2010 Census and Redistricting

From NC Senate Redistricting Committee Chair Bob Rucho says that the state redistricting process is more transparent than ever before. But Rucho does not plan to release drafts of maps until after public hearings have already taken place. NC Senate Redistricting Committee Chair Bob Rucho says that the state redistricting process is more transparent than […]

Follow the link above for video coverage.
By Heather Moore
RALEIGH – North Carolina lawmakers are working to redraw legislative and congressional district lines, which historically has been a very political process. It happens every 10 years after census numbers are released.
Wednesday, the public got their first chance to tell lawmakers what they expect of the redistricting process and the new lines. Redrawing district lines impacts how many lawmakers represent an area and exactly which area they’re representing.
In the past, it could even play a role in who would win the election by creating districts of like-minded voters, a political tactic called gerrymandering.
“My concerns are that minorities will be packed into certain districts under several gerrymandering techniques that have been used in the past,” said Jessica Holmes with the Alliance for Fair Redistricting and Minority Voting Rights.
But state lawmakers say they’re taking extra steps this year to make the redistricting process as fair and open as possible.
“The gerrymandering as it’s been in the past has pretty much been eliminated by the fact the courts have responded, especially the North Carolina Supreme Court,” explained Senator Bob Rucho, a Republican representing Mecklenburg County and Chairman of the Redistricting Committee. “There are certain times we’re going to have districts that may be spread out but there’s a reason for it legally, whether they follow the Voting Rights Act or whether they follow whole county or whatever it may be, but legally there’s a reason for that occurring.”
Lawmakers are holding at least twelve public hearings all across the state to get input about the redistricting process.
Concerned citizens say they appreciate the opportunity to participate.
“I’m very excited they have spread these public hearings across the state,” Holmes said. “I’m happy about this process. I’m happy about this opportunity to come here and give my public input.”

RALEIGH, N.C. – Redistricting is on the agenda for legislative districts across North Carolina now that the latest population from the 2010 U.S Census have been released, with the information and decision in the hands of the Republican-controlled State Assembly. The makeup of the legislature could change significantly and to the disadvantage of Democratic legislators.
The process is governed by federal law and court rulings, but such citizens as Arthur Griffin, a member of the Mecklenberg County Committee on Redistricting, say it’s important for voters to watch the process with a close eye.
“It’s really important that it’s an open and transparent process and that citizens from all walks of life have an opportunity to be heard.”
The release of the Census data marks the beginning of this process, one that could likely take several months to complete.
Political agendas often come into play, explains Anita Earls, executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and that’s why she says voters must be involved starting now.
“People want a (district) line to be one place or another, and it’s only with a fair and open process you get a plan that results in a good representative government.”
The statewide redistricting plans for State Assembly and congressional seats must be submitted and approved by January of 2012.
Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service – NC

See link for audio.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – It’s a story that seems like it was ripped from the script of a TV movie, but for a North Carolina immigrant this tale of abuse sheds light on the many challenges immigrants face when the system breaks down. As part of a plea agreement, a Durham immigration officer admitted to threatening a woman with deportation if she did not have sex with him. The officer, Bedri Kulla, met the immigrant and single mother on a social networking website, where he claimed to be a flight attendant.
The woman’s lawyer, Marty Rosenbluth, who is a staff attorney with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, says the woman was put in a drastic position.
“She quite innocently met him for coffee and when they met for coffee he pulls out this badge and says, ‘Oh, I work for immigration and if you don’t go on a date with me I’m going to have you deported.'”
Kulla, who himself is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Canada, lost his job and will be sentenced on August 12 after being found guilty of a federal civil rights violation and two counts of blackmail.
Rosenbluth said the story was hard to believe initially, but easy to prove since Kulla used his real picture on the social networking site, showed up at the woman’s workplace, and sent multiple emails. At one point during his pursuit, Kulla appeared at the victim’s place of work, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a deportation notice in the other.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice routinely handles immigration issues. Rosenbluth says it’s not uncommon for people to take advantage of an immigrant’s situation.
“It is a really clear cut example of how, you know, people just think they can do whatever they want to folks who are undocumented, but she stood up and said, ‘No, I’m not going to be a victim, you’re not going to do this to me.'”
The woman is now eligible for U.S. citizenship through a special provision for victims of crime.
Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service – NC

More information coming soon.