Syracuse residents have two more chances to weigh in on the final proposed common council district map. No additional changes are expected before the map is sent to the common council for a vote.
The map has been more than a year in the making, going back to when the independent redistricting commission was formed last summer. Now, commission vice chair Jon Hamblin says the finish line is in sight.
"We have voted on this and this is our final map. The only way we would make a change to the map is if we get some very, very compelling feedback from citizens that points out a mistake that we made, that we actually have to make a change."
He doesn’t expect that to be the case when the map comes before the council next month.
"We know from working with our consultants that they are all above board, legal, and make sense. We tried to anticipate any possible legal reason for them to be rejected, and we can't think of any. There's no reason why they should not be accepted."
Hamblin feels they’ve met the required criteria and desired goals.
"Our first concern was to get districts where everyone is equally represented, and also to keep neighborhoods together. One of our other priorities was to create a minority-majority district. We accomplished all that, we think we did a fantastic job, and we hope everyone else thinks so, too."
As their work comes to an end, Hamblin says the 15 volunteer commissioners put a lot of hard work, time, and energy into making sure the city’s residents and neighborhoods are fairly represented until the next census in 2030.
"At the end of the process, I look back, and I am proud, and I think the vast majority of the commission is proud of the map we created."
The final two meetings will be held Wednesday at the Southside Innovation Center at 2610 S. Salina St., and Thursday at the Northside Learning Center at 501 Park St. Both begin at 5:30.
