Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Redistricting? Get Involved!

March 10, 2011 By carmen 9 Comments

April is around the corner, and with it Massachusetts will receive the Census Data that will officially start the redistricting process. MassVote, together with a wide array of organizations including ONE Massachusetts, is gearing up to ensure that all the diverse voices of our communities are heard through the redistricting process taking place this year in Massachusetts.

It is essential that historical lessons from previous redistricting processes make a difference this time around when launching and conducting the redistricting process that considers the clout of communities of color. We have to be sure that all communities, particularly those representing people of color, are represented at the table when going through this process. As active members of a democracy, we must get involved and fight for the rights and fair representation of our communities.

As Cheryl Crawford of MassVote said in a communication she sent today to all MassVote members, “State House and State Senate leaders have made a good start at reaching out.  But better lines depend on you getting involved.”

Consider making a donation to the Drawing Democracy Project to ensure that communities of color are educated about the process and get involved in it.  If you would like to learn more what other organizations are doing about this effort, please contact Avi Green at MassVote.   

We will keep you updated about further developments with this process and ways on how you can get involved. In the meantime, please consider hosting a free training to educate your friends and neighbors about the redistricting process.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: civic-engagement, redistricting

Comments

  1. bob-gardner says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:07 am

    has the distinction of being one of most racially diverse municipalities (if not the most diverse) in the commonwealth.  It also has the distinction of being the largest municipality in the commonwealth without a single citizen in the state legislature.  What a co-incidence!
      Actually, from what I can tell, it’s not racism that’s behind this state of affairs, just zealous protection of incumbents.  
      When the last Randolph legislator, Joe Semensi, lost a close race to John Flood, from Canton, Randolph was left without an incumbent to protect.   That was a long time ago.
      Since then, every ten years, the legislature slices, dices and repackages us, like hedge fund managers slice and dice a bunch of mortages for the secondary market.  In the last redisticting, the legislature went so far as to force town officials to redraw the precincts so they could cut the town up into smaller pieces.  The idea is to keep the Randolph part of each district smaller than the part of the district in each adjacent town.
      So, while it wasn’t racism that caused this situation, and it may not have been racism that perpetuated it for 20 or 30 years, another ten years of this is intolerable.  It’s time for a district that is based in Randolph.
         

    Log in to Reply
    • marcus-graly says

      March 11, 2011 at 2:07 pm

      Chelmsford got similarly screwed over in the last redistricting and is cut into 4 pieces.  This was done to remove a Republican representative.  In both cases, the injustice should be rectified.

      Log in to Reply
  2. judy-meredith says

    March 11, 2011 at 7:48 am

    From what would we do without it Wikapedia , Gov Gerry was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

    <

    p>

    <

    p>

    The word gerrymander (originally written Gerry-mander) was used for the first time in the Boston Gazette newspaper on March 26, 1812. The word was created in reaction to a redrawing of Massachusetts state senate election districts under the then governor Elbridge Gerry (pronounced /’g?ri/; 1744-1814). In 1812, Governor Gerry signed a bill that redistricted Massachusetts to benefit his Democratic-Republican Party. When mapped, one of the contorted districts in the Boston area was said to resemble the shape of a salamander. The exact author of the term gerrymander may never be definitively established. It is widely believed by historians that Federalist newspaper editors Nathan Hale, Benjamin and John Russell were the instigators, but the historical record gives no definitive evidence as to who created or uttered the word for the first time.[1] The term was a portmanteau of the governor’s last name and the word salamander.

    <

    p>Once again Massachusetts was on the forefront of a now standard political tactic designed to protect incumbents.  

    Log in to Reply
    • peter-porcupine says

      March 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      Log in to Reply
      • judy-meredith says

        March 11, 2011 at 5:08 pm

        Whaddya say — lets the two of us start a new fusion party democrat-republican.

        <

        p>You can run for Governor and I’ll …… let’s see I’m not sure I want to be inside Government. Been there done that.  

        Log in to Reply
  3. jimc says

    March 11, 2011 at 10:17 am

    Very impressive.

    <

    p>Re: the post, I’m not sure what we’re being asked to do, other than donate.

    Log in to Reply
    • christopher says

      March 11, 2011 at 3:34 pm

      Is there any way to truly get involved in the actual map drawing process without being on the legislative staff of the appropriate committees?

