Fair Districts Mass intends to draw new districts for the U.S. Congress, where the State must reduce its House delegation from ten to nine. Its goal is
to advocate for, and go to court if necessary to obtain, a congressional district that encompasses only Suffolk County. This is based on the new census data showing that, for the first time since its creation in 1643, Suffolk County (which includes Boston) is now a minority-majority city (meaning that minorities make up the majority of its residents).
In addition to vindicating the rights of minority voters, the organization also intends to draw new districts at the state level for the State Senate and House of Representatives. It promises that its work will be “completely transparent.” (The national Common Cause website includes a link to Fair Districts Mass, giving the new organization a little “good government” cred.)
It may come as a surprise to some to learn that Fair Districts Mass has been busy soliciting and receiving the blessing of the state’s campaign finance agency to accept corporate contributions, so long as those contributions do not aid individual candidates or parties.
The agency’s decision was released only last week, but general counsel Winslow is already on the record touting the advantages to corporations of donating to Fair Districts Mass. More bang for the buck and all.
This is huge,” said state Rep. Daniel Winslow, a newly elected Republican lawmaker who is poised to represent Fairdistrictsmass.org in any legal proceedings related to the group’s efforts to influence redistricting…Winslow argues that companies will get more value from being involved in redistricting than they could have funding campaigns. “Dollar for dollar, a company can have far greater influence in shaping policy” through redistricting, he said. For one, districts last 10 years, he said. Also, redistricting efforts have statewide implications.
And that part about the organization’s pledge to be “completely transparent? When asked which corporations might donate to Fair Districts Mass, the general counsel declined to say. Under the law, “it’s a completely private undertaking.”
Their FB group has four members and no activity.
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p>The redistricting process is well underway and unless there is greater outcry from people at large (like Boston minorities) it is just going to proceed along its course.
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p>I don’t think Winslow is wrong (for his side) from a strategic sense, but whether he gets the business community to buy into a multi-level concept is another thing altogether.
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p>Their answer about the “private undertaking” could just be a smokescreen for “no one has donated”
Maybe we have uncovered to true liveshot that Howie keeps clamoring about.
could we please get our political parties correct?
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p>I have a sneaking suspicion that he is unenrolled, and not a member of the Massachusetts Independent Party nor the American Independent Party, both of which are designations and not parties, ironically and pedantically enough.
I found myself torn between quoting the website:
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p>and correcting that detail. I decided to let the principals describe themselves.
In spite of his independent (not Independent), or more accurately, unenrolled voting status, there is little doubt as to where Robinson’s sympathies lie. They lie with himself, and the Republican party.
as if their influence on American politicians was not bad enough…now we want them to help shape how we are represented? I don’t think so….
Neither the legislature nor the courts are obligated to follow what this organization proposes.
I’m still scratching my head over what makes them seem to think they have the only correct answer.
I doubt they will
that all the Congressional Districts get corporate sponsors, like sports stadiums do — Citi Field, Minute Maid Park.
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p>(Tons of synergy for 3-Com, Motel 6, etc!)
Years ago he was in the car, on the phone, and speaking with a Boston talk radio show. Rear ended someone while talking. You could actually hear the crunch. Pretty darn funny.