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* Tribune…
Just hours after redrawn state legislative maps were passed by lawmakers, attorneys for a group challenging the new boundaries told a federal judge Wednesday that the plan shortchanges Latinos. […]
“Latinos were not rewarded or given their fair share of districts after that population growth,” [Ernest Herrera, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund] told U.S. District Judge Robert Dow. “Latinos were, in fact, penalized.”
Herrera said the number of state Senate districts with a majority Latino voting age population would drop from three to two under the Democratic-drawn maps, and from five to four in the House.
“We believe there are serious constitutional but likely Section 2 claims here,” Herrera said, citing the section of the federal Voting Rights Act which prohibits practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.
According to numbers compiled by my consultant Frank Calabrese, the May House remap plan had 11 majority voting age population Latino districts, but the newly passed August remap has just 10. The House map passed back in 2011 had nine majority Latino VAP districts.
The 2020 Census found that the number of Illinois Latinos of all ages grew by more than 15 percent since the 2010 Census.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 4:47 pm
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Previous Post: Today’s number: $5.24 billion
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File under “You Had One Job” and Dems seemed to miss that mark?
The reality of the new maps also predicated on appeasing MALDEF within a Voters Rights Act mapping. One job.
The question now will be if one looks at the maps, is MALDEF correct to the legality of their observation?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 5:00 pm
This is what happens when you don’t use an open and transparent process.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 5:06 pm
=== This is what happens when you don’t use an open and transparent process.===
Had the Dems done their “one job” and appeased MALDEF’s requests, same process, same outcome, how would your statement ring true?
If this is an accountability issue, a judge will now hold accountable, maps ok’d or not.
It could be a “You Had One Job” miscue. We’ll find out soon enough.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 5:09 pm
Democrats, you keep taking the Hispanic community for granted. they are the largest minority community in Chicago and in the US. the largest voting eligible minority in the US. You don’t give them time to talk, you don’t pay attention to their representation needs and you don’t reach out to them with nuance (see border Hispanic communities that voted more for Trump). you just assume they will vote for you. You could be very wrong. Step up and give them the percentage and place that they deserve….by the numbers.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 6:01 pm
DIdn’t Rep. Liz Hernandez lead the charge in the House? DId/Didn’t MALDEF communicate with her?
Comment by Hey Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 6:44 pm
===and appeased MALDEF’s requests===
If they had used an open and transparent process they would have been able to be educated about MALDEF’s concerns, made adjustments, and then passed the map.
I should also point out the G.A. found the time to pass their corrupt maps, but couldn’t figure out how to pass an ethics bill or the energy bill. It is clear where their priorities were: their own political futures.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 6:59 pm
=== If they had used an open and transparent process they would have been able to be educated about MALDEF’s concerns===
Prolly more concerned about a judge’s concerns, if we’re being honest to this.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 7:07 pm
@Amalia
How exactly was the Latino community taken for granted?
Senator Omar Aquino chaired the Senate committee on redistricting
Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez chaired the House committee on redistricting.
Explain to us how the Latino community didn’t have a voice or wasn’t listened to on these maps?
A lot of these organizations that are “opposing” these maps are just doing it to make noise and fundraise. They are actually fine with the maps.
Comment by Illinois Politico Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 7:21 pm
Maybe (1) the new map fixed the issue with wide variance in population among districts and (2) leadership has been advised by AG or outside counsel that the maps can survive a voting rights challenge.
Comment by Original Anon Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 7:25 pm
@Illinois Politico, the problem is beyond the positions you describe. It is a problem nationally, and locally. as for groups opposing the maps, I certainly hope you give the same description to other groups that oppose the maps.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 7:41 pm
Not trying to create an argument here. But, does that fact that an 11th seat COULD have been drawn mean that one HAD to be drawn? I’m not a voting rights expert, but if the “11th” district is a Democratic-leaning one, is it not likely that a Latinx representative could be elected without a specific community of interest in the district? And given that there was an increase from 9 to 10 such districts, would that not mitigate an argument that the community was deprived?
Comment by IllinoisCitizen Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 8:39 pm
Amalia, with respect, just because we get districts doesn’t mean we can win them. Guzzardi, Willis, Mah all represent Latino majority and supermajority wards. The Latino Caucus knew what why were approving, despite their close ties to MALDEF and the Latino Policy Forum.
Comment by Chito Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 8:52 pm
== But, does that fact that an 11th seat COULD have been drawn mean that one HAD to be drawn?==.
I had the same question.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 8:54 pm
MALDEF knows best. Revise the maps. Do not go to court over something you can fix now.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 9:25 pm
Illinois Citizen, whether a majority-minority district needs to be drawn is based, in part, on whether another seat could be drawn and then on a totality of the circumstances. So, yes, it matters if an 11th seat could be added, but the standard is plenty squishy for a court to rule either way.
Comment by Original Anon Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 9:53 pm
fixin ain’t easy when other protected groups are affected–this is where I thought the Dems would miss MM.
Comment by ANON Thursday, Sep 2, 21 @ 4:18 pm