OK, I get the knee-jerk reaction to change offered by someone partisan is often going to be rejection. But the reaction to the proposed redistricting rolled out by Ed Krumeich and a series of Democrats to be silly. Because if our esteemed Representatives and assorted Republican functionaries had actually analyzed the proposed map, rather than just assumed facts not in evidence, they might actually find themselves pleased.
First, the plan reunites neighborhoods that were gerrymandered in past. It is nonsensical that residents who live on one side of Eastern Middle School are in a different district from those on the other side of Hendrie because in 1990 the Republicans wanted to put Dolly Powers in the 151st. So, while Riverside has similar interests and similar needs for representation, they have to be split because the Republicans wanted to divvy up the seats 20 years ago? Or something so egregious that even Livvy Floren acknowledges that Chickahominy is split up for absolutely no reason. Or Cos Cob, where the north side votes at Central for a district that shares backcountry and North Mianus, and the south side (except by Peter Tesei’s house) shares voters with Byram, Belle Haven and Old Greenwich. All this plan aims to do is put past misdeeds to rest, and make sure that neighborhoods, families and points of represenatation are united with a single advocate.
Of course, rather than do a knee-jerk response, the foes of Krumeich’s plan might have done a modicum of homework. If they had done so, they would have found that the proposed new 151st district actually has MORE Republican voters, and I would argue that it is a safer district for Fred Camillo. Its a district of 1/4 acre lots, similar demographic information, merges a lot of split school districts, like Glenville and Cos Cob, and unites a swath of Greenwich that has like needs. You’ll find that Livvy Floren’s revised 149th is more Democratic, but only because the census requires one Greenwich district to plunge deeper into Stamford. You will see, however, that her Greenwich majority is primarily Republican and includes 1, 2 and 4 acre properties – people with common goals and values. The new 150th keeps its essential core, but reunites Riverside, Chickahominy and, most importantly, Downtown. It is more Democratic, but so are the people in Greenwich. However, it is still a majority Republican district.
For those who are keeping score, the proposed 151st does not have Ed Krumeich in it, much to the chagrin of those who thought Ed was doing this wholly out of self interest. Ed is trying to make Greenwich a better place, and did so with selflessness. Trust me, I would have liked a majority Democratic district, but between the fair way that the Redistricting Commission, a true bipartisan group, works and the facts on the ground, Ed wisely chose just to do it right. I urge you to look at the plan, read it and you will undoubtedly find that it is in the best interests of the Town.
