Redistricing

Today, the State Legislature is holding a hearing on the redistricting process for 2022. We have the opportunity to draw district lines in a way that maximizes our community members’ power and voice, rather than protect special interests. But given barriers to census outreach presented by the COVID-19 crisis, we must still work to ensure our communities are fully counted. 

As someone who is running for State Assembly in a district that is nearly 60% Latinx and 27% Asian in a City that is nearly 30% Latinx and 15% Asian, I am gravely concerned there is not yet a single Latinx or Asian appointee on the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission. Representation matters, and we need a seat at the table. There still remains two vacancies to be filled and they must be filled with at least one Latinx person and one Asian person who has deep understanding of the diverse Latinx and Asian communities and could serve as skillful and efficient advocates as the Commission undergoes this critical democratic process that could impact fair representation for the decade ahead.

Communities of color were devastated by the coronavirus and will continue dealing with the repercussions of the crisis for years to come. For that reason it is incredibly important those communities, which have been historically underrepresented, see a just redistricting process and outcome. 

I will be carefully monitoring this ongoing process and will continue advocating for representation that our diverse communities need and deserve.