Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: COVID-19 roundup: Illinois’ languishing senior vax rate; DeVore gets it wrong; Anti-vaxxers shout down special needs kids; More HCRCA misinformation; Dueling court rulings
Next Post: Pritzker issues gun violence EO, pledges $250 million over three years for Reimagine Public Safety plan, including $100 million from next state budget
Posted in:
* Daily Herald op-ed by Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., “a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research group on computational redistricting is committed to bringing transparency to the redistricting process using optimization algorithms and artificial intelligence”…
To illustrate how poorly the new [congressional district] map serves the people of Illinois, District 2 now mixes several South Side Chicago communities in the north with Danville and other East Central rural downstate communities. How can a representative of such a district, now classified as majority-minority, serve such a diverse set of constituents?
What the new map does is ignore and dismiss the interests of the citizens of Illinois, breaking up communities of interest throughout the state.
OK, first of all, this is US Rep. Robin Kelly’s district, which currently runs south of Kankakee to Chebanse. Under the new map, the district’s southern boundary has been extended about 70 miles south to include Danville. It’s basically just a larger version of her current district, and all districts had to get bigger this year because the state lost a seat during reapportionment. And to preserve three districts drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act, the 2nd, like the other two, had to take in more white precincts. Also, c’mon, it’s also obviously about politics. And politics, like it or not, is an allowable factor in redistricting.
* And since Professor Jacobson brought up Danville, as of 10 years ago, Danville was 24 percent Black and about 5 percent Latino. Also…
For only the second time in 32 years, the City of Danville has elected a new mayor and elected its first African-American mayor.
If Jacobson had his way, Danville residents would continue to be represented by someone like Mary Miller, a white, upper-income farmer who lives more than 50 miles south of Danville and whose district office in Danville was closed at last check.
So, I asked Jacobson some questions via email. He didn’t really provide much of a response to my questions and I still haven’t heard back on this last one…
Again, why did you choose to center the interests of white people over people of color? Why is it seemingly preferable to have a white congressperson representing Black people?
If he gets back to me, I’ll be sure to post whatever he says.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:07 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: COVID-19 roundup: Illinois’ languishing senior vax rate; DeVore gets it wrong; Anti-vaxxers shout down special needs kids; More HCRCA misinformation; Dueling court rulings
Next Post: Pritzker issues gun violence EO, pledges $250 million over three years for Reimagine Public Safety plan, including $100 million from next state budget
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Similar article in the News-Gazette
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/tom-kacich-democrats-new-congressional-map-shows-no-respect-for-voters/article_6e5aba56-abd8-5e71-94b8-e91a41d6a202.html
Comment by DTAG Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:13 pm
Rich your title is spot on I could not have said it better myself.
Comment by DTAG Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:14 pm
Old, angry, white, rural…
The monolithic, the victimhood of the “they are not like us” simpleton thinkers.
Saying the quiet part out loud is only worse to them when you have what Rich calls out correctly in the title… then they’re “misunderstood”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:17 pm
At one point, he’s complaining that there aren’t enough competitive districts but then he also complains that people aren’t capable of representing diverse districts. Even if a district is not diverse racially, economically, etc., if it’s competitive, it’s at least diverse in political ideology.
Comment by Shield Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:23 pm
Rich’s argument only makes sense if you don’t believe three or more majority black districts could be created by drawing three relatively compact urban/Chicago centric districts instead of weird noodles that start near downtown and jut all the way down to include dozens of central IL farm communities as is the case with the 2nd. It’s possible but not a priority because…politics. And that was the point of the Dr’s op-ed. You made it a race issue when it isn’t. Communities of interest staying together and three majority black districts are not mutually exclusive.
Comment by Hahaha Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:35 pm
=== Rich’s argument only makes sense if you don’t believe three or more majority black districts could be created by drawing three relatively compact urban/Chicago centric districts instead of weird noodles that start near downtown and jut all the way down to include dozens of central IL farm communities as is the case with the 2nd.===
Now include 2 Latino districts.
See, some of those “weird noodle” things you seem to complain about *might* be designed to meet the VRA to other representation.
Either you know that and are pretending angst, or you don’t and it makes sense why you’d think the op-ed works.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:38 pm
And it’s really suburban Black people. Rep Kelly is from Matteson.
Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:39 pm
Prof. Jacobson just penned op-Ed opposing vaccine mandates.
“He sure gets around.”
