Parent Press: Redistricting Senate Vote
The Redistricting Special Session is moving blazing fast at the state Capitol this week. Both the Republican controlled Senate and House have passed gerrymandered maps that will distort Georgian's representation for the next Decade.
Redistricting Special Session
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the gerrymandered map the Republicans drew for the State Senate districts on a party-line vote. The vote was taken less than a week after the proposed districts were first made public. I voted no on this map, and it passed with no Democratic support.
See my remarks on the Senate Floor.
The Map
The map that passed is designed to shore up the Republicans' shrinking power in Georgia. Georgia grew by one million people in the last 10 years, and 100% of that growth has occurred in minority communities. The population growth of Metro Atlanta also significantly outpaced the growth in rural parts of Georgia, where some districts had lost population since 2010. Despite a nod toward moving one Republican-held district from south Georgia to Gwinnett County, the map still fails to represent GA’s diversity and fails to fairly reflect our partisan make-up. Due to this and its lack of competitive districts, the map was rated an 'F' in an independent analysis done by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.
The map contains only 20 districts in which minorities are a majority (36%) and targets the only Asian-American Woman in the Senate by reducing the minority voting age population of District 48 by 15%.
This map also contains only 14 districts in which Black voters are a majority. It distorts the shape of the 17th district and reduces its Black voting age population by 10%.
The map contains 33 districts that likely elect Republicans and only 23 that likely elect Democrats. This is a 60-40 split, in a 50-50 state.
The Senate failed to consider the Democrats plan which contains 27 districts that likely elect Republicans, 25 districts that likely elect Democrats, and 4 competitive districts. This map received an 'A' overall and an 'A' in partisan fairness from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.
You can see the Princeton Gerrymandering analysis here:
The Process
The process was as flawed as the map, giving no time to properly analyze the proposal, consider alternatives or make changes. It did not reflect the openness and transparency hundreds of people asked for in hearings all summer long. The Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee convened for only two days of hearings, with just 24 hours' notice, and the bill was then rushed to a full Senate vote. There was no meaningful consideration of alternate proposals or compromise. This is not how government should work, and gerrymandered maps fuel this hyper-partisan dysfunction.
The map will now go to the House and will likely pass there on Friday.
House and Congressional Maps
The State House passed their map today with all Democrats and 2 Republicans voting no. This bill will now come to the Senate, where it will likely pass.
Consideration of Congressional maps should begin next week. We may see a Republican State House proposal for the congressional map that differs from the one put out by the Georgia Senate in the next few days.
Continue to provide your feedback to the Redistricting Committee here
You can see all the maps here:
Georgia Senate Democrats Proposed Congressional Map
Georgia Republicans Proposed Congressional Map
Run-Off Elections Nov 30
If you live in the City of Atlanta boundaries there is a Runoff Election on Nov 30.
After consultation with trusted individuals and elected officials, I have made the decision to support Andre Dickens for mayor. I still have enormous respect for Felicia Moore. I have also announced my support for Liliana Bahktari (City of Atlanta Council District 5) and Tamara Jones (Atlanta Board of Education District 7).
Here is a full list of Atlanta Runoffs:
City of Atlanta Mayor
Andre Dickens v. Felicia Moore
City of Atlanta Council President
Natalyn Archibong v. Doug Shipman
City of Atlanta District 3 at-large
Jacki Labat v. Keisha Waites
City of Atlanta District 1
Nathan Clubb v. Jason Winston
City of Atlanta District 3
Byron Amos v. Erika Estrada
City of Atlanta District 4
Jason Dozier v. Cleta Winslow
City of Atlanta District 5
Liliana Bakhtiari v. Mandy Mahoney
City of Atlanta District 7
Antonio Lewis v. Joyce Sheperd
Atlanta Board of Education District 2
Aretta Baldon v. Keisha Carey
Atlanta Board of Education District 7
Tamara Jones v. Kanesha Venning
There are Runoffs in Tucker and Stonecrest as well.
Absentee Ballots
If you want to vote by absentee ballot, we recommend you request your ballot today and return it as soon as possible. The timeline is very tight.
Ballots will be mailed beginning November 16.
Drop Boxes will be available in all early voting locations during early voting hours.
Ballots must be returned by Nov 30 at 7 pm.
Early Voting
Dates: Nov 17 – 24.
Hours: Weekdays 8-6, Saturday 9-6, Sunday, 12-5
Locations:
Reid H Cofer Library, 5234 LaVista Rd. Tucker 30034
Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Rd. Lithonia, 30038
Bessie Branham Red Car, 2051 Delano Dr. Atlanta, 30317
Dekalb Voter Reg and Elections Office, 4380 Memorial Dr. Decatur, 30032
For more information go to www.DeKalbVotes.com or call the Voter Protection Hotline 1-888-730-5816.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Last week President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. There is a lot of good in this bill. Highlights for Georgia include funding to:
Repair highway infrastructure and bridges. In Georgia there are 374 bridges and over 2,260 miles of highway in poor condition. Georgia would expect to receive at least $8.9 billion for federal-aid highways and $225 million for bridge replacement.
Improve healthy, sustainable transportation in Georgia. There will be $1.4 B over five years to expand and improve public transportation options across the state.
Build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options.
Georgia will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 649,000 Georgians who currently lack it and provide aid help provide internet access to low-income families.
Prepare more of our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change and cyber-attacks. Georgians will also benefit from the bill’s historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization which will reduce energy costs for families.
Deliver clean drinking water to every American and eliminate the nation’s lead service lines and pipes. Georgia will expect to receive $913 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
Improve our nation’s airports. Georgia would receive approximately $619 million to improve infrastructure in airports over five years.
Georgia Association of Educators
Legislator of the Year
I was very honored last week to receive Legislator of the Year from the Georgia Association of Educators. I believe that every child deserves a quality education and will continue to pursue innovative ways that we can accomplish this goal for all students!
Questions? Please contact me at elena@elenaparent.com.