Noon Update: map of redrawn State Senate Districts.
The 22nd State Senate District occupied by Anthony Musto, according to the map, will no longer take in the Upper East Side. The neighborhood was redrawn into the the district of State Senator Ed Gomes. Musto also lost a portion of Monroe. The multi-town district includes all of Trumbull. Musto’s Bridgeport district covers the upper North End, West Side and Black Rock. Gomes has most of the rest of the city and continues to have a portion of Stratford. Link to map below.
www.cga.ct.gov/red2011/documents/2011/senate_map.pdf
The state’s largest city is why Democrat Jim Himes has been elected to two straight terms in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District and seeks another term in 2012. Take Bridgeport out of the Republican-rich 4th and say sayonara to a Democratic win. State Republicans would love that. Democrats would not. Check this out from Mark Pazniokas, CT Mirror:
The General Assembly’s bipartisan redistricting commission unanimously approved new districts Wednesday for the state House and Senate ahead of a midnight deadline, leaving an unfinished congressional map in the hands of the Connecticut Supreme Court.
OK Lennie, so here’s a comment that might make sense. “So What!!!”
You give a little, you take a little. If Bridgeport gets moved to the New Haven district and Himes has to finally run on his record (or lack thereof), so be it. Such a move doesn’t affect the representation of “minorities” or city residents. In fact, it gives Bridgeport more juice.
I like Jim Himes, but these are the rules and legislators like Himes make the rules.
Bob, Himes must run on his record no matter what. Would you prefer to see Bridgeport shifted to the 3rd district?
Probably … it would give Bridgeport a better representation, if the district is more city oriented. Lennie, I’m working in New Haven for the next two months and they have more juice than Bridgeport and more activity in downtown rehab, and more activity on I-95/I91 for rehab. I know Yale is a big presence that affects the downtown area business-wise, but what does UB do for Bridgeport, what do the fools in Economic Development do for Bridgeport, what does this newly re-elected mayor know about what to do for downtown? Bupkis. Better to tie yourself to a relatively successful environment than to wallow in the muck and mire.
I’ll take the Fifth!
Rip, to paraphrase the words of the late Joe Mirsky, did you drink a fifth or take it!
I’m going metric. 750 ml.
Gerrymandering 101–Cracking and Packing–from the USC Anenberg Center.
The essence of a partisan gerrymander is manipulating district lines around a set of voters that will elect your party’s candidate. The two principle tactics used in gerrymandering are “cracking” and “packing.”
Cracking:
Spreading like-minded voters apart across multiple districts to dilute their voting power in each. This denies the group representation in multiple districts.
Packing:
Concentrating like-minded voters together in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts. This gives the group representation in a single district while denying them representation across districts.
Moving Bpt to the 3rd District would be an example of “packing.” Virtually ensuring a GOP victory in the 4th District and changing the 4th from a “swing district” ( one of the few remaining) to a “safe” GOP District.
BTW–Don’t forget tonight’s BEACON2–town committee show:
Bridgeport–City Budgets and Balance Sheets: 101
(a view from the “cheap seats” as a taxpayer …)
6:30 at the Black Rock Branch Library.
*** Sign of the times, baby. It’s all in the game! ***
*** Fly Robin Fly! ***
Leonard,
There appear to be some very nasty and jagged edges to the western boundary of Senator Gomes’ district. Someone could suffer some serious cuts along that line. Until we see a more fully defined description of those in and out lines I am thinking Marilyn Moore might be a potential victim as well as possibly the Troll.
Did Vinnie’s godmother lend a helping hand to these lines?
If it is true then Vinnie is a bigger wienie than even I thought.
Would that be Vinnie Roberti?
As to Bob’s comments about moving Bridgeport into the 3rd, that makes no sense whatsoever. If New Haven is prospering for whatever reason, do you honestly think they would share that with Bridgeport? Hell, no. We would become more of a stepchild than we are today.
Bob must be a closet Republican to support a plan along those lines.
No, I’m a closeted pro-Bridgeport Democrat. But you don’t understand Bridgeport has been the stepchild of Connecticut for the past 40+ years due to the loss of industry (positive tax base), loss of commerce (positive tax base), political corruption and political ineptitude. Tying Bridgeport to a relatively successful urban area would provide a positive perception to encourage substantial investment. It isn’t about sharing, it’s about sitting at the table and partaking of honest representation.
There maybe more going on than I realized. I just got this e-mail …
So, help me continue to work for the right agenda. Please consider supporting my campaign with a $25, $50, $100 or $250 contribution today.
The stakes are higher than ever. I will need the resources for my own re-election as well as to help Democrats all over the country next year.
Under campaign finance law, individuals may give up to $2,500–so a couple can contribute up to $5,000. Any support you can give me whether it is $25, $50, $100 or $250 is greatly appreciated.
Your friendship and support have allowed me to serve the people of the Connecticut. I am thankful for everything you have done, and hope that I can count on your continued generosity.
Sincerely,
Rosa L. DeLauro
Member of Congress
PS: Please show your support today by contributing $25, $50, $100 or $250, or the most you can give today either by mail or by visiting www .rosadelauro.com.
Do you think Rose knows more than we do or is she just jumping the gun???
She’s funding another trip to Italy when the next hurricane hits. 😉
Rose DeLauro or not, the proposed 3rd is a New Haven congressional district. Bridgeport is a throw-in. Maybe by learning political manners from New Haven, Bridgeport can increase its yank. But New Haven will be perfectly happy to allow Bridgeport to tear itself up in any fight, stay out of it, and walk away with control of the situation. Bridgeport is not about to make any alliances with New Haven suburbs any time soon when it hardly speaks to Stratford or Milford.
From a squeaky-wheel perspective, Bridgeport is better off in the 4th. Maybe the rest of the 4th will be happy for the peace and quiet without Bridgeport.
Perhaps some of the Dems around here will be able to explain how this might be better for Bridgeport.
So what you are saying is Bridgeport would be better off being in the 3rd District. And I believe this to be much better than what Bridgeporters already have.
Bob: I honestly don’t know. The two cities obviously share common problems. They are similar sizes. Bridgeport’s geographical size is a bit smaller, which I think hurts taxable income from real estate.
I’d like to know if it is better to be in a congressional district where your problems are somewhat unique to the district, or in a CD where you share the same issues with another community.
New Haven politics is generally more cohesive and geared toward community goals. Bridgeport politics tends to favor “independence” among the individuals involved. That stated, New Haven is going through an interesting period. The mayor just lost control of his city council to a group of labor insurgents.
Jim,
Can you expand on the “interesting period” comment please? Are the labor insurgents members of the council or avid backers? Are they municipal labor unions or something other? My sense was New Haven had only one or no City employees serving on its council. True or not? Are “labor insurgents” city residents?
And when you contrast New Haven (community goals) and Bridgeport (“independence”) politics are you really comparing the broadly described common good in New Haven opposite the “what’s in it for me and mine” vision in Bridgeport?
Look forward to your telling the story as you see it. Thank you.