For Immediate Release (PDF)

September 16, 2021

Contact: Elizabeth R. OuYang, Coordinator

Tel. (718) 650-1960, lizouyang@gmail.com

APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force’s Reaction to 1st Draft of Maps by the Independent Redistricting Commission

“In the first round of the Independent Redistricting Commission hearings, sixteen member organizations of the Task Force testified orally and/or in writing. While it is disconcerting that the “Independent” Commission produced two polar opposite maps rather than unified ones, the letter maps overall reflect responsive action to address the concerns of the Asian American community consistent with the Voting Rights Act and the need to keep communities of interest together.” - Elizabeth R. OuYang, Coordinator, APA VOICE Redistricting Task Force

Specifically, in Queens:

Richmond Hill

"South Queens Women's March is heartened to see that our collective advocacy to keep Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park whole has been centered in the IDC's first round of the "letters" maps. We believe this is a great starting point and we will continue to amplify the needs of our community of interest to ensure that the final lines are the most equitable and empowering for our historically marginalized people." - Aminta Kilawan-Narine, Esq., Founder & Director, South Queens Women's March

“We applaud the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission for listening to the gerrymandered residents of South Queens in drawing an Assembly district in the "Letters" maps that bring Justice for Richmond Hill. For the first time, the marginalized Indo-Caribbean and South Asian communities of interest of Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, and South Ozone Park in Little Guyana and Little Punjab have an opportunity to build equitable political power. However, we are concerned about the Senatorial district formulation, which further politically disenfranchises the voices of Richmond Hill. We encourage the Commission to keep these protected communities of interest under the Voting Rights Act whole.” - Mohamed Q. Amin, Executive Director of Caribbean Equality Project

Briarwood/Jamaica Hills and Hillside Avenue Corridor

"The diverse Asian American communities who live along Hillside Avenue in Queens are very encouraged by the Independent Redistricting Commission's Assembly district "X." The district keeps South Asian communities of interest together and reflects the overall Asian population increase in Queens. Proposed Senate district "L" on the other hand continues to split the community. It is hard to fathom why the same South Asian communities of interest are kept whole in Assembly district maps but cannot be kept whole in the Senate." - John Albert, Executive Director, Taking Our Seat

Elmhurst

"We are gratified to see that the Independent Redistricting Commission’s letter maps took the community’s input to heart and proposed district maps that are more reflective of the communities of interest in Elmhurst, Woodside, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst than previous redistricting cycles. We are particularly excited for the possibility of the first ever majority Asian American assembly district in Elmhurst, but we do think there are improvements to be made with the northern portion of the map and look forward to further opportunities for direct community input. We are hopeful the IRC will continue to do its utmost in hearing and implementing the community voices that have long been absent from these conversations to ensure fair and representative districts." - Farzana Linda, Associate Director of Advocacy and Organizing, CHHAYA Community Development Corporation

"We appreciate the Independent Redistricting Commission's efforts to keep the Little Manila community together and see vast improvements, especially in the State Assembly maps, where our community has been split between three districts the past decade. We are proud to be part of the first ever majority Asian American Assembly District in Elmhurst. We want to see this amendment extended to the Senate district letter map where a key part of the Filipino population—particularly blocks between Roosevelt Avenue and Woodside Avenue, and between 64th and 68th Streets—is separated from the rest of the community.” - Jaclyn Reyes, Cultural Organizer, Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts and Rachelle Ocampo, President, National Association of Filipino Federation-New York Chapter

Flushing

“We are pleased that the Independent Redistricting Commission maintained Flushing as the epicentre of a majority Asian American state senate and congressional district and that Flushing comprises a majority Asian Assembly district. Asian American businesses dominate Downtown Flushing which is the busiest commercial and retail area in Queens.” - John Park, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action

Auburndale/Bayside

"Upon review of the letter map depicting AD 24, we are satisfied overall but there is room for improvement. Auburndale and Bayside should be kept more whole and together than what is being proposed. With respect to the State Senate District, the jagged lines that divide Senator John Liu's district and Senator Toby Stavisky's north of the Auburndale LIRR station should be straightened so the Korean community is kept whole." - Kevin Cho, Assistant Director, Korean Community Services

Specifically in Brooklyn:

Sunset Park/Bensonhurst

"While we had hoped that there would be bipartisan agreement, we are pleased that the proposed letters map unifies South Brooklyn's communities of interest in a fair and equitable manner. From a neighborhood that is currently divided into four Senate districts, we now see more consolidated representation that keeps the neighborhood whole along with communities of interest in Bensonhurst. While there is a possibility to create the first Asian-majority district in Brooklyn, however, these lines are still short of doing so. We will work with the Commission in the coming months to explore the implications of the 43% growth in Asian population in Brooklyn as reflected in the 2020 Census and its representation along the proposed lines." - Mon Yuck Yu, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff, Academy of Medical and Professional Health Services

Southern Brooklyn

“Homecrest Community Service is disappointed regarding the IRC proposed first draft map of Congressional District 11 which still puts part of Bensonhurst and part of Homecrest with the entire Staten Island. Our goal and concern are to keep the neighborhoods of Bensonhurst and Sheepshead whole, yet removing part of Bensonhurst and taking more Sheepshead Bay area in Congressional District 11 did not address our issues. Moreover, these changes make Asian Americans who live in Bath Beach and Sheepshead Bay feel even more isolated and unsupported.” - Kay Wong, Outreach Coordinator, Homecrest Community Services

Specifically in Manhattan:

Chinatown

“We are glad to see that the IRC's "letters" plan proposes that Manhattan's Chinatown and Brooklyn's Sunset Park continue to be in the same Congressional District. Social and economic connections and the back and forth movement of residents between these two neighborhoods make them communities of common interest. Being in the same Congressional District has served these neighborhoods well. In addition, Chinatown residents share common interests with its neighbors in the Lower East Side. Our children go to the same schools, shop at the same stores, utilize the same services. We are glad to see that the IRC's "letters" plan proposes that these two neighborhoods remain together in the same districts at Congress and at the State Assembly. However, when it comes to the State Senate, the IRC "letters" plan proposes that Chinatown residents be separated from their Lower East Side neighbors into different districts. This is cause for concern. We think IRC should reconsider given the commonality of these two neighborhoods.” - Mae Lee, Executive Director, Chinese Progressive Association

Specifically in Bronx:

Parkchester, Castle Hill, and Westchester Square

“We appreciate the diligent work of the Independent Redistricting Commission shown in the letters map to unite two communities of interest that were divided for decades, Parkchester and Castle Hill. We noticed one discrepancy, in terms of keeping a community interest together. While we are grateful that both Parkchester and Westchester Square are in the same Senate District (District X), Castle Hill is separate in Senatorial District BA. These communities utilize one another's community resources, such as healthcare, shopping centers, transit, etc, and uniting these communities will help balance the economic standing of the area. These neighborhoods share a community interest, in terms of racial group and social-economic status and we would like the Commission to unite Westchester Square with Parkchester and Castle Hill”. - Ramdat Singh, Director of Civic Engagement, Caribbean Equality Project

To learn more about the Caribbean Equality Project & for regular updates on our work connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at @CaribbeanEqualityProject, and Twitter at @CaribEquality.