Drawing City Maps Based on Demographics and Community Input
While demographic data would lead to major shifts in city maps based on recent population increases and declines, alderpersons and caucuses within the City Council are not likely to base new city ward maps on them, A.D. Quig reports in Crain’s Chicago Business.
If the numbers won’t affect ward mapping, what about the push for an independent map by Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission? Madeleine Doubek describes the work of 13 members of Change Illinois’ Advisory Redistricting Commission.
What’s in the Numbers? How Would City Ward Maps Look Based on Demographics?
Data from the Great Cities Institute at UIC would shift representation away from majority Black wards, which lost the most in population over the last few years, and add wards in Latino and Asian communities, according to an article in Crain’s Chicago Business. Citing information provided exclusively to Crain’s, reporter A.D. Quig notes that a new city ward map would have two new majority Latino wards, three Asian-American majority wards, one predominantly white ward, and three fewer Black majority wards, based on population shifts observed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
American Community Survey data show population growth of 6 percent or more in majority white areas near downtown and on the north side and an increase in the Asian American population of 22 percent. While largely Latino wards remained stable, population in majority Black areas dropped significantly, ranging from declines of 10 to 17 percent.
Nonetheless, Quig notes that population is only one factor in drawing new city ward maps. Others include federal and state laws, natural and man-made dividing lines, such as highways, traditional boundaries, not to mention political power. Read the full article.
Some Good News, for a Change
Madeleine Doubek profiles three of a total of 13 commissioners serving on the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission created by Change Illinois—a teacher, a social worker, and the director of outreach for the Art Institute—and the positive story they’re generating.
“It’s easy to overlook signs of hope amid daily reports of gun violence, COVID-19 creep and corruption. But there’s progress in groups of committed Chicagoans working to address community needs, from police oversight to improving the ward redistricting process,” Doubek writes.
“It’s worth cheering that, in a month’s time, 430 residents applied to serve on an independent committee to forge a new ward map for Chicago,” she adds. “A small group of volunteers painstakingly reviewed applications and conducted interviews with dozens of applicants. Now, 13 diverse Chicagoans are investing hours upon hours looking at neighborhood maps, talking to other Chicagoans and starting to draw a new path toward representation. No one on the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission knows for certain if their efforts will be accepted by members of the City Council, but they’re not deterred.” Read the full article.
Leaguer Helps Get Out the Word on the Redistricting Commission
LWV Chicago member Judi Schindler has notified the president of the Old Town Triangle Association about the Redistricting Commission and its need to hear from community members, writing: “The Chicago Ward Advisory Redistricting Commission is seeking input from Old Town residents on a proposed independent ward remap of the city. The commission wants to create a community-led, non-political process that keeps neighborhoods whole and improves representation and delivery of city services. Through this process, the advisory commission plans to create a people-powered ward map for Chicago that upholds racial equity and engagement and serves as a best-practices model for independent redistricting nationwide.”
You can help by spreading the word like Judi and submitting your own input!