Staten Island's Electoral Boundaries: A Fight for Power or Fairness?
For the past 45 years, only two Democrats have secured the congressional seat in Staten Island, and both lost it after just one term. This has led to a desperate attempt by Democrats to redraw the district lines.
The Current District: Unconstitutional?
A judge recently ruled that the current 11th Congressional District, which includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, is unconstitutional. The lawsuit argues that the district underrepresents Black and Hispanic voters.
Democrats propose redrawing the district to include Manhattan neighborhoods like:
- Battery Park City
- The Financial District
- The West Village
But let's be real, these areas aren't exactly melting pots of diversity.
The Registration Advantage: A Mismatch?
Democrats have a massive registration advantage in the district:
- 198,183 registered Democrats
- 134,871 registered Republicans
But voter registration doesn't always translate to votes. Democrats have consistently failed to convince Staten Island voters to support their candidates.
A Long-standing Problem
Since 1980, Republicans have dominated House races here. It's not about the president or the governor; it's about the voters. And now, Democrats are looking to change the rules to get their way.
The Power Struggle in New York
Democrats control 19 House seats in New York, while Republicans have just seven. But one Republican seat in New York City is one too many for them. They've tried this before, and the courts have shut them down. But they're at it again, claiming it's about constitutional principles. Yeah, right.
A History of Manipulation
Years ago, Staten Island shared a judicial district with Brooklyn, making it nearly impossible for Republicans to win state Supreme Court races. It took creating a separate judicial district to level the playing field. Now, Democrats want to turn back the clock.
The Political Reality
Assemblyman Charles Fall, the borough Democratic Party chairman, says the redistricting push isn't about politics. But let's be honest, it's always about politics. It's like a pro athlete saying it's not about the money. We all know better.