      Log in to Reply
      • paulsimmons says

        March 11, 2011 at 5:18 pm

        The software the Legislature uses for redistricting has the ability to export iterations into Google Maps and pdf files.

        <

        p>Many of the groups involved promise that the redistricting – which includes the equalization and re-precincting of Boston – will be done transparently.  Rep. Moran (the Chair of redistricting on the House side) spoke to a group which included yours truly a couple of weeks ago, and promised an accountable process.

        <

        p>Furthermore, there are advocacy organizations which also have the software.

        <

        p>Bear in mind that the Mass Census enumerations aren’t in yet:

        <

        p>Next weeks releases will be Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Tennessee.

        Log in to Reply
      • peter-porcupine says

        March 12, 2011 at 12:21 am

        Last fall, with no protest from these groups, President Murray convened and immediately adjourned a Constitutional Convention which had independent redistricting on the agenda.  I do not remember any calls then to ask the President to allow the bill to go forward.

        <

        p>Possibly there were no fundraising opportunites if it did.  NOW, they can collect money for the NEXT Constitutional Convention!

        Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended Posts

  • Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries (3)
  • There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing (3)

Recent User Posts

Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries

August 12, 2022 By jconway 7 Comments

There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing

August 10, 2022 By terrymcginty 8 Comments

Site issue: Unable to reply to comments

August 10, 2022 By SomervilleTom 4 Comments

Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia 3 Comments

Promises made, promises kept

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia Leave a Comment

Schedule F

August 7, 2022 By johntmay 4 Comments

Recent Comments

  • SomervilleTom on Site issue: Unable to reply to commentsYes, the plugin that is broken is also the widget that p…
  • Christopher on Site issue: Unable to reply to commentsNow we seem to have lost the ability to rate comments, h…
  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesTommy Vitolo was directly responsible for the Brookline…
  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThis comment exemplifies why I'm done with "Progressive…
  • Keith Bernard on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesDon't get mad at Progressive Mass because Tommy Vitolo i…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe other half of Wakefield (Precincts 4 - 6) is in the…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe 9th Essex district James and I share as fellow Wakef…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
52m

📛North Korea test fires missiles overnight.
despite months of repeated warnings from Biden administration USA #mepolitics #mapoli #england #nhpolitics #japan

Reply on Twitter 1559850583250673670 Retweet on Twitter 1559850583250673670 Like on Twitter 1559850583250673670 Twitter 1559850583250673670
mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
1h

Biden: 'These is no recession'
Newest Disbelievers.
#radio #mepolitics #mapoli #nhpolitics #breaking

Reply on Twitter 1559844270655393793 Retweet on Twitter 1559844270655393793 Like on Twitter 1559844270655393793 Twitter 1559844270655393793
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
2h

ADI Insider Trading Case Could Use More Detail, Judge Hints – Law360 https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2022/08/17/adi-insider-trading-case-could-use-more-detail-judge-hints-law360/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1559838457374990336 Retweet on Twitter 1559838457374990336 Like on Twitter 1559838457374990336 Twitter 1559838457374990336
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
2h

Mayor Wu Introduces Plan to File Home Rule Petition to Establish Fossil Fuel-Free … – EIN News https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2022/08/17/mayor-wu-introduces-plan-to-file-home-rule-petition-to-establish-fossil-fuel-free-ein-news/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1559830399177527299 Retweet on Twitter 1559830399177527299 Like on Twitter 1559830399177527299 Twitter 1559830399177527299
openletterbot Open Letters @openletterbot ·
2h

🖋 Sign “POTUS, appoint new Acting IGs for DoD and DHS now!” and I’ll deliver a copy to your officials: https://twitter.com/messages/compose?recipient_id=835740314006511618&text=sign%20PQZEFR

📨 No. 214 is from Kathleen to @POTUS #MA03 #MApoli #MApols

Reply on Twitter 1559829016902713344 Retweet on Twitter 1559829016902713344 1 Like on Twitter 1559829016902713344 Twitter 1559829016902713344
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
2h

Editorial: For Harmony’s sake, justice and closure is needed – Lowell Sun https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2022/08/17/editorial-for-harmonys-sake-justice-and-closure-is-needed-lowell-sun/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1559826127241109504 Retweet on Twitter 1559826127241109504 Like on Twitter 1559826127241109504 Twitter 1559826127241109504
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2022 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.