Members of the Syracuse City Redistricting Commission are trying to generate more interest in their work as the third public hearing will be held on April 7. Commissioner Jackie Lasonde said less than a dozen people turned out at each of the first two meetings. She said they’ve been trying different ways to engage residents in the process.
“Imagine your community, imagine your neighborhood. We’re now becoming more creative and coming up with more ways that involve letting people know that this is happening.”
Lasonde said the commission has been using social media, and she’s been distributing flyers to community groups, churches, barber shops and salons. She wondered if people don’t understand the purpose behind these initial meetings and are waiting for something more concrete.
“As things get closer, when we have a tangible draft map after this first set of hearings, we think people will be more inclined to come out, question, complain. A lot of times people are visual and need to see what we’re talking about.”
Commissioners are looking at population changes in existing districts as a guide to redrawing the lines. That includes the fourth district. It covers downtown, which has grown exponentially in the past decade, and includes university hill and much of the south side. Lasonde said those areas don’t have a lot in common.
“They’re not like-minded in the way that we live in the same community, but we don’t have the same issues. If you’re living in a $1,600 a month rental, and another person is living in a rental that’s less than $700, or living in a house that is in bad need of repair.”
Once drafts of the maps are drawn, another set of meetings will follow. The next meeting will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Henninger High School. People can also join virtually.