Quincy councilors speak out against bill that would have state legislators draw ward lines

QUINCY — City councilors say the power to draw lines between voting districts and make decisions about polling places should stay with local authorities and spoke out against a controversial redistricting timeline shuffle approved by the state House of Representatives. 

The House recently gave approval to a bill allowing the Legislature to redraw state and federal districts before cities and towns adjust local precincts. The process change has been proposed because the coronavirus pandemic significantly delayed the release of 2020 Census information, and supporters say cutting out local input this time around would make the process smoother and quicker.

 At its meeting this week, members of the Quincy City Council spoke out against the bill and said it took power away from local officials who are much more equipped to make decisions in their own communities. 

Ward 4 Councilor Brian Palmucci presented a resolve formally declaring the council's opposition to the bill, which was supported by his fellow councilors. He said the bill would essentially strip the council of its authority to draw the redistricting lines based on the 2020 Census and give it to the state Legislature. 

"Government is always best at the lowest, most local level, Palmucci said. "There is a human element here that we understand at a local level."

Municipalities typically update their voting precincts based on population counts every decade, and the Legislature then uses those building blocks to draw state and federal districts. Under existing law, cities and towns must redraw local precinct boundaries by June 15, but this year that date falls more than three months before the U.S. Census Bureau expects local population data to be fully delivered.

The legislation would remove that impending deadline and let the Legislature redraw state and federal districts without the updated local precinct data.

Chuck Phelan, the Ward 5 councilor, said he worked on the Census for several years and said local input is "very important." He pointed out that, in the end, the city's decisions are still approved by the state and local government. 

"Someone who is not familiar with the city, it's neighborhoods, lots of things can happen," he said. "The state and local government don't worry where the city councilors are or certain boundaries are. ... It's a very complicated process."

 Secretary of State William Galvin said earlier this month that the bill would be "devastating" to cities and towns. He indicated he would urge Gov. Charlie Baker to veto the measure if it reaches him.

"Have there been new ethnic communities come in? Have there been changes? Is there new construction? Are there new factors? Local governments are best able to deal with this," Galvin told the Election Laws Committee.

Quincy City Clerk Nicole Crispo says she has been working with the state and Galvin's office to start the redistricting process. If legislators draw the lines, she said she wouldn't "know where we stand," and that she has received no guidance on what role local officials would play. 

"The number are late this year, however there is he element of knowing your city and knowing your neighborhoods," she said. "We are a growing city and we take that into consideration. We are looking at, perhaps, adding precincts in the near future."

H 3863 has passed through the House and is currently awaiting revision or passage through the Senate. 

The city council resolve passed unanimously by a vote of 0-8. Ward 2 Councilor Anthony Andronico abstained from voting as he currently works in the State House for Rep. Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth.

Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/06/24/quincy-councilors-against-house-redistricting-bill-2020-census/5320464001/