Finally: Senate and Assembly Maps

The proposed redistricted maps for the State Senate and Assembly are finally out. The Super-Jewish District is district 17, encompassing the whole Borough Park.

Super Jewish District

Councilman David Greenfield tweeted: ”map of infamous Super-Jewish Senate district! Interestingly, it doesn't include very Jewish heart of Midwood/OceanPkwy.” He also noted that it is mostly the same area as Assemblyman Hikind’s new district.

Hikind, who reportedly wasn’t happy with the Super-Jewish district, did express support for it in the end. “I think it’s wonderful.  I’ve always felt that way with regard to the orthodox and Asian communities.  The argument that people have made sometimes that the more representatives you have the more you can accomplish, it’s not true. It doesn’t work that way.  Having one person is much more effective.  An Asian district, I think it’s great that communities have so much in common. Midwood and Borough Park would be the same,” Assemblyman Dov Hikind told the Algemeiner.

“Bourough Park and Midwood are the heart of the orthodox community in New York.  They’re very similar in the things they believe in, the things they care about,” he said.

Ezra Friedlander, who makes a living of reaching out to politicians, said: “I don’t like the way that this discussion is being framed.  I don’t necessiarly (sic) need to have my community represented by an Orthodox Jew, if that’s the intention of the lines.  There’s nothing wrong with Borough Park being a component or part of a district that is not necessarily entirely orthodox,” Ezra Friedlander told the Algemeiner.

The new districts still have to pass a gubernatorial veto threat and at least one court challenge.

Note: Some State Senate districts switched numbers, for example, State Senator Squadron’s district is now 26, instead of 25. The Williamsburg side of his district looks mostly the same as the old one, as is the case with Assemblyman Lentol’s.

UPDATE: The new maps merged State Senator Eric Adams' district into Velmanette Montgomery's, putting him in risk of losing his seat, according to the Daily Politics. Adams is reportedly planning a run for Borough President, but this only comes up in 2013, and the re-elections for his current seat is in November.

UPDATE 2: Lew Fidler and David Storobin will both be left out of their districts under the new maps. Daily Politics reports that Fidler will be in Sampson's district, while Storobin will be in Savino's. This will not pose a problem for either of them in his first re-election bid, since in a redistricting year a candidate may reside outside his district, as long he lives in the same county. I assume that if Fidler wins, he will run for re-election in the Super-Jewish district, jeopardizing the republican attempt to capture that seat.

UPDATE 3: Amy Spitalnick, Squadron's press secretary, confirmed in an email: "Yes, the district in which Sen. Squadron lives would become the 26th District. I believe the numbers have changed for a number of Senators." She haven't responded to the question, if the State Senator is bothered by losing a recognizable district number.

UPDATE 4: Fidler is disgusted, telling the Politicker:  

Oh "politics at its very worst"? Just wondering under what system he got the democratic nomination without a primary. That system probably was "politics at its very best!"

“These maps are exactly why we need independent redistricting.  It’s one of the many reasons I’m proud to have the support of Mayor Ed Koch, who has been leading the fight to reform Albany.
It’s unfortunate the same Senate Republicans who signed Mayor Koch’s pledge for independent redistricting have drawn lines that are disgustingly partisan in nature.  It is exactly this kind of cynicism that has voters disillusioned and disgusted… politics at its very worst.
The maps for the March 20th Special Election stand as is.  Whatever ultimately happens with the lines, I will be running for re-election to the State Senate this November from a district that includes neighborhoods that currently dominate the 27th Senate District.”

And Adams said that he will gladly move from his district to avoid a primary.

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