independent redistricting commisson

The state spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees defending gerrymandered maps.

The common council just approved the new, citizen-drawn map after the commission held numerous meetings over the past year, explaining the process and listening to residents' priorities.

The final vote was 5 to 4. Nearly all district councilors opposed the map for a variety of reasons.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, in an appearance Monday in Latham, said the new lines should be drawn by the state's redistricting commission, not a special master.

The council has until Oct. 1 to approve or reject the map.

No additional changes are expected before the map is sent to the common council for a vote.

Members of the independent redistricting commission will take feedback into consideration for possible adjustments.

The five districts are being redrawn for the first time in 20 years to reflect changes in the city’s population numbers and demographics.

The first draft maps of Syracuse City Common Council Districts from the Syracuse City Redistricting Commission have been released.

The court upheld lower court rulings that determined that democrats, who hold supermajorities in both houses of the legislature, deliberately gerrymandered the districts to favor candidates in their party.