New chances to draw fair maps, provide community of interest for the Michigan Senate
When the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) held hearings for mapping in February, Christopher Johnson was there. The president of the Bagley Community Council in Detroit felt it was important to weigh in on potential boundaries for state House districts, and he wants his neighbors to understand the issue, too.
“Sometimes, when people don’t understand, a lot of misinformation gets put out,” Johnson explained. “I wanted people to understand how important redistricting was. Everyone should have fair representation.”
Johnson invited MICRC Chair Anthony Eid to speak at the council’s April 20 meeting, and about 50 residents participated.
“The most important takeaway is that a lot of people had questions answered that they previously had been afraid to ask,” Johnson said.
A map with new boundaries for state House districts was finalized in March. MICRC is now mapping Senate districts 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 11, which includes more than two dozen cities in metro Detroit. The maps will be drawn using specific criteria, including population, geography, diversity, partisan fairness, and density.
“We want as many voices as possible to share with us their community of interest, because this process is about ensuring that metro Detroiters’ interests get represented,” Eid said.
Metro Detroit residents will have three opportunities to show up and speak up about state Senate districts, as the MICRC holds meetings May 7-9. The meetings will be held to hear from residents about their communities of interest – people in a specific geographic area who share common interests. All hearings will take place from 10-12:30, 1:30-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. The meetings are:
? Tuesday, May 7: Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., Warren
? Wednesday, May 8: Pearls Event Center, 26100 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield
? Thursday, May 9: Wayne State University, Student Center, 5221 Gullen Mall, Ste. 011, Detroit
Public comments can also be made by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/3Wp OPER
Johnson’s community of interest is, of course, the Bagley Community, his home with his wife and two kids for the last 17 years. He says the area on Detroit’s west side has a diverse population and about 5,000 homes.
“I feel like this redistricting will level the playing field,” Johnson said.
Find meeting schedules and submit comments at www.Michigan.gov/MICRC or call 1-866-627-3247 (866-MAP-FAIR) for information.
“Sometimes, when people don’t understand, a lot of misinformation gets put out,” Johnson explained. “I wanted people to understand how important redistricting was. Everyone should have fair representation.”
Johnson invited MICRC Chair Anthony Eid to speak at the council’s April 20 meeting, and about 50 residents participated.
“The most important takeaway is that a lot of people had questions answered that they previously had been afraid to ask,” Johnson said.
A map with new boundaries for state House districts was finalized in March. MICRC is now mapping Senate districts 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 11, which includes more than two dozen cities in metro Detroit. The maps will be drawn using specific criteria, including population, geography, diversity, partisan fairness, and density.
“We want as many voices as possible to share with us their community of interest, because this process is about ensuring that metro Detroiters’ interests get represented,” Eid said.
Metro Detroit residents will have three opportunities to show up and speak up about state Senate districts, as the MICRC holds meetings May 7-9. The meetings will be held to hear from residents about their communities of interest – people in a specific geographic area who share common interests. All hearings will take place from 10-12:30, 1:30-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. The meetings are:
? Tuesday, May 7: Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., Warren
? Wednesday, May 8: Pearls Event Center, 26100 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield
? Thursday, May 9: Wayne State University, Student Center, 5221 Gullen Mall, Ste. 011, Detroit
Public comments can also be made by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/3Wp OPER
Johnson’s community of interest is, of course, the Bagley Community, his home with his wife and two kids for the last 17 years. He says the area on Detroit’s west side has a diverse population and about 5,000 homes.
“I feel like this redistricting will level the playing field,” Johnson said.
Find meeting schedules and submit comments at www.Michigan.gov/MICRC or call 1-866-627-3247 (866-MAP-FAIR) for information.
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