Mayor Nadine Woodward issued the following statement regarding the City Council’s disregard for the redistricting process:
“The volunteer members of the redistricting board put in hours and hours of work to engage the community in a conversation about how to fairly rebalance the three City Council districts to address the shift in population. The board came up with sensible solutions, facilitated a robust conversation about different options, and surveyed the community on their preferences.
That process resulted in the board taking comment on four options and recommending the one backed by a supermajority of those who participated in the process and made the fewest changes to the current boundaries.
Unfortunately, the City Council’s vote to replace the community’s recommendation with a self-serving option prepared and presented by one of its own members is another example of the City Council ignoring unfavorable public engagement. It continues a pattern of disregarding the engagement of the community they were elected to represent to steer outcomes they desire.
The argument that neighborhoods preferred to fall within a single council district makes no sense. Neighborhoods regularly raise concerns and needs to their elected representatives. The option recommended by the board would have kept a few neighborhoods represented by more than two councilmembers, meaning they had a stronger voice with those elected to represent them.”