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/576247-the-truth-about-covid-19-vaccine-exemptions
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:41 pm
Yeah, hahaha, I don’t believe that.
Comment by Sox Sadness Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:50 pm
Something tells me he won’t be responding
Comment by High Socks Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:55 pm
I always thought the House of Representatives was way too large but perhaps it is way too small. Maybe more districts and smaller populations might make for better representation and less super partisanship
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:03 pm
Democrats brag about how their map insures the diversity of the state while diminishing the representation of 40% of it’s residents.
It’s not about race, they think it is perfectly fine for a Chicago white progressive to represent Hinsdale and now Barrington.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:04 pm
You know the old joke about what PhD stands for? in his case it is piled high and dumb.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:04 pm
Yeah, but Rich, all them algorithms and that artificial intelligence. That makes it “scientific.”
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:11 pm
===Hinsdale===
You don’t think DuPage is trending blue?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:17 pm
===You made it a race issue===
Nope. He did. But nice try at deflection
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:17 pm
He has a large multidiscipinary team of…computer scientists. I mean, some law and polisci faculty would be relevant here.
Also, algorithms aren’t neutral because someone says so.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:24 pm
Since nobody else has brought this up, I’ll say it:
Sheldon Jacobson is the guy who proudly predicted last year that the U of I would only have 500-700 covid cases in fall semester, 2020.
XKCD had a lot of fun with that.
I don’t know that I have ever met Sheldon. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he’s a nice guy and really good at writing computer code.
But interpreting the results?
It might be better if he let other people do that.
Comment by Lynn S. Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:41 pm
An embarrassment to U of I… I hope someone in the administration tells him so.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:43 pm
We probably just need a bigger house. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/getting-bigger-house/
Comment by Publius Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:43 pm
==The main problem is how many times counties are split.==
Why does it matter?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:58 pm
Is this Jacobson any relation to Amy —spouse, brother,…. that might how someone this dumb is getting paid us via U of I. And how many papers declined. It is a little out of their largely NW burbs
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:58 pm
===But interpreting the results?
The thing is he creates algorithms that are mathematically efficient, but are not including all of the human factors or other conditions the law requires. It’s only a cursory look, but I don’t see clear evidence that his algorithms took into account VRA requirements. What we have learned from a number of algorithms is that biases of the programmer effect the algorithms so it’s more than just interpreting the results.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:19 pm
====I hope someone in the administration tells him so.
The problem is many faculty think it’s a good thing when the admin is upset (and they aren’t always wrong).
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:20 pm
Take a look at the list of op-eds he has written and had published. It’s four or five a week. How does he have time for anything else but writing op-eds?
http://shj.cs.illinois.edu
Comment by filmmaker prof Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:21 pm
You can always count on OW to be the white savior for the oppressed in the oppression olympics. Anyway, none of this matters. It’s better to be able to gerrymander a growing state instead of a declining state like Illinois.
Comment by Luther Martin Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:41 pm
Rural whites having disproportionate control is good. More numerous, more diverse urban population centers having proportionate (or even merely less disproportionate) control is bad.
Clearly.
Comment by Homebody Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:44 pm
===white savior for the oppressed===
That’s a lil creepy to this.
Good thing you couldn’t show where my argument was wrong.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:46 pm
This piece screams, racist much?
Comment by Shytown Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:08 pm
=Democrats brag about how their map insures the diversity of the state=
Interesting that the ILGOP does not have a map to brag about buttook a ton of taxpayer money and just gave it to their friends apparently.
Maybe LP got a piece of that grift? Otherwise he would be concerned, right?
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:10 pm
RE: “all districts had to get bigger this year because the state lost a seat during reapportionment”
Well, the obvious solution is to move the borders of that district 50 miles east and north into, um, … those other states there.
Comment by Phineas Gurley Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:16 pm
As a Danville area resident I dont see anything changing.
Comment by lowdrag Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:40 pm
I live in Vermilion County, where Danville is the County seat, but not in any town. I agree we have much in common with others in this new district, but we also have different issues, as rural residents, that have no connection to race. As long as our new representative understands that, we’re good. Best example I can think of is a mileage tax and public transportation. I live outside of a tiny town and we don’t have access to public transportation. My commute is short compared to my colleagues, but I still drive at least 300 miles per week to and from work and shopping areas. I can spend 30 minutes on the road to get to the grocery store and never be caught in traffic. As long as the new representative gets that all our issues are not the same, then I’m fine with that.
Comment by DownStateSally Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:42 pm