District Drama? As we reported on Saturday, “When the ‘independent’ commission failed to come up with legislative maps everybody could agree on earlier this year, Democrats who control the Capitol took matters into their own hands. Republicans cried foul and an Upstate judge has agreed with them.” Yesterday, that semi-flipped.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Roosevelt Island’s piece of the district drama
Lines were drawn and candidates got petitions signed making them eligible for June primary elections. In charge now, Democrats in Albany crafted districts that tilted results in their favor. For Roosevelt Island, that left elected officials unchanged, except for the state senate.
Current Senator José Serrano’s area altered while nearby Astoria/LIC Senator Michael Gianaris crossed the East River channel, absorbing the Island. The change, in essence, replaced one powerful senator with another powerful senator who lives nearby. Senator Serrano is #4 in the chamber’s hierarchy, and Gianaris is #2.
Interestingly, Gianaris was the leader in new map drawing, meaning he hooked up with Roosevelt Island by his own choice. But that all went out the window last week – on April Fools Day – when a Steuben County judge threw out the new maps, saying that Gianaris and company took gerrymandering too far.
Turmoil?
With petitions reaching deadlines within a few days, turmoil ensued. For what territory, then, should Serrano and Gianaris collect signatures? That echoes through other districts throughout the state.
But mitigating the upset was the usual for New York – politics. The Steuben County judge is a Republican. So, Democrats took for granted that his ruling wouldn’t survive challenges in higher courts. And it took only until yesterday for that to come true.
A judge in Monroe County stayed the ruling – that is, restored the new maps – promising a final decision within three weeks. The likely result, with petitions already in and election day pending, is that the new maps will stay, at least, through November.
And that makes Michael Gianaris almost certainly our next state senator, beginning in January. But maybe for just one year.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel ShopHate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
- Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents SeparateA shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.
- College Point Community Responds After Senior Dog Taken From Front LawnA College Point senior dog was taken from her front lawn, sparking a neighborhood response and NYPD investigation. Learn how the community is working together after a senior dog was taken from front lawn.
- Queens Child Death Investigation: Family and Community React as NYPD Probes TragedyGet the latest on the Queens child death investigation. NYPD continues to probe after a 5-year-old was found unresponsive in Richmond Hill, as the family and community grapple with the tragic event.
- Queens 5-Year-Old Girl’s Death Under Investigation After Mother’s 911 CallPolice are investigating the death of a 5-year-old girl in Queens after a 911 call from her mother. Authorities are gathering evidence while the community mourns.
Introduce Yourself Again
On June 18, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Real Estate Development Advisory Committee gathered to discuss ground leases, retail agreements and pieces of the west-side waterfront that had been waiting patiently for the government to remember them.
3 COMMENTS