council-districts - broken link)

Detroit City Council, specifically by Charles Pugh, have come up with 4 draft maps of what Detroit's new districts will look like. The districts are meant to divide up the city and give each area an equal voice in Detroit politics. City council members would have to live in the district they represent for at least one year in order to be able to run.

Of course, the threat here is that members will attempt to gerrymander the lines benefiting only their neighborhoods rather than their neighbors, but the maps are going to be presented to Detroit citizens in the coming week and they'll be able to voice their opinions on the maps.

One thing that would obviously come about with districts is that Detroit will likely have a Hispanic member in office as SE Detroit is majority Hispanic and in all maps has it's own district. This will certainly change the dynamic of Detroit politics as a growing population also gains a growing voice.

Here are the drafts so far (all PDFs):

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Which maps do you like? Do you think there could be better ones? General thoughts?

(whoops, meant to add "Other" as a 5th option for the poll)

[zthatzmanz28]

If I moved back into Detroit I would like to see option 4. Actuall any except option 2.

[MarvinStrong313]

I like option 1 the best. District 3 combines downtown, midtown, Indian Village, ect with these cities worst looking neighborhoods. This might actually force them to do something about some of those neighborhoods outside of downtown. Option 3 however is horrible imo.

Also i noticed that you said SE side is mostly Hispanic, it's SW where the Mexicans are.

[animatedmartian]

Doh. Yes, I mean SW. I'd prefer option 4 only if the CBD was still with Midtown. I'm really unsure about multiple representatives covering the same area, however, at the same time, I could see how it could make it unbiased.

[313Weather]

I like Option 3 best.

But I'll take either of them but Option 4.

[johnr83]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

If I moved back into Detroit I would like to see option 4. Actuall any except option 2.

Just out of curiosity why do feel that way? Option 2 seems reasonable from a very quick glance.

[ForStarters]

My preference would be Option 1, and next Option 2.

Options 3 and 4 attempt to carve up the CBD, what is that about?

[313Weather]

The more its evaluated, Option #3 is best.

1. It's splits up what could be the most politically powerful area in the city (Downtown/Midtown). Thus it gives the neighborhoods at least a fighting chance.

2. It mixes up the stable areas fairly with the unstable areas. For example in every other option, the NE neighborhoods bordering 8 Mile are all unfairly lumped in with all the poorer neighborhoods around City Airport while East English Village/Morningside is not.

3. If the NE side (2 district) had its own seperate repersentation from Downtown/Midtown, the representative can focus solely on the health of that neighborhood, versus as in Option 4 they could focus on Belle Isle, Indian Village, Lafayette Park, etc. instead.

[ForStarters]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

The more its evaluated, Option #3 is best.

1. It's splits up what could be the most politically powerful area in the city (Downtown/Midtown). Thus it gives the neighborhoods at least a fighting chance.

2. It mixes up the stable areas fairly with the unstable areas. For example in every other option, the NE neighborhoods bordering 8 Mile are all unfairly lumped in with all the poorer neighborhoods around City Airport while East English Village/Morningside is not.

3. If the NE side (2 district) had its own seperate repersentation from Downtown/Midtown, the representative can focus solely on the health of that neighborhood, versus as in Option 4 they could focus on Belle Isle, Indian Village, Lafayette Park, etc. instead.

The new districts should not try to "water down" representation. The areas that share common issues should be grouped together. Downtown and Midtown should not be divided up- it wouldn't be good for anyone.

Areas should be grouped together by similarities, that way, poorer areas will actually have a person who can advocate for their district. They will have a stronger voice. If you give each poorer area a slice of the CBD and Midtown, the district representative will likely live in that section of the district and ignore the rest of it, just like they do now.

Likewise, why should citizens who live downtown or in Midtown have their voice watered down by the issues concerning other areas? It is simply a fact that my major concerns as a downtowner are much different than those of people who live in East English Village.

If you allow this kind of gerrymandering to occur, the representatives will end up being accountable to no one. You might as well keep them as at large representatives. The bottom line is, if every part of the city wants a voice at the table, then districts should be created in way where people with similar issues can elect someone who is focused on their specific needs.

[Retroit]

FORSTARTERS: Likewise, why should citizens who live downtown or in Midtown have their voice watered down by the issues concerning other areas?

ForStarters, something you might want to consider as a Mid/downtowner is that it would actually be to your benefit to have Mid/downtown to be carved up into more districts. This will give your area greater representation on the City Council.

For example, if there was a proposal for a major project in Mid/downtown, it would be better to have 3 councilmembers who would vote in favor of it (since they represent that area) than only 1 or 2.

Just something to consider.

I kind of like 1 & 2, but for the opposite reason. It gives Mid/downtown only one councilmember and would hopefully prevent/reduce the amount of money that is funneled into downtown (instead of being kept in the neighborhoods).